Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-11-02

or six dusky figured pattercd up on to.
the deck, and in a minute or two later
the harsh clank of the windlass echoed
far and wide.
The captain took the wheel. A fat
and very sleepy seaman put up the side
lights, and the schooner, detaching
itself by the aid of boathooks and
tenders from the neighboring craft,
moved slowly down with the tide. The
men, in response to the captains fervent
orders, climbed aloft, and sail after sail
was spread to the gentle brtcze.
s'H! you there" cried the captain to
one of the men who stood near him coil
ing up some loose line.
''Sir?" said the man.
sfWhere is the mater" inquired the
captain.
ssMan with red whiskers and pimply
nose?' said the man interrogatively.
"That's him to a hair" answered the
other.
"Ain't seen him since he took me on
at H." said the man.
"How many new hands are thereT
81 b'lieve we're all fresh," was the re-
ply. 81 don't believe some of 'em have
ever smelt salt water"
'sThe mates been at it again" said the
captain warmly; ''that's what he has.
He's done it afore and got left behind.
Them what can't stand drink, my man,
shouldn't take it; remember that
s'sHe said he wasn't going to sail till
Wen'sday," remarked the man, who
found the captains attitude rather try
ing.
.t'Hell get sacked; that's what he'll
get" said the captain warmly. Il shall
report as soon as l get ashore"
The subject exhausted, the seaman re-
turned to his5work, and the captain con-
tinued steering in moody silence.
Slowly, slowly darkness gave way to
light The different portions of the
craft, instead of all being blurred into
one, took upon themselves shape, and
gray of the breaking day. But the lighter
it became, the harder the skipper stared
and rubbed his eyes, and looked from
the deck to the flat marshy shore, and
from the shore back to the deck again.
Here, come here" he cried, beckon-
ing to one Of the crew.
"Yessir," said the man advancing.
There's something in enc of my
eyes, f;ltered the skipper. Il can't
see straight; everything seems mixed
up. Now, speaking deliberate and with
out any hurry. which side O the ship do
you say the cooks galley's on:"
''Starboard," said the man promptly.
eying him with astonishment.
'.StarboarI." repeated the other softly.
HE says starboard. and that's what it
seems to me- My lad, yesterday morn
ing it was ON the port side"
The seaman received this astounding
communication with calmness, but as q
slight concession to appearances said
LORI
Sand the water cask," said the skip
per; 'what color is it,"
'sGreen," said the man.
Mot white?" inquired the skipper.
leaning heavily upon the wheel.
"Whitish green," said the man, who
always believed in keeping in with his
superior officers.
The captain swore at him.
By this time two OF three of the crew
who had overheard part of the conversa-
ton had collected aft, and now stood in
a small wondering knot before their
strange captain.
MY lads" said the latter, moistening
his dry lips with his tongue, Il mean no
nanes-I don't know 'em yet-and cast
no suspicious. but somebody has been
painting up and altering this ere craft,
and twisting things about until a man
I'D hardly know her. Now what's the
little gamer
There was no answer, and the cap
tain. WHO was seeing things clearer and
clearer in The rowing light, got paler
and pallcr.
Il must be going crazy he NUT
tered. is this the Smiling Jane, or am
I dreaining?'
1T amt the Smiling Jane said one
of the scalren: ''leastways," he added
cautiously, ''ir wasn't when came
aboard"
.--lvt ,he Smiling Jane?' roared the
skipper. "W bat is it, then?'
"Why, the Mary Ann" chorused the
astonished crew.
"My lads" faltered the agonized cap
tain, after a long pause. "My lads"
lie stopped and swallowed something in
his throat. 1--WE been and brought
away the. wrong ship" he continued,
with an effort; ''that's what I've done.
must have been bewitched."
"Well, who's having a little game
now?" inquired voice.
Somebody else'll be sacked as well as
the mate" said another.
1--WE must take her back" said the
captain, raising his voice to drown these
mutterings. "All hands stand by to
shorten sail"
The bewildered crew went to their
posts, the captain gave his orders in
voice which had never been SO subdued
and mellow since it broke at the age OF
fourteen, and the Mary Ann took in sail,
and dropping her anchor waited patiently
for the turning of the tide.
Il
The church bells in Wrapping and
Rotherhithe were just striking the hour
of midday-though they were heard by
few above the noisy din of workers ON
wharves and ships-as a short, stout
captain and mate with red whiskers
and pimply nose stood up in water
mans boat in the center of the river and
gazed at each other in blank astonish-
ment.
'sShe's gone-clean gone," murmured
the bewildered captain. g..
"Clean as whistle" said the mate.
1.-THE new hands must ha' run away
with her. 81
Then the bereayed captain raised his
voice and pronounced a pathetic and
beautiful eulogy on the departed vessel,
somewhat marred by an appendix in
which he consigned the new hands, their
heirs and descendants to every conceiy-