The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-02
CHAPTER XXIV-TCoNrNUED.l


had told me that the ship was many miles
to the south of the Bay of Biscay, and that
II our course was to be shaped east we
should bring Gibraltar over the bow.
This young German joined me while 1
stood near the cuddy-door and asked me TO
smoke a pipe. 1 said that my pipes had
been broken for nee by the boatswain. He
offered to lend me pipe. l told him that
tie ships tobacco was too strong for my
taste. that l was never much Of a smoker
and then changed the subject, but watched
him while he talked; conscience made me
afraid; then again l was much thrown with
this young man, who, though an tnsipid
German, was not wholly fool; it was i'm
possible to say what little hints Of my sex
he might have observed.
was made uneasier still later on when
Lieutenant Chmmo stepped through the
euddy door with a gar In his mouth he
was passing, then paused and stood pulling
and looking at me without taking the least
notice of the German steward. was nearly
as tall as this subalteTn.
Are you an only child?" said he.
stared al him, and in that instant meant
not to answer; changed my mind and an
swered Yes, sir"
"a PITY" said he, "If you b ad a sister and
she Tesembled you she would be" he
glanced at Frank, who was grinning,
checked his speech with face of contempt,
and addressing me again exclaimed, 81 hear
they are gradually making discoveries about
you"
This startled me, and I may have looked
al HIM earnestly.
"Oh!7 said he, smiling, "nothing's been
found out that's going to bring you in
trouble. On the contrary you prove much
more respectable than you seemed TO wish
as to believe when you were dug up out of
that hole forward. Your father was a sea
captain; the sea- is a very honest calling.
But why should you run away from your
home to become a cuddy understeward?
There's no ambition in that, my lad, is
there?" he cast another look of contempt
at Frank. Unless, indeed, you were car
rying out the old-established notion of the
stoTy-writers, who are always sending their
runaway heroes to sea as cabin-b boys"
At this moment Captain Barrett, VINO was
on The poop. oyerhearing the subaltern's
voice, called TO him, and Lieutenant
Chlmmo went up the ladder.
81 should like to be talked about as you
are" said Frank; dot means dey know you
vhas a shent leman. You will find dot dey 60
not talk about me. fOnder dat dey doan
give you some verk your little handts vhas
more fit for dan washing plates"
81 wish they would not talk about me .
said l. Il am comfortable and content. l
wish 60 travel to Tasmania in my own way.
earn my food shan't receive q shilling
for my services-why will they talk ?"
"Dere vhas something about you, Mar
love-" Said Frank, dot oxcites and puzzles
oNniraa puz11as
What was it? Potsblitz! I likes to talk
about you myself if meets NIT any one dot
will talk about you likewise"
He was proceeding in this strain when
my cousin viii came along the gangway
alley. All the convicts were below at sup
Fer. 30 enc Sas on the main~deek but
the sentry at the hatch. a number of sea-
men were assembled on the forecastle and
among them were few of the guard. At
the break of that raised fOredeck stalked
the sentinel, and his bayOnet cleaned 10
the sun as though wet with blood.
''MarlOwe," said my cousin. hating at
distance, come forward and I'll give you
the things / promised you"
And having said this he walked away as
though he had condescended enou gh. And
he was wise 10 treat me so, for on stepping
out of the recess and turning my head l saw
the captain and the doctor aud the two
conversation.
l followed my cousin to his cabin. BE
had entered before me and when l arrived |
found him alone.
81 shan't cali you Marian any more"
said be. Suppose / should be overheard
And I'll not call you Simon either. Why
didn't you ship as Jack or Bill? Take now
what you want, and when you have shifted
give me your sOed clothes and FL get them
washed"
He raised the lid Of his chest, and took
flannel shirt and such other apparel as
needed
'You'H find that pilot coat melting wear
4 few degrees further SOUTH" said he.
Here's a serge jacket; will it fit you?"
put it on, then rolled the clothes into a
bundle. and STAYED 20 talk.
win. does any one on board suspect I'm
a woman ?"
Il don't know of any one" he answered :;
whats put that fear into your head ?"
Nothing. | don't want 10 be found out.
Depend upon it if the doctor nd the others
discovered that / Twas girl they'd suspect me
of some desperate purpose and send me out
of the ship at the first chance"
That's likely" said VIII, cutting up a
piece Of tobacco to I'll his pine with, but
who'd imagine you're girl? You walk like
man and begin to roll about like a sailor.
You lug your basket of foul dishes forward
in true bottlP-washer fashion"
Not 50 loud" said !. looking toward the
door.
I've heard nothing about yon forrard,"
he continued; they occasionally talk of
you aft. | catch scraps of speech as the
skipper and the others stump the poop. /
heard that fellow, Captain Barrett, say
that he notices that you take great inter
est in III az table that concerns the conYicts.
I'd wear deaf face in the euddy If l were
YOU"
I'm do so. That Captain Barretrs right.
The hint won't be lost, assure you" said
!, looking at myself in a square OF glass and
observing by a strong red light that my
complexion had been something darkened
already by my frequent exposure on deck,
though il was still too soft and delicate a
skin to please me. But" said |, speaking
low, Il shan't greatly heed any suspicious
that don't touch my sex"
Have you seen anything more of But
lerP" he asked, also speaking low.
shook my head with a sigh, and pulling
the letter from my pocket told him how
long it had been written and that it had
found no chance Of delivering It.
Now mind how you attempt to deliver
it!' he exclaimed. IF the sentry sees you
giving ii to him, say goodnight to your pro-
jects, for they'll find out you're woman
aud lock you up for examination and pun
iShment on your arrival. They're hdeOusly
In earnest in these ships. And take care
that you don't get Tom logged"
This talk frightened and angered me too.
took several turns up and down the little
perth Whiie ne smoked and watched me,
and then said 81 must risk it. Tom shall
get this letter and then FL be satisfied"
IF the third mate could be trusted" said
he, lit might be contriVed without risk He
serves out stores to the cOnvIcts and Butler
Is enc Of the gang who fetches the stuff.
heard the third mate tell Mr.. Bates that
Bates takes good deal of interest in
Butler. 1t was only yesterday he was talk
ing TO the captain and | heard him say he
considered Butler an injured man.
injured! l cried. sc0rnful OF that meek
word.
But the third mate mustn't be trusted so
there's an end"
looked at VIII steadily and said in a soft
voice, Isn't Tom to be freed2"
"Freed?" he echoed
Got out of the ship?"
How"
you're sailor, WIN. How would you
go to work TO enable an innocent man to