The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-11

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abreast of the wheel. You might tell
the time by the shippers star Of tobacco
aft and strike the bell when he threw
the stump away
He was marching up and down at this
hour Of hard upon six bells. At the for
ward extremity C the short, white
length of poop deck steppeu ~. Poole,
the second mate. A solitary figure grasp
ed the wheel. The sails swelled TO the
main royal, and from under the bows
came "a noise like water in little streams
merrily running over Single
"Mr. Poole, 1" suddenly called out the |
captain in voice that sounded harsh |
and parrotlike, perhaps with the sud
denness of it and the soft silence it
broke into.
''Sir," answered the second mate,
and he came swiftly aft, touching his
hat as he met the old skipper abreast of
the after quarter boat, clear of the
wheel.
Whose voices are those down on
the quarter deck?"
Cones Mr.. Davenire, sir. l think l
hear Mr. Hankey, and there are two or
three others. "
"Why don't they go to bed?"
81 don't know, sir. F"
"What are they doing, sir?"
Smoking, sir. "
After a short, expressive pause old
Benson said, 1.-The mate tells me you
knew Mr.. Hankey before he came ON
board this ship
"He came out in a ship that was
in, sir"
"Who is her'
az know nothing of him, SIR" re-
sponded the second mate, speaking
nervously. as young officer well
might when challenged by a skipper in
the manner which old Benson was now
wearing.
Didn't he come on board the ship
the night before we sailed at your invi-
tation?
"No, sir. A small boat soulled along
!, side. 1 looked over the rail and was
hailed by name. Recollecting the gen.
: tleman and understanding that he was
to be passenger aboard this ship, l
q asked him aboard. F"
"What was your talk about?
:, "Many things, sir. Iforget-the ship
had come out with him i'll, his strug'
!, giles in the colonies and so o."
Ibid he inquire about the conslgn'
II ment of gold?' said the captain, stand
ing hard as bronze upon his rounded
: legs while he watched the face OF the
second mate by the light of the moon
:. his glowing cigar poised, loose, white
% hair or two trembling.
, The second mate was afraid TO spear
3 the truth and told lie. This question
ing of the old skipper astonished ant
,. alarmed him. Uniformed suspicious I'LL
:, ~ ed his head and muddled it. When h
q should have said yes, he answered no
e The captain quilted him abruptly am
y went some PAGES forward and strod
- awhile athwartship, smoking, but som
. feet abaft the rail at the break SO tina
% those who stood under could not Sc
him. There was nothing, however. fo
:. the old man to hear but low rumbl
~ of voices, with an occasional laugh, say
% ing that once a clearer voice pegai
~, without heed of the cuddy door beln
- omen and the ladies sleeping within,
~ tell story which dismissed the OF
u skinner to his regular post, and Will
he sucked at his cigar end he heard
- shout of laughter
III Cantaiu Benson this night fingered
- little longer than usual ON deck. SeVt
IL ~ bells found him pacing his dignity wa
u, betwixt the wheel and the mlzzen ri
Oh cling. At this hour all was hushed III
der the break of the poop. The last
~ the passengers had turned H. ana u
y" shin was in possession OF the watch
no deck, who snored in corners or weari
= paced the forecastle.
~ Now it was that old Benson, AT
"a taking a view of the compass and sen
=, ING searching look aloft and to win
> ward and after gruffly delivering
sentence or two OF INSTRUCTIONS 10 M
4" Poole, went below to get some rest'
III no man could tell at what hour this
skipper would reappear, for he was my
;" ferrous as specter III his trlcks
us emergence. Often it happened that VIII
lhe in ten minutes of the old dogs havi
nu gone below for the night the mate
ior the watch, lounging at the rail, reliev
y, of the tyranny of that bowlegged pr
[he enoe. would look aft and start on
TN holding, walking close beside the wne
D. the shadowy but familiar hgure III
D'' tall hat and long coat. =,
Midnight was struck ON the bell;
nc hoarse voice bawled down through
ant fore scuttle: Eight bells below the
,,.o D'you hear the newss.' Inc wneei "
oke relieved, and the chief officer, with
sne ewes full of sleep, came up the weati
ng- noon steps and talked for few minu
the to Mr.. Poole, who then went to
a., cabin.
py The moon was far astern on the gu
III ter, sinking. and the burning hsns
the whaler gone long since
III Clouds of fleece few across the sta
tne which shook in splendor. and the d.
was strained as she drove the brine into
cen ooiling flashes. But the breeze =
'urs headed her; they had braoed up IN 7,
.ne first watch, and the ship was ON