The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-29
GOING ON BOARD.

It was a wet, dreary night in that
cherries part Of the great metropolis
known as Wrapping. The rain, which
had been falling heavily for hours, still
fell steadily on to the sloppy pavements
and roads, and joining forces in the gut
ter rushed impetuously to the nearest
sewer. The two or three streets which
had wedged themselves in between the
docks and the river, and which, as mat
ter Of fact, really comprise the begin
ming and end of Wrapping, were DESERT
ed, except for belated van crashing
over the granite roads or the chance
form of dock laborer plodding logged
" along, with head bent in distaste for
the rain and hands sunk in trousers
pockets.
.sBeastly night" said Captain Bing, as
he rolled out of the private bar OF the
Sailors Friend, and ignoring the pres
ence of the step. took little hurried
run across the pavement. mot fit for
dog to be out in"
He kicked, as he spoke, at shivering
cur which was looking in at the crack
of the bar door, with a hazy view OF
calling its attention to the matter, and
then pulling up the collar of his rough
peajacket stepped boldly out into the
rain. Three or four minutes walk, or
rather roll, brought him to a dark, mar
row passage, which ran between two
houses to the waterside. By slight
tack to starboard at critical moment,
he struck the channel safely, and fol-
lowed it until it ended in a fight of old
stone steps, half of which were under
water.
Where forY' inquired man, starting
up from small penthouse formed Of
rough pieces of board.
'sSchooner in the tier-Smiling Jane
said the captain gruffly, as he stumbled
clumsily into boat and sat down in the
stern. eWhy don't you have better
seats in this ERE boat?"
ssThey're there, if you'll look for them, :"
said the waterman; land you'll find 'em
easier sitting than that bucket"
"Why don't you put 'em where man
can see 'em?" inquired the captain rails
ing his voice little.
The other opened his mouth to reply,
but realizing that it would only lead to
long and utterly futile argument, con-
tented himself with asking his fare to
trim the boat better, and pushing off
from the steps, pulled strongly through
the dark, lumpy water. The tide was
strong, SO that they made but slow prog
ress.
when l was young man, said the
fare with severity, ''ld ha' pulled this
boat across and back afore now"
when you was a young man, said the
man at the oars, who had a local repu-
tation as wit, there wasn't no boats;
they was all Noah's arks then"
''Stow your gab," said the captain,
after pause of deep thought.
The other, whose besetting sin was
certainly not loquacity, elected thin
stream of tobacco juice over the side,
spat on his hands, and continued his la
borious work until crowd of dark
shapes surmounted by network Of rig
ging doomed up before them.
"Now, which is your little barge?" he
inquired, Juggling strongly to maintain
his position against the fast flowing tide
'sSmiling Jane," said his fare.
s"Ah," said the waterman, Smiling
Jane, is it? You sit there, cap'en, an
IN row round all their sterns while you
strike matches and look at the names.
Well have quite nice little evening""
'sThere she u.s." cried the captain, who
was too muddled to notice the sarcasm;
ssthere's the little beauty. Steady, my
lad"
He reached out his hand as he spoke.
and as the boat Jared violently against
a small schooner seized rope which
hung over the side, and swaying to and
fro fumbled in his pocket for the fare.
ssSteady, old boy" said the waterman
affectionately. He had just received
twopence halfpenny and shilling by
mistake for threepence. easy up the
side. You amt such a pretty figger as
you was when your old woman made
such bad bargain"
The captain paused in his climb, and
posing himself ON one foot, gingerly felt
for his tormentor's head with the other.
Not finding it, he flung his leg over the
bulwark and gained the deck of the
vessel as the boat swung round with the
tide and disappeared in the darkness.
..All turned in," said the captain, gaz-
ing owlishly at the deserted deck.
swell, there's good hour an half
afore we start; I'll turn in too"
He walked slowly aft, and sliding back
the companion hatch descended into a
small evil smelling cabin, and stood feel
ing in the darkness for the matches.
They were not to be found, and growl-
ing profanely he felt his way to the
stateroom and turned in all standing.
It was still dark when he awoke, and
hanging over the edge of the bunk eau
tiously felt for the floor with his feet,
and having found it stood thoughtfully
scratching his head. which seemed to
have swollen to abnormal proportions.
'sTime they were getting under weigh,
he said at length, and CROPPING his way