The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-26
CHAPTER XVI.
HE HIDES As A srowAwAY.

i lett excessively UCIfOuo WITCH uick oCt
out toward the dockyard. / had never be-
fore shown myself in public in male attire.
and imagined that every body who looked at
me saw that | was q girl. L was somewhat
treasured, however, by hulking fellow In
leggins crossing the road and asking me for
a pipe of tobacco. l told him had none.
"a cuss't lie. he roared fiercey. "Gi us the
plug ont of your jaws. you damned she'll
back" | pushed ON. He shouted after me,
and though his language was by no means
refined / did not dislike to hear him. Tor
what lie said left me in no doubt that he
took me for young sailor.
came to a place where L got view OF
the Warrior ard | saw the convict ship close
alongside Of her with some OF her yards
braced forward clear of the pole masts OF
the hulk 1t was blowing very fresh and
bitterly cold, and the yellow ripDles ran In
little showerings Of spray. l walked to
where the wherry was to be had. aud With
some trouble after waiting aud looking about
me found waterman.
Put me aboard the Chllde Harold"
said /.
DO you belong to the shp?" said he.
Yes"
IF you'll stand a drink I'll save you
couple Of bob" he exclaimed, and l guessed
by the way he looked at the water that he
preferred TO lounge in the warmth Of pub
lie house to taking a fare.
"What do you mean?"
TELL the sentries you belong to the ship
and they'll let you go aboard through the
hulk"
mo, want to 60 aboard In my own way"
"Come along, then"
! got into his boat, and after he had
breathed upon his hands and beat his breast
hard he fell 10 his oars. looked eagerly at
the ship as we approached. The c0nsum-
ing anxieties / had endured for weeks and
months compressed into ten minutes would
not have been harder than W hat now felt.
ha rullsd ha taru of
the Chllde Harold; figure standing on the
quarter was visible; | believed IL was VIII
al first; he turned and saw he was not my
cousin. A fight Of gangway steps ran
down the side of the ship with grating at
bottom close upon the water TO step on. The
boat swung TO and the waterman waited for
me to step on. | gave him two shlllings
and kept my seat while | ran my eyes along
the bulwark rail
Where was VIII? Was he not keeping
lookout? Had | arrived sooner than he
expected? Nay, was he on board? And
as | thus thought. my heart sinking like
lead In my breast with sudden weight and
passion OF despair, the dear fellow stepped
into the gangway and looked down.
lie looked down. but he did not know me.
| cried out: "Nill. oh, Will There you
arel There you arel'
He stared again. but answered no further
than by reckoning, while he bent his neck
Inward to glance forward and aft along the
decks. A soldier. but without a musket,
showed at the side at this instant and
looked over Into the boat, whistling.
Come up" said viii. ] sprang onto the
grating and assembled the steps.
"HOw are you. old fellowT' exclaimed
my cousin, grasping NE by the hand and
shaking 1t warmly, admirably acting the
part OF one who receives welcome visitor.
This Is how We barrcade tho convicts. do
you see? How are all at home? On my
word this is kind of you. My quarters are
forward. Come along and smoke pipe
and then I'll show You the Ship
The soldier l0unged across the deck and
leaned against the barricade looking at the
great hulk, whose topmost tier Of grated
ports and whose dngy height of buwarks
and rude, hut-shaped structures forward
seemed to tower to half the height of
the convict ships lower masts.
darted a swift glance round and OBJ
served two, figures on the poop, both
forward near the cOnvict's galley. A small
group OF men-iumpers or riggers-at the
main hatch within the harrcade Enclosure
were smoking ana talking. had no eyes
for anything but the people who were visi-
bic. heavy silence hung upon the hulk,
and gazing the voices OF the group at the
hatchway all was still on board the Childe
Harold so that you plainly heard the hiss
Ing OF the strong wind In the rigging and
the quick fretTul splashing of water ripping
swift betwlXt the TWO ships.
Your visit is exactly timed" said VIII.
"The captains ashore. the chief mates be-
low, the second mates indisposed in his
cabin and the third mates in the hold.
Come"
He motioned with his hands as though he
showed me the ship. A woman stepped out
of one of the galleys with bucket OF hot
water and passed US. She was pretty
young woman and she glanced at me with
faint smile as she went by.
That's soldiers wife, said VIII,
speaking last but soft, and pointing as
though he still showed me the ship. There
are several on board and number Of kids
You've well-timed your arrival. What
marvellous courage you have and how con-
foundedly we'll you look. There never
was smarter sailor-to the eye. Where
have You beene Your skins brown. Been
abroad? Surely not. You haven't had
time. The ships almost empty. you see.
The crew'll join at Gravssend as / told you
they would. We have a few runners
aboard from Deptford and twenty soldiers
in charge OF captain and subaltern-Lord,
how l hate soldiers! The convicts embark
this afternoon or tomorrow morning.
There are only three apprentices including
me this voyage; two are aft there on the
poop. 1t don't matter il you are seen:
They'll think you went ashore by way OF
the hulk. But l must get you below before
the chief mate comes on deck. I'm sup
posed to be keeping n lookout at the gang
way and mustn't be missed"
All this he hurriedy said as We walked
forward to his quarters which, MS you may
remember, were in wing OF the forecastle,
on the port or left-hand side. He Sided
the door open In its grooves and we entered.
A couple OF hammocks swung under the
ceiling; three sea chests were secured along
the bulkhead; a little flap table hung oppo-
site those chests and the rest OF the cabins
equipment consisted of shelves containing
| tin dishes. pannikins, knives ard forks and
| snch things. :.
II should like TO give you kiss, Marian"
| said he. "but 1t would seem unnatural In
| that dress"