Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-12-05
FIVE BLACK MARKS.

1.-THE most miserable time ! ever had
in nv liic," said DR.. Macpherson one
day as he sat chatting In his coy
drawing room, was spent in a gun
boat of the coast Of Guinea. began
nv professional life as surgeon in the
navy, you know
| did not know. But as the doctor
seemed intent on telling the story ] did
not interrupt him by saying so.
I'VE had been cruising about in the
Mediterranean" he went on, when we
where Unexpectedly ordered TO the
Bay Of Lagos to overawe some miser-
able little tribe near the coast which
had not been behaving itself as
properly regulated little tribe under
the projection Of the British empire
ought to do. Kakogas tribe 1t was
called, and Kakoga came In for good
share Of honest abuse from the
officers and men OF the Dragon-ily,
when our orders came. The worst OF
1t was, as far as the officers and men
were concerned, that we were not at
unity among ourselves The engineer
called Lashton, had been disappointed
| In love, and was naturally morose In
consequence. What made him more
SO was the fact TINT his successful
rival was tho sub-lieutenant, an
awfully nice fellow. and the only man
on board that | cared for. Lieut.
Gilby had met Miss Callan at Malta,
and had become engaged to her with
out the least idea that the engineer
had intentions that way, not that 1t
would have made any difference to
him II he had, suppose. fashions
unconcealed enmity against him made
| life on board pretty unpleasant, and
divided us into two cliques. The lieu
tenants clique, consisting of himself
and me, certainly had the liveliest
time of it, for the successful sutton OF
Miss Callan was the merricst fellow on
earth, and while we were in the Med
iterranean we suffered very little from
the engineers hostility. But directly
we steamed off for Lagos a most re-
markable change came over my friend,
and he turned as taciturn as Lashton
himself
ut puzzled me 10 discover the rea-
son, for tholgh We were all sorry TO
leave the Mediterranean still 1t was
not like Gilby to sulk over 1T. Lilo
could not SEQ less OF his fancee than
he had been doing for two or three
months, and we had the prospect be-
fore US OF small fight, for which he
had been wishing Lashton suggested
to me in his sinister way that it was
the prospect Of fighting which caused
the change in my friend, and though |
answered the suggestion in the tone 1t
deserved, still it seemed the only ex-
PLANTATION.
"Gilby said, when asked him, that
II was the weather, and the irritation
with which he answered prevented me
continuing my inquiries, and made me
more than ever convinced that 1t was
funk and very severe form OF The
disease, too In fact, he took very lit
tie pains to conceal It,
81 hope to goodness that l shall no
: have to 90 on shore, he said, when We
had nearly reached our destination !
, with the commander would lead thu
marty and leave me here to look aftel
, the ship
"'It Is not likely | answered, gruff
, ", and | was glad that Lashton wa
not about to overhear him. an
swered his next suggestion more gruff
i ly still.
I "'l suppose you would not like =
. certify that ought to be on the sicl
list, would you, Macpherson? he aske'
i me, hesitatingly.
~ refused fatty.
i III he had told me tho true reason 0
!, his fear | might have acted differently
!, for he looked Ill enough, poor fellow
v His face had grown quite white an
) wan since we started.
u ut looked winter still next day whe
h he had to 90 in command Of the lane
. Ing party, which | accompanied, c
= course
"When we were fairly embarked o
]. the enterprise, his one Idea seemed
n be Il, get II over with all possibl
: spee,i. and the haste with which he az
- vsncsd to Kakoga's country woul
Z have been impossible II the men unde
81 him had not themselves been 80 an,
2 ious to get into action, and introduce
y little change into the monotony c
a life on gunboat
at "However, the change was less tina
u the majority OF the blue-jacaets tope
~ for. the miserable little tribe did NJ
a show fight, and our business was 500
10 accomplished. In five days from til
nr time we lett the Dragon-ny we WEI
= back again, none the worse for OF
be trip, except that we were all worn Oh
We by Gilby's forced marches.
y "The lieutenant seemed more c.
T. to hausted than any Of US, and as soon
9. he had received the congratulations
Of the commander, he retired at once
Y his berth. What surprised me WI
:. that his spirits did not show any IL
ng proyement after the chance OF figntlr
ly was at an end It seemed to me as
:. he were still expecting Soma calami