The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-06-11
\ TIMELY SHOT.

/ bad arrived was 30 be laid up for time
! Having but few shot IN the Cocker" |
was up for almost anything IN the way OF
/ a voyage, and cared little towards which
Of the cardinal points | steered my LeYt
I course. provided the business were legiti-
mate and honest.
! La this frame of mind. | was strolling
/ along the vharves on the East River side,
I having made inquiry at several shipping
/ offices without success. when my attention
was caught by the neat appearance Of a
| small barque, lying at the lower end Of a
| pier. | took turn down alongside RI her,
and stood looking idly at the Rtevedores
! taking ia her lading, when a hand was
! clapped smartly on my shoulder, and an
| other extended to meet my own.
why, how are you, Gorham?" said a
| hearty voice "Wbere have YOU been
! drifting these last fifteen years?'
had some little difficulty IN making
! out from under their hirsute covering, the
! features OF Joe Calder. whom / had not
met since We were boys at school. |
| greeted him heartily, however, though |
! did not attempt TO give complete answer
! to his question. It would have taken
some tine to relate the story Of my fifteen
years wandenngs, Dr, Of his, either.
ont Of employ. Just now he asked.
! Yes
..Southerly wind in your pocket-book?"
| Well. it's veering towards that quart
! err"
Come, whatll you take to go mate of
this barque? She's my first command
| ana Will be ready for sea In three days. |
| haven't shipped any officers yet"
! Which way are yOu bound?' | asked.
! Coast Of Africa Gaindla River and
so on"
palm OIL" SAID l.
Mostly palm oil picked up voyage"
Shes n fine looking craft, | observed.
| quite willing To consider the offer favor
ably, but h7sitatng r little about closing
| with it.
Come, let's 90 aboard, and take look
! at things inside" he urged.
We did 50; and, if [ was pleased With
! ber appearance from distance, quite
| fell IN love with her when inspected her
internal arrangemeuts BY the time | had
| made the round Of the deck. ana taken
| look at her cosy little cabin, | had almost
| made M my mnd TO ship.
What cargo are you going to take
| out?"
Yankee notions sad Calder, careless
| ly. "IohhCcO and rum lumber and slOps
|
| the agents Office. Make up your mind
what wages you will 90 for and therell
| be no difficulty about il. It | say | want
yon yonlI bo shipped without many
| questions
feared, wien | named my terms, that
! they might be thought exorbitant, as
| seamen were plenty and ships scarce; but
! word IN an undert0ne from Caller to
the agent made all satlsfactory,a and il
| few minutes after entering the Office,
| had affixed my sign-manual to the papers
| OF the barque BlOOmer, for a voyage to
| the west coast of Africa. and had the adj
vance money in my pocket.
| | went on board the next day, and took
| charge of bending sails and getting the
| barQue in readiness for the sea. IU was
new and strange voyage for me. for |
had never visited the African coast.
| knew i to he sickly place, but Calder
| who was an old stager there. assured me
there was nothing to be uneasy about on
that score. We would take good care of
| ourselves when we got there and let the
! kroomen ITO all tho work.
There were only six seamen before the
mast, he said and as six reported them
selves the same day that | took charge, |
thought our complement was full But
| the evening We were gong 10 sail, SIX
| more came on board with the captain;
| asked hIm if all those men were members
of the creF? Yes" said he, Il represent
Ell TO the agent that thought The vessel
| very short-hanaed considering her spread
of canvas. And, finally I got him over
to my way Of thinking. We shall be able
to handle her easily with twelve before
the mast, oh, Mr.. GOrham?'
thought so. too; and 1t occurred to me
that he must have very accommodating
! owner to deal with. 1t would not have
been strange hal one or two men been ad-
ed to our force at the captains solicita.
| ton; hut that the number should be
doubled struck me IS being little odd.
to say The least.
| had little knowledge of Captain Caf-
der's history since we were school-mat5s.
| knew that he had sought his fortune at
sea. like myself, and Ia had told me when
] shipped that he was familiar with the
African coast.
But we had not been many days at sea
before had strong suspicious that the oa-
tenslble object Of the voyage was far diff
ferent from the real one. The large acces-
| SION to our crew at the very hour OF
sailing gave tie first impulse to my
thoughts In this direction; and various
circumstances occurred after we were in
blue water which tended To increase my
surprise and uneasiness. The lumber
winch formed part Of the cargo appear
Ell to have been cut or selected with a
| view 10 some special use. The six last
comers, | learned, were all old aCquaint-
ances Of the captain. and had sailed with
him before, which TO put tin mild form
was coincidence. And one day de-
teCted the cook, who was one of the six.
burning slaves for tirewOOd. On inquiry
| found that they were uG,-en from a
pack OF shocks IN the forehold. | rcmon.
strated with him about this. telling him
| supposed he knew the shocks were to
be set mp into casks for palm OIL.
II tlnk We no want palm oil, sab" he
answered, slyiy.
what do you mean?" / demanded
tiercey.
"Oh, it's all right. sab. Speak to the
ole man. sab He tell You what I mean,
= was the good -hImored reply.
3 was both disarmed and mystltied.
2 went aft and reported the matter to TIA,
( captain, who was working mp his longl
tuGe at the cabin table | asked him l
he knew the meaning Of the cooks repl,
to NE.
D "Sit down, Mr.. Gorham." he sold. cool
@ ly, 'and don't get in stew about il
= The old shocks are of no value Ther
$ isn't one of them that would hold sand
4, much less OIL; and they were only sent ol
, as n bind. We've got more protitabl
: business In band than box.hauling tn
/ whole Guinea coast To pick mp palm oi
by the caiahash-full.'
What Is it. then?" | demanded.
. Il suppose we may as we'll understan
. each other now as at any time" he sale
1 I'VE are going after ni.gers.'
\ Daylight had burst upon me with a ver
geance. | could see the whole thing nov
= and | wondered at my own stupidity
not having seen it before. Here was
who thought myself engaged in an homes
tradlng voyage. lust waking ND 10 L