The Globe-republican., 1892-12-16
CHATTER 1.

CHAPTER 1.
n 10 IN episode Of ocean life, now
good many years old; but human ns
ture was the same then as it is now, anc
indeed, the older I grow the more fin
human nature the same now as 1t wa
then.
Business had carried me to the Eas
ladies. had visited Madras, whence
bad proceeded to Calcutta, and fror
Calcutta had made my way to Rangoon
I stayed in that place month, by whicl
time my health had suffered SO great,
nom the climate that made up m,
mind to return to Europe in a sailing
ship that might spend many long week
among the fresh breezes of the sea ant
get all the benefit could out Of the in
eessant changes OF climate which ,
round the Cape of Good Hope and VI
the Atlantic provides you with.
There was full-rigged ship lying a,
Rangoon, called the Biddy McDougal,
heard. that would suit my convenience
and as she looked comfortable, stout
ship, inquired the name Of the agent
called upon him and asked il could get
passage to England by his vessel. He
London; she was not q passenger ship,
but the captain would no doubt be glad
to accommodate me with a cabin. The
charge would be so much. 1 forget the
figure, but recollect that it was moder-
ate, something short Of e4O. For this
money 1 was to live on such provisions
As were served up at the captains table.
but the spirits and wine might need I
must myself lay in.
Next day 1 went aboard the Biddy
MeDougal to inspect her cabin accom-
mediation. On climbing over the gang
way I was received by a tall, rather
good-looking man, with face remark
able for its expression Of sternness. His
skin was blackened by exposure to the
sun and weather, and another shade of
dye would have qualified him to pass
for q native. He frOwned as he survey
cd me, and inquired my business on
board.
Il am going to England in this ship"
said, "and have come to see what
sort Of cabin l am to sleep in.
oh, beg pardon!" he exclaimed, but
without relaxing his stern expression
I thought" broke off and muttered
behind his teeth.
Who are yOu?" said I; the mate?"
NO, sir, am the captain"
"Oh, indeed" I exclaimed. Pray,
what name?"
Mr.. Wilson, he answered. 1T is a
fashion among the merchant seamen
who obtain command to style them
selves captain. 1t Is piece Of imper-
thence. The only captains at sea are
In the royal navy. merchant skipper
is master mariner. All merchant cap
tains are misters. am plain Mr.. vii.
son. at your service, sir"
He spoke with considerable heat, but
was willing to attribute his temper to
the weather, which was certainly very
trying. And then. again, his men might
have given him trouble, for numerous
and deep are the worries and anxieties |
OF the British shipmaster. Much is ex-
pected Of him and little is given. His |
crew is slender and ignorant; it charge
upon him every outrage that is perpe-
trated by the owner, and often would |
the men be glad to cut his throat before
the land is out OF sight; he has no pro-
prospects, and when at last he
runs his ship ashore or loses her in a
gale Of wind or by fire and is compelled
BY court OF inquiry to withdraw from
the vocation which he has pursued, il
not adorned. man and boy, for perhaps
forty years, there is no other port under
his lee for him to bring up in than the
at Belvedere, which, 1 re-
greet to say, Is always In want of funds
and always ilconvenieltly full.
Therefore It was that when Mr.. Will
Jon spoke with heat about ship-mas-
sers styling themselves captains made
allowances. as the phrase goes. and,
after briefly aQuiescing in his views, re-
quested to be allowed to see the cabin
the agent had offered me. ! viewed
that cabin, and found it small and ILL
lighted, but, on the whole, it was bet
Ter cabin than had expected to find on
board such a ship as the Biddy McDou-
gal. The stateroom, In which the meals
we're taken, was tolerably cheerful in
terror, very plainly furnished, with a
large skylight over the table, stove for
cold weather, a lamp, clock in the sky
light, and q big telescope in the COM
There were three cabins
forward and two cabins abaft My
cabin was forward, on the starboard
side
Mr.. Wilson and went on deck, and
We stood conversing a while under the
shelter OF an awning. inquired as to
the number of the crew, the time the
ship had occupied in making the out
ward passage. and so on, and then went
ashore. understanding that the vessel
would not sail for another week.
Three days later paid second visit
10 the ship, for by this time I had pur-
chased what needed, and wished to
see where the cases and parcels had
been slowed. On stepping on board 1
beheld an immensely stout, red-faced
man with a white straw hat on his head,
dressed in white drill, seated in q chair
with poles attached to it under the short
awning, which sheltered portion of the
Two or three sailors were
in the fore part of the ship.
There was no work apparently doing.
looked for Mr.. Wilson, the master, ard
seeing nothing Of him. directed my
eyes In search OF any man who might
the mate.
Pray, what's your business, called
out the stout, red-faced man, without
att mpting to rise.
I wish to see the captain" said 1.
Well; you are looking at him, he an
swered.