The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-06-09


- the companion ladder according
Iva shrinking, ragged lad, his pale
face pinched with days of hunger, his
sunken eyes scanning those around him
as do the eyes Of captive animals.
"H'm?' remarked the skipper. $50
you're the stowaway! Nice looking
young gentleman, too. Never did
stroke O. work in your life. I'll be
bound. Never mind. Wen see II we
can't make you. Eth. Mr.. Billlngsy
The first mate grlnned. His grin was
an eloquent one, and the boy shuddered
as he saw 1t.
How did you find him. Mr.. Bill
lings?' continued the skipper.
Behind one of the cotton bales, SIR"
the mate replied. "He had an old NUT
ton bone, with the meat all gnawed off.
Provisions, suppose, for the voyage"
Provisions, eli? Well, It's precious
few provisions he'll get aboard this
ship unless he works for them. Pity
were out so far, or we might put him
ashore"
For the first time the stowaway
spoke
please, don't put me ashore" he
cried. Anything but that must go
to Cape Town, and I'm more than will
ing to work my way"
shut up!' snarled the mate, EN-
phasizing his remark by n tug at the
stowaway's ear. who gave you
leave to talk, I'd like to know? Shut
up, and bark to what the captain says"
whats your name, and where dye
/ come from" demanded the captain,
notebook in hand.
Tremblingly the boy replied that he
was Dick Harley late of the Tenterden
grammar school; that his father, a
widower, had left him behind in En-
gland, while he went to South Africa
as assistant surveyor on the new Mat
abeleland Railway line; that nothing
had been heard from that kindly father
for a year or more, and lastly, that,
compelled to leave school on account of
unpaid bills, he had resolved to go to
South Africa and find his missing pa
rent.
"And so you thought to steal pas
sage on the Only Son Of Portsmouth p
said the skipper.
II was refused berth by every 9th
err ship" pleaded the boy. "They said
l looked too weak to work"
weak or not, you've got to work
aboard the Only Son." said the first
mate; hasn't he, STRIP
The skipper nodded.
That's correct, Mr.. Billings" he an
swered. IF he doesn't want to pay
for his passage, try him with the ropes
end"
} AYE, aye, sir"
And again Billings grinned eloquent
J iy as he led the boy forward.
t A quiet, elderly gentleman who haC
5 been watching these proceedings now
stepped forward.
Don't hurt him, Mr.. Billings" h
. said. He's only child, you know.
Captains orders, SIR" answered tn,
r mate, giving Dick Harley's ear an ex
q ira tweak.
The skipper laughed.
Don't you waste any sympathy Of
that youngster," he exclaimed. wv
can't afford to have any useless, white
handed stowaways aboard vessel tina
carries f250,000 to the Chartered Com
pany. How do you know, my dear MI
Lancelot, that yonder boy Is not tn
spy of some high-sea robbers, put o.
board to find out about the money!"
The man addressed as Lancelot lool
ed grave.
"True," he said, "they did think |
London that an attempt might be mad
to rob the ship. But still, thi
mere boy"
'I've seen mere boys ere now, NJ
Lancelot, that were old men in Grim
Take my advice and leave the stow
lle away to my first officer
y At this moment a shrlll cry Of pail
Y followed by another, and another, cam
ID from the lower deck.
y whats that?" cried Mr. Lancelot.
" The captain of the Only Son of Port
o' mouth put his notebook, containir