The herald., 1897-09-05

humoring his whims, submitting to his
exacting peevishness, often laughing
with him. Nothing could keep him away
from the pious work of visiting the
sick, especially when there was some
heavy hauling to be done on deck. Mr..
Baker had on two occasions jerked him
out from there by the scruff of the neck
to our inexpressible scandal. Was a
sick chap to be left without attendance?
Were we to be ill-used for attending a
shipmate?
Our little world went on its curved
and answering path carrying dis
contented and aspiring population. They
found comfort of gloomy kind in an
interminable and conscientious analysis
of their unappreciated worth, and in
spired by DOnkin's hopeful doctrines
they dreamed enthusiastically Of the
time when every lonely ship would trav-
ell over a serene sea, manned by a
wealthy and well-fed crew of satisfied
shippers.
1t looked as If it would be long pas
sage. The southeast trades, light and
steady, were left behind; and then on
the equator and under low gray sky
the ship, in close heat, foated upon a
smooth sea that resembled a sheet of
ground glass. Thunder squalls hung on
the horizon. circled round the ship, far
off and growing angrily. like a troop
of wild beasts afraid to charge home
The invisible sun, sweeping above the
upright masts, made on the clouds a
blurred stain Of rayless light, and a
similar patch Of faded radiance kept
pace with 1t from east to west over the
unglittering level Of the waters. At
night through the impenetrable dark
ness Of earth and heaven, broad sheets
of flame waved noiselessly, and for half
a second the becalmed craft stood out
with its masts and rigging, with every
sail and every rope distinct and black
in the centre of a fiery outburst, like
charred ship enclosed in globe of
fire. And, again, for long hours she
remained lost in vast universe Of
night and silence where gentle sighs
wandering here and there like forlorn
souls made the still sails fiutter as in
sudden fear, and the ripple of be-
shrouded ocean whisper it's compassion
afar in a voice mournful, immense, and
faint.
But in the evening: in the dog watches,
and even far into the first night-watch,
knot of men could always be seen
congregated before Jimmy's cabin. They
leaned on each side of the door. peace
fully interested. and with crossed legs.
The little place. repanted white, had,
in the night. the brillance of silver
shrine where a black idol, reclining
stiffly under a blanket. blinked its
weary eyes and received our homage.
Donkin officiated.
"Just look at i'm, e knows what's
what-never fear!" he exclaimed now
and then, flourishng hand hard and
fleshless like the claw of a snipe. Jim
my, on his back, smiled with reserve
and without moving limb. He affect
ed the languor Of extreme weakness, so
as to make it manifest to us that our
delay in hauling him out from his hor-
rible confinement, had "done for him."
He rather liked to talk about it. and of
course we were always interested. He
spoke spasmodcally in fast rushes, with
long pauses between, as tipsy man
walks.
"Cook had just given me a pannikin
of hot coffee. Slapped it down there. on
my chest-banged the door to. l felt a
heavy roll coming; tried to save my
coffee, burnt my fingers and fell out of
my bunk. She went over 80 quick. Wa
ter came in through the ventilator. /
couldn't move the door-dark as grave
tried to scramble up into the upper
berth. Rats-a rat bit me in the finger
as got up. 1 could hear him swim
ming below me. I thought you would
never come. I thought you were all
gone overheard OF course--could hear
nothing but the wind-then you came
to look for the corpse, suppose. A
little more and
Man! But yer made rare lot of
noise in here" observed Archie,
thoughtfully.
"You chaps kicked up such a con-
founded row above. Enough to scare
any one. l didn't know what you were
UP to. Bash in the blamed planks-my