The herald., 1897-08-22

burst Of laughter followed him. 1t was
too funny. All hands laughed. They
laughed! Alas!
He became the obsession of all our
moments. He was worse than a night
mare. You couldn't see that there was
anything wrong with him-a nigser does
not show. He was not very fat-certainly
but then he was no leaner than other
niggers we had known. He coughed
often, but the most prejudiced person
could perceive that, mostly, he coughed
when it suited his purpose. He
wouldn't, or couldn't do his work-and
he wouldn't lie UP. One day he would
skip aloft with the best of them, and
next time we would be obliged to risk
our lives to get his limp body down.
He was reported, he was examined. He
was demonstrated with, threatened. ca
joled, lectured. He was called into the
cabin to interview the captain. There
were wild rumors. 1t was said he had
checked the old man. 1t was said he
had frightened him. Charley main
tained that the skipper. weepin', as
Civ i'm is blessin an pot of JAM"
At any rate, Wait returned forward
supported by the steward, who. in a
panied and shocked voice, entreated us:
Here! Catch hold of him, one of you,
He is to lie up" Jimmy drank a tin
mugful of coffee, and, after bullying
first one and then another, went to bed.
He remained there but when it suited
him would come on deck and appear
amongst us.
He refused steadily all medicine. He
threw sago and corn-hour overheard till
the steward got tired of bringing them
tp lit L ncIy Co., rov;o 1,
sent him a big bottle; enough to poison
a wilderness of babies. He kept it be-
tween his mattress and the deal lining
Of the ships side; and nobody ever saw
him take a dose. Donkin abused him
ed and the same day Wait would lend
him warm jersey. Under the spell of
our accursed perversity we were horror
struck. But Jimmy positively seemed
to reveI in that abuse.
At last Mr.. Baker had to tell the cap
! tain that James Wait was disturbing
the peace of the ship. "Knock discipline
on the head-he will, Ought" grunted
Mr.. Baker. AS a matter of fact, the
starboard watch came as near as pos
sible to refusing duty, when ordered
one morning by the boatswain to wash
out the forecastle. 1t appears Jimmy
objected to wet floor-and that morn
ing we were in compassionate mood
We thought the boatswain brute, and
told him so. Only Mr.. Bakers delicate
tact prevented an all-fired row. He
refused to take us seriously. He came
bustling forward, and called us many
impolite names, but in such a hearty
and seamanlike manner that we began
| to feel ashamed of ourselves. In truth
we thought him much too good sailor
to annoy him willingly. And after all
Jimmy might have been fraud-prob-
ably was! The forecastle got clean up
| that morning; but in the afternoon a
sick-bay was fitted up in the deck-house
1t was nice little cabin opening on
deck, and with two berths. Jimmy S
belongings were transported there, and
hen-notwithstanding his protests
Jimmy himself. He said he couldn't
walk. Four men carried him on a
blanket. He complained that he would
have to die there alone, like a dog. We
grieved for him, and were delighted to
have him removed from the forecastle
We attended him as before. The galley
was next door. and the cook looked in
many times a day. Wait became little
more cheerful. Knowles affirmed hav-
ing heard him laugh to himself in peals