The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-03
THE CHIEF OF THE STARRY HEAD.
ny c. J. CUTCLIFFE HYNE.
Copyright. IS9S. by c. j. CutcIi6e Hyne.

cargo with their uerrlckS.
I'm afraid you're talking a little over
my head" said she. I'm sorry I'm so
Stupid. But tell me if Mr. Devine was
chief engineer on one Of those Lagos
steamers, how came he TO be third on
Cape boat afterwards
Promotion"
What Promotion from chief to third?'
''Well, you see, those branch boats only
carry one white engineer. l was boss of
one myself once. A man doesn't need a
chiefs ticket for that, miss
I'm sure you We're a very clever engi-
neer. Mr. McTodd," says she kindly, and
if it wasn't for those nasty certificate
regulations you'd be chief or one of the
big Atlantic steamers this minute. But
tell me. how did Mr.. Devine live when
he was ashore at Lagos?"
m sure I don't know, miss. We were
there at different times. But l did hear
he didn't take to some of the coast hab-
its very handiy. They said that till the
day he came away he never once learned
how to swizzle up a cocktail properly
All. you know him best ashore in Eng
land?"
mot even in England. Once US engi-
neers are paid off from our ship we most
ly go our different ways"
She tapped at the deck with her brown
shoe You seem determined to tell me
nothing that / want to know, Mr. Nc
TODD" Then her cheeks Redeemed. as
though she had said more than she intend
ed, and she put her head in the air and
walked away. ] went on at fitting my
hinge, well contented. She was pretty
enough lassie, but she was several cuts
above me and that was a fact and | felt
more comfortable with her at a distance.
All this time SIR Rupert was haggling
like an old wife with the fishermen, which
was right enough for | never hold with
man who filings away good silver over a
bargain, however rich he may be, espec-
tally If a foreigner is to pouch it. And in
the end he had nine big cod laid out on
our white deck planks, for which he had
paid two English shulings. But then
what does he do but give each fellow in
the boats another shilling apiece (and
there must have been ten of them), just,
as he said, for luck. Waste of that kind
fair sickens me. Besides, 1t gives these
foreigners a wrong impression of what we
British really are However, II was get
under weigh after that, so ! slipped below
TO bear a hand II the chief should need
it. We'd been tightening up the low
pressure eccentric band, and he was a bit
anxious to see how she stood IL.
AS 1t turned out, everything ran smooth
and cool as we could wish for, and when
he'd given her the full steam, and we
were not likely 10 hear the telegraph
again throughout the watch, | just men
toned to the chief I'd been having a talk
with our eldest young miss.
We'll" said he, wipng his hands on
lump of waste, what do You think of
her.
"Oh, she's likely looking lassie, though
I cannot say l care for carroty hair in
woman myself
Auburn, you coior-blind bat"
well, We may call It fancy names, but
I ken red when 1 see ii. However, I'm not
the man to say evil of the lassie It's
oil ba' TAI Ia
The devil she has" said he, with a red
face
She was talking to me as easy as I
might to YOU" said /, for l knew his fine
ways, and was not going to give myself
away 10 him.
And what did she chat about? Scenery
and the sea, and the beauty of sailors
life, and poetry generally? She's. great on
that"
She wanted TO know about you" I said.
land when I got upon other matters she
always lugged the talk back to you"
"Oh," said the chief, with a snap. We'll
this is your own concern and Miss Vasey S,
and IN not ask you any more" l noticed
him looking over his shoulder, and
glanced that way. too. and saw the fire.
man on watch knock off work, and lean
on his shovel, listening. 81 don't think all
of those thrust-blocks are working very
| sweetly III trouble you to come aft with
AAit mo the SId4N IuililGl, MI AE1OQQ. ana
Wen give them bit of overhaul. We have
smooth water in here yet and maybe wen
md it more than bit lumpy when we're
fairly out in the Arctic sea-
he lit slush lamp, crouched his Shout
ders a42d led the way, 7 followed, slipping
my ia al a.ofaS the SHAFT as I went. IL was
running smooth as milk. without q grunl
or grun,b.e, AS Tor the thrust-blocks,
they were dong their work as sweet as a
no-HciSht engine in an exhibition. But he
led the way OF past them right 10 the stern
bearing, and leaned his back against the
side of the tunnel. and coughed as though
he wanted to speak and didn't quite know
Where 10 begin. lie held the smsh-iamp
low. SO that mis- face was in shadow above
tho smoky fame and the fingers of his
other hand kneadcd the lump of waste
| which ne had carried until it got hard as
| a cricket hall.
That lignum vitae bush by the propel-
/ der l began, but he cut me short.
Look here Mac, old man. drop this
cussed oily shop for minute, and tell me
! what she said"
! ''Who?"
! Evelyn-Miss Vasey, I mean, of course. -
She wanted to know what sort of a
| chap you We're ashore"
! And what did you tell her?"
! ''As little as l could"
Then | call il damned unfriendly of
! you, Mac, I've been a good shipmate to
you, and you might have stood by me when
| the turn came
And told her how you painted Gri,nsby
! red and gave a gold ring with green
/ stone in 1t to that fat barmaid at Sunder-
| land, and"
Rats; you know what l mean well
enough
Il give you my word don't How should
! know what would interest swell like
her. ] thought that if | kept dark about
I your little games ashore l was doing we'll "
Il haven't been more of a blackboard
than any one else" he said gruffiy sc
you needn't ram that Sunderland barmaid
down my neck. DO you think I'm a tlthey
salt water mechanic just because ! like III
Do you thinlSS chum with women like thai
because l prefer them? No blessed fear.
do At because I've no one else to talk TO-
and | kick myself all the time I'm being
| civil. If ia had the sense OF a dog. I'D
| have chosen a genteman's trade when
/ left Harrow, and been able 10 hold up my
head. AS it was, got reading rotten book
| and thought the sea was fine thing. and
! here / am at thirtV-tWO. head praa ear ~, .