The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-09

AoSNN eAu SeaA al vas WA
sorry! Thres thousand pounds won't 90
long begging. though. And ! shall have to
accept your resignation. captain"
Anderson only took up his hat and
walked slowly out Of the room. He had
not descended many steps when he turned
back and reopened the door.
mo, SIR" he said. lit can't be done. l
must think it over. and-no, it can't DO
done" With that he went his way, miser-
able.
The Same night he received a letter by
post. 1t contained his old commission, re-
Installing him In command of the Chryso-
lite.
CHAPTER II.
Four months later the Chrysolite was I'M
loading n general cargo in Mauritius har-
Dor. Capt. Anderson had thought it over.
The quay was quickly covered with Man
chester bales md Birmingham cases; and it
was not long before the tackle at the main
yard arm was set a-cliokinR, rs the baskets
of sand ballast were hove up to be poured
into the empty hold. No such luxuties
were there as steam winchea. nor ans of
those modern appliances for tightening la
Dor. Instead, five or six hands piled the
ponderous work at the winch handles, the
labor being substantially aggravated by
the heat of a vertical sun. A spell at the
orthodox hand winch in the tropics is an
ordeal not to be lightly spoken Of. and
sailors have the very strongest objection to
the work. 1t required the utmost vigilance
on the part of the captain, therefore, to
prevent the feebler spirits from DESERVING.
He was able, however to reckon n full Q ew
as he steei cd out OF Port Louis hartor and
shaped his course for Ceylon.
Some of the hands had gfumbled at not
having more liberty to go ashore. In an
xcess of passion Anderson made answer
'ln Vnnr ENNnRIl won Inrcf PHI ,r&
you ashore soon enough, and I'll warrant
you'll stay there longer than you care for!'
1t Was indiso. eet language. and the men
puzzled ovsr it. They concluded that the
skip. or monnt to obtain their imprison-
ment at the next British rort they should
he WAS a man o. his word they assumed
their best behavior.
Captain An Aerson had not changed for
the better. Hitherto he had maintained a
brmnass of discipline bordering upon
severity. and he certainly had never re-
Taxed from that attitude. Now he had be-
come All incomprehensible mixture of in-
diligence and cruelty. The two clements
were incomI ntlble, and the more intelli-
gent OF his officers we're not long in per-
celvinR that there was q vicious and varia-
BILE wind IN their su% perior's moral atlnos-
tapped nnaccountnhlv. They imagined.
to pursue their own figure. that his hand
did not grasp the reason tiller with Its
customary grip, md that his bark WAS loft
more or less to the conflicting guidance of
other influences. Mnnv a time since his
departure f. om England had the old sailor
been stunR with remorse at the unwritten
tenor of his present commission. He would
frequently try to look the who!e thing in
the face-would, endeavor to account for
tho acceptance OF an Office against which
his whole self revolted. He would reoits
the interview in the Billiter street cham
bers with his employer. passing rapidly
over the preliminary parts until he came to
the reward. No; he WAS not false enough
or euphemistlo enough to call it a reward;
he would regard it ns u bride. But he could
never get further. He always grounded on
this reef Of gold. and no tide Of indigna-
ton o: regret, no generous current OF
into the saving waite g.. Here the fierce
rays OF desire shot d 1wn upon the resplend.
ent heap. whose reflected glory filled the
whole vision of the water with its luster.
Blame him not too much, nor it. For after
all man is but man, and gold is a thing of
comfort.
But had Captain Anderson followed his
mental inquiries TO II conclusion, had he
demonstrated to himself the depth of moral
degradation into which he must be plunged.
his pride would never have allowed him to
do anything but redeem his unuttcred word.
As al illustration of the oaptain's lately
acquired hnbit OF indulgence, the most re-
marknble was his treatment of the watch
on deok during the night. The man on tho
lookout, 10. instance, WAS in the habit of
going to sleep If the weather made ii at all
practicable. The rest of tho watch. some
fifteen or twenty hands, followed suit, or
even skulked bnck into the forecastle, there
to stretch themselves out on their chests
and smoke. These things the captain con
nived at. and the men were only too glad of
the relief to inquire too %curiously into his
reasons. The mrin object of Il sai,iny-ship
sailor il to gain ns much sleep as he can by
he will evade even those duties which ara
most essential to the sa.ety of tho ship.
One night, during the middle watch, the
captain came on deck md took to walking
up and down with the q cond mate. The
night wns Glen, though dark. The Chryso-
lite was cl%ose.hHulcd on the sta board tack
and wss making good Roadway under a
c~iinkine breeze. S!o was an old fashioned,
frigntc-bu!lt. full rugged ship, snch M one
seldom hRppens on nowadays, her quarter
galleries. chain plates. topgnllant bulwarks
and single topsnii yards being ali out OF
date among tho shi, builders Of today. 1t
has been said that she had rare lines"
and the r mark WAS just. A moro imposing
pile OF timber was possibly move loated,
She had plenty of beam to pope with the
south Atlantic wave giants. and not too
much sheer. Her fiddle sten, WAS grace
fully cut. and harmonized to perfection
with tbs slight rake Mt of her lofty masts.
Hes spnrs. also. wefo finely proportional to
the breadth of her hull. So TINT, with her
cnnvns spread in m unwavcrina breeze.
the Chrysolite was a stately creature and
"a thing of bonuty."
a. NJ flr.,N " said ALo n..k.s ~ll-.