Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-02-15
CHAPTER vu.-THE FEVER SHIP.

We were now on the verge of the tropics.
| The weather was perfect, the wind fair,
and the sea-COyeTed with small, white
| crested waves, chasing each other in wild
revelry-superb. The days were delight
full: the nights, lighted up by a great round
| moon; gloriOusly serene.
The mere fact of living became a pleas
ure; the mondays heat was tempered by a
balmy breeze, and baSldng in the sun,
and living continually in the open air I
slept on deck), health tingled to my fin
gers ends.
1t was pleasure to feel the brave ship
surging through the sea, and to watch her
great sails as they bellied to the breeze.
For days together no sailor had need to 90
aloft, and one day was so like another that
time seemed to stand still. Yet in this
very mOnotOny there was an ineXpliCable
charm; it acted as a spiritual anOdyne,
banishing care. and lulling the mind to
sleep | ceased to think about my future,
and Liverpool and business were so remote
that thep might never have been. Even
Amy receded into the far distance, and it
was hard to realize that had once dreamed
of marriage and suffered from the pangs
of disappointed love.
Why, | often asked myself, had | not
been brought up as a soldier or sailor in
stead OF an underwater? And wondered
how people could dislike the sea. True,
there were sometimes storms, and the
weather was not always serene; but, after
all, storms were few and far between, and
felt sure that the hardships and perils of
a seaman's life were grossly exaggerated.
Only just before | left Liverpool, | met a
man who had crossed the Atlantic half
dozen times without so much as encoun-
tsring gale of wind; and ii was notori-
GUS fact that Al hardwood ships, well
commanded and manned, and not too deep
In the water seldom came to grief.
one day talked in this strain TO Cap
tain Peyton. ! said that doubted wheth
er man was in greater danger on board
q good ship than inside good house, and
that life on the ocean wave was far pleas
anter than life ashore.
Il don't mean, of course on board war
ship in time Of war;" | added. remember
ing the experience of poor Mr. Hare.
you think so because we have had such
pleasant voyage and made such good
weather, so far" returned the skipper,
with smile, land | am bound TO say that
sailing in these latitudes is pleasant. You
would think differently, though, if you had
ever faced a stiff gale in the North Allan
tic, or tried to double Cape Horn In
snow-storm. And don't agree with you
about there being no more danger at sea
than ashore. A landsman may live long
life without being once exposed to serious
peril. A seaman can hardly make one
long voyage without running serious risks.
Not to speak Of storms and cyclones, sunk
en- rocks and unlighted shores, never Q
night passes that does not bring the posi-
bility of collision. The unexpected nlavs
dislike an occasional storm. There Is real
pleasure in commanding a stout we'll
found, well-manned ship in a gale Of wind"
az can well believe it-for born sailor
like you. You are Of an adventurous dis
position, think, Captain Peyton."
'T was once But am too old now to
seek adventures; they must seek me-"
well, I begiu to think should like q
few adventures. My life has been desper-
ately tame SO far"
Has not somebody said that adventures
are TO the adventurous You will, may be,
a far more important part at sea than
ashore: 50 much so, that prosperous,
pleasant voyage always makes me Dit
uneasy
Like this, for instance"
Exactly. Like this. / cannot help
thinking it is too good to last, and that
Fortune is preparing US some scurvy trick.
Who can tell, We may be run down In
the night, or have foul weather before
morning. All the same, like my calling.
Its very uncertainty is an attraction; true
seaman likes it none the less for its ele-
ment Of dancer: and don't know that
have bellyful before you get back to Liv-
erpooL VINO knows;"
''Ay, who knows' hope they viii be
agreeable, though"
"I don't think j could undertake to
guarantee that" said the skipper. with q
laugh. Adventures are like babies-you
must take them as they come. Step into
my cabin and let US have a game Of chess
and glass Of grog. Everything is going
on smoothly, and 1t Is the first officers
watch"
Ihaye already mentioned how we amused
ourselves, and that as there was always
something going on we never suffered
from ennut We had excitement, too, Of
q very mild sort, though often rather In
tense while it lasted: nothing more than