The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-19


mended me to draw some water a the head
pump on tine foreeastle. and to be careful
not 10 spill any on the deck as | brought il
along II did not want to be sworn at by
the officer OF the watch.
took Ducketfrom rack near ;he maid
mast and went along the gangway, as l term
the alley betwiXt the barricade and the bull
warkS. My heart was almost light; the
work / was to be put to was just such as
should have chosen out Of the whole group
Of the duties of the big ship. II was work
that would keep me away from the fore
castle hands; it would not put more upon
me than my strength was equal to- Best of
all, was to occupy a cabin alone. which
was an extraordinary piece Of good fortune
1t was the first dog watch; all the con-
yicts were in their prison quarters; num-
Der of sailors were smoking, idling and
talking in the neighborhood of the galleys !;
the wind swept keen and hard athwart the
foreeastle and the sentry was the only fig
uTe that paced that deck. Some rough
chaH saluted me as / passed the sailors
One asked me If / was going a-milking.
another advised me to chuck the bucket
overheard and watch it tow. Just as was
stepping up the foTecastle ladder. VIII. with
pipe in his mouth, put his head out of his
berth. He instantly saw me, and called
out with the manner of Il young fellow eX-
Gitl6luE SUM IllLlc duLlDIlLNs
"WheTe are you taking that bucket to p"
"On TO the foIecastle for water, SIR" l
answered.
$40 YOU know anything about rigging a
head pump" he exclaimed. mot you, +"
he cried, laughing with fine assumption of
half loc0se, half plying good nature.
Here, I'll show you what to do"
He followed me up the ladder. Upon the
fOrecastle the wind was blowing with a
great roaring noise. The sentry leaned
against it, and his heavily coated figure
swayed like a scarecrOw in a breezy field as
he swung on his gripping feet to the plunge
and toss OF the bow. The surge, rent by the
shearing cuiwaler, rose in a boiling mass of
whlteness to within reach Of the rail when
the ship pitched. The driven fabric swept
the sea from her weather. bow in smoke, and
at every stately curtesy vast sheet Of foam
washed many fath0ms ahead. The sea
Tdged dark and hard. The ship heeled
sharply over under great breasts of canvas.
and from the forecastle you saw the froth
race past her on either hand, and lift as;ern
like a snow-coVered path.
This was my chance and the first chance.
Marian" said Will How are you getting
on? ?"
"Wer."
Wen seem to loiter bit over this pump.
W hat are they going to do with yOu?"
| told him.
What! Cuddy bottle-washerP Aud the
stewards the cad of the ship. There are
many cads among US, but he's head of the
clan here"
I'm perfectly satisfied, Win. I wish I
could see Tom. want to see him with my
own eyes"
Hold the bucket So" said he, "and Pll
pump. on, never mind the sentry. No nc
tlce Is taken of soldiers at this end of the
ship. l could hug you for your pluck, 1
could. After all these days of black hole
under here to talk to tie captain and doctor
as l heard you! Where do you seep?"
All this while he was pretending to work
the brake OF the pump as though something
was wrong with it. | answered.
Come, that's good" said he, "a cabin TO
yourself! They couldn't have given you
more had they charged you 90 guine as"
II have 10 mattress and nothing TO sleep
on but the bunk boards" said |.
And no bedclothes. of course?" said he.
"Ihe steward has promised me the loan
of blanket if he can fad one"
Leave me TO see what l can do" he ex-
| claimed.
Run no risks, VIII. for both our sskes -
DO you want your money, Marian ?'
mo, | was searched. If produce money
now they'll guess l have friend on board.
! VIII, there's one thing you must cOntrive.
Let me have pencil and psper-uot now
walt Tor better chance; there Will be
plenty. | must write to him"
"How are you going 10 give him letter q"
'Ill fad way, Win"
Marian, there's no man under these
stars which are beginning TO shine who 5
worth what you're doing for Tom How
cold the wind blOwsl And aren't they
driving the old bucket just? l know what
IL will be-eight bells and Balls Internal
pipe, and an hours roOstng up amOuE
those boughs there TO reef and stow. You
don't want all that water to wash in"
He emptied two-thirds Of the bucket, put
the strap into my hand and we went down
the forecastle ladder. The steward, W no
was helping the other man TO lay the cloth,
asked y hat had kent me so long.
The pumps stiff" SAID l, land it blows
hard on the fo'c'se."
Hard in your eye!' he exclaimed. Look
lively now. There must be no skulking If
you don't bear "a hand here III send You
forward to the bO'sGn and the land Of ropes
ends and Kicks"
The under steward laughed heartily.
webt briskly to my cabin aud washed my
face and hands as well as / could in the
dark. L found nothing in the stewards
language to anger me, nothing in my situa-
ton 10 cause ne an instanps regret. The
truth Is, was extraordinarily encouraged
and supported by the sense of my sex, by
the thought that 1 need but avow
myself 10 become an object OF romantic
interest, and so be at all events humanely
treated. Indeed caught myself laughing
when l put my hand into the upper bunk
to feel for the parcel Of my wearing ap-
parel. What, l thought to myself, would
the steward think If | were to dress myself
in those clothes and enter the cuddy?