The Russellville Democrat., 1893-12-21

tain. BLAMED if | thought |
should taste pea soup again"
Herrick sat inert and silent. 1t
was impossible after these months of
hopeless want to smell the rough,
high-spiced sea victuals without lust,
and his mouth watered
with desire Of the cham
paigne. 1t was no LEGS inn
possible to have assisted at the scene
between Hush and the captain, and
not to perceive with sudden blunt
ness, the gulf where he had fallen.
He was thief smong thieves. He
said it to himself He could not
touch the soup. Ii he had moved
at all it must have been to leave the
table, throw himself overheard and
drown-an honest man.
Here" said the captain, "you
look sick, old man have a drop of
this.
The champagne creamed and
dubbed in the mug its bright color,
its lively effervescence, seized his
eye. SIT is too late to hesitate" he
thought; his hand took the mug in
stinctively; he drank withpnquench-
able pleasure and desire for more !;
drained the vessel dry and set it
down with sparkling eyes.
"There is something in life, after
ALL" he cried. 81 had forgot what
it was like. Yes, even this is worth
while. Wine, food, dry clothes
why, they're worth dying, worth
hanging fort Captain, tell me one
thing. Why aren't all the poor
folk footpadsf''
"Give it up" said the captain.
"They must be damned good, !"
cried Herrick. "There's something
here beyond me. Think of that cal
ahoosel Suppose we were sent sud
denly back )" He shuddered as
though stung by convulsion and
buried his face in his clutching
hands.
"Here, what's wrong with youi"
cried the Captain. There was no
reply, only Herrick's shoulders
heaved so that the table was shaken.
Take some more of this. Here,
drink this. | order you to. Don't
start crying when you're out of the
wood"
"I'm not crying" said Herrick,
raising his face and showing his dry
eyes. "It's worse than crying. It's
the horror of that grave that we've
escaped from"
"Come, now, you tackle your
soup; that'll fix you" said Davis
kindly. 81 told you you were all
broken up You couldn't have
stood out another week"
"That's the dreadful part of It'll"
cried Herrick. "Another week and
I'D have murdered some one for a
dollar God and | know that !
And Pm still livingf It's some
beastly dream"
"Quietly, quietly Quietly does
it, my son. Take your pea soup.
Food, that's what you want" said
Davis.
The soup strengthened and
quieted Herrick's nerves; another
glass of wine and a piece of picked
pork and fried banana completed
what the soup began; and he was
able once more to look the captain
in the face.
81 didn't know was so much
run down." he said.
"Well," said Davis, "you were
as steady as rock all day; now
you've had a little lunch, you'll be
as steady as a rock again. "
Eyes" was the reply. "I'm
steady enough now, but I'm queer
kind Of first officer"
"Shucksl" cried the captain.
you've only got to mind the ships
course, and keep your slate to half
a point. A baby could do that, let
alone a college graduate like you.
There amt nothing to sailoring,
when You come to look it in the
face. And now Wen go and put
her about Bring the slate; we'll
have to start our dead reckoning
right away.
The distance run since the de
parture was read off the log by the
pinnacle light and entered on the
slate.
Ready, about !" said the captain.
'EGive me the wheel, white man, and
you stand by the mainsheet. Boom
tackle, Mr.. Hay, please, and then
you can jump forward and attend
head sails"
"Ay, ay, sill" responded Her.
rick.
San clear forward f''asked Davis.
"All clear, sir.
"Hard alec" cried the captain.
"Haul in your slack as she comes"
he called to Hush. "Hanl in your
:, ~; put your back into IL; keep
r. feet out of the coils /" A sud
zen blow sent Hush fat along the
deck, and the captain was in his
place. "Pick yourself up and keep