The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-06-03
y RING him up" said the skipper,

\ hINd nlU up, SdIu INC shippSi,
X tersely. They dragged him up
- the companion ladder according
iy-a shrinking, ragged lad, his pale
face pinched with days of hunger, his
sunken eyes scanning those around him
as do the eyes Of captive animals.
"H'mT' remarked the skipper. $50
you're the stowaway! Nice looking
young gentleman, too. Never did a
stroke O. work in your life, I'll be
bound. Never mind. Wen see If we
can't make you. Eh, Mr.. BillingsF
The first mate grlnned. His grin was
an eloquent one, and the boy shuddered
as he saw It.
'tHow did you find him, Mr.. Bill
nngs?" continued the skipper.
Behind one of the cotton bales, Sir"
the mate replied. "He had an old NUT
ton bone, with the meat all gnawed off.
Provisions, suppose, for the voyage"
Provisions, eh? Well, It's precious
few provisions he'll get aboard this
ship unless he works for them. Pity
were out so far, or we might put him
ashore"
For the first time the stowaway
spoke.
"Please, don't put me ashore" he
cried. Anything but that. / must go
to Cape Town, and Pm more than will
Ing to work my way"
''Shut up" snarled the mate en-
phasizlng his remark by a tug at the
stowaway's ear. ''Who gave you
leave to talk, I'd like to know? Shut
up, and hark to what the captain says"
WHATS your name, and where dye
come fromT demanded the captain,
notebook IN hand.
Tremblingiy the boy replied that he
was Dick Harley, late of the Tenterden
grammar school; that his father, a
widower, had left him behind In En-
gland, while he went to South Africa
as assistant surveyor on the new Mat
abeleland Railway line; that nothing
had been heard from that kindly father
for year Or more, and lastly, that,
compelled to leave school ON account Of
unpaid bills, he had resolved to go to
South Africa and find his missing pa
rent.
"And so you thought to steal a pas
sage on the Only Son Of Portsmouth ?'
said the skipper.
II was refused berth by every 9TH
er ship" pleaded the boy. "They said
looked too weak 20 work."
''Wcas or" not, you've got to work
aboard the Only Son." said the first
mate; "hasn't he, sirr
The skipper nodded.
'@That's correct, Mr.. Billings" he an
swered. "If he doesn't want to pay
for his passage, try him with the ropes
end"
AYE, aye, SIR"
And again Billings grinned eloquent
ly as he led the boy forward.
A quiet, elderly gentleman who had
been watching these proceedings now
stepped forward.
Don't hurt him, Mr.. Billings" he
said. Hes only q child, you know"
Captains orders, SIR" answered the
mate, giving Dick Harley's ear an ex-
ira tweak.
The skipper laughed.
Don't you waste any sympathy on
that youngster," he exclaimed. 1--WE
can't afford to have any useless, white
handed stowaways aboard a vessel that
carries f25O,000 to the Chartered Com
pany. How do you know, my dear Mr.
Lancelot, that yonder boy Is not the
spy Of some high-sea robbers, put ON
board to find out about the money"
The man addressed as Lancelot look
ed grave.
'True," he said, tthey did think in
London that an attempt might be made
to rob the ship. But still, this
mere boy"
'I've seen 'rhere boys ere now, Mr..
Lancelot, that were old men In crime
Take my advice and leave the stow
away to my first officer"
At this moment q shrill cry Of pain,
followed by another, and another, came
from the lower deck.
whats that?" cried Mr.. Lancelot.
The captain of the Only Son of Ports
mouth put his notebook, containing