Birmingham age-herald., 1894-11-18

ssIt was just q piece of mad folly of mine. They're as honest set of old sea dogs as ever breathed, and I only hope they are all safe up aloft. Pm go- ing to lock you in; but don't be fright ened, 1t shan't hurt you"
 He slammed the door on her protests and locked it, and slipping the key of the cage in his pocket took firm grip of his knife and running up the steps gained the deck. Then his breath came more freely for the mate who was standing little way up the fore rigging, after tempting the bear with his foot, had succeeded in dropping a moose over it's head. The brute made a furious attempt to extricate itself, but the men hurried down with other lines and in short space of time the bear presented much the same appear ance es the nonin Aesop's fables, and was dragged and pushed, a heated and indignant mass of fur, back to it's cage.
 Having locked up one prisoner the skipper went below and released the other, who passed quickly from some- what hysterical condition to one of such naughty disdain that the captain was thoroughly cowed and stood hum- ply aside to let her pass.
 The fat seaman was standing in front of the cage as she reached it, and. regarding the bear with much sat- isfaction until Kate sidled up to him and begged him as a personal favor to go to the cage and undo it. 'Undoi itl Why, he'dlzill me-" gasped the fat seaman, aghast at such sim . plicity.
 1T don't think he 'would," said his tormentor, with a bewitching smile, ''and I'll wear a lock of your hair all my life if you do. But you'd better } give it to me before you go in.''
 1T aint going in," said the sailor, shortly.
 Not for me?" queried Kate, archly. ,, Not for fifty like you," replied the old man, firmly. "He nearly had me when he was loose. I can't think how he got out"
 "Why, let him out" said Miss Rum bolt, airily "Just for little run. How would you like to be shut up all Iday?"
 The sailor was just going to tell her with more fuency than politeness, when he was interrupted.
 "That'll do," said the skipper, who had come behind them. "Go forward, you. There's been enough of this fool ing; the lady thought you had taken theSship. Thompson, I'll take the helm. There's a little wind coming. Stand by there"
 Did my father know of this9" she inoilired.
 'N don't know that he did exactly" said the skipper uneasily. 1T just told hira not to expect you bacasie night"
 And what did he say2" said she.
 i'Said he wouldn't sit up," said the : skipper, grinning,despite himself. Kate drew breath the length of which boded DO good to her parent, and looked over the side.
 from Ipswich" said Heze1iah, after a pause. "Your father told me he was hanging round you again, so I thought well, was blamed fool anyway"
 "See how ridiculous you have made me look before all these men," said the girl angrily. Gao s-s .sThey've been with me for years," said Hezelsiah apologetically, land the mate said it was a magnificent idea. He quite roared about, he did. I wouldn't have done it with some crews, but we've had some dirty times to gether, and they've stood by me well. But of course that's nothing to do with you. It's been an adventure Pm very sorry for, very"
 "A pretty safe adventure for you." said the girl, scornfully. You didn't risk much. Look here, I like brave men. If you go in the cage and undo that bear I'll marry you. That's what call an adventure."
 ''Smith," called the skipper, quietly, s'come and take the helm a bit"
 The seaman obeyed, and Lewis, ac- companied by the girl, walked for . ward. At the bears cage he stopped and, fumbling in his pocket for the key, steadily regarded the brute as it lay gnashing it's teeth and trying in vain to bite the ropes which bound it. "You're afraid" said the girl, taunting- ly. You're quite white"
 The captain made no reply, but eyed her so steadily that her gaze fell. He drew the key from his pocket and in- serted it in the huge lock and was just turning it when a soft arm was drawn through his and soft voice murmured in his ear: "Never mind about the old bear"
 And he did not mind