The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-11


question. At last, after deal of hag-
Cling, he agreed that if next day l liked
the look Of the craft, l would pay them
eighty lire down, and give them another
ten lire on their landing me safely at
Cstrera.
1t was now getting late, so we separ-
ated, on the understanding that l was to
scaet Bartolo at the same place in the
morning at eight.
was there at the appointed hour, and
found him waiting for me. His cousin,
he said, had gone on board, and was get
ting things in order, as they were to sail
at six that evening.
After walking a mile among sea of
masts and sails of all colors and shapes,
we at last got to Bartolo's ship. She
was small coasting felucca with large
lateen sail, Of the kind so common in
the Mediterranean. Antonio and the
man had first spoken to the night be-
fore were busy slowing away miscel-
laneous cargo of grain, fruit and baccala,
or dried stockfsh, which it is to be
hoped tastes better than it smells.
l stepped on board and was shown my
cabin, if such it could be called. 1t was
in the forepart of the ship, and close to
the mast. l entered it through anarrow,
dark hatchway, and down ladder of
six or seven steps; and when got to the
bottom had to bend almost double, as
it was simply square box about four
feet high and six feet wide. Bartolo
had certainly not lied when he made me
understand that l should have to rough
1t. In one corner was wooden bunk,
with dirty sheepskin laid over it..
Furniture there was none; there was a
horrid smell of bilge water about the
whole place, and the only light came
through the open hatchway. Altogether
most uninviting place; but, rejecting
that it was only for one night, and that,
the weather being fine, should prob
| ably pass most of the time on deck, l
settled to sail with them, and to be on
/ board again at $50. i now went on deck
for look round. There were three
separate hatchways. In the middle one
they were storing away the cargo and
the one aft was used by the crew.
| | walked to the town and killed some
time by looking into the different shop
windows. | was much attracted by a
gunmaker's who displayed a great variety
OF arms. don't know what first put it
into my head, but while gazing at these
weapons, the thought suddenly struck
me, that as | knew nothing of the men
to whom l was trusting myself, it might
| perhaps be as we'll to have some weapon
| of defense about me. True that in my
traveling-bag carried life preserver
given me years ago, which had slept
there harmlessly ever since; but still a
revolver would be more useful, in case
of accidents: so l walked into the shop,
| and after looking several of them over
ended by purchasing a small one, with
packet of cartridges.
l now went to the hotel to pack up my
traps. wished only to take what would
go into my traveling-ba so turned out
every thing | thought useless. In doing
| so, l came across the life-preserver; |
was about to chuck it aside, when 1
thought l might as we'll take it, and re-
placed it In the bag.
My arrangements were soon complete.
/ called the hotcl-keeper and told him
was going away for two or three days,
and proposed to leave the remainder of
my baggage in his charge. l then dined,
paid my bill, and, bag in hand, strolled
down again to the port.
All on board was ready for sailing
Bartolo came up at once and asked me
for the eighty lire which had agreed
to pay in advance, as he said they had to
complete some purchases before leaving
| At six o'clock sharp we left the har-
Dor, with fair wind; il was beautiful
evening, not cloud was to be seen, and
soon after dark glorious moon rose out
of the sea. l sat on deck smoking my
cigar and enjoying the tranquility of
the scene, while being famed by the
soft sea breeze.
The crew consisted of Bartolo, his
cousin. the tall man called Beppo, and a
boy called Gigi.
For Italians they were not a sociable
lot. l tried several times to get into
conversation, but they seemed rather to
avoid me, and continually whispered to
each other in mysterious way. This
somewhat disquieted my mind, and l
could not help rejecting that | had per-
haps done a foolish thing in trusting
myself to their tender mercies. No one
knew of my expedition. had paid them
in advance, and they were sailing out of
their course to please me. What was to
prevent them from numbering me and
throwing me overheard, and then con-
tinuing their regular journey without
any one being the wiser?
l am not nervous, nor do I believe
in presentiments; but the longer l sat
there the more would these lugubrious
thoughts creep over me, until, feeling
rather chilly, went down to my cabin.
1t looked an awful place at night, and
more like a vault than any thing l could
think of. l undid my bag and caught
sight of my revolver, which 1 had for
gotten until now. This somewhat reas-
sured me and l loaded it carefully. /
then pulled out the life-preserver, and,
placing these two friendly weapons by
my side, l lay down on my bunk without
undressing.
Looking up, 1 could see the broad
lateen sail, through the hatchway, with
the moon shining brightly on the white
sheet. All was perfectly still, and ]
fancied that two of the crew must have
gone down to sleep, leaving the third
| MON OF tho uhaal ond ha Io,, b 1oo1,