Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-05-14

would hardly suffice TO do more than
carry me through the school. Onde-
TERED by the warning, matriculated,
and for two years studied faithfully,
receiving a degree at the end of the
second, and thus becoming entitled le-
gally to experiment on humanity. As,
by virtue of strict economy, there was
still some money TO my credit, l de-
termined to spend q year at famous
eastern school; and I carried out the
plan, only to meet one of the kcenest OF
disappointmeuts at the close OF the
period, through failing to secure COW
eted appointment as a hospital inferno
Just at this TING, too, came news of
the death of my uncle. He bequeathed
to me u letter of sound advice and
thousand dollars. BY means of the lat
ter-and disregarding the former
spent fourth year in study, this time
selecting another of the great institu-
tions. The balance left at the end of the
season served to equip modest office in
the city, i'll which Capt. Peck found me,
Just entering my 25th year, with re-
sources exhausted and hopes blighted
by the dreary waiting for paying pa
tients who did not come. Add to these
troubles a share of anxiety as to my
health, and one can understand the will
ingness with which 1 became surgeon
of the Mary Peck.
She was almost n new ship, Maine
built, Yankee-oificered and manned by
q crew representing many nations. She
was of about a thousand tons burden,
and was freighted with cargo of con-
siderable value. Her living quarters
aft were omrortable, If not luxurious,
and the cabin fare was excellent. The
captain and his wife, the two mates and
/, made up the population of that part
Of the vessel.
The Mary Peck's run to the equator
was made in circumstances of the sort
to delight both the skipper and the
pair who were making their first deep
water voyage. Barring n sharp gale
soon after she cleared the coast, the ship
encountered fine weather down to the
line, with plenty of wind, but not too
much of it-a very important qualifica-
ton in the eyes of the novices. As the
days grew warmer Mrs. Peck throvc
amazingly, the color came back 20 her
checks, and her strength increased, un-
til we almost forgot that she had begun
the voyage an invalid. She herself
credited old ocean with her improve
ment, and the captain was much Of her
way of thinking, while my notion of the
matter was that the companionship of
her tall, bronzed husband counted for
more with the little woman than sea
air and sunshine combined. At all
events, however, the surgeons post
promised to be a sinecure.
To the line, as has been said, fortune
showered her favors upon us, but no
sooner was our PROV cleaving the waters
of the southern hemisphere than the
gifts of the ficl<le goddess ceased. For
a fortnight we had calms or breezes so
faint as hardly to give the ship steer
age way. Yet she contrived to crawl on,
daily putting some leagues of her road
behind her; for her master was smart
| seaman, and made the most of every
cat's-paw. Nevertheless it was slow
work, and all of us longed for cooler
days and fresh winds with an invig-
Grating l1eenness in their rush.
. I was leaning against the rail one
night, lingering beyond the usual hour
and 10th to quit the coolness of the
| deck, when the captain came up, and,
standing beside me, lighted cigar.
The night was still and moonlit, and the
ship lay almost motionless.
"Still ocean holiday weather." said ].
"Do you look for much more of it?"
81 hope not" said he, emphatically.
Its the sort of holiday that's worse
than labor"
"And when steam discounts canvas
"Yes," he observed; ITS enough to
make one pray for engine and screw
But perhaps l ought not to complain.
My wife certainly seems none the worse
for this drifting in the tropics"
"She stands the heat well, no doubt of
| that" said !. 'In fact, she takes most
kindly to the sea. Iwonder you've never
had her with you before"
"Wait till we're on the other side of
the Horn, and then see fyour opinions
the same"
at will be a long time to wait, at this,
:ate of sailing. So far I've only had one
cause to find the ocean disappointing.
I've looked forward to all sorts of Incl
dents, but not one has occurred"
"Wait till we're in the Pacific before
you reach conclusions. By the way
what manner of incident might you
crave?"
"Anything not too perilous. You
know the list better than L"
"Tm willing to avoid them all this
voyage" he answered, with laugh.
"Still, If any excitement occurs you
shall be notified promptly"
'On the strength of the promise I'll
turn in," said I, and, leaving him to
finish his cigar, made my way below,
to toss and turn in my bunk for q time,
and then to fall into n restless slum-
ber. Presently, as it seemed, from the
| drowsiness which was heavy upon me,
| though the summons was loud enough
to wake the soundest of sleepers, the
steward raped upon the door. The
| daylight in the stateroom proved that,
after all, the night had passed only too
quickly.
whats the matter2" l called out,
blundered and called me at least an
nOur 100 carly.
The cap'n requests you to step on
deck at onct," he answered.
What for?' / demanded; but the
steward had gone his way, and there
was no answer.
Pulling on n pair of trousers and u
jacket, l hastened to obey the shippers
| orders. AS ! reached the deck / caught
sight of "a little knot of men about q
figure lying motionless on grating
Kneeling at the side of the PROSTATE
| man was a woman, and u little forward
two strange sailors were surrounded
by half a dozen of the ships crew.
Here's business for you, doctor"
was Capt. Peck's greeting. THAT IN
cident you were longing for last night
has occurred fast enough"
whats happened?" l asked. "Who
are these people?"
We've just picked them up" he an
swcred. Their boat is towing along
side now. They are from a small Por-
tuguese steamer, the Nina or Nita, from
Lisbon for Rio. destroyed by fire two
days ago. There were four of them In
the boat We fell in with, two sailors and
two passengers. That man lying there