Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-08-30

at once. and that made him even mora
friendly. And you should have seen the
steak that man cooked. He must have
been Q mess cook in his younger dsys.
He didn't apologize or praise 1t, but took
good care to show my appreciation by eat
ing plenty, and he showed he had noticed
the compliment by producing some real
good liquor and pipes when we had fn-
ishsd eating.
Now If had been with men of my own
age when this stage of the proceedings ar
rived, there would have been plenty of
talking and lively jokes going the rounds,
with Captain Jones. I haven't ENJOYED
the society of men of fifty or thereabouts
who have been everywhere and know
lots-for four years without learning how
to get them talking.
In the hrst place there must not be any
hurry about 1t. That would be altogether
too obvious.
The burly old fellow knows well what
you are after, but to say "tell us q story"
Is to make him go Immediately into his
shell, and 1t takes q great deal Of time and
tact to draw him ont again, IL. indeed 1t
can be done at all, which is doubtful.
If the major or the colonel, or the cap
tain, does not throw out some sort of q
starter, little hint on your part like az
was reading about SO and SO yesterday" /"
or "that picture reminds me, &c." viii
nearly always do the business. Than he
will say, "Yes, when was there in 80
they had much better dock than they have
now" and you say, "Ohi was you thsrei
Did You know so-and-soi" and then you
are fairly started.
The captain was the hardest to draw of
any have met, but when I told him
had heard of q man who could swim
across the East river In the strongest tide
and while the big sound boats were churn-
ing 1t into twenty foot waves and back
again, he started In and told me lies to my
hearts content. There was no plot, to
speak of, to any of his yarns; they were
just gigantic lies.
1t was early when I went home, but /
had had time to drink enough to make me
feel an almost overwhelming desire to lie
down on the comfortable sand. I did
manage to get there at last and throw my
self on the divan without undressing,
where / went Immediately to eleep to
dream of Pstsgonisns a mile high carry
ing sea serpents of fantastic shapes and
wearing silk hats.
awoke. The moon was shining
through the open window, through which
came quite chilly sea breeze. stood mp.
Oh-there-that shspe-blsck-blsck and
round-shining under the window-my
knees trembled-I tottered and nearly
fell. I managed some how to get my
carving knife and crept noiselessly to the
window, but my heart sank and turned
away. When I looked again the mon
ster was still there. Again crept to
the window and stesdied myself against
the sill. I leaned far out to stab 1t In
the belly, where thought the akin would
be soft, but my proximity to the horri-
BILE beast nearly overcame me and felt
myself falling. With weak jsb and q
despairing shrek 1 fell out and rolled
over the black mass on to the piazza.
When regained consciousness Scraps
was licking my hand, which hung over
the edge of the piazza. never had
such fright in my life. How I ever
mustered courage to attack the sea ser
pent do not know. must have been
very drunk, and it was only my own
water cask after all.
SIDNEY ARTHUR Gross.