The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-09

This was followed by the earnest mutter.
! ings two VOICES. In win did the listener
send his very soul into his eur to hear, lie
could catch no single word. Yet he could
tell, by the very tones Of the speakers, that
the dialogue was one Of mystery and i'm.
I pOr:nnce.
! Here wis asituation ut once irritating and
, alarming; but there was no help for it. The
/, best thing. now, seemed to be to withdraw
unobscrved. and wait for anothar opportu.
/ nifty. lie did 70: and he had not long retired,
when the mato came out staggering, and
flushed with liquor, md that was thing
TINT had never occurred before. lilo left the
cabin door open, und went into his own
1, room.
Soon after sounds issued from the cabin
peculiar sounds, something between grunting
and snoring.
| Mr. Hazel came and entered the cabin
There he found the captain Of the Proserpine
! In u position very unfavorablc to longevity
i His legs We're crooked over the sent of his
chair, and his head was on the ground. His
handkerchief WIS tied around his neck. and
the man himself dead drunk, and purple in
the face.
| Mr. Hazel instantly undid his stock, on
which tho gallant seaman muttered innrticu.
lately. He then took his fact off the chuir
and laid them on the ground, and put the
empty hottie under the animals neck.
| But he had no sooner done ill this tina
he had n serious misgiving. Would not this
mans death have been u pleasing? Might
| not his life prove fatal?
| The thought iniuriutcd him, and lie gave
the prostate figure IL heavy kick that almost
turned it over, md the words, DUTY to EN-
ployers,' gurgle,l out its mouth directly.
| 1t reilly zee med ~ il these sounds were in
dependent of the mind. and resided ut tho
tip OF lIudson's tongue: NO that n thorough
good kick could, ut any time, shake them
| out of his innnimnte body.
Thus do things ludicrous md things ter
rihle mingle in the real world: only to those
who are in The arena, theludicrous passes I'M
noticed. being oyershadowed by its terrible
neighbour.
And so it WIS with Hazel. Hesuwnothing
absurd in all this; and in TINT PROSTATE. in
sensil,l, hog, commanding the ship. f0rsooth,
and cnrrying all their lives in his hands. he
s,iw the mysterious and alarming only. saw
them, 30, and felt them, that ne lay awake
all nigh. thinking what lie should do, und
s sls mn nsf. , anS he .n5 went ss int" to
him: Mr.. Wylic, in any other ship
should speak to the cnptuin and not to tho
mate: but here that would b. no use, FOR you
are the master, and lie il your servant -
Don't tell him SO. sir, tor h. doesn't think
! smnll beer of himself
II shall waste no more words on him. 1t
il to you speak, and you know speak the
i truth. Here isa ship in which for certain
reasons known to yourself the captain is
under the mate"
well, sir," said Wylic, good.humoreily,
1T is no use trying to deceive u gentleman
like you. Our skipper is an excellent seaman,
but he has got n fault. v Then Wylic imiln-
ted. with Ills hand, the action ofa person
filling his glass.
And you are here to keep him sober, eh?"
Wylie nodded.
Then why do you ply himwith li'luor':'
"You do. have seen you do it dozen
times; and last night you took rum into his
! room md made him SO drunk. he would have
I died where he lay il Ind not loosenei his
handkerchief"
IL am sorry to hear that sir; but he was
got to the bottle the moment was gone"
but that bottle you put in his way: saw
you: and what was yOurob,ect: TOdea,len
his conscience with liquor his and your own,
4, while you made him your tien.ish proposal.
Man. man, do you believe in God, and in a
judgment to come fur deeds done in the body
that you ran plan in cold b.ool to destroy
vessel with nineteen souls ON board, be-
sides the live stork, the innocent animals
that God ritied and spared when he raised
his hand in wrath over Nineveh OF cld""
While the clergyman was speaking. with
flashing eyes aud commanding voice. the sea.
man turned ashy pale: and drew His shout
Gers together like u cat preparing to defend
! her life.
II plan to destroy II vessel sir! You never
heard me sny such IL word; nnd don't you
hint such thing in the ship, or you will get
yourself into trouble"
THAT depends on you"
How 10, sir?'
i have long suspected you"
"iou need not tell me that SIR
'But have not communicated my suspi.
ciona. Aud now that they are cert ainties,
forego your intention, since it in found out?"
How can forego what never was in my
head?" said Wyle.
Cast away the ship! Why, there's no
land within two thousand miles Founder u
vessel in the Pacific! Do you think my Ii o
| il not as sweet to me rs yours in to y0u?"
Wylie eyed him keenly to see the effect OF
these words, and, by puzzled expression
that came over his face, saw at once lie had
assumed u more exact knowledge than lle
/, really possessed.
Hazel replied that lie had snid nothing
many ways Of destroying one. For in.
stance" said he, ~ know how the Neptune
was destroyetl-and 30 do you: how the Rose
and the Antelope were east away-and SO do
yOu."
At this enumeration, Wyie lost his color
Huzel had been listening. Hnzel followed up
his blow. "PrOmise me now, by all you hold
sacred to forego this villany; and hold my
tongue. Attempt to defy me. or to throw
dust in my eyes, un,l go instantly among
the crew, and denounce both you und Hud-
son to them
"Good heavens!" cried wylie, in unfoigne,l
terror. why, the men would Inutiny on
the spot"
al cunt help that" suid Hazel, firmly;
and took u step toward the door.
i'Stopa bit." said the mate "Don't be
he bad for me, but worse for you" The
above was said 30 gravely, and with
such evident sincerity, that Mr.. Haze
was struck aud showed it. Wylie followed
up that triHing advantage. sit down O
minute, sir, ii you please, and listen to me
be bound. 1t IL n worse thing than any lsalc
that ever blew: legins fnir enoug h sometimes
but how does it end? In breaking into the
spirit.room. md drinking to madness. plum
dering the ship. ravislling the women, and
cutting throat or no for certain. You
don't seem go fond of tho picture us you wa,
of the idea. Aud then they might turn II dea
eur to you after oil. Ship IL well found in oil
stores: provisions served out freely; men il
good humor; and have got their eur. Ant
now Ill tell you why it won't smit your littl,
game to blacken me to the crew, upon til,
bnre chunce Of II mutiny." He paused for
moment. then resumed in q lower tone, an,
revealed himself the extraordinary man h
wna.
"You rec. sir" said he, "whan man il
very ready to suspect ms, always suspec
him. Now you was uncommon ready Il
suspect me. You didn't whit til
you came on board; you began tn
gume ashore. q, what, that mnkea 70,
open one eye, does itf You thought didn'
know you again. Knew you. my man. tn
moment you came aboard. never forget
face; and isguses don't pass on me-"
IT. was now Hnzel's turn to look anxiou
. and discompORe.l.
!, SO. then, the momont saw you sus
pected me was down upon you. Well. 20,
want u chap like you in the ship: hut 70,
. would come. What IL the bloke aiter?' say
/, aud watches. You was 40 intent suspect
ing me Of this. that and t'other, that you un
guarded yourself nnd that is common too
, I'm blowed fit isn't the lady you are after
With all my heart; only she might do bette
: and I don't SEQ how she could do worse, un
| lesa she went to Old Nick for u mate. Nov
Ill tell you what it 10, my man. I've been II
, trouble myself. md don't want to I've har.
OH IL poor devil, just because he suils unle
an alias. and lies as near the wind as he can
Z to weather on the benks md the bobbies