The Russellville Democrat., 1893-12-14

ter oracles. Herrick looked at him,
and looked away it seemed not de-
cent to spy upon such agitation,
and the young mans courage sank.
"You talk of going home" he
objected. 1--WE could never do
that /"
1--WE could,' said the other.
"Capt. Brown couldn't, nor Mr..
Hay that shipped mate with him
couldn't. But what's that to do with
Capt. Davis or Mr.. Herrick, you
galootf"
"But Hay had these wild islands
where he used to CALL" came the
next fainter objection.
"We have the wild islands of
Peru, retorted Davis. "They were
wild enough for Stephens, no longer
a-gone than just last year. / guess
they'll be wild enough for us. :"
"And the crewf"
"All Kanakas. Come, | see
you're right, old man. see you'll
stand by" And the captain once
more offered his hand.
"Have it your own way, then,
said Herrick. "I'll do it; a strange
thing for my fathers son. But I'll
do it, I'll stand by you, man, for
good or evil"
"God bless you'll" cried the cap
tain, and stood silent. "Her-
rick" he added with a smile, 81
believe I'd have died in my tracks if
you'd have said no /"
And Herrick, looking at the man,
half believed so also.
"And now we'll go break it to the
hummer" said Davis.
81 wonder how he'll take it,, said
Herrick.
"Himf Jump at i'll" was the
reply.
CHAPTER ~.
THE YELLOW FLAG.
The schooner Farallone lay well
out in the jaws of the pass, where
the terrified pilot had made haste to
bring her to her mornings and es-
cape. Seen from the beach through
the thin line of shipping, two OBJ
jects stood conspicuous to seward
the little isle on the one hand,
with its palms and the guns and bat
teries raised forty years before in
defence of Queen Pomare's capital
the outcast Farallone upon the
other, banished to the threshold of
the port, rolling there to her Soup
pers and Haunting the plague flag as
she rolled. A few sea birds screamed
and cried about the ship, and with
in easy range manof-war guard
boat hung off and on and glittered
with the weapons of marines. The
exuberant daylight and the binding
heaven of the tropics picked out and
framed the picture.
A neat boat, manned by natives
in uniform and steered by the doctor
of the port, put from the shore
toward 3 of the afternoon and pulled
smartly for the schooner. The
foresheets were heaped with sacks
of -four, onions and potatoes,
perched among which was Hush,
dressed as a foremost hand. A
heap of chests and cases impeded
the action of the oarsmen, and in
the stern, by the left hand of the
doctor, sat Herrick. dressed in a
fresh rig of slops, his brown beard
trimmed to a point, a pile of paper
novels on his lap, and nursing the
while between his feet chronom-
eter, for which they had exchanged
that of theF arallone, long since run
down and the rate lost.
They passed the guard boat, ex-
changing halls with the boatswain's
mate in charge, and drew near at
last, to the forbidden ship. Not
cat stirred, there was no speech of
man, and the sea being exceeding
high outside, and the reef close to
where the schooner lay, the clamor
Of the surf hung round her like the
sound of battle.
"Che, Ia goelettel" sang out the
doctor, with his best voice.
Instantly, from the house where
they had been slowing away stores {.
first Davis, and then the ragamufin,
swarthy crew made their appearance.
"Hullo, Kay, that youf" said the
captain, leaning on the rail. "Tell
the old man to lay her along side, as
if she was eggs. There's a hell of
a run of sea here, and his boats
brittle. "
The movement of the schooner
was at that time more than usually
violent. Now she heaved her side
as high as deep sea steamers and
showed the flashing of her copper
now she swung swiftly toward the
boat until her scupPers gurgled.
81 hope you have sea legs" OBJ
served the doctor. "Ycu will re-
quire them.
Indeed, to board the Farallone, in
that exposed position where she lay,
was an affair of some dexterity.
The less precious goods were hoisted
roughly in; the chroDometer, after
repeated failures, was passed gently
and successfully from hand to hand
and there remained only the more
difficult business of embarking
Hush. Even that piece of dead
weight (shipped A. B. at $l8, and
described by the captain to the con-
sui as an invaluable man) was at
last hauled on board without mis-
hap; and the doctor with civil salu-