The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-13
LOOK IN FIFTYr

The following extraordinary story
was told to me some years ago by the
commander Of steamship In which
was making . voyage for my health
The captain, who had himself shared
in the experience he related. began his
tale thus:
"A good many years ago ! was I'm
Cape Town, having been forced by I'LL.
ness to quit my post as second mate Of
a large ship bound TO Bombay. "a fort
night after the ship sailed ] recovered
my health and was flt for work
81 remember one Of those mornings
while was hunting FOR q berth. Twas
watching Malay fishing boat sliding
through the water, with an occasional
burst Of spray Oh her weather bow,
which arched . little rainbow for her
20 rush through. when was accosted.
/ turned Itwas the port captain or
harbor master. cannot remember the
term by which his Office WIS diRtin-
guished BE had sailed with my father
some years earlier. and I had met him
On two occasions in England He had
done me some kindness while lay in
lodgings in Cape Town and had assured
me Of his willingness TO help me find q
ship when should be well enough TO
90 to sea He was Scotchman, with
hard, weather colored face and Of o
dry, arch expression OF eye. sas q .,s
Dye see anything to fit vel? said he
Aye, said ], q plenty.
well. now, said he, you're the
very mon was thinking OF not half an
hour ago. ] was in Adderley street and
met a captain who was here last year.
His names Huddersfield He's in
charge Of a acolonial trader from Sonth
American port, with o small consign.
ment for this place, and Ii bound for
Sydney, New South Wales, where his
little ships owned. chiefly, I believe,
by himself
''He pointed to Q large three masted
schooner that was lying within 100
strokes Of an oar, almost abreast Of MS.
She looked an exceedingly fine craft. A
large Dutch Indiaman was rolling upen
the swell OF the sea within few cables
length astern OF her, and inst ahead rode
Russian auxiliary frigate very heavily
SPARED, with great cleaning windows
in her stern and network Of gliding
ON either quarter, so that the blue brine
under her counter flashed as to the dart
Of asunbeam whenever she lightly sway
ed Yet the schooner held her own Id
all points as q picture Of beauty and
was not to be dwarfed. The gilded but
toms of her trucks shone high lin the
azure OF that afternoon. She was paint.
ed white, and gleam Of dark red, like
some cold, wet fiash Of sunset broke
from her metaled bends whenever she
was moved by the infiowing heaye Of
the water.
when / got on board, / found the lit.
tie ship avery noble, fiush deCked sves
sel, with d clear sweep Of sand bright,
yachtli like pink running from the taffraii
TO the eyes The brasgwCrk was full
Of thei stars Oh the western sunshine.
The glass OF her skylights was dark and
aiming Her ropes were Flemish coiied.
~ though indeed she had BEEN man
of-war. Everything was clean and neat
/ guessed she was about 800 tons bur.
dsn. Her crew had knocked on for the
day and were lounging about the wind
lass, two or three on them stripped to
the waist, washing themselves. They
had colonial air. This might have;
been owing TO their dress OF check shirt,
open at the breast, no braces, here and
there lnoleskins and here and there d
cabbage tree hat.
.sThe second mate, q man whose name
I afterward ascertained was Curzon.
was walking ii the gangway, smoking
. q pipe. inquired ii Captain Hudders-
field was on board. He asked me what
my business waa, Ii though suspicious
iof visit from d stranger after working
|hours was about 10 explain the reason
that had brought me 20 the schooner.
when Captain Huddersfield himself
emerged through the little companion-
way and stepped On deck, pansing mo-
ment, with the sharp Of his hand To- lis
brow. to gaze In the direction Of Cape