The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-05-13
.HEKRY

meath.
A mile or two more. and tney came
rattling into the streets of Penzance.
n Dick arose from his reverie. He in
CURED for the S~peedweil, and found
that she was lying out toward Newlyn,
and was to sail at daybreak.
Her captain haG beer ashore that
afternoon, looking out for a passenger
who had been expected by the coach
an hou before.
DICK engaged q boat and ordered sup,
per at once: by 10 O'Clock he was along
| d the brig, and halt an hour later
fast asleep in his berth. forgetting for
the present all Journeys whether by
land or sea.
lie awoke next morning to find the
snip already on her way. The captain
was waiting for hin on deck: a gray.
wrinkled man with a short grizzled
beard, and a somewhat slouching air
about him, Dick thought.
L m your passenger" Dick said, "ana
L ought to nave reported myself lasr
night, but they told me you were busy.
n l was too tired to wait. NV name
Is Estcourt. captain of her maiestv's
ship Niobe. when you bring me to her"
"Ay, ay," replied the other: II was
In the service myself once; but wasn't
called Worsley then"
"lndeed!' said Dick, and stopped, en-
b~arrassed.
Ihe captain was apparently troubled
by no such feeling, and went on.
Il was broke for a trife." he said
"a young mans folly. But | don't know
that I've been much the worse. IT'S =
hard service-the kings: YOU make ~
money in it, and glory's a thing I never
o much account or
Dick had nothing TO say to this.
Where shall / breakfast?" he asked.
With me-" said the captain. "Youu
find me pretty snug below. and that's
the main thing in the world. Ell? 7
don't care how many trips | make In
the Speedwell, if I'm always as com
Portable and as well paid
Dick could hardly say that he hoped
neve to make another voyag in the
brig, or that he already wished this one
was over; but both thoughts came dis
tinctly into his mind.
1T was a stroke o. luck" continued
his garrulous companion; Just a stroke
o luck. I'd nothing to do for long
enough, and was getting a bit down:
n then suddenly my lords find them
selves short of a hand, and come run
ming TO me, cap of, and money down on
the nail"
That's pretty much what happened
to me" said Dick; they were in a hur-
ry and the mar before me failed them
at the last moment"
"Ay, ay," replied the captain; "they
must have been in a hurry too, or
they'd never have come down on an old
dog like me and such a r~amshackIe
crew to carry his matesty's stores, let
alone his majesty's officers" he added.
with an affable grin.
OH" said Dick, what sort Of fell
lows have % on board. then?"
AN sorts" answered the captain.
and more than thar. There's English
Jacks and French Johnnies, and a cor-
pie o Spaniards and a Niger: / never
saw such a first-to-hand lot in my life.
They're willing enough, you know. but
It's the FUNNIEST crew to be working a
navy ship
The brig herself looks to he fast ana
well found" said Dick, with an APPROX
ing eye on the white canvas bellyiug
aloft.
oh, she's we'll enough replied the
captain, carelessly; there's better and
'"N 'ASN' III h'hbh. L+L > SO uDWIl
to breakfast" And he led the way
below.
SO the days went by for the most part
in cheerful content; only now and then
his brow clouded wheu they spoke a
passing ship. and answered tho cheers
and waving signals oc English men and
women hCmeward bound.
Sometimes ne was even happy for an
hour, for the water ne sailed was NJ
obscure or unknown sea. From Cor
unna TO Cadiz there are names mo
memories upon It's sore that might
have stirred the very ship herself, as
she swept past them with the flag of
empire ripping at her masthead.
On the ninth day they passed st. Via
cent. The sun was setting, and the
crags OF the cape were sharply relieved
against the opposite horizon, all agIow
with answering fire. Far beyond them.
lost in the vast glimmering distance
toward the east, lay a yet more famous
headland. and Dick. as he leaned ovC
the bulwarks, and vainly strained his
eyes toward Trafalgar, felt his hrea..l
quicken with a great inspiration anr his
hands clench With the fighting instinct
Of his race.
But now the Spesdwell left the coasts
of Europe, and passed on southy ard in
TO the region of the islands: The ordi-
nary route to the cape lies outside these
groups. the Azores being the only stop
ping point on the voyage for most Eng
lish vessels. Estcourt, seeing that the
brig stood in TO the east and took n
more direct line, concluded at once that
she was TO u at Madeira or the
Canary Isles.
NO" said the captain, when ne
/ bazar1a6 this cnpiacr,sn. ~ u.i-b So.