The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-24

The greater part of the cut was occupied
by number of large packing cases, and
surprised to discover by the hollow sounds
given forth that they were seemingly
empty. Just about the middle of the cut
almost fell into small space which had
been left between Two cases in slowing;
and in recovering my balance 1 wrenched
loose one of the boards on the side. Again
my idle curiosity proved my curse, for
without any set purpose lowered myself
down and crawled inside the huge box
through my fmproYised opening. To my
great establishment, / found nothing but
layer of stone ballast in the bottom; and
l reasoned that doubtless the other cases
We're similarly equipped, and that the
weight was to keep the boxes from being
shifted in a heavy sea; although, as they
We're closely wedged in between the bull
Warks this extra precaution seemed super
Then in an instant had made the re-
solve that was to cause me SO much dan
ger and anxiety in the next few weeks
came to me in time.
Here, I reasoned, was an opportunity
speclally sent by providence for my ben
et1t. Unless betrayed by some unforeseen
complication, l could lie unsuspected in
this snug hiding-place until the vessel was
We'll away from land. The stewards stores
would supply the necessary food; and best
of all, some distant land would probably
AFFORD me opportunities that my own
country seemed TO deny me.
would become a stowaway brave the
captains wrath, and strive to win his
sympathy by working industriously at anv
work Ihat ne might set me at To will was
10 act; and with scarcely a pang OF
conscience conveyed ten loaves of bread
ana few cans of beef and tongue to nv
hiding, place; then, piling the rocks
around the sides, found myself in COM
Iofta0le II not luxurious quarters Per-
haps | might have changed my mind had
tlme been given me- but as soon as morn
ing broke the steamer was cast looose
from the DOCK and in a few hours the
increased motion plainly told that we We're
out on the ocean.
1 determined to bide my time for a dav
or tWo' ana although the confinement was
lrksome l braVed ii out until the sun
had risen and set four times. NY rea-
sons Tor this procras tinatiOn are not
easily explained, but an indefnable feel
ING OF dread made me hesitate, and-as
the sequel proves-saved my life. There
We're several things which I had noted
from my hiding place that caused me to
wonder In the first place the Good
fortune las had ascertained the name
OF the steamship TO bel carried a surpris-
ingly large crew, although the majority
OF them were not visible until the second
day out. And for another thing, the
strict discipline that l had always here
tofore seen on shipboard was not main
tainedi for almost every evening was oc-
cupled IN carousing, and 1 never heard
the slightest protest from the captain or
any of the officers of the deck Finally
the fragments of a conversation which
] overheard between two of the sailors
impressed me as being remarkable, to say
the least.
Last cruise. Ell, Bill?"
And I'm glad of it, too" growled his
well, so am I, to tell the truth. It
Is wonderful that We've never been sus-
That's the shippers skill-and I, for
one, don't grudge him his half share
specially as he provided the vessel.''