Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-06-02

beam, was not Overround in the bows,
and was well and loftily spared. She
was painted black, with a gilded streak,
and showed no break for ports, which,
indeed, was not surprising, as few mer-
Chantmen at that time carried their
guns otherwise than on deck. All her
tops seemed to be provided with shields,
or barricadoes, and on the poop and
along the bulwarks I could resolve the
outlines of several sakers and swivels.
Besides these she might carry some
heavy piece, and, in fact, I caught
glimpse, through an open gang-port,
of shape in a tarpau1in which could
hardly be other than a long-range gun.
The whole appeared to show that she
was fitted to fight as well as to fly,
which was passing needful in those
| troublesome times. Her burthen Gas
| afterward learned) was $50 tons, and as
we approached her, and she flashed up
| her great black, side, she looked even
| larger. AS we drew near, some heads
showed above the bulwark, and 1 made
out a ladder hanging over at that place.
We pulled up to it, and when we rose on
| the next wave the sailor reached out a
boat-hook and steadied us to it, and
| we were speedily up the side.
AS I glanced about, taking in the
fashion of the deck and such arrange
| ments as had not been visible from the
water, a short, broad man, in kind
of Dutch blouse and heavy sea boots,
| came from some place forward and &C
costed the captain. I inferred that ne
must be the mate. and so indeed, it
proved, and upon being presented L
g L.
and that he hailed from Southampton.
He had resolute. honest-looking coun-
tenance, albeit the smallpox had pitted
| him rather severely, and l thought had
| the air of a good seaman and compe-
tent officer. The captain explained the
meaning of my being aboard. and said
that he doubted not L should suit them
| well, though it might be I should halt
in some things at the beginning. Mas
ter Sellinger received this explanation
in a way favorable to my pride.
We made no further delay, but re-
turned to the town, and at the hour ap-
pointed to be fetched off I was ready,
clothes-bag in hand. The tide had
fallen since morning, and ] had to walk
to the edge of the jetty before 1 could
espy the boat, which l then perceived at
| the foot of the long fight of wet steps.
| The two sailors, who were the crew,
were alone in her, and so saw that
was beforehand with my companions.
l waited few moments, talking with
| the sailors (but not too freely, lest they
conceive me an easy sort. which would
not do), and presently I heard the voice
of the captain. The sailors pushed the
boat more fairly to the foot of the
stairs, and directly the captain ap-
peared at the top.
"Aye, Master Ardick is here" I heard
him say back to some one behind him,
and almost with the words the person
he had addressed joined him. The
4 supercargo, for such, of course, the sec
ond man was, I found to be a nimble,
erect little gentleman, in age perhaps
| 60, with some gray in his beard, but
| a good fresh skin, and dressed very
handsomely in sad-colored velvet low
| crowned hat with feathers, yellow hose,
| and high-heeled French shoes, with
| blue rosettes. His head was covered
with fashionable flowing wig, and his
broad sword-belt supported good sub
stantial sword with silver hilt.
AS soon as Capt. Houthwick had put
us on our course he presented me to
| the supercargo, giving his name as Mr..
lynn, and informing him with some
| little pride that he would find me 9TH
| er than the common sort of sailor, be-
| ing a man of considerable parts, and of
| a family above the ordinary, my father
having been an owning shipmaster and
the son of a justice of the peace, and my
mother the daughter of knight.
After a somewhat tedious pull, the
wind being in part contrary and quite
| sea beginning to run, we drew near,
and got up and made ready to seize
| the ladder. 1t was of rope, with wooden
rungs, the top and bottom made fast,
and presently I succeeded in catching
| it, and drew the bow of the boat as near
as was safe. The ship rose and sank
and churned about in troublesome
fashion, but managed to hold on and
first the captain and then Mr.. lynn
passed me and swung over to the ladder
The old supercargo was as steady and
sure-footed as rope-dancer, and it i'm
| mediately occurred to me that he might
be a veteran seagoer, a conclusion
which was confirmed as saw how cool
ly he waited on the ladder till the cap
tain was out of the way. though the
ship was rolling and pitching and send
ing frothing filings of water up to the
very soles of his dainty shoes. In mo-
| ment the captain had passed over the
| bulwark. and Mr.. lynn began to fol-
low, and it was then that made sur
prising discovery. I had noticed that
| the old fellow had kept his cloak part
| " about him. and had marveled at it.
| as the day was so warm, but now, as he
began to climb, the wind caught the
garment and blew it out, and behold,
he had lost his left hand! The sleeve
hung loose and long about the wrist,