The morning call., 1893-03-05
CHAPTER XVIII

CdAG LEX y III.
SHE Is TAKEN BEFORE THE COMMANDER.
was awakened from deep slumber by
the glare of a lantern upon my eyes, by the
weight Of heavy hand upon my should er,
and by a deep voice roaring out, Here
y'are thenl Another convict is IL! who's
to say what's right aboard q craft where
eyerythiug's wrong? Out you come, my
IiveIyp aud still half asleep and blinded
by the light, and Geafened by tile fellows
roaring voice. l was dragged as though l
had been child out OF the sail and held
erect
a second man holding lantern rais ! it
to my face aud peered at me. had seen
both fellows n the place before; they were
the huatswain and the sailmaker.
''What are you ADDING down hereY" said
the sailmaker.
The boatswsin now let me 90, and I stood
upright before the two men, still dazed and
horribly frightened, though my wits were
slowly returning.
"Pm doing no harm" said blinking at
the light which. as it was held close, put an
in sufferable pain into my eyes. Il hid my
self. l want to get to Australia"
Australia is it?" thundered the boat
swain. why. you young ro0ter, dye know
we amt bound to Australia? Where did ye
come aboard 2?
"D'ye know this is convict ship?"
Eyes, ] know it."
"has he been a-broachin' of anything p"
aid the sailmaker, holding high the lam
ter n and slowly sweeping its light around
the interior -,
hose voice was louder than that of any
M an l had ever heard OF could dream Of.
"a runaway bow" said l. Take me on
deck. Fm sick for the want of light"
sails, dye hear him?' said the boat
swain. "By the great anchor as my old
mother used to say, bnt here's one. | allow,
as has squeezed through the hawse pipe on
his road to the quarterback, for d me if
he haiu't bordering OF us already"
whats your trade, Jlmmy?" said the
sail maker addressing me. 'Nuxman or jig
ger or are you a lObsneaker, hey? Self
IA gged. by the Lord!"
t Come along aft and see the capIn." said
he boatswain.
He then spoke tc the sailmaker about the
sa lis which they had apparently descended
to view, and catching me by the arm,
walked me under the hatch, where he eame
to a stand.
Been here since Woolwich. ye sayP"
Yes" l answered.
can in the dark?"
What have you eaten and drunken?"
II brought some FOOD with me-"
Are you one of gang?" and here he
rolled pair OF large CLASSY eyes over the
casks aud coils OF rope. He was n very
powerful seaman. deeply bitten by smallpox
and without right ear.
Il am alone" said |.
"Up ye go" he cried, and he partly hoisted
and partly tossed me through the hatch on
to the upper deck.
1t was broad day, though the Interior of
the foreeastle Into which had emerged was
gloomy. Beyond the forecastle entrance the
white and windy sunshine was coming and
going to the frequent sweep of clouds
athwart the sky. The brightness of that
light thrilled my eyes with pain, and
turned my back upon it, putting my hand to
my head for few moments.
Iisn't everybody you see, mates, what
goes 10 sea afore the mast that signs on"
said the oOatsWain, generally addressing a
few sailors who had risen from their sea
chests or lounged out of the shadow forward
to look at me-
"If this here was female convict ship,
Mr.. Balls" said one of the men. you'd find
that that there coyey was after one Of the
gals"
Let him wash hisself" said another sea-
man, speaking with his hands plunged deep
in his pockets. ''and there'll be nothen like
lier aboard us. Dummed If he don't remind
me of my Mary Ham,"
LET IN Sit" said another of the sailors.
"Tve got drop of grog in my chest. l
started on my first voyage in the fOrepeak
and knows what head seas mean down
there TO country stomach"
"Sit and BREATHE" said the boatswain,
backing me to a chest. Fetch your SUP
along, Joe. He don't look much II a rascal.
do he?". and / observed that he eyed me
very closely and with looks OF surprise an
doubt which somewhat softened the fierce
ness of his one-eared, glassy-eyed face.
was glad to sit. My strength had been
fearfully overtaxed by confinement and by
my mental suiferings and want of air.
was afraid | should faint and my sex be
discovered. A pannikn with a dram of
black rum in it was given to me /; smelt the
herv stuff and asked for water.
Meat, my warrior, neat. and down with
itV' cried the fellow who had given me the
rum. Waters for washin' in. Don't talk
OF rum and water-soap and water, my
heart; that's it,"
Give the lad water" said the boatswain !;
"blowed If I'm a-going to take him aft
drunk"
One of the fellows brought pannkin of
water and turned a small quantity into the
rum. looked up into his face and thanked
him with smile and drank.
Ever at sea af0re. Jacky?" said a sailor.
Dye hear the grit of old hoss in his
squeak that you asks that?' said the deep
luHged boatswain.
And to think" said a surly looking
sailor, that the tnwn-crier's still a-ringing
for him. and his grandmother still a-calling
at every public house to see IL he ain I
there
What dye say to rinse. bo', afore ye
lays aftP" said the fellow who had offed ne
tae rum. "A clean face may stand the little