The sun., 1894-05-06

| can't you help me 70 ma berth In that
ship 2" said l.
Pm afraid not" Inc answered. what
could you offsr yourself ss. sir7 They wouldn't
have you forward. and aft we're chock-a- block
II you could manage 10 stow yourself away
ther wouldn't chuck you overheard when you
turned up at sea; they'd make you useful and
land you safe as II you was the Governor him
self"
thought this a very fine idea, and asked
Back to tell me how I should 20 to work 10
hide myself. He seemed to recoil. thought,
when put the matter TO him earnestly. hut he
was an honest kindly hearted young fellow.
and remembered my father with q certain de-
gree OF respect. and even OF affection he had
known me as a boy-nt a distance. to be sure;
there was the sympathy OF association and OF
memory between us; he looked at the old suit
| OF clothes sat In and at my hollow. an xlous
face. and he crooked his eyebrows with an ex-
preston Of pain when told him that all the
money had was two and q penny. and that
must starve and be found floating n CORPSE In
| the dockyard basin II l did not get out to Aus
| tralla. We sat for at least an hour over our
ale. talking very earnestly and when we rose
| and bade each other fare we'll l had settled with
him what to do
The Huntress was large friRa,e.built ship
Of 14OO tons. On the morning OF the day on
which she was to haul ont Of dock went on
| board OF her. Nobody took any notice OF me.
| The vessel was full OF business, clamorous
| with the life and hurry OF the start for the
other side Of the world. Cargo was still swing
Ing over the main hold. down whose big. dark
| square a tall. strong red bearded chief mate
was roaring to the stevedore's men engulfed
| In thebowels OF the ship A number OF drunk
en- sailors were singing and cutting capers on
the forecastle. The main deck was
| full OF steeraRe or as they were
then termed. tween-deck rRssenRers-grimy
men and seedy women and wailinR
babes and frightened. staring children. 1
| did not pause to muse upon the scene. nor did
! gaze aloft at the towering spars. where. for
ward. up inthe dlngy sky Of the Isle OF Dogs.
! foated that familiar symbol Of departure. Blue
Peter I saw several young men In shining
buttons and cloth caps with gold badges. and
knew them to be midshipmen and envied
thom. Every instant expected to be ordered
out Of the ship by some one with hurricane
lungs and vast command OF Injurious Ian
Ruage and my heart beat fast. l made my
way to the ouddy front. and Just as halted
beside a group OF women at the BOBBY hatch
James Back came to tho door OF the saloon.
He motloned to me with slight toss OF his
head.
Don't look about you" he whispered:
Just follow me straight"
1 stepped after him into tho saloon. 1t was
like entering grand drawing room. Mirrors
and silver lamps spark led the pan eled bulk
heads were rich with hand paintings: flowers !
hung in plenty under the kylight; gold fishes |
CLEANED as they clrcled In globes OF crystal. |
These things and more bebeld In the space
OF q few heart beats.
l went after James Back down q wide stair !
case that sank through large hatch situated |
q dozen PAGES from the cuddy front. When I |
reached tho bottom found myself In q long |
corridor. somewhat darksome. with cabins on |
4.
cabins and closed the door.
Now listen, Mr. Peploe" said he. I'm |
going to shut you down In the lazarctte." He |
pulled y piece Of paper from his pocket, on
which wns rude tracing. This Is tho In
side OF the lazarette." no continued. pointing
20 the tracing. There are some casks OF
flour up in this corner. They'll make you a
safe hiding place. You'll find a bag OF ships
biscuit and some bottles OF wine and water
and panikin slowed behind them casks.
There's cases OF bottled ale In the Iazarette.
and plenty Of timed stuffs and grub for the
cabin table. But don't broach anything II you
can hold out"
When we're out OF soundings."
.o clear a. q @ tho a ShGD.;% 81 he answered, "ItyeS
ana ana yS.l s handed over to the auihortis:
cnaps lIsg y ;haI ."a know when wore clear of the
excuse and tell you" he answered: You'll
be very careful when You turn Sp, Mr. PeplOe:
put I'm your friend then It's @ Somus IS With WITH je% %
his narsSt Wshns SSSns dsnd
ra,he!T, than they should have lived to see this
"i III have sworn. and you may trust me.
tight" said hs. And now 4, tbsrs o.sr
question you'd like to ask before you drop be-
When does the ship haul outp"
talk Ing" he said.
- Can make my escape out Of the lszsrette
Yes, the hatch is a little .un. Tho cargo sits
tall under him. aud you can stand up and shove
the hatch clear Of its bearings should an nythinG
hurry to feel III er @ short '" o. bres1h @ % rheses es
no ight but there's air enough. The united |
smells. perhaps Amt all violets. but the place
He paused. looking at me inquirlngly. I
opened the door, ,warily psered out, then whis,
peTed to me to follow. and walked at his heels
aS soE 81 III HS the sans on near hs as
me- me some people came out OF one Of the after
passengers, and strangers to the ship. aud !
E Jsm RSei whS sf% ss @
now looked his vocation. attired as he Was in
u u samst Jacket, black cloth breeches. and a :
We halted at little hatch like tran door a
short way forward OF the bulkheads OF the
stern cabins Back Rrasped the ring In the
centre Of the hatch and easily lifted the thing !
and laid open the hold.
AIS clear" said he looking along the cor
rdor. Down with you. Mr.. peploe." peered
INTO the abyss. as II seemed to me: the light I
hereabouts was 80 dim that but little OF 1t fell
through the small square OF hAtehwAy. aud / I
could scarcely discern the outlines OF the cargo
below. l put my legs over and sank. holding j
on with hrst yoyager's grip to the eoaming :
oi the hatch then, feeling the cargo under my ]
feet, let 20. and the instant withdrew my v
hands back popped the hatch. 3
The hlaeknsss was awful. 1t affected me for 5
some minutes like the want OF air thought | 4
rhould another. and could hardly hinder a
myself from thrusting the hatch up for light o
and for the comfort OF my lungs. Presently | 4
The Sense OF sunocation PASSED. The corridor | I
was uneaIpsted; l heard the sounds OF foot y
steps on the bare planks overhead. and, never
knowing but that at any moment som ebody =
might come into this lazaTette. | very eau b