Evening star., 1897-04-03

out on deck for a Whit of air The river
was smeared with a three-foot layer of
white mist. you could hardly the
yellow water as 1t scrubbed along the
steamers side ard the trees on the shore
were cut off clean by the whiteneSs half
way up their trunks. There was smell to
the mist like new-turned earth; 1t was
Just the smell you get up the Congo and
tne west African rivers, and 1t as good as
said to me. My lad, you take precautions
or you'll have dose of fever coming back
to YOU So went below to rout up the
cabin steward to get dose of quinine out
come IL: there but the old man himself
"Quinine?" said he. Certainly Mac my
lad; wade In and help yourself Say, you'd
better take couple of Cody's pills to ram
1t home"
Codys? said 1. They're new to me-"
Best pill that was ever rolled" said he
Your English pills make me tired I
guess man might as well swallow shot
corns for all the good they do. Now Codv's
are regular twisters; it doesn't matter
| what a man has the matter with him
Cody.s get right there, and let him know
they're attending to business Are Won in
terested in drugs, Mac?"
NO man more so. I've been In the west
coast trade, captain, and drugs lust kent
me alive l fairly lived on them and no
expense spared"
Sit down right here" said he, "and put
that cigar in your face. We must have
more talk about this. / need a great deal
& OF a.uss myself. and what I don't know
ABOUT them isn't worth knowing Bear a.
hand and We'll pull out the medicine chest
and go through it right now"
1t was while We were having this Talk
curious look, and Il reckon" said he
that means we're on the ground" But
ne didn't offer to move from his seat
,.s Well !, thought ]. the ebb's making
we'n stay for another tide. But as it was
not my place to say anything, I held NV
tongue. N my
.Dangereus things. those Mississippi
bars, said he. Very likely to get some
plates started over this game'
oh. no." said 1, there's no danger. It's
all soft mud underneath. Why, we never
Ielt her going on. There was no shock
He leaned across and whispered In nv
ear: But say there is danger, Mr.. Nc
Todd l tell you that this ships bottom
mas very likely received such damage here
tnat II Is quite on the cards she may sink
when she gets into the seaway outside. II
you let news Of that slip out among your
srubby crowd in the stoke hold. 1 shall
,e ne th,nr yTut deotor go Or Now sonny don't stop
said Aye, aye. SIR" by force of in
stinct, and went away below. The third
engineer was standing by the reversing
! gear, and asked me what was amiss. I
told him we were on the ground. and said
I'd fear we might have some of our bottom
plates started. He cackled at me with
laughter. and felt my face grow red.
| why. what a blessed scary Scotchman
you must bel" said he. she took the
ground like butter going onto a bar of
soap 1t wouldn't have cracked the glass
In greenhouse"
There are snags in this Mississinni mud >,
said. We're down in the Pass now il
You go on deck and look over the banks
| youH see the sand outside in the gulf
lesuiarly sown with tree trunks. They re
| rock" wa 90
McTodd. said he. get away to your
punk and sleep it off. Your nerves are a
| ing pretty foolish. But had noticed one
| OF the firemen listening to our talk. aid
Judged that l had done what the captain
| intended.
| g. We did not get off that tide, or the next.
| but stayed there stewing In the heat and
snawed at by the mosquitoes whilst the
engines ran ahead and astern in half hour
| spells alternately and the captain on the
| brtge talked to the pilot for trying to rim
I the bottom out Of her. Indeed, when we
dld get on the bar at last, and slowed down
ON the lighthouse on the Port Edes spit to
crop the pilot into his boat, thought then
mat ne must have been glad to see the last
OF us. But 1 have guessed since that the
leHoW must have been paid to let US
sar s,oumS mo- on the bar. so as to pave the way
1or what was to happen afterward.
| only one other conversation did I have
WIN capt. Blake before the Shah was
piaated; aa a. and that was the afternoon we
L
met him. as 1t were by accident, in the
port aneyway. and he asked me to come
| alone 10 the oharthouse and see II could
ma out what was wrong with his hanging
! lamp: The carpenter has tried his hand. .
said ne. and made no sort Of a job Of it at
| AL and l guess my room stinks of kero-
sense like a Pittsburg tool shop. But you're
e. man Of ideas. McTodd. and you'll see
| what's wrong at a glance"
Il can no smell oil just the now, captain, -
| SAID L when We got inside the charthouse.
but II you'll just let me handle the lamp
| q minute or So
"Shucks." he says. 'Iet the lamp alone.
That was only a blind. because I didn't
| care 10 say below what wanted you for
In case somebody was listening. Sit down
on the sofa, Mac. and fill your pipe. Wha,
90 you think Of the chief engineer?'
ITS no Tor me to speak evil Of my su-
periors. but-Id call him q very careful
| officer"
He's an old woman. nervous old wo.
! man. that's what the chief is. And he'f
no Idea which side of his breads marger
ined. Now / guess you have, Mac. Ther,