Gilpin observer., 1899-05-25


suired by some emotion of malice or
mischief, he alone was the culprit; and
II not loud, their wrath was deep
against him.
These variations of our compass set
the busy brain of Marc Hislop to work,
and in a day or two he declared that
he had discovered a plan for prevent
ing the repetition of tricks so danger
Gus by Insulating the needle SO as to
protect the compass from attractions
false or dangerous.
l am uncertain whether he perfected
this experiment, but Antonio soon
went to work another way; for one
day, when he was supposed to be busy
in the maintop. he shouted, Stand
from under!' and ere Hislop, who was
Just beneath, could give the usual re-
sponse, LET go!" heavy marlinspike,
the same which had been found IN the
binnacle, slipped from the hand OF An
tonic and fell crashing through the
topgrating.
The iron bar crashed into the deck
at the feet of Hislop; whether this oc-
Cured by inadvertence or design we
knew uOl, OuI Iuo oCoIoAhoh enoue"s
the latter.
THAT rascally Spanish picaroon will
work us some serious mischief before
we overhaul our ground-tackle or see
the Cape" said Weston, who was en-
ragged by this new incident. and the
narrow escape OF Hislop, for whom he
had great regard.
AYE, he has a hang-dog look about
him that 1 never liked" replied the
latter. He seems to be always down
by the head, somehow. We should
have left him in his skiff, just as we
found him, like bear adrift on graf
ing, or pig in washing tub"
On another occasion he injured Will
White, one of the crew. by letting the
topmaul fall from the foretop. where
It usually lay, for driving home the fid
of the mast.
His dreams again became a source Of
annoyance to all in the forecastle
hunks; and on being closely and Sc
verely questioned by Captain Weston
and the men as to whether he had
ever killed any one, by accident or
otherwise, after being long badgered,
ne uTcW Ills ugly hhilc iioui ieo oAnA
skin sheath and replied sullenly:
"Only a Chinaman or so, when in
California"
well, I wish you would clap a
stopper on your mouth when you go
to sleep, or turn In out of earshot in
a topgallant studding sail-as far of
as you choose, and the further off the
better" said old Roberts. sulkily, after
the rawlings of the Cubano had kept
him awake for several nights.
"You seem to dream n great deal,
Antonio" said Weston, with keen
glance, beneath which the Spaniard
quailed.
"Si. Senior Capitano," he stammered
"How is this?"
II am very fond of Dreams" he re-
piled. with a bitter smile on his lip
and a scowl in his dark eye.
Have you pleasant ones?"
"I cannot say that they are always
so, but should like to procure them"
"Shall tell you how to do so?'
shipmate?"
IF you please. senor." growled the
Spaniard.
60 to sleep. if you can, with that
which is better than the formula Of
prayers, which at times you pay out
like the line running of log reel"
"And what is 1t you mean, milo cap
itano?"
"a good conscience" replied Weston,
with a peculiar emphasis.
A black scowl came over the Span
iard's swarthy visage. as he touched
the rim of his hat, darted furious
glance at his chief accuser, the white
haired seaman Roberts, and to end
the examination walked forward.
ITO be continued.)