The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-26

|
same sort. Suppose he is seaman-I
cant swear in Spanish. But l suppose
1--WE might as well have round dozen
of EN-. Put him in the boat. :"
Before this could be done the man
had to be examined by the officer. He
answered all the questions asked him
in good Spanish. which the Captain
caused Louis to interpret to him. He
said his name was Jose Gardez; that he
was fifty-five Years old, and was born
at Bahia Honda, of Spanish parents.
He was bred a sailor. and had always
followed the sea. He had lately been
on the merchant ship Cid CampeadOr'
between Cadiz and Havana: but he had
been sick. and his ship had sailed a
week before without him. He did not
want to be idle, and this was the first
chance he had got.
This account was perfectly satisfac-
tory to the officer; he nodded permits
sion; and in a few moments the stout
arms of Dick Purvis were prOpelling
the party across the harbor.
Captain Willis was no sooner on
deck than he called for the mate.
Call the crew aft, Mr.. Hardy he
said. I've word to say to them"
They came, most of them sauntering
along with their hands i'm their pockets,
and looking altogether very unlike a
good ships company. The four
negroes stood in group by them
selves. Dick Purvis stood with his cap
in his hand, in an attitude of respectful
attention; the others were collected
behind these Captain Willis surveyed
them moment with an eye like a
hawk, and then spoke clearly and dis
tinctly:
my men, I've sailed the seas for
well nigh forty years, and I've COM
inanded ships for thirty; but this is the
first time l ever went out with lot OF
green hands. Dick Purvis, avast there.
stand aside; you know this talk ain
for you. Except Mr.. Hardy and Dick,
| learn that there's only two seamen
now in the ship. We've got voyage
of nearly two thousand miles to make,
and valuable cargo aboard. You
can't learn to be sailors on this trip
but you can learn a good deal. You'll
be we'll treated by Mr.. Hardy and my
self-but there's one thing you mus,
understand now, right at the start
You must obey orders-d'ye hear. Tn
the Captain, and Mr.. Hardy is the mate
of this ship. Louis, put that in Span.
ish for the benefit of those that don't
understand me-"
The nephew did as requested.
That's all. Go forward now. Mr.
Hardy, up anchor at once"
The four negroes did not stir.
The others had started, but seeing
that something was about to happen,
they paused.
go forward, l sayr' repeated the
Captain, sternly.
One of the negro es took a single STEP
in advance of his comrades.
1--WE hab been deceibed," he said,
speaking in a thick voice and in broken
English. ''Dis bad ship; dis unlucky
ship; debbil i'm de ship. We four neb.
Der go in UNI! Put us ashore, sab,
quick. ="
The others heard this startling declar.
alton with various feelings, but every
eye was upon the Captain. They saw
his face darken. and his little eyes
shine like Goals. He stood motionless
as post, his head slightly thrown
back. AID his right hand thrust into
the breast of his tightly-buttoned coat.
He spoke low, but there was danger
Gus rasp in his voice
MIR. Hardy, get pair of handouts.
Shackle that man. and confine him be.
low three days on bread and water
There was low muttering among
the negroes as the mate started tc
obey the order. The balance of the
crew edged back little, as though
they wanted to be out of the way Of
the impending trouble. Dick Purvis
stood aside, somewhat nearer the Cap
tain. holding capstan-bar behind
him. To his surprise and delight, he
found Jose Gardez by his side with an.
other such bar in his hand. nodding his
head to him, as much as to say: I'm
with you.'' The Mate stood close up
to the Captain when he spoke, and i'm
mediately started for the handouts.
| The strain and suspense of such a
moment is exquisitely painful. All on
that deck felt it, though with different
thoughts and emotions. The mate
was certainly not gone two minutes
but the time that passed before his
head emerged above the deck as he
ran up the cabin-stairs seemed al
age.
| The attitude and appearance of one
man there ought to be mentioned. This
was Louis Hunter. He stood at the
right of the Captain, leaning up against
the quarter-rail, smoking cigarette
He looked on as carelessly as though
he had not the slightest interest in
what occurred.
| The mate went directly to the negro
| "Hold out your hands," he said.
| With motion like flash. the fell
low seized the handouts and tossed
chem overheard. One sweep of his
powerful arm thrust the mate aside.
His clasp-knife was plucked from his
~aistband. opened and brandished