The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-07-21
CHAPTER XVI.

Newfoundland! An English steamship
lies at anchor in the offing. The vessel
Is plainly visible through the open
doorway Of a large boat-house on the
shore, one of the buildings attached
TO fishing station on the coast OF the
island
The only person in the boat-house at
this moment is a man In the dress OF
a sailor. He is seated on chest with
a piece of cord in his hand, looking
out idly at the sea. On the rough car
penter's table near him lies a strange
object to be left in such a place-a wo-
mans veil
What is the vessel lying at anchor
in the ofing? The vessel is the ANA
zon-dispatched from England to res
cue the surviving officers and men OF
the Arctic expedition. The meeting has
been successfully effected, on the
shores of North America, three days
since. But the homeward voyage has
been delayed by a storm when mas
driven the ship out of her course. TAX
ing advantage, on the third, day OF the
first returning calm, the commander OF
the Amazon has anchored on the coast
of Newfoundland. and has sent ashore
10 increase his supplies Of water before
he sails for England. The weary pas
sengers have landed for few hours, 10
refresh themselves after the discom-
forts OF the tempest. Among them are
the two ladies. The veil left on the
table in the boat-house Is Claras ven.
And who is the man sitting on the
chest, with the cord in his hand. look
ing out idly at the sea? The man is the
only cheerful person in the ships COM
pany. In other words-John Want.
Still reposing on the chest. our FRIEND
who never grumbles, is surprised by
the sudden appearance OF a sailor at
the boat-house door.
Look sharp with your work there,
John Want" says the sailor; Lieu
tenant Crawford is just coming to look
after YOU
With this warning the messenger
disappears again. John Want rises
VIA a groan-turns the chest up on
one end-and begins to fasten the cord
round it. The ships cook is not
man to look back on his rescue with
the feeling of unmitigated satisfaction
which animates his companions In
trouble On the contrary, he is I'M
gratefully disposed to regret the North
Pole.
"If l had only known"-thus runs
the train of thought in the mind of
John Want-"if had only known, be-
fore l was rescued. that l was to be
brought to this place. l believe l should
have preferred staying at the North
Pole. l was very happy keeping UP
everybody's spirits at the North Pole.
Taking one thing with another. l think
I must have been very comfortable at
the North Pole-if l had only known
It. Another man in my place might
be inclined to say that this New
foundland boat-Aouse was rather a
sloppy, Shiny. draughty fishy sert OF
a habitation to take shelter in. An
other man might object to perpetual
Newfoundland Goldfish, and perpetual
Newfoundland dogs. We had some
very nice bears at the North Pole.
Never mind! it's all one to mel
don't grumble."
Have you done cording that box?"
This time the voice is voice of
authority-the man at the doorway is
Lieutenant Crawford himself. John
Want answers his officer in his own
cheerful way.
"Tve done It as well as 1 can. sir
but the damp of this place is beginning
10 tell upon our very ropes. I say
nothing about our lungs only say
our ropes"
Crawford answers sharply. He seems
to have lost his former relish for the
humor of John Want.
pooh! To look at your wry face,
one would think that our rescue from
the Arctic regions was a downright
misfortune. You deserve to be sent
back again"
II could be just as cheerful! as ever,
sir, il was sent back again, ! hope
I'm thankful: but don't like to hear
the North Pole run down in such a
fishy place as this. 1t was very dry
and snowy at the North Pole--and it's
very damp and sandy here. Do you
never miss your bone-soup. sir? I do.
1t mightn't have been strong. but it
was very hot: and the cold seemed to
give It kind of a meaty flavor as 1t
went down. Was 1t you that was a
coughing so long. last night, sir?
don't nres,Ime IN say ANYTHING against
the air Of these iatitudes-but l should
be glad to know 1t wasn't you that was
a-coughing so hollow. Would you be