The morning call., 1893-03-12
was prepared to hear that thew had dis.

was prepared to hear that they had dis
covered my stock Of provisions and the
| bottles OF water, and possibly the parcel OF
wax candles; but l was not uneasy, J. was
ready with story. The sergeant. speaking
with an irish accent, answered, I'VE have
found nothing, SIR"
Did you thoroughly overhaul the place,
| Mr.. Balls?' said the captain.
"Ay, sir. We've likewise been down into
the forepeak. ALPS right forrards."
was astOnished, for had never doubted
that they would light upon my tins of meat
and the bottles Whether they had hon
estly overlooked the nook in which the
things were slowed, or whether having met
with them they had resolved to keep the
| stun to secretly eat and enjoy, is a question
l cannot answer. Suppose this they'd say
nothing about the bottles of water lest ono
discovery would force them into owning
| the other.
Captain" exclaimed the doctor, ~ shall
want that lad locked up until | have salts
fed myself as to his motive in hiding"
I'm quite willing to lock him up" an
and | may tell you that there's never much
need 20 scratch deep to find out your stow
away's reason"
"Pm not satisfied" said the doctor turn
ing his head and staring at me very sternly,
| you'll lock him up, if YOU please"
Clap him in your jail; there's a proper
| prison below" said the captain.
Certainly not" cried the doctor with a
toss Of his head, seemingly insensible of the
sarcasm OF the captains suggestion. Hes
no convict, sir: he's the ships prisoner"
The sergeant eyed me very steadfastly.
| he suddenly saluted the doctor and ex-
claimed, May list him, sir?''
Try him." SAID the captain drily. "Its
| a sure sign young chap wants to list when
he hides in the fOrepeak Of an outward
bOunder."
Leave that matter. sergeant; captain,
| yon Will be so good rs to lock up that boy"
said the doctor.
On this the captain told the boatswain to
! send the steward 10 him. A man with prom
inent, purple-tipped cheekbones and blue
eyes. very narrow shoulders, and legs
arching outward to a degree / had never
| before beheld, wearing blue jacket deco
rated with rows Of buttons. came out of the
cuddy. The captain called him on to the
poop.
That lads a stowaway," said the cap
tain, pointing to me. The man looked. by
order of the urgeon-superintendent he's 10
be locked up Where? in the forecaste? In
| in the steerage?"
The man answered, Three"
Very we'll" the captain answered, take
him below and lock him up"
You're his jailer," said the doctor. "and
| l hold You responsible for his safe keep
ing" The steward looked uneasy and as
tonlshed and cast glance at the marching
| file of cOnvicts.
"Here! said the captain. The steward
approached him close; something was said /;
the steward then came to me and
| exclaimed, Come along, young man"
| followed him down the steps on To the quar-
| terdeck AT this instant the fiddle ceased,
the echoing tramp of the telOns was hushed,
the convict warders as before cried out
| sharply and fercely.
This way" said the steward, and l
| walked after him through the cuddy door,
Here was bright, cheerful interior; the
| Chllde Harold was passenger ship and her
| accommodation aft was rich and fine. She
was convict ship now, but they had made
| no change. The bulkheads, ceiling and
] trunk OIL the miZzenmast were beautiful
| with gilt carving and paintings; barrow
| lengths Of brilliant mirrors flashed back the
| light that slreamed through the skylIghts !;
! the chairs and lounges we're choicely up
| holsteTed. While l gaZed nv Imagination
| figured the grimy, barrcaded, sentineed
| tweendeeks prison in which Tom was to
| 1--we caught sight OF myself in looking
| glass. | had omitted to pull off my cap
| when l entered this cuddy-an oversight
| that might have convicted me TO a keen eve
l scarcely knew myself In the glass. Spite
OF the rub had given my face in the fore
| castle ! was still dark with the dirt of The
storeroom. 1t was as good as a mask. No
one would have suspected the delicate skin
| OF woman under the CRIME of my cheeks.
This way" said the steward
| lie led me down some steps which fell
|
| the inside Of the cuddy front. Ii was
! gloomy down here; a corridor ran fore and
| ait and on either hand were two or three
| cabins. The steward pnt his hand upon
! the door OF the first Of these cabins.
| step in" said he. rs this your first ap-
| pearance in qu0d, yOungster?"
| l did not understand him. He leaned
! against bunk, thrust his hands into his
! trousers pockets, and looked me over
| WHAT'S brought you into this days mess ?"
u fata of bo,
| / resolved to answer the man cIvilly,
| trnst ng he would befriend me.
II have friends in Tasmania, and wish to
! Join them. I'm willing to work for nothing
! If you'll give me WORK l can do. Pm NOT
! strong, sir"
He asked me where had come aboard, if
| had known before hiding that this was a
| convict ship, where l had hidden aud how l
had managed for food. You're young
| gent" SAID he, that's clear. Them 'auds
| have never done diTtier work than quill
| driving In some office, IN swear. Hope for
| your souPs sake you haven't run away for
| wrong-doing and there's no kind arts at
! a-haching for YOU"
1 declared in the most solemn and I'M
| FASHIONED tones that | had not run away
| for wrong-dOing, and that l had hidden in
! this ship for no other motive than to reach
! Tasmania. He inquired my name and said ::
We'll, | don't mind saying | like your
! looks, | believe you're honest and there's
| no arm in you. What does that there
| doctor mean by turning me into taller
! I'm head steward; that's what | shipped
| for. He gets his living by looking after
| criminals at sea, and them as amt GRIM
| lnals according to him must be tarned into
tarnkeys, Is il? lie be blowedl Ye've had
tidy spell down forrards. Since Wool
! wlch, hey? Well, the captn told me to
give We mouthful of grub, and that looks
| well. II turn the key upon ye because it's
| the capts orders. but as for that there
| doctOr-he be blowedl"
! lie went out, leaving me easy, may say
! almost happy, so different had been the
| usage had received from what had ex-
| pected; though to be sure the doctor had
| yet to settle accounts with me- But what
could he do? If he kept me locked up
| was still in the ship that was carving
Tom across the seas. If he threatened me
| with the gangway there was my sex;
| might know, nay | would swear myself a
| sailors daughler-that there was never
| seaman on board that ship who would
allow hand to be lifted against girl
took view of the little cabin | was ia.
| II was seerage berth. designed for the
| use OF secoBd-cass passengers. Two ma
Hogany hunks were affixed to the ships
wall under the circular portfolio. In cor
ner near the qoOr was a convenient arrange
meut OF drawers and washstand. and flap,
which on lifting | found to be a looking
glass. | went to the hunks to look through
the poTth0le at the sea, and beheld in the
upper bunk on the bare boards large par
Gel. could scarcely credit my sight. 1t
was in truth the parcel of wearing apparel
had made uD when | put on my BOYS
clothes and addressed to the care nf the
captain oil this ship and left in my Wool
| wlch lodging on the bare chances of my
landlady sending it to the vessel | saw IL