Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-07-25

was cheaply vanished mahogany; q
fixed table ran from the mizzen-mast to
within a few feet of the cuddy front,
and on either side this table was a
stout hair-covered bench. Abaft the
mizzen-mast were the two cabins re-
spectively occupied by Captain Coxon
and Mr.. Duckling. My own cabin was
just under the break of the poop, so
that from the window init Icould look
out upon the main-deck. A couple OF
broad skylights, well protected with
brass wire-fenders, let plenty of light
into the cuddy; and swinging trays
across the skylights when the sun beat
upon them, completed the furniture OF
this part. of the vessel. -
We could very well have carried
few passengers, and / never learned
why we did not; but it may, perhaps,
have happened that nobody was going
cur way at the time we were advertised
to sail. nj
We were bound to Valparaiso with
general cargo consisting chiefly OF
TOYS, hardware, Birmingham and Shelf
field cutlery, and metal goods, and
stock of piano-fortes. The ship to my
thinking, was too deep, as though the
owners had compensated themselves
for the want Of passenger-money by
taking it OUT in freight. l readily
foresaW that we should be a wet ship,
and that we should labor more than
was comfortable in heavy sea. The
steerage was packed with light good,
bird cages, and such things--but
space was left in the 'tween-decks
though the cargo came flush with the
deck in the hold.
in of
loaded, the Grosvenor had beaten
every thing coming down the river
that day.
came aft, as have said, after leav-
ing the cook, and finding that the skip
per had gone below with the pilot, /
went down the companion ladder to
the cuddy. followed by Duckling. 1t
was dusk in the cabin and the lamps
were lit, although it was still daylight
upon the sea. The skipper sat neal
the mizzen mast stirring the sugar in a
cup of tea. The coarse little pilot was
eating bread and butter voraciously,
his great whiskers moving as he
worked his jaws.
Duckling and I seated ourselves al
the table. "There's breeze coming
up from the SOU west, SIR" said he tc
the captain, "but I don't think there's
enough of it to swing the ship"
"Let it come favorable, and wei
get under way at once" answered
Coxon. "Mr. Royle, what's goins
forward among the menp I heard
them cursing pretty freely when the.
were up aloft." -sa>~rrsaeas
"They are complaining of the ship
provisions, SIR" replied. "The cool
gave me biscuit just now, and
promised to show it to you" 'es
Saying which I pulled the biscuit
out of my pocket and put it upon tn
table. He contracted his bushY eye
brows, and, without looking at the bis
cult, stared angrily at me.
"Hark you, Mr.. Royle!" said he, il
a voice I found detestable for tn
sneering contempt it conveyed. ''
allow no officer that sails under me t
become confidant of my crew. D
, you understand" -rs~-~-- --s>p'ts
A flushed up as answered that wa
. no confdant of the crew; that the COO
5 had stopped me to explain the men
grievance, and that had asked hill
| for biscuit to show the captain as
: sample of the ships bread which tn
t steward was serving out.
r "It's very good bread" said the oil
seouious pilot, taking up the biscu
] while he wiped the butter out of til
J.; corners of his mouth. ~ ......7.
}. "Eat it thenr' l exclaimed. i
e At this Coxon flew into rage. "E:
J it YOURSELF" he cried with a violel
g oath. you're used to that kind I
d fare, should think, and like it, or yo
g wouldn't be bringing it into the cudd
o in your pocket, would you, sir?"
p made him no answer. saw tn
? Duckling sided with the captain an
/" thought it would be bad look out fl
e me to begin the voyage with quarre
l, I'm trouble you to return that bi
J cult to the BLACKBOARD who gave it
q you, and tell him TO present CAPITA
- Coxon's respects to the men and te
I; them if they object to the ships brea
; they're welcome to take their mea
: with the pigs in the long boat"
~ made what dispatch 1 might wi
;. my tea, not much desiring to T
r main in company with Coxon in b
% present temper. I fancy he grew
d little ashamed of himself presently, f
J" he softened his voice and now az
At again glanced across at me.
(. AS soon as possible I quilted Il
A, table, giving Coxon a bow as l aros
ST which he returned with a sort of hs
,r ashamed stiffness, and repaired to n
10 cabin to get my pipe for half houl
10 enjoyment on deck. Having procur
at and lit it stepped on the forecastle
see that the lamps were all right al
that there was man on the look4ol
The crew were in the forecastle, tai
ID ing in subdued voices and the hot
e. that came up through the scuttle W
intolerable as passed it. I then !
~ gained tho poop, and seated mys,
ID upon the rail leading from the mai
i. royal and top-gallant masts. s4s=-sssa
re E. The sun had gone down now, Al
g, only faint traces of daylight remain
I'd in the westward. ~--a~-~~ ~<s--~~1=-
in The inmates of the cuddy still Ike
IS their seats and their voices came c
q through the open sky-lights. I hea
re Captain Coxon say: 8 s2yiz sssV7''
Up al should like to know what sort
=, a fellow they have given me for 81
- .ond mate. He strikes me as conf
ed the gentleman trifle, don't he, Duo