Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-09-08

taking IL OUT In freight. readily
foresaw that VIC should be a wet shin,
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.
However, In spite OF being over
loaded, the Grosvenor had beaten
every. thing coming down the river
that day.
camo aft, rs ! have said, after leay-
Ing the cook, and finding that the skip
per had gone below with tho pilot. |
went down the companion ladder To
tho cuddy. followed by Ducking. IL
was dusk in the cabin and the iamps
were III, although 1t was still daylight
upon tho sea. The skippr sat near
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 / seated ourselves nj
the table. "Thero's breeze coming
up from tho sou'west, sir" said he to
the captain, "but | don't think there's
enough of 1t to swing the ship"
"Let 1t come favorable, and wo'n
get under way at once answered
Coxon. "Mr. Royle, what's going
forward among tho mcnP 1 heard
them cursing pretty freely when they
were up alOft."
They are complaining Of tho ship's
provisions, sir," replied Tho cook
gave mo u biscuit just now, and
promised to show 1t to you
Saying which / pulled tho biscuit
out OF my pocket and put il upon the
table. lie contracted his bushy eve
brows, and. without looking ut tho bis
cult, stared angrily at me.
"liark you, Mr. Roylcr' said he, in
a voice found dctcstablo for tho
snccring contempt IL conveyed. al
allow no officer that sails under mo to
become II conlidant Of my crew. DO
you underestimate
flushed up rs answered that was
no coniidant Of the crew; that tho cook
had stopped me to explain the mems
grievance, and that | had asked him
Tor biscuit to show tho captain ns "A
sample Of the ships bread which tho
was serving out.
ITS very good bread" said the oh.
sequious pilot, taking up tho biscuit
while ho wiped the butter out Of tho
corners Of his mouth.
Eat It thcnl" | exclaimed.
At this CoNon flew into rage. EAT
I YOURSELF he cried with violent
oath. "IOi're used to that kind OF
are. should think, and like It, or YOU
youldn bo bringing it into the cuddy
II your pocket, would you, sirP'
] made him no answer saw that
)uckling sided with the captain and
bought II would be n bad look ont for
no to bagin the voyage with quarrel
Ill trouble you to return that bis.
nit TO tao blackguarl who gave it t,
on, AMI tell him 10 present Captain
'oXnn = respects to the men anl tell
hem II they object to the ships bread.
hey re- welcome 10 take their meals
nth tho pigs in the long Joat."
| malo what dispatch might with
~ tea, not much desiring to re-
lain IN company with CONun in his
resent temper / fancy he grow n
tile ashamed OF himself presently, for
o soiIcncd his voice and now and
gam glanced across Mt me.
As soon rs possible | quilted the
lblc, giving COXon bow rs arose.
Inch he returned with II sort of half
'ham'd stiffness. and repaired TO my
lbin TO get my pipe for n half hours
lioymcnt on deck. Having procured
nd lii 10 stepped on tho forccastlo 10
% that the lamps were all right and
lat there was II man on the lookout.
he crew were In tho forccastlc, talk.
s in subducd voices aud the hot ain
AT came up through the scuttl1 was
tolorablo rs | passed 1t. then 70.
unod tho poop, and seated mysclI
)on tho rail leading from the main
'yal aud top-gnllant masts
Tho sun had gone down now, and
Ny faint traces OF daylight remained
the westward.
Tho inmates Of the cuddy still kept
cir seats and their voices camo ont
rough the open sky-lights. heard
lpiain CONon say:
81 should like to know what sort of
fellow they have given mo for see
III mate. He strikes me rs coming
o gentleman II trillc, don't he, Duck
To which the other replied: "IIo
ems civll-spokcn young man, and %
to his work. But guess there's too
lch molasses mixed with his blood to
il my book
The pilot laughed. and said: Heres
ur health, sir. Men of your kind are
lntcd nowadays, sir. "
1t was plain from this speech that
. pilot had exchanged his tea for
netting stronger, The captain hero
gan 10 speak, hut | couldn't catch
words, though strained my ears,
was anxious TO gain all tho in
'ht | could into his character that
ght know how to shape my beha-
n, &
say this for n very woighty reason !
| was entirely dependent on the pro- /,
sion had adopted. | knew it was
tho power of any captain sailed !
tn to injurc me, and perhaps ruin
7 prospects, Every thing in soafar- 3
: life depends upon reports and tcs- l
lonials; and in these DAYS, when de- l
md for officers is utterly dspropor- I
nuto To the immense supply, owners !
only too willing to listen TO obicc- q
MS and take amy shippers word rs I
excuse to decline your services or get !
pf you, n
Neither the Captain nor Mr.. Duckling d
ppared ON deck again. Tho pilot II
me up and looked about him, but n
'k no notice of me, although | was I
plain sig lat, and after looking about a
d few minutes returned below. =