The morning call., 1893-05-28

rod by the small glare of sulphur match.
Tom came off and said 10 me: Ihere,s
eighteen inches of water in the hold-noth-
Ing to take notice of If she's been long
abandoned. Johnstone. you and I'll take
first spell at the pump"
They drew their coats off. and in very
little while the pump was pulsing steadily
TO their muscular sailorly strokes. and the
water sobbed as it gushed to the scuppers
and spOuted into the sea.
Il don't care what Captain Butler says"
exclaimed Mr.. Bates standing alongside of
me. there's the finger of God in this" and
ne pulled OFF his cap and turned his face up
To the stars. There is something solemn
and wonderful TO me IN this escare. Look
how 1t seems to have been planned; the
drunken revelry of the convicts-tbe light
alr&of wind blowing us into sight of this
craft. then failing, as though 10 leave her
within reach of us-then this brig herself
instead OF an open bOat-not the better
being abandoned. though but for thatshe'd
not be here. ] say it is solemn and wonder
1ul and am GRATEFUL" and he again up
turned his face.
made 10 answer.
After bit the mate went to the pump.
which was piled for some twenty minutes
before dropping the rod again, when such
sensible decrease of water was observed
as to satisfy Tom and Bates that the brig
was tight AT the expiration of half an
hour they came to the wheel TO rest; Will
fetched chairs ont of the deckhuuse and we
sat, the mate keeping the wheel steady,
tnough he was seated; indeed, the brig
with square yards and sea nigh as Sun Goth
as plain of Ice wanted little or no steer
ing.
There's big sheet of paper lying on
the cabin table," said nv cousin.
"A chart, perhaps" said Tom.
How did this abandonment come
about?" exclaimed Mr.. Bates. Every
Things right aloft; l reckon the hulPs
sound; she looks stanch little craft.
What drove the men out of her?"
Are they out of her?" said Tom.
WHAT do you mean?" I asked.
II once boarded an abandoned schooner
when was second mate" he answered !;
''she was deep with wheat. Everything
was as right with her as it is with this
brig. | looked into her forecastle and
found five dead on her deck and in the
cabin lay a sixth corpse. Bates. sailors
hear and see so much that they soon for
get to wonder and they never ask Ques-
TONS"
True, Butler. A deals happened since
yesterday. And don't see the end of the
traverse yet"
Marian" said Tom, you're frightfully
tired. Oh, Bates he cried passiorately,
Think of what this lady has undergone
for me and is still undergoing. So good.
so loyal, $3.50" his voice broke, he
ceased, and l put my arm around his
neck. Dearest" he said, after a minute
or two, "we'Il find a spare sail and make
you bed in that house there
Il couldn't sleep. Let me be with you
till we are sure that all is we'll"
"All is we'll"
"Fl wait for daybreak," said I. 81
want to know the convict ships out of
sight"
Will went to the rail to look for her.
The ripping of the waters, parted by the
brlg's BOWS, was sweet as music; il was
easy TO guess our speed at between three
and four knots: unless some convict's
good angel should steer the Childe Harold,
she'd come aback and float motionless till
the self-drugged creatures and the sailors
awoke and arose and looked around, so
that by daybreak, which was vet TWO
hours off, we should have added a full six
miles to the five at which the brig had
been stationed when we sighted her. But
then by daybreak would there be ever a
man of the whole soddened mob equal to
lifting his eyelids, and realizing how we
had served them? There was nothing to
fear from that ship and her freight; and
still l would not rest. for | wished to
watch with Tom and to behold the day
break and view the scene of ocean it dis
closed with my own eyes.
The waiting until the light of the morn
ing glimmered In the East was long ana
weary. Yet through that time the weak
breeze blew, and the brig stemmed softly
onward with now steady swaving of her
trucks and pendulum-like flap of her
canvas, Tor on sudden he ave of swell had
come rolling through he ocean; it was out
of the northwest. and Mr.. Bates thought
there would he wind behind 1t. We talked
of the people who had been sent adrift YES
terday morning, wondered how they had
Jared throughout the night, whether they
would be picked up, what would become
of Them. We talked of the convicts Tom
told the mate that for three weeks the con-
spray had been maturing; by single
word he could have preserved the ship and
the lives of those who had been slain, but
he would sooner have torn out his tongue.
| related my own experiences exactiy: ac-
quanted Mr.. Bates with Wits share in
NV stowawaY adventure. and described my
sufferlngs in the st0rerOom under the fore
castle. Thus We cOnversed; we had much
to tell.
Mr. Bates said that ny the convicts' up
rsa he had LOST about ESQ worth of prop
erty. Tom laughed low and savagelv
"How do l stand 2" said he. Would
ESQ buy me back what have been taken
from me?" Then giving a loud. unnatural
laugh he clapped the mate on the back and
cried. "There'll be more than ESQ in this
brig for you as salvage job. You came
off with your life yesterday morning That
was good. This morning you Chamber
aboard more than the value you have been
plundered OF. Thai's good still. WHY,
Bates, cheer up. Did ever ask you if You
Were married man?"
Il have wife and two children, But
ler"
Where do you live when you're with
them at home Q"
'R therhithe."
Dye remember. Bates, that I boarded
the Chlde Harold with Miss tombstone
and this lad in the docks? You were at the
man hatch, and | shook hafds with you,
and you asked me who was that fine girl.
we We seen some changes since then" He
slehed heavily and put his hand upon
mine. Yes; | should have known you
were married, Bates. / think you told
me-was it at Cailao ?-of the birth of
little one whilst you we're away. A sweet,
noble and manly calling is the sea. How
ooes II promote love between husbands
and wives by long separation! How faith
iul are sailors wives to their husbands
ashore! How loyal their husbands when
aoroan And how munificeutly does
me calling Of the sea reward us, Batesl
How many volumes would be needed
10 contain the names of the rich sailors
VINO live In mansions in England and ride
In Coaches! How gentle, virtuous. re-
llglouS are the hearts which the ocean
SHIPS into the hairy breasts OF mariners. /
was good friend to R0tch [ never know
lngly spoke an i'll word to Nodder. l am
Innocent as surely as Christ sits on the
right hand of God! Oh. the devils. the
devils T. He started up ana walked TO the
bulwarks, and stood motionless and silent
Tor many minutes.
None OF us smoke till he rejoiEsd u.s.