The Opelousas courier., 1891-05-16

Iinhes3 sd1u the captain. "IAereS no
part of the boat where Watkins wouldn't
stow people for the sake of getting bust
ness. hope we'll make as good time
IS We did coming down"
There's no depending on that ma
chine" said Starr.
'she looks pretty well now," said the
Captain.
Eyes, Billy has polished her up pretty
bright" But he shook his head as he
spoke.
"Well, do your best, boys, to get her
through on time" said the Captain,
walking slowly away, coughing as he
went.
Promptly at the hour the start was
made. The complicated old engine.
creaked and strained as its many parts
were put in motion. Starr handled the
engine. l stood by ready to give assist
ance.
When we were off, | never saw the
Occident engine work more smoothly.
With a good pressure of steam, the vari-
u parts click clacked merrily, and the
boat moved ahead at a good rate.
l stood the first watch. Before Starr
retired, he went to look for the Naviga-
ton Company's boat, but returned and
said that he could not seen ten feet from
the guard.
About half an hour afterward l sat
down upon the broad, cushioned seat
beside the boy, keeping my eye upon the
engine. There were not many moments
during the whole trip when either Starr
or myself was not watching that engine.
"Please, sir, how soon before we get
there?"
The little girl was fast asleep, but the
boy was sitting bolt upright. They were
healthy-looking children, poorly but
neatly dressed-the little girl very pref
tt, with a tangle Of brown curls about
her flushed face as she lay asleep in the
corner.
"Where are you going2" [ asked.
"To Seattle, and we want to get there
awful quick, if you please, sir"
"What's your hurry2"I asked, amused
at the boys earnestness.
eMother hasn't seen Ally and me for
more than four monthsl" said he, con-
IDENTIFY.
elbows that" | asked.
"Why, you see, father and mother
moved up to Seattle and left us with
grandma till they got settled. We were
going by the other line"
"Were you, indeed! And what
changed your minds2"
"Oh, the purser met grandma on the
dock, and said he'd take care of us, and
he just kind of run us on this boat. It's
a good boat, isn'Ait?"
/ smiled, knowing Harry Watkins's
way of picking up spassengers.
"And who's to meet you in seattle?'
"Oh, mother. She's expecting US, and
won't be far off, | guess. She said in
her last letter she was most crazy to
see me and Ally. My father he's got a
job at fishing on the Sound. He's a
great fisherman. He's caught salmon SO
long"
The boy stretched out his arms to
their utmost extent.
Just then Harry Watkins looked in
over the half-door.
"Of all the nights I ever saw IN the
Sound,n he said, stthis is the worst. |
thought Columbia Riyer fog couldn't be
beaten, but it's nothing to this. Hullo!
How are the children getting along2
You ought to have seen how | got those
two passengersl Their grandmother was
bound to send them by the Navigation
boat; but I rushed her over to our ticket
office, and became personally responsible
for the saene1elivery CT those young
ones
He eyed them solemnly as he spoke.
"Heyl but we're stepping off lively to-
night, Ell? Navigation boat away be-
hind"
.sYes, she's doing pretty well to-
night" [ said, s1but there's no telling
how long it will last. She's very uncer-
tain.n
"Well, I'll relieve you Of these chill
aren now, Billy; and much obliged for
faking care of 'em. But what I'm to dc
swith the youngsters I don't know.
They've seconts 5class tickets, only.
sdon't like to turn them in with that
acrowd."
s.Leave them here" I said. "I'l be
on duty till We get o seattle. It's apity
ito disturb the little girl, and there's room
enough for the boy to sleep on the seat.
They won't be in nv way"
esAll right" said he, s'I'l just make
q pillow for the little girl, and settle the
boy right
He opened the door and came in. In
a few minutes he had arranged a very
comfortable bed for both.
ooh, I'm used to it, he said. I'm
tie Oldest of a family of nine. This il
the most comfortable place in the boat.
~ wouldn't like to have anything
happen to these children" saidth purseTl
seriously, pausing at the door. dom
know what makes me-leel so, but III
never take the responsibility of doing
anything like this again. It's all right
for people. who voluntarily take theil
chances with us, but to force children.
with no one in particular to look aftel
them, on board this boat, is anotheI
thing"
Watkins went away, glancing back a
the children.
In q short time the boat settled down
into comparative quiet. The cha*tering
Of the Cinnamon ceased, the thpnping
caused by the men moving the freight
was stilIed and nothing was heard but
the Kissing Of the steam, the clucking O
the engine and the paddles beating th'