Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-01-11

excellent build and workmanship. For
craft of 300 tons her spars were enor-
nous; her topmast head must have
been $50 feet from her deck, if an inch,
while from her rig for ard could guess
the amount of extra canvas she was ca
pable of carrying. Walking to the side,
discovered that she was painted white,
with broad gold stripe little above
the water line; below this she was
aheathed with copper, which shone like
gold whenever the water left it.
Inside the bulwarks, and reaching to
within an inch Of the scuppers, were
some contrivances that caused me con-
siderable amount Of curiosity. At first
glance they looked like reversible shop
shutters more than anything else, being
about feet LONG by wide. and were
attached to the rail Of the bulwarks by
enormous hinges. On my asking for
what purpose they were intended, my
guide again laughed and said:
"You must not ask too many ques-
tions, my friend, for obvious reasons.
In this case. however, and since you
|'have given your word not to tell what
you may see, l will explain"
Detaching the catch Of one, he lifted
1t from the deck and threw it over the
side, where it hung, just reaching to
the top of the copper below water.
"Do you grasp the idea?" he contin-
ned. "The next one fits into that, and
the next one into that again, and so on
all round the boat. You see, they can
be attached in no time, and when they
are once fixed, the shape Of the masts
altered, the funnel differently cased OF
done away with altogether, the char.
acter of her bows and stern changed be-
yond recognition by another appliance,
she can be three different crafts inside
Of "a hours"
This, then, accounted for the number
of different vessels the Beautiful White
Devil was supposed to possess. I began
to understand the marvellous escapes
more clearly now.
"And whose idea was this ingenious
invention?" ventured to ask.
"Like most of our things, her lady.
ships own," he replied, "and wonder.
fully successful it has proved"
"And shall I be presuming too much
on your good nature If I seek to learn
something of the lady herself?"
"Ah; I'm afraid there I cannot satis-
fy your curiosity" he answered, shak-
ing his head. ave have strict instruc.
tions on that point, and there's not a
man aboard this ship who values his
life so little as to dream Of disobeying.
One piece Of advice will give you,
however, for the sake Of what we went
through together yesterday. Take care
how you behave toward her. In spite
of her quiet demeanor and frank, artless
manner she sees, takes in and realizes
the motive and Importance Of every
thing you say or do. If you act fairly
toward her, she will act fairly by You,
but If you play her false you're dead
man. Remember that. Now you must
excuse me if / go to my duties. My alb.
sence in Hongkong has delayed my work
sadly. And there goes eight BELLS"
As the silvery voice Of a bell ohimed
out from the forecastle he left me and
went below. Hardly knowing what to
do with myself, went back to my
chair. A tall man with gray beard
close cropped, sharp glittering eyes and
q not unhandsome face, marred, how
ever, by what looked like saber cut
extending from the left temple to bis
chin, resigned the deck to another officer
and went below.
While the watch was being changed
had All opportunity Of examining the
crew. They were nearly all natives,
smart, intelligent looking fellows, and
excellently disciplined. Whether they
were Dyaks or Malays, however, 1 had
not sufficient experience to determine,
and for more than one reason I did not
like to ask.
But at that moment my reverie was
interrupted by the appearance of neat
ly clad steward, who in broken English
presented me with an invitation from
her ladyship to tifin in the saloon in
half an hour. This was an unexpected
honor, and one which, you may be sure.
| did not hesitate to accept. / wanted,
however, to make suitable toilet first,
but where to do it puzzled me, for so
far as knew no cabin had yet been ap-
portioned to me. I Iplaced my difficulty
before an officer who was standing near
me. He said something in native dia-
lect to the steward, who replied, and
then turned again to ME.
"Your traps have been placed in a
cabin next to Mr.. Walworth's, he says,
and if you will follow him lie will con-
duct you to 1t. "
followed the steward down the
main companion Il afterward discovered
that the one aft was sacred to her lady
ship) as requested and found IL, self in
q large messroom, in which three OFF,
GERS we're seated at lunch On either
side number Of fair sized berths were
situated. The one SIT apart for me was
nearest the companion and contained a
bunk, a small settee aud locker COM
bined, q washstand Lasin and a place
for hanging clothes. The first opera.
tion was to shave, bath followed, to
which another steward conducted me,
after which ! returned to my berth,
dressed my wound. and, having selected
clean suit of white ducks, attired
myself and repaired on deck.
Punctual to the stroke of two bells |
o'clock) l was summoned to the after
saloon by my first messenger. follow
ed him, and descending the companion,