The times., 1897-08-29
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T>A!!E3 !!3 NECROI.m:..+..~.. I.:...........
;s..s: .s:s:s q the NarGi8SU8 !

G1S'V YSrS~VVGrSV
the Indian Ocean on the other side Of the
cape all that was lost in haze. like an
ineradicahle suspicion OF some previous ex-
isience. IL had ended-then there were
blank hours: livid blur-and again We
hTedi sullivan was possessed of sinister
truth: MIR. Creighton OF damaged leg; the
cook OF fame-and siiamefuIiy abused the
opportunities OF his distinction. Donkin
had an aGded grievance. He went about
repeating with inSistence:
'E said e would brain me-did yer
ear They hare goin' TO murder hus now
Tor the least little thing
We began at last to think t was rather
awful We defried our officers who had
done nothing-and listened 20 the fasci-
mating Donkin His care for our rights, his
disinterested concern for our dignity were
not disco uragea by ytheinyarable contuneiy
of our words; by the disaain OF our looks
Our contempt for him was unbounded
We could not but listen with interest 10
that consunimate artist. He told us we
. were good men ''bloUnin Condemned lot
of good men, Who thanked us? Who
took any notice OF our wrongs? Didn
we lead "a ''dorg's ioife for three poun
! ten a month"; Did we think that mis-
( cradle ray enough to compensate US Tor
( the risk 30 our lives and for the loss of
1 our clothes? I'VE ave lost beyery rag,
I he cried. He made US forget that he, at
. any rate, led lost nothing of his own
/ The younger men listened, thinking this
| ere DonkiG's longheaded chap, though
] no Kind of man anyhow. The Scandi-
/ navians ware frightened at his audacities
1 WanIibo did not understand, and the older
seanleI4 thoughrfuny nodded their heads
making the thin gold earrings glitter in the
| flesi.y lobes Of hairy ears
Sometimes Mr.. Baker. going forward
| to take a look at the head sheets, would
I roll with his uncouth gait through the
sudden stiffness of the men, or Mr.. Creigh-
| ton limped along, smootl-faced, youthful,
ld more stern than ever piercing our
short silence with keen glance OF his
clear eyes. Behind his back Donkin would
| begin again darting stealthy sidelong looks
"'Ere's one of 'en Some of yer as
mace Ina fest that day, Much thanks
| yer got for hit Amt zee a-tirivin' yer
| wusSen hever? Lit i'm slip hoverboard
| W not 1t would ave been less trouble
Wy not?"
1t was all SO obvious We were indubi
I tabIy good ,uen; our deserts were great
and our pay small Through our exer
lions we had saved the ship, and the skip
per would get the credit OF it. What had
he done? We wanted to know
Donkin asked. What zee could do with
out hus?" aud we could not answer. We
were oppressed blythe injustice of the world.
surprised to perceive how long We had lived
under its burden without realizing our un-
fortunate state: annoyed by tie uneasy sus-
picion OF our undscerning stupidity DonkiR
| assured us 1t was all our good 'earted-
nesss" but we would not be consoled by
such shallow sophistry. Knowles defer
entially and with crafty air propounde,i
questions such as: Gould We ell have the
same grub as the mates? Could We all
stop ashore till we got it- What would be
the next thing to try il we got that?"
Donkin answered readily with contemptu-
ous ceTtftHde: he strutted with assurance
in clothes that were much too big for him.
as thsughhe tried TO disguise himself. These
were Jimmy's clothes mostly-though he
wouiG accept anything from anybody; but
nobody, except Jimmy, had anything %
spare His devotion to Jimmy was un-
bounded. He was for ever lodging in
ths little cabin, miniStering TO Jimmy
wa,r-N, humoring hts whims. submitting
10 his cxacting peevishness, often laughing
witt bin. Nothing could keep him away
frorl the phone work of visiting the sick
especially when here was some heavy ha vi
ing te bc done Oh deck. Mr.. Baker had uu
| two occasions ierked him out from therl
by the scruff of the neck to our inexpressi-
ble scandal Was a sick chap to be left
without attendance? Were We TO be ill
use for attending shipmate?
Our little world went on its curved
and answering path, carr ying a discon-
tented ana aspiring population. Theyfound
comfort ola gloomy kind in an internIna ble
and conscientious analysis of their unap-
preciatcd worth, and inspired 10y Donkin =
hopeiGl doctrines they dreamed enthusi
asticallv al the time when every lonely
ship wou..: trave!over d serene sea, manned
iiy d wealthy and " efi-fed ere W of sa atisf,e ]
skiPIers
Ii looked as if it would be long pas
sage. TIE southeast trades, light and
steady, We're left behind; and then Oh
the equator and under a low gray sky tht
ship, in close heat, floated upon a Smooth
Sea that reSembled sheet of ground
2 glass Thunder squalls hung on tn horizon
circied round the ship, far off and growI
ing angTily, like a troop of wild beasts
J afraid to charge home. The invisible sun
sweeping above the upright masts, made
on the clouds a blurred stain of rayles,
light, and a 81 milar patch of faded
radiance kept pace with it from east q
west OYER the unglittering level of tn,
waters At night through the impene
trabie darkness of earth and heaven
broad sheets of flame waved nois eIesSl :
and for half a second the becalmed craft
stood out with its mas Us and rigging, witt
T every sail and every rope distinct and
black in the center OF a fiery outburst lik,
Cbarred ship enclosed in a globe of fire
and, again, for long hours she RENAME.
lost ia IA vast Universe of ni ght and Silenc,
= where gentle signs wandering here ant
/ there like forlorn souls made the still
sails flutter as in sudden fear, and TIL,
! ripple Of a beshrouded ocean whisper iii
compassion afar in voice mourniyll, in
mense, and faint.
But In the evening; IL the dog-watches
and even far into the first night-watch
> a knot of men could always be seen con
! | gregated before Jirnmy's cabin. The )
| leaned on each side of the door, peace
! | fully interested, and with crossed legs
> The little place, repainted white, had. il
the night, the brilliance OF silver shrln
| where black idol, reclining stiffly ande
| blanket, hlinked its weary eyes and IT,
ceived our homage. Donkin officiated.
Just look at i'm, e knows what's wha
, | never feArt'' he exclaimed now and then