The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-14

IL, because even IL do bring myself
forrarder with Mrs. Plate over this
business, you're howked along as well.
But / knew Of no ether down-on-his-
luck skipper with a bit of money, and
so / had to come 10 you. Well, sir,
here you are; II you chip In, we've each
of us got good chance of getting
drowned, and ANAL chance of making
a little pile. And before we sail, we
can each of VS. go to the widow and
make the best bargain there that we're
able. But mind you, captain, I'm do,
ing no sort of trade with you over Mrs.
Plate. If can hang up my hat there,
I'm going to do it,"
Capt. Maddox. stretched out large
hand and smote the bell. From the
maid who answered it, he ordered two
nalf-pipts of mild ale. He clinked
glasses when the refreshment came,
and accepted Mr.. Flctcher's offer in all
its points. Then with dextrous
sweep he poured the liquor down his
throat and threw the glass crashing
into the fireplace.
remember what's between us. 1t isn't
quite matter we could put down on
paper and stick our names to over
sixpenny charter-party stamp"
There is only one objection to buying
O ship at thirtieth part of her primo
cost and then turning her into an
ocean carrier Mt ordinary freights. If
oil things go well, she is bound to yield
q dazzling percentage. But the one
drawback to tho scheme is that if bad
weather crops up, she is very apt to
sink. incidentally, of course, she
usually browns her crew in doing this,
but that is mere detail. Sailors should
not be sailors If they object to o lit,
tie occasional drowning; and n man
who Is at nll squcamish of his skin
should not ship In vessel which flies a
Scandinavian flag merely because the
British board of trade inspector has
scoffed at the bare idea Of passing her.
The weather gods, however, werc
kind to the ''Teva." Capt. Maddox
trembled as the cargo ronred into her
from the coal shoots in Tyne dock, be-
cause he was by no means certain shas
1t would not SO through her bottom;
he feared when he got out into the
North sea; he shiveIcd in the channel;
he began t0 perspire when he saw
Ushant light swinging over the waters
like the spolIes of some monstrous
catherine wheel; and on the road down
to the straits. he hardly dared to leave
the bridge. But he picked up nothing
worse than mild haze along the East
English shore, found an easy channel,
u smooth bay. and coasted down along
the low brown Portuguese hills in
weather that was breezcless, swelless
and baking.
But IL was not till after the "Teva'
had passed Gibraltar, and only ne lion
shaped head of the Rock was left rear
ing up from out Of the warm blue sea
ostern, that the passenger who owned
half the steamers shares showed his
face on the outer deck. He was a slim
little man with pince-nez. and when ho
totered to the captains deck-chnir.
which stood in tie shade Of the fiddley,
the ample canvas of IL bade fais, "a s,xsl.
low him up.
"Glad TO see yon again. Mr.. Cracken.
thorpe" said Maddox. you've had
long bout Of II. but you'll have got
clean over 81 now"
"Oh, have ~" said the little man with
n feeble grin. "You wnit till she be-
gins 10 wobble aRain, and then you'll
sec, The salt water and I are old