The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-06-15
written for The Prison Mirror,
PART Ii.

VftUen Tor IHe PRISON NJ lrrOr.
PART II.
The first day out was full of novelty
for all on board. 1t was especially
novel to the only land lubbers of the
party, Jim and Bill. Jim had an ap-
petite that had made him famous at
college. He was not what one might
term glutton, for he was very dainty
and choice about the selecting of his
repasts, but for all this his appetite
seemed never to be satiated and he
was ready for feast at any time, day
or night. The salt air had so stimu
lated Jim's appetite that he was in
chronic state of hunger. Every time
Jim heard the ships bell ring the half
hour, during the first forenoon, he
would rush down the companion way,
expecting to find the table spread. Bill
was responsible for this, for he had told
Jim that when the cook had the meals
in readiness, he would ring the ships
bell. But this was only one of Bills
ways of learning the ropes, for he him.
self did not know the difference be-
tween three bells and eight bells. In
looking over the manifest that after.
noon, Bill's eye caught sight of an item
that had heretofore escaped his notice.
The item was: one case Monongahala
Rye Whisky. Bill wanted to know
why this article was brought along, as
it had been previously agreed not to
trade any fire-water to the Indians.
Bob said it had been included for
medicinal purposes, and would be used
only in case of sickness. After all had
retired that night, Jim heard someone
rummaging among the bottles in the
medicine locker. Upon Investigating
he found Bill in the act of tapping a
quart bottle of rye. To the query, if
he was i'll, Bill replied that he was not
what one might call very sick, but that
he might be sick before morning and
thought drop of prevention now
would be better than whole bottle of
cure later on. From that time on Jim
assumed the office of ships doctor and
kept the keys to the medicine chest.
During that first night, the Flying
Spray got we'll to sea off the Cape Cod
coast. There was heavy swell coming
up from the South Atlantic, which here
meeting the wind from the northwest.
made bad going for the little ship. 1t
made bad going too, for Bill, who had
an acute attack of NAL de mer. He
made great ado about it and called
the whole ships company into his cabin
and there put them under the most
solemn oath that in case he died, he
should not be buried at sea, but that
the Flying Spray would put back to-
Boston with his remains. When morn
ing came, they were out of sight of
land; there was scarcely ripple on the
sea, though the plucky little vessel went
bowling along before a gentle breeze
that blew out of the north. Bill had so
far recovered as to sip cup of black
SOAANO ohAA Oe1o q P1lOG CldChcI.
The question of which route to sail
for the mouth of the Amazon, had till
now been left open for debate. Capt.
Marsh preferred to sail to the east of
the Bahamas and the Lesser Antilles.
as he feared he might be overhauled by
Spanish gunboat, if he attempted to
cross over by way of the Windward
Passage. Many filibustering expeditions
were being landed in Cuba about this
time, and the Spaniards were much
exasperated. While the Virginius had
not been forgotten, yet the Privateers
argued that although the outside course
was much shorter, the perils of the
Sargossa Sea must be reckoned with.
1t was finally decided to take the Wind
ward Passage route, and the risk of
being sunk by the Spaniards.
Siv Ia NC ont From Rocto,, A..