The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-22

York with the hanucination that a fortune
was Tying at his beck and call. When he
found that the rudlments of farming and
Two years course at college formed a
mixture unsuitable for money-getting, he
plunged his hands into the depths of
his pockets, speculated on the hfe-prolong-
ing power of So, and stroiled inadvertently
through Greenwich street. This thorough
fare is a combination of bustle and beer,
and before dilapidated office he saw a
sign inviting the passers-by to participate
in a trip to Europe. The unvarnished truth
lay in its announcement of Wanted, men
to work their passage to England on cat
tle-boats"
What is it that appeared to the stranded
mortar then he beheld that sign? Per
haps it was the distance, the mental mir
age of adventure, assuring him from pres
ent want which coored the thing so mgh-
ly Be that is It may he went IN ana al
ter a distressing interview with one
eyed inn-keeper, who had just extorted 90
from a ragged German, he received a small
ticket emitting him TO the requisite pass
age, together with pressing invitation to
spend the night with mine host whose
beds rented at fifteen cents.
The pleasurable antcipatons which US
ually occupy the mind of the saloon pas
| senger in participation OF steamship trip
were denied him; as he strolled away he
felt that its uncertainty was the only re-
| commentator the plan afforded.
He was to be at he Office at the follow
ing morning. At he started from For
ty-second street and found on his arrival
| that the novices had started two hours
before; with palpitating heart he ran as
| fast as he could to the wharf full two
miles away, good the steamer lay there;
America stood out in gilt letters on her
bow, and smoke poured from her funnel.
He went into the dock-house. What do
you want?" He presented his ticket.
Got all the men we want"
But 1 must get to England. Do you
understand? l must"
"Oh, come along, then" Up narrow
plank through a crowd of all nationals
ties among believing steers and swearing
cattlement, down to dark hole.
DO you see that place below?'
yes"
Get down there and stay till the boat
starts.p
you won't before you get back
There was a small box in the far corner
and a small voice speaking in whisper
asked him: "Say, boss. amt she goin'?''
mo, not yeti
do you'se think they'll nab me?"
Not If you keep STILL Silence; finally
he, too, sat down, a figure of trepidation
in the darkness, and began to think The
moments came and went slowly, the harsh
noises overhead diminished his mind turn
ed instinctively to pleasant thoughts, but
suddenly he was roughly awakened by
cursing cattle boss, as fat as Falstaff and
as hideous as Caliban. Before he was
fully aroused, his collar and cuffs We're
torn off, and with many uncomphmentary
terms he was assisted up the stairs. seeing
by the light of the dirty lantern the
frightened face of small Bowery monde
script in the corner.
When he reached .thesdeck, he saw the
Statue of Liberty looming up before ham,
and realized that retreat was impossible.
Then the clocks in the city struck 2; he
had slept seven hours.
The foremen were assembled forward,
and the crowd of fifty of sixty neophytes
stood huddled together awaiting such dis
posal as these men saw fit to make of
them. In the bow of the boat, Gagged in
tiers of wooden stalls, thousand sheep
were beating for water. The chill No
vember winds, increased by the motion of
the ship. struck him with a feeling of ut
ter loneliness.
He was not given much time for refiec-
ton. Detailed to carry hay and water to
the animals ahead, he found himself
crowding through the narrow passages be-
tween the cages. cursed for his slowness
and confronted with a seemingly endless
task. He knew he would be sick, but
when he felt the nausea overcoming him,
he dared not confess 1t. He worked i'm
kind of daze, and finally. when dusk came
on, beheld the struggle among the men
over pail of tea. felt himself sickened a
the sight of the huge biscuit doled out one
TO each man. and staggered below flung
himself OH q heap of hay wiped a few
tears from his eyes, and fell asleep.
The long gray outline of the shore be-
came a barely perceptible line of haze the
last glow of red faded from the sky, and
the guIls followed the ship, like great
spirits silent and watchful.
Finally he awoke; feeling of absolute
despair filed his SOUL and, with a resolve
born of unbearable solitude, he pulled him
self together, crawled on deck, and stood
looking over the rail at the phosphores-
cent tumbling of the waters. How wildly
the scenes of his past life came to him
then, and as he crept shivering below he
realized that 1t was well that there were
some bright spots to relieve the unpity-
ing prospect before him. The night pass
ed in vain endeavors to sleep, but the cold
gusts IuSiMtE hDWu HulitIOuS NGntlldIOIE.
the swaying of the vessel, and the shift
ing movements Of uneasy cattle, all COM
bined to keep him awake, while the hours
dragged on between spells of sickness and
philosophic reflections that such an expe-
rience could not last forever.
The night watchman. who poked about
among fallen steers, held his lantern over
the limp figure lying in the hay. and, with
a shake Of the head, left ships biscuit
by his side and shuffied away. The young
man saw him do this through half-open
eyes, and they filled with tears. but he did
not speak.
The void of black nothingness visible
through the hatchway began 20 assume
the gray tints Of a November morning
Eight bells sounded, and everybody was
astir; he dragged himself TO his feet. his
head Keeling. He tottered on deck %
watch the greedy struggle over coffee and
biscuit; he shvered with cold, stunned
down near the galley, and had little care
what befell him.
The cattle boss has no sympathy with
physical weakness; he sees in sea-sickness
only a pretense for Sinking and the r,afx