The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-01
THREE IN CHARGE
A Story Of the Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL

continued, giving expression TO MS EN-
| joyment Of the matter Of his speech by
@ succession Of silly chuckles, "and
comes from rough stock, sir. Ye may
have heard OF the famous Capt. John
Punch, him as was terror to all wrong
doers down in the West Indian waters.
he couldn't read or write, but he was q
captain in the Royal Navy for all that,
as you may hascertain by consulting
the Admiralty lists OF his day. HIS not
being able to write was nothen; put MS
not being able to read was DIT lncon-
venient now and again, as, Tor instance,
when he was sent away under sealed
orders, or when he'd get an official let
ter marked confidential, tho inside of
which he was to keep strictly secret.
He was proceeding, but cut the gar
rulous, wheezy old man short.
II may take it," said I, that there
has been fresh captain appointed to
this ship since I visited her few days
ago."
that the captain Of this ship is limo
thy Punch. He brought the Biddy Nc
Dougal out and he's going to take the
Biddy McDougal home"
I viewed him with astonisment, but
held my tongue, never doubling that the
MIR. Wilson" whom had met and who
might have happened to be on board as
a guest or as sightseer when I arrived,
had entertained himself at my expense
by deliberate falsehood.
Capt. Punch again apologized for not
being able to rise, yet made an effort to
stir in his chair for no other purpose.
however, that I could see than to force
a groan that sounded like an eXecration.
He told me that my private stock OF
wine and the other matters had laid in
were safely Soused in the berth adjoin-
ing mine, berth that was unoccupied,
and was, therefore, at my service, as
we'll as the cabin had paid for. Never
theless, went below. to make sure. In
the cabin I found young fellow clean
ing some glasses.
Are you the steward" said I.
Il Waits uron the Captain" he an
swered.
The Captain?" I exclaimed.
Capt. Punch, sir" said he.
Then it is all right, so far as Punch
goes" thought L; and that fellow Will
son-if I should happen to meet him!
rs there regular steward?" asked.
Il does all the waiting at this hero
table," answered the young fellow.
On this I told him that I was the pas
senger, bade him see that my cabin was
clean and comfortable and in readiness
for me, slipped a few rupees into his
hand, and, after looking at my pur-
chases, returned on deck.
Tne captain told me that the ship
would certainly sail on the following
Wednesday, at some hour in the after
noon, and bade me be on board not later
than nine.
ave ought to ha' got away three weeks
ago, he exclaimed; ats all along Of the
Rangoon port authorities, as they call
themselves. Every sniveling creature
whose dirty little soul is wrapped up in
white hide is boss in this flaming
country, and the more sniveling he is
and the dirtier the little soul what's
wrapped up in bim the more aggravating
does he 20 to work in his bossing jobs.
Punch knows EN-. They've got Punch's
hump up often enough, and lucky 1t is
for these here port authorities that
Punch amt no longer the man he was, y.
and here he looked at his immense,
gouty fists, then fastened his eyes sig
ni6cantly upon his bloated, seemingly
HELPLESS knees.