The herald., 1897-12-26

II. Tell Squibbs, Md" was the name
which was on my door in Los Angeles
and as had become worn out with long
practice, early in the spring Of '96 / de-
cided that a trip to the Copper river In
Alaska would replace my exhausted tis-
sues, and having made satisfactory ar
r9ngements with firm of the best doc
tors to take care of my patients while
absent, secured Il berth on q whaling
vessel, which would leave San Francis
co early in the season and would put me
ashore at some convenient point, where
/ could make arrangements for my TRIP
inland to the upper waters OF the river.
The 18th day of March was the time
set for sailing, and on the 18th l ar
rived In San Francisco and at once hunt
ed up the captain, Mr.. Snowdon, and
found him on the wharf, checking up
his supplies for the trip and attending
TO the loading. l was at once pleased
with the man. as his face was one OF
those intelligent, sympathetic faces that
shows that, although Injured to hard
ships, 1t is always equal to any emor-
gency and commands the respect and
obedience of men.
The captain Informed me that they
would sail promptly at 9:30 on the 18th
and that they had passenger for the
whole voyage, who was expected to ar
rive In San Francisco that night.
At S30 the next morning went aboard
and watched the crew, ten men in all
besides the captain, prepare the vessel
for her long trip. AT 9:25 the order was
given to make fast the line to the tug,
and the captain remarked that the long
voyage passenger had given him instruc-
tions not to delay the departure on his
account, for If he was going he would be
on board at $3.50 sharp. and if he was
not there no one would be to blame. He
had paid his fare in full and, under the
instructions. the captain would not lose
anything if the passenger did not come.
1t Is 1929. and the line to the tug is made
fast, and the tug strains on the line, and
the wharf men are beginning to cast
loose the wharf lines, and a cab drives
rapidly up, and tall, slim. dark COM
plexioned man steps from it and, with Il
small travelling bag in one hand, comes
rapidly toward the vessel. The cabman
called Hey! how's this?" and the tall
man, without turning his head, brings
from his pocket yellow coin and throws
1t with much force over his head. The
coin flew high in the air and fell at the
claimants feet as he sat on his seat. With
out backward glance, he came direct
ly to the boat and stepped aboard Just
as the boat was starting. Without SO
much as a glance around or a recogniz-
ing nod, he walked straight to a cabin
and deposited his bag, took off his hat
and laid down upon bunk, and almost
at once seemed to fall asleep.
The captain, being busy, only took the
pains to see that the stranger was in
the cabin which had been prepared for
the long-voyage passenger, and his only
comment was, Il guess that's him.
/ saw nothing more of the passenger
until the second day. when was seated
on the PROV of the vessel watching a
school of porpoises sporting on the port
side, when a queer feeling took posses
sion of me and / became afraid | was
going to faint, and as l attempted to
struggle to my feet / saw our long voy-
age passenger standing a few feet from
me and his eyes seemed to glow with a
strange, penetrating vision. My eye
sight shimmered as If looked at the sun
over the hot desert sands and my tongue
was dried as though from long thirst.
He smiled and l at once resumed my
normal condition.
Doctor l see that all is we'll and |
have nothing to fear You are capital
subject" and he thercupon turned and
left me wondering what kind of a subject
he was going to make of me.
Sinking once more upon the pile OF