The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-13

country, and were delighted at the
thought of a possibility of active SER
vice. and the talk was all of boat eX-
petitions, attacks from piraticai pra-
hus. of the merits of the bayonet and
rife opposed to kris and spear. and OF
sporting expeditions, in which ele-
plants. tigers and other wild beasts
were to fall victims to their prowess.
You will find that you won't get
much of that" the mate. who was
president Of the mess, said, after list
ening to their anticipatiOns of sport Il
have been on the west coast Of Africa,
and know what it is poking about in
muddy creeks in boats, tramping
through the jungle knee deep in mud,
half the crew down with fever and the
rest worn out with work and heat. I
can tell you it is not all fun, as you
youngsters seem to think, but down
right hard work"
"Ah, well, any amount of work is bet
ter than standing here doing nothing
Dick said cheefully, for The mate was
known as a prOverbial grumbler. He
had been unfortunate, and, as is usu-
ally the case. his misfOrtunes were in
some degree due to himself, for he was
fond of liquor, and although, when on
board. he took no more than his share
he was often somewhat unsteady in his
speech when he returned from a run
ashore; and although the matter was
not grave enough for his captains to re-
port altogether unfavorably of him, it
was sufficiently so for them TO shrink
from recommending him for promotion,
and in consequence he had seen scores
of younger men raised over his head.
He had been for some time unemployed
before he had Joined the Serpent. and
had been appointed to her only because
Captain Forest, who was d friend OF
his family. had used his interest on his
behalf He had. however, when he
Joined, spoken frankly TO him.
Il have asked for you, Marrison,'' he
said, simply for the sake of your
father; but I tell you frankly that IN
less my report is a thoroughly favor
able one, you are not likely TO be again
employed. I was told that there was
nothing special against you, but that
in no case since you passed have you
been warmly spoken of. It has been
said that you know your duty well;
but they had privately learned that
you were fond of liquor; and although
no charge of absolute drunkenness had
been brought against you, il was con-
sidered that you would not make a de-
sirable officer in q higher rank. Now
your future depends upon yourself: if
you have the resolution to give IN the
habit you may yet retrieve yourself. If
1 find that you do so I shall certainly
take the opportunity OF giving you a
chance to distinguish yourself. and
shall strongly urge your claim to pro-
nation. If I am not able to do this
you must make up your mind to be
permanently put upon the shelf"
The admonition had not been in vain
and since joining the Serpent Morrison
had made a successful effort TO break
himself Of the habit. He had very sell
dom gone ashore. and when he did so
never went alone, and always returned
at an early hour, and without having
taken more than he would have done
in the ordinary way on board. He had
not. however. given up his habit of
grumbling. and his messmates were so
accustomed to his taking a sombre view
of everything that his representation
as to the nature Of their work up the
river had but little effect upon them.
What do you think, Sandy?" Harry !
Parkhurst asked the Scotch assistant |
surgeon.
I know nothing about it. except what |
have read. They say that the country
is healthy, but it stands to reason that /
this cannot be so while you have got |
rivers and swamps and jungles and |
such heat as this. However. we have |
g good supply of quinine on board, and !