St. Paul daily globe., 1895-02-05


nose and little else, on the second aft
noon.
A number of us effected his capture
on the main deck, but I was the only
one whose action in the matter he ap
peared to resent. He spent the rest of
the day in hoarsely cursing me from
the second mates berth.
The day after that the carpenters
berth in the for'a'd deckhouse was
ready for his reception, with a sheet
of iron over the door, stout bars
across the port-hole, and the carpen-
ter'S locker securely screwed up.
1t took Clunie exactly twenty four
hours to break into that locker. He
then stationed himself at his port-hole
with a small broadside of gouges and
chisels, which he poised between the
bars and proceeded to fire at all COM
crs.
Then because they could not throw
him overheard they fixed ringbolt
in the floor of the berth and handcuffed
him down to that whenever he became
violent.
AS we sailed inc cooler lattitudes,
however, he became better and better
every day. He even ceased to revile
me when we met on deck.
He was no longer dangerous. The
homicidal tendency had disappeared.
and with it the particular adherence
with which I of all people had been
unfortunate enough to inspire him
when he was still comparatively sane.
We were now quite friendly. He called
me Brother John.
The wind blew strong and fair until
we were within a days sail of Port
Philip Heads. Then it veered, still
blowing strong, and We were close
hauled once more, the first time for
eight weeks. Then it shifted right
round, and finally it fell.
Three knots an hour was the outside
reckoning, and our captain was an al
tered man.
But we passengers gave a farewell
concert, and spent the night in making
up the various little differences of the
voyage, and not one of us turned in till
morning. Even then [ couldn't sleep.
L flung back my blankets at two bells,
and [ slipped into my f1annels I was
running up the foremast ratlines, with
pillar of idle canvas, and a sheaf of
sharp black cordage a-swing and a
sway between me and the Australian
stars.
halt or pause, and then l must needs
go higher. My idea was to sit on the
royal yard, and wait there for Aus
tralia and the rising sun.
1t is the best spar for seeing from,
because there are no sails to get in
your Way-you are On the top of all.
But it is also the slightest, the unstead-
lest and the furthest from the deck.
[ sat close to the mast, with my arm,
as it were, round it's waist; and it is
extraordinary how much one sees from
the fore-royal-yard.
1t had been a pleasant voyage I
was sorry it was over. Captain, Off
GERS, passengers and crew, it was prob
ably my last night among them, and
my heart turned heavy at the thought.
They had been good friends to me-
Should l make as good over yonder?
My thoughts strayed little with
Clunie. My thoughts had not left him
when his very voice hailed me from a
few feet below.
Sit tight, brother John,'' he cried
softly. "I'll be with you in two twos.''
[ nearly fell from the yard He was
within reach of my hand. His melo-
deon was swung across his shoulders,
and he had a cleaning something be-
tween his teeth. 1t looked like a steel
mustache.
There would have been time to snatch
it from him, to use it, if necessary, in
my own defense. AS L thought of it,
however, his feet were on the man
rope, and he himself had plucked the
knife from his mouth. 1t was the carv-
ing knife, and [ could see that his mouth
was bleeding.
'Move on a bit" he said, and when [
hesitated he pricked me in the thigh.
Next moment he was between me and
the mast.
He thrust his left arm through my
right; his right was around the mast,
and the knife was in his right hand,
which he could hardly have used in
that position.
He chuckled, and felt my forehead.
1t was cold and messy. But say some
thing l must, so / said:
Were you ever anything else?''
Ever anything else! l was as mad
as mad, and you know it, too. You're
trying to humor me, but I know that
game too we'll, so look out!''
You mistake me, Clunie, do you
You fool"' said he. Take that
and get further along the yard"
And he gave my leg another little
stab, that brought blood through my
f1annels like spilled ink. l obeyed him
in order to put myself beyond his reach.
This, however, was not his meaning
at all. He edged after me ss coolly as
though we were dangling our legs over
the side Of berth.
I've got a crow to pick with you"
he went on, ''and you know well enough
what it is
Those verses" said I, holding on
with all ten fingers, for we We're rolling
as much as ever; and now the black
sea rose under us on one side, and
now on the other; but Clunie had
straddled the spar, and he rode it like a
rocking horse, without holding on at
all.
Those verses" he repeated. cat
least that's one of them; should have
said there's a brace of crows"
well, as to the verses said I,'tyou
were hardly a loser. Our magazine, as
YOU may know, died natural death
the very next week
"Of course it did" said Clunie, with
an air of satisfaction which I found
encouraging. You refused my poem,
so of course the thing fizzled out.
What else could you expect? But I tell
you l have a second bone to pick with
you And you'll find it the worst of the
two-for you"
81 wonder what that is" said I, in
a mystified tone, thinking to humor him
still more.
I'll tell you,' said he. Just shunt
a bit further along the yard.
How many concerts have you had
without asking me to perform-ne the
only man worth listening tome the
star O. the ship?'
Il hardly know"
Count, them"
Il think about six
Curse your thinking. Make sure"
/ counted with my clutching fingers.
Seven I said at length.
"Are you sure?'
Eyes, perfectly"
'"Then take that-and that-and that
and thatw And he pricked me in
seven places with his Internal knife,
holding it to my throat between the
stabs in case should sing out.
Now" he said, I'm going to give
you a concert all to yourself. You're
going to hear the star of the Grassmere
free of charge. But get along to the
point of the spar first; then you'll be all
ready. What, you won't? All, 1
thought that'd make WON'T