The record-union., 1895-08-03
THE MASTER OF The "CHRYSOLITE, y
CH A DTED Z

they knew him best said he was hardy.
The remainder said he was hard, his
heart stone. Still he was human be-
ing, for, like others, he cherished hob
bies. His hobbies, however, were not
OF that class which is comprised about
Eest and roses. Instead they were clothed
with stern delight born of defiance and
danger. To work his ship across the bay
In the teeth of an adverse gale; to weather
lee shore; to master q rebellious crew
single-handed-thes were the wild di-
versions which satisfied him. Once in
the China Seas his men grew mutinous;
said the ship was ''leaking like a lobster
pot" and straightway put her about for
Singapore: swore they did not care what
the skipper thought. in fact, would like
10 talk to him a bit. The skipper was
below when the first mate brought
down the news and a very pale face as
well.
Tell the men to muster L Will come
to them in q minute"
So soon as the mates back was turned
John Anderson took revolver from
locker and charged it; then, ascending
the companion ladder. he walked TO the
break OF the poop, his hands buried IN
Kim were the men IoIIing about IN
sullen crowd on the weather side Of the
quarter deck. They were thirty or forty
in number, and were misunderstanding
set.
Now, then, my men! half an hour ago
we were steering due northeast. who
was it dared to lay the ships nose the
other w8y?"
The burly boatswain swung his way
out Of the crowd, planted his foot on the
first step OF the poop ladder and stared up
at the Captain.
II did, and be damned to you'll" roared
he. There was a loud report. The boat
swain dropped, shot IN the leg. And the
crew shivered under cleaning eye and
cleaning weapon.
''All hands bout shipI' cried the mas
ter. The wounded bOatswain, raising
himself for moment on one hand, piped
family and then fell back unconscious
But the men were already at their sta
TONS and in five minutes more the
Chrysolite was heading northeast again.
Such incidents as these gave John An
derson an unenviable reputation among
sailors. 1t was seldom that the same
crew served with him twice. Two voy-
ages under this tartar were more than
could be stood, and from his suborinates,
therefore, he gained nothing but hatred
and fear.
Il was very difficult, then, to find out
where Captain Anderson's weakness lay.
Every body. OF course, has his weakness,
But this man appeared to be all strength.
His whole life seemed like a rod of bur-
nished steel-a passiOn-pOOOf life, fire.
proof rod. The owners of the Chryso-
lite, Messrs. Ruin ~ Ruin of Billiter
street, piqued themselves on knowing
his tender point. He was aYaricious
thought they: he would do much for
money, and they would some day try
him in the furnace. 1t was true, indeed,
that the old sailor had amassed considers-
BILE wealth during his frequent voyages
to the East. 1t was true, also, that he
was sparing and saving; that he drove
bargains to the verge OF perdition, and
clinched them at the crucial moment.
But it was equally true that he was free
from fraud. His teas were what they
pretended to be. his silks uuimpeachble
and no man ever came back to MIN with
complaints of it's genuineness. The world
allowed that he was at least CONNER
cially honorable, but felt fully convinced
that he was eaten up with desire for
gold.
But the world was wrong. The Captain
himself was sometimes given TO meta
physical speculation, and even he was
puzzled to know it his heart had whit
more feeling than any other pumping en-
CINE. Women he looked upon as frivoli-
ties of vanity 10 which he could not rec
oncile his stern nature; and men he re-
garded as instruments to be vigorously
disciplined, not falling at the same time
TO discipline himself Ills heart was OF
no use to him except to circulate his
blood. In default, therefore, OF loving
anything, he fell quite naturally to pur-
suing difficult task-the piling up OF q
mountain OF gold. This was congenial
solely because IL was difficult, and dill
culties overcome were his only sources OF
satisfaction.
Now it happened that new firm trad
ing to the East, in competition with
Messrs. Ruin IL Ruin, had made adj
vances to Captain Anderson with q view
to engaging him in their service; and, as
they offered liberal terms, including a
handsome percentage, it was not long
before the old seaman was won over.
Here is a chance, thought he, of heaping
up my mountain so much the more
quickly, and 1 am determined that my
actions shall not be hampered by septi-
mont. Notwithstanding this last threat lie
found it very unpleasant thing TO break
with the old employers, one OF whose
sbips he had commanded for a score of
years. But he would get out scot Tree OF
them before he finally concluded nego-
tiations with the new people. And so II
came to pass that one morning he walked
along BilIiter street with his twenty
year-old commission in his pocket.
1t is curious how fond real old salts are
OF dress when ashore. Here was John
Anderson in a top hat and kid gloves,
looking anything but at home IN them.
The glossy hat was mockery TO his
bold, sea- worn face, and his big knuck les
were almost bursting through the soft
kid with indignation at the anront put
upon them.
tie reached the chambers in which the
firm OF Messrs. Ruin IL Ruin was estab-
lished and assembled the staircase, for the
Office was on the second floor. The Sc
Nor partner was within and the Captain
was admitted into his room without any
delay.
"Glad to see you, Captain Anderson, y
said Mr.. Ruin III an unusually cordial
tone, at the same time shaking hands.
you've made a capital passage and
freighted the Chrysolite we'll"
Mr.. Ruin was 6 big, fat man, who
spoke Oily. His clean-shaven face was
never without the remnants Of smile
q smile. though, which was not remarks a.
bic for its sincerity. Still, 1t had Its
value-in the market-for it was COM
mercial smile. a pair OF small gray eyes
were almost hidden by the obese curves
of his cheeks, but you learned IN very
short time that they kept sharp and
sbrewi look out from behind those ram
parts. The two men sat down at oppo'
site sides of the table, the owner guessing
from the CAPTAINS manner that there was
something in the wind, and the Captain
thinking his employers eXuberanoe o.
eivility betokened more than was Mani
fest.
Yes. brought her q quick passage, y
replied Anderson; then, looking straight
at Ihe owner ''and it's the last she L
make under me-"
The remnants of a smile coalesced,
blowing up Mr.. RUINS cheeks into greasy
burrows.
my dear Captain, we could not hear OF