Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-09

| by my hideous loneliness on the ice, by my
abhOred association with the Frenchman,
| that could noS refer TO as, down 10 this mo
ment, gratified. My heart bounded my spirits
could not have been higher had this ocean
been the Thames, and yonder dark flowing
| hills OF water the banks OF Firth and the
| GYavesend shore.
turned to the three men. "My lads, " said
I, "you prove yourselves fine bold fellows
/ by thus volunteering Do not fear; II God
gilides us home-to my home, mean-you
shall find a handsome account in this bust
ness.n
"Six More chaps would have jined had tn
| ole man bin willin'," said Wilkinson. but
best as it is, master, though she's trihe
short handed"
"Why, yes,n said I, "but being fore and
aft, you knowl IL isn't as If we'd got courses
to hand and topsails to reef"
GAY ay, OATS de troof,n cried Billy Pitt,
tort o. dat. Fore an aft makes de differ
enoe Don't guess l should hab volunteer
had she been a brig"
There are four of u.s." said l. "Youre
my chief mate, Wilkinson. Choose your
watchn
81 choose Cromwell" said he she was in
my watch aboard the whaler."
every well" exclaimed; and this being
selves good cooks, we arranged that thoy
should alternately have the dressing of our
victuals; that Wilkinson should have the
cabin next mine, and the negroes the one in
which the Frenchman had slept, one taking
the others place as he was relieved.
asked Wilkinson what he thought of the
schooner He answered that he was watch
ing her.
There's nothin' to find fault with yet"
said he; ''shes whale at rolling, sartinly.
I guess she walks though. l reckon she's
had enough of the sea, like me, and's got the
scent o the land in her nose. / guess old
Noah wasn't far Off when her lines was laid.
Mehbo his sons had the building of her.
There's something scriptural in her cut. How
old's she, masterp
FIFTY years and MORE" said l.
"Deros muffin partiekler in dat," cried
Cromwell. II knows vessel dat am 104
years old, s'elp me as 1 stand.
81 don't know how the whalers heading"
said /, "but this schooner's canoe if we
aren't dropping herr"
Indeed she was scarce visible astern-mere
windy flicker, lowering upon the pale flash
ings of the foam. 1t might be perhaps that
the whaler was making a more northerly
course than we, and under very snug canvas,
though ours was snug enough too; but he this
as 1t may, was nightly pleased with the
slipping qualities of the schooner. l never
could have dreamed that so odd and ugly
figure Of ship would shsw such heels. But
l think this: We are too prone TO view the
handiwork of our sires with contempt do not
know but that their ships were as fast as ours.
They made many good passages They might
have proved themselves 1eeter navfgators
had they had the sextant and chronometer to
help them along Fifty years hence, perhaps,
mankind will be laughing at our erudities-
we, by Heaven, who flatter ourselves that the
art of shipbuilding and navigation will never
be carried higher than the pitch to which we
have raised theml
Cromwell being at the tiller, told Billy
Pitt to go below and get supper, instructing
him what to dress and how much to mix for
a bowl-for, as you know, there was nothing
but spirits and wine to season our repasts
with. | saw Cromwell grin widely into the
pinnacle candle flame when he heard me talk
of ham, tongue, sweetmeats, marmalade, and
the like for supper, together with can of hot
claret, and knowing sailors nature middling
well, did not doubt that the fare of the
schooner would bring the three men more
into love with the adventure than even the
reward that was to follow iu.