The morning call., 1893-03-05

now distinctly heard a sound of many
voices; most of the newly arrived crew
seemed intoxicated il l might judge from
their tlpsy laughter and mAudlin songs
and calls. 4 light was handed down; VIII
screened the lantern by setting it beside a
eask: he then came over to me. lifted my
head.
There you are" said he. softly. How
are you getting on, old grip"
Very well. VIII. l have slept right
through the night, and very comfortably
Give me all the news"
You may hear it," said he laughing.
The crew are aboard. drunk as casks. A
sweet, noble lot OF liveliness; you never
saw such crew. The most rufian looking
cOnvicts are gentlemen besides some of
them. The Jew who brought them down
fshed every gutter 'twixt Houudsditch and
LimehUuse Hole, and rejected half he
hooked as not bad enough"
Then we're off Gravesend?"
'Ay."
"When d o we startP"
THE tug will be catching hold Of US be-
fore dark. Any rats here, Marian ?''
None. so far. Have you seen anything
of Tom, dear?"
Nothing"
He stepped to the lantern and held II To
my face to look at me.
IT'S good job, " said he, that you've rOt
no bair to dress. But how Jolly brightyour
eyes are. Perhaps may nave you out of
tuIS sooueF tGan we expect. Fray for fresh
nOrtheaster, Marian"
Take the light away and count your
buckets, VIII. Somebody may come below"
II IN not going TO count any buckets"
said he. Il invented that yarn as an excuse
to see you."
He carried the lantern to where my pro-
visions lay, and was looking at them and
softly speaking, when man fell right
through the hatch. He fell with a mighty
thud. and l screamed out. You would have
supposed him killed OF stunned, but he had
not lain quiet three or four minutes, not
long enough indeed for Win to get to him,
when be began to laugh and mutter drunk
enly. be then sat up. and looking about
him exclaimed Rum casks, bv Corral
Whist, We drunken teef, and they'll lock ye
up down here. SO saying he got upon all
fours, and cTawled toward the casks slowed
IN the left Of this stOreroom.
What are you doing here?" cried WILL
stepping up to him.
rs it you, honey? Bedad then that makes
two. Quick, sweetheart, with your gimblet
thresclep"
My terror was extreme; l feared that
others Of the drunken crew would follow
this fellow and come tumblng down after
nm to rummage for drink, and discover me
before enough sober men could be got to-
getEer to turn them out.
Now, up you CO." cried Will. "Out you
getE and he put his lantern down TO Law
hold Of the man.
why, what divvle are you?" answered
the brute, In a voice suddenly savage and
dangerous as the growl of fierce dog.
Whats this? ?" he roared. "a stowaway?
Hooroo! A stowaway, bullies, hOoroo?"
and staggered on 10 his legs he iurclled
toward the lad with his fist raised
VIII was as stout young fellow as ever
Duttoned peaJa@ket over his chest; he
struck, and the man dropped like a shot
from the hand. Excitement and fright had
carried me out of the sail; grasped the
broom handle and was in the very act OF
rushing to help VIII when the fellow was
dropped by my cousins fist
Whats going on down there ?" roared n
hurricane voice through the hatch.
sprang back upon the sail and covered
myself.
Here's a drunken scoundreI. bo'sun,
pitched headiong down here and refuses to
turn out, cried VIII.
The burly figure of the boatswain came in
sprawl down the ladder Then followed
real torecastie seuffle; the boatswain went
to work with legs and hands, kicking and
hauling; the drunken Irlshm an blasphemed
most horribly; heads collected at the hate
and the fellows up there rOared to their
Wrestlng' drunken, roaring shipmate to
hight 1t out and die game. But VIII and the
D0atSwaln between them proved too much
fof the ruilian, and after fierce struggle
they dragged him up,thrOugh the hatch, with
lio oii SVat III IlDDOn5. VIII then descended
ior the lantern; he breathed very hard and
looked my way as though he would speak
l sat up aud Dassionately waved 20 him To
departi lie saw my gesture by the light he
held, hourlshed his hand, and, climbing the
hatch. put the cover on.
1hls was terribly narrow escape. and /
1elt all the weakness of my sex's nature as
l sat in the blackness and realized that had
the other drunken sailors tumbled below I
should nave been discovered and my hopes
ruined.
A Ter this passed some wretched bours
for never knew but that the drunken Irish
sailor had told the others there were casks
under the torecastle full of strong drink for
all he could guess, and I kept on fearing
tnat among them they would lift the hatch
and descend. However, nothing of the
KIND happened. 1 got more heart as time
went on ana the hatch remained untonehed
l heard great deal of humping overhead
and treading of feet as of men coming and
going, and then felt once more the same
strainiDg sensation in the ship had before
taken notice of; | supposed we were under
way. in which case the Chide Harold had
fairly begun her voyage.
Saving the occasional lifting of the hatch
at long Intervals when man went below
into the fOre-peak to shovel Goals and send
them up IN buckets, nothing broke the
overwhelming monotony of that black aud
silent Tine OF eoncealment. But there came
an hour, whether it was in the day or
night cannot tell, wien | was awakened
out OF deep sleep 10y many violent noises
and wild movement The shin wos az
sea; she was breasting the waters of the
channel, and seemingly a strong sea was
running, for she pitched deep and raised n