The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-22

.h"o' oSu'o az hiuse ha'c Deen s,ii ihoinds
disappointment, it was not any acuter than
my own, for If his hope was centered in
Donald 50 also was mine.
CHAPTER VI.
pIsENCNANTMENT ANp DEsPAIR.


DIsENCHANTAiENT AND DESPAIR.
While the Bird of Paradse-such was the
alluring name of our gallant brig-was be-
ing loaded with cargo of cashmere shawls,
cocoanuts. drugs, glass beads and other
articles of merchandise likely TO suit the
gultured Mohammedan taste. / was SO close
ly engaged with my own concerns and the
urgent hospitality Of Sir Thomas friend
that paid but scant heed to the men with
whom was TO sail. had vague notion
of picturesque medley of dusky children
OF the sun who would be likely in the
course of the voyage TO discourse of many
marvellous things and discover traits at
once new and interesting. But mt sea and
within the narrow confines of a two master
one is impelled to take an active individual
interest in bis companions, and so it came
that as soon as the towers and spires of
Bombay had sunk out of sight on our
weather beam / was eagerly and curiously
studying my surroundings and the charac-
tiers of officers and crew.
Never have been More swiftly or COM
pletely disenchanted. Perhaps it was he
cause was young and foolish and igno-
rant that had so gayly cherished illusion;
perhaps it WINS the fine name of the brig
that had given me exalted and gorgeous
ideas, but had anticipated holiday sail
on srnlit seas in a sort of Cleopatra barge
with companions fifty representing. il not
the pomp and magpifccnce, at least the
poetry and romance OF the orient. My pun.
ishment for indulging such fantastic rever
les was speedy and condign. The Bird OF
Paradise bore as much resemblance to the
ship of my imagination as n hedgehog bears
TO leopard. In plain truth, she was an i'll
smelling. leaky old coal bunker, with
crew of the most desperate looking Williams
that ever swung from yardarm. What
their past had been it required little shrewd-
ness TO guess.
A glance made IL clear that whatever
pleasure, whatever romance there could be
in sailing with the dregs of Asiatic pirate
crews OF men, who for reasons to be com.
pretended by the simplest had found it eX
pedient TO lay aside for little their natural
vocation OF cutting throats, such pleasure
and romance were mine. Naturally was
amazed 90 find such men on Mr.. Matheson's
ship, but the explanation came later. l
had forgotten that the Scotch are frugal
and did not know how Asia pours her scum
upon the sea.
My security, such as it was, lay in the
fact that among themselves there was not
the least evidence OF good will They were
sullen, suspicious and communicative,
aud in all their lives had probably never
known what it is 90 smile out of pure good
nature or innocent hilarity, for their fea
lures were fixed in a perpetual scowl which
nothing could soften. Toward each other,
as toward their officers, they had the sulky,
defiant dcineanor OF Gagged beasts of prey,
and no doubt they had n sense of imprison.
ment. OF duty or on, they INDUCED i'm no
freedom or jollity of intercourse. No sto-
ries were told no songs were sung The
spirit was that Of a chain gang working al
the point Of che bayoDct or the muzzlc Of
the rifle Misfortune. failure i'm hazardous
and bloody enterprises, had brought them
together. and a. set they were not able 10
fraternizc
The officers matched the crew.. Though
Captain Holden was an Englishman and
Mr.. Malcolm, the mate, Scotch. there was
nothing gracious or prepossessing in either
of them. The captain was short and broad
square rugged, with a tremepdous breadth