The times., 1897-08-08

Mr.. Baker read on steadily Hansen
| Observation-Disclosures. Now, then,
| Wainibo, why don't you answer? Always
| gos to call your name twice" The Finn
| emitted at last an uncouth grant, and,
| stepping out, passed through the pa5ch OF
! light, weird and gautly, with the face OF
"a man marching through a dream. The
| mate went on faster, .Craik-SuliiVan-
Donkin---oh, Lord!' he inyountarily ejac-
tJated, as the incredibly dilapidated figure
appeared in the light.
II stopped; it uncovered pale gums and
long upper teeth in a nialcvolent grin.
| rs there anythink wrong with me, Mistah
Mater" it asked with flavor OF insolence
in the forced simplicity of its tone. On
10th sides of the deck subdued filters We're
heard.
"ThatIl do; go over erowled Mr.. Baker.
| fixing the new hand with steady blue eyes.
And Donkn vanished suddenly out OF the
| light into the dark group Of mustered men,
to he slapped on the back and to hear flat
,erIng whispers. Round him men muttered
10 one another '.He ain It afeard;
he'll give sport to em, see if he don't.
Reg'lar Punch and Jndy show. Did ye
see the mate start at flim?"
The last man had gone over, and there
was moment OF silence while the mate
peercd at his list. Sixteen, seventeen,
he muttered Il am one hand short,
DO seil," he said aloud.
The big west-countrynan at his eltow.
swarthy and beorled like a gigantic Span
lard, said in N mumbling bass:
There's 10 one left forward. sir. | had
look round. He amt aboard, but he
may turn up before daylight
AYE. He may or he may not COM
mented the mate. Cant make out that
last name. It's all a Smudge."
Watt cried deep, ringing voice.
All stood still. Mr.. Baker, who had
turned away yawning, spun round open
moathcd. At last, furious, he blrrtd out.
whats this? Who said wait? what"
But lie saw tan figure standing on
the rail 1t came down and pushed
through the crowd, marching with
neayy tread toward the light on the
quarter deck. Then, again, the sonorous
voice said with insistence, Watt The
lampi;ght lit up the mans body. He
was tan His head was away up in the
shadows OF nfeboats that stood OH skids
above the deck The whites OF iiIs eyes
ard his teeth CLEANED distinctly, but the
face was indistinguishable. His hands were
big and seemed gloved.
MI Baker advanced intrepidly. who
ar you? How dare you" he began.
The boz, amazed, like tie lest, raised
. the light 10 the mans face II was black
like the suppressed mutter of the word;
A surprised lGm-a faint hum that SCUM ded
like the suppressed matter OF the word,
..Nigger ran along the deck and escaped
out MO the night. The Niger seemed not
to hear.
After 2. moment he said calmly: my
name Is Wsit-James Watt
'.Oh!" said Mr.. Baker. Then, after n
, few seconds Of smouldering silence, his
temper blazei out ''Ah. Your name is
Wait. wha; Of that? What Go you mean,
coming shouting here?'
The negro was calm, cool, towering
and superb The men had approached and
stood behind him in body. He over
topped the taliest by half head He said:
, | Il belong 10 the ship" lie enGnciated
distinctly. with soft precision.
. The deep, rolling tones OF his voice
filled The deck without effort. The
captain shipped me this morning |
| conldu't get aboard sooner ] saw you
, all aft as came up the ladder, and
could see directly you We're mastering the
crew. Naturally called out my name.
thought you had it on your list and would
understand. You misapprehend." He
| stopped short and held his head np In the
glare IF the Tampa head vigorously mod
eled into deep shadows and shining lights
, ! n head powerful and rnisshapen with q
, | toTneneed and flattened face "a face pa
| thrtic .ua brutal tue tragic, the mysteri
| ous and repulsive mask OF negro : soul
Mr.. Baker, recovering his conposure
Looked at tie paper close. "oh, yes that
SO. All right, Wait. Take your gear for
, ward" he said.
: Suddenly tie negro's eyes rolled wildly
became all whites. He put his hand TO hi'
side and coughed twice, cough metallic
: hollow and tremendously loud; it resounde(
like two explosions in vault: the dome
OF the sky rang to It, and the iron plates
of che ships bulwarks seemed To vibrat'
.. .. in unison: then he marched Off forwdrt
with the Others. The officers lingering by
the cabin door could hear him say: "Wonf
: some of you chaps lend a hand with inl
= dunnage? I've got chest and n hag.'
The words, spoken sonorously, with al
, even intonation, Were heard all over thu
. ship, and the question was put in man
u ner that made refusal impossible. Th'
thing heavy went forwards but the tai
> figure of the Niger fingered by the mail
hatch in a knot Of smaller shapes.
. A gain he was heard asking,''Is your cool
I a colored eentleman?'' Then a iisappointe
: and disapproving 'Ah! h'm'' was his con
IL rnent upon the Information that the COO
{ hanpened to he a mere white man. Yet
t as they went all together toward the fore
e / to h haa
Z through the galley door and boom inside
| magnificent Good evening, doctor!' tha
, made all the saucepans ring In the din
| light the cook doZei o n the coal locker il
;. front of the captains supper He jumpet
Il | up as if he had been cut with a whip an,
Is dashed wildly on deck to see the backs 0
) several men going away laughing.
q The cook had been seven years In th
= ship with the same captain. He was
u serious-mmdcd man with a wife and thre
u children, whose society he enjoyed on q
average one month out OF twelve. Vine
y on shore he took his family to church twic
u every Smia AT sea he went to slee
IL every evening with his lamp turned up full
7, pipe i'll his mouth. and an open Bible 4
his hand. Some one had always to 20 dul
ing the night to put out the Hight, take th
L book from his hand and the pipe from bt
& tween his teeth. For Belfast used {
L. say ,irritated ant complaining, some nigh
'e you stupid cookie, youll swallow your oul
is clay, and we will have no cook"
of "Ahi sonny, / am ready for my Maker
FL cali-wish you all were" the other worl