The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-26

nous. unjust servituds lasted l should
never be tar of, patiently and hopefully
waiting for him.
Yet could not close my eyes all night.
| seemed 10 catch the sound OF the storm
whipped river, though my lodgings were at
a distance from It. Would Will be Oh the
lookout for me? | kept on thinking. Sup
pose he should be detained by Illness
ashore; many things | supposed, and then
! thought to myself, II he should not be on
board, yet If | can contriye 10 enter the
ship it will be strange IL ! don't find my
way into the hiding place under
the forecastie. But II he is not on the
lockout or indeed not in hevessel. l shan't
be able TO invent an excuse TO go on board
OF her. The guard will be received at
Deptiord; the surgeon superintendent will
be ready, no doubt in the ship: there will
be mates and apprentices on the poop and
ABOUT the deck. | knew il would be impos-
sible for me 10 cross the 2angway without
being challenged as TO my business. WHAT
then should | do IL VIII was not on the
lookout for me?
These were considerations TO give me a
sleeplass night. | lay in bed ill 7, then
rose, dressed myself in my ordinary APP
parel, and telling the servant to have break
fast ready by balf-past eight, l passed out
Of the house and went quickly toward the
river.
It was still blowing fresh but the morn
ing was dry, gray, hard with cold. / passed
through some mean little streets of small
houses, such as laborers would occupy.
Hard as the morning was the mud lay soft
as grease in the roadways. Here and there
was public house. two of whch-the
Warrior Arms and the Justitia-were
named after the prison huiks. Though 1t
was barely good daylight as yet. these
public houses looked as II they had been
open for some time. In places | tasted an
acid smell If stale beer and tobacco as |
a
most of the people | saw, dressed in sort
of velyeteen or corduroy, cOnverslug near
the public houses, many Of them of the fiat
faced type of Engilshman, with streaks OF
black hair down their cheeks and habit of
CHANGING Sideways without turning their
head might have passed for convicts enjoy
ing free and easy half hOur.s
| came within view OF the river and
looked along Woolwlch Reach, but saw no
signs of such ship as the Childe Harold
approaching. The huIks floated huge and
moliOnless off the dockyard and arsenal.
White clouds of fog were creeping over the
flats of PlaistOw. and the river streamed
cold and yellow into tho bleak gray haze of
Bugsbys Reach. A waterman approached
and babe me good-moTning. looked at
the man and recognized him as one whose
boat had hired on several occasions. lie
told me he had come to settle on this side
of the river. as the Calais steamers and the
hoys were making business scarce for the
likes of him down the Stairs, Tower and
Wrapping way. He asked me if | wanted
boat; / answered no; | was waiting to
view a convict snip that understood was
to come along the Warrior hulk that morn
Ing. -
catching sight of her any minute. The con-
victs 90 aboard tomorrow, | believe. She's
the Childe Harold. Too fine ship for such
dirty service, to my mind"
7 a. a ~,
this fellow, who was one OF the clvilest OF
his kind OH the river, handsome bark
under a maintopgallant sail came rounding
TO abreast of us out OF Gallons Reach,
driven by the fresh southeasterly wind.
She was painted green and Clearly
sbeaihed; her canvas was white as a
yachts and the whittier for the contrast OF
the glare upon the sullen gloom OF the at
mos sphere. Her stem, as though 1t were
red hot, boiled the water at her bows; the
white swirl rushed past the rudy CLEAN OF
the copper into a rlbbon-like wake OF
yeast. short and melting quickly for the lack
of brine. and the picture was one OF exceed
ing beauty and of inspiriting warmth and
color. She swept into the haze OF Bugsbys
Reach, and vanished with CLEAN OF Der
topmast canvas showing in lowering sort
of way for breath or two over the land
abreast OF the East India Docks.
The waterman at my side was loud In
praise OF her. IL haven't seen prettier
bark in this here river since the Arab Chief
towed down some weeks SINCE"
| started and looked at him, and ex-
claimed, ''The Arab ChiefW
''Ay, the Arab Chief, the pootiest little
vessel out OF any port OF the country"
SIS she not a Liverpool vessel?"
That's her, mum. She sailed from the
Mersey and brought cargo TO the Thames.
There was difficulty. The capt'n as had
her. its said, has come into one of them
hulks."
"When did she sail from London?"
81 don't know. but | could easily find out
for ye."
(which docks did she load iu?"
81 believe she hauled out Of the London
docks" answered the man.
struck my hands together and said: II
wish III known she was in the Thames.
I'm interested in that vessel. They charged
her captain with seuttling her. Not the
worst william in any Of those hulks yonder
is capable OF a fouler lie." / checked my
self on observing the manner in which the
man was regarding me, and happening then
to glance up the river / espied the towering
fabric of big ship that was maGnifed by
the haze into the proportions of the masts
and yards OF a Inject battle ship looming
astern of little tug whose smoke blew
black and scattering upon tho level of the
yellow water.
"That'll be The convict ship" said the
man at my side.
/ gave him a shilling and walked some
distance to be alone. and stood watching the