Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26

its presence felt. Unconsciously she looked
for him when she came up for fresh air and
exercise, and often she caught herself
thinking and wondering over his contradic-
tory words. Before, when he was continu-
ally on the poop, she was rarely conscious
of his presence; but now, he appeared to
be everywhere. Did she gaze aleft, to
watch the swelling canvas, there was Haw-
kins rafting down the topmast rigging, or
placing chatting gear, his eyes fixed upon
her Did her glance wander forward along
the deck, Hawkins would look up from his
painting. his sonnet making, or the rope
upon which he was hauling. and meet that
glance. Did she hear singing in the fore
castle during dog watch hours-it was the
deep voice of Hawkins. Even in the night.
when the noise of hauling the braces or
making sail awakened her, she hearu the
stowaway's sonorous Singing OUT above
all other sounds.
By the time the Dunbarton ran down into
the roaring 40s'' the young lady had open
ly snubbed the sleek De Montparnasse, and
worrying her aunt by persistently go
ing on deck at all times and in all weathers.
One morning, when the vessel was sixty
one days out and just abreast of the cape.
Mr.. Angus tumbled up on deck for a look
around before breakfast The mate was on
watch with Hawkins at the wheel.
Good morning, Calker,''' said the horse
breeder. Still nasty weather, l see
Yes, sir" replied the officer I'VE must
expect it while we're running our casting
down. How are you this morning. sir?"
w ell, 10 tell tTe tTutH, 1dlheI, DdChtO
out feeling little sore this morning.
hampers down something"
Take a glass of sea water, Mr.. Angus.
That will fix you up, sir
Thanks" returned the passenger. "I'm
not bad enough for that yet. Hello! Here
comes the beauty!
Miss Armstrong. in tight-ftting blue
ulster and Tam O'Shanter cap, and look
ing as fresh as a rose, appeared on deck.
She nodded pleasantly to the men, and
made her way to the mizzen rigging, where
she stood, with her fair hair flying in the
breeze, looking to windward.
MY eyes, but she's clipper! Eth, Mr..
Angus?" said the mate. "A man wouldn't
mind being moored bow and stern to
craft like THAR
You're right, Calker. She'd make a good
running mate. that girl Must weigh ten
stone, every pound of it, and as pretty, by
George, asa bull pup"
The mate laughed, and lowering his
voice, said ''Dyou know, Mr.. Angus, it's
my belief that she's gone on Hawkins.
She's keeping watch with us pretty regu-
lar, and they are always looking at one
another like lost owls
what, the stowaway? Oh, rot, Calker"'
WELL" said the mate, nodding his head
wisely, I've seen EN- go that way at sea
before. Besides, Mr.. Angus. he's no ordi-
nary stowaway. He pretends he Is. but it's
bluff. That chaps been to sea for many
Gay. Haven't you heard him singing out
on the ropes? Well, tell you sir. 1t takes
five years to learn that trick. He's come
out in his true colors lately. He licked the
biggest man in the fo'c'sle the other morn
ing for giving him CUFF, and he's the
smartest hand in my watch. Why. just
cast your eye over him, Mr.. Angus. Does
he look like a pier head jumper"
AS the Australian glanced at the stalwart
figure SO skillfully handling the wheel, he
was obliged to acknowledge that there was
foundation for Mr. Calker's inference.
Hawkins, In a suit of yellow oilskins and
sou weSter, with a neatly trimmed beard
and mustache, and his hair of respectable
a a ndS foil TI,n pH.
in the appearance of Hawkins had been so
gradual that Mr.. Angus had not noticed 1t.
Now, however, he went below TO his break
fast, mentally comparing the stowaway Of
two months ago and the stowaway of the
present, and marveling at the TRANSFORMED
ton.
the past week, had followed close at the
heels of the Dunbarton, slowly waned.
Evening found her, with her fine weather
kites spread to the dying breeze, sauntering
along with the sluggish, f1ame-lit waves.
and barely making four knots an hour. The
wind held at this throughout the first
watch. Then from the ocean rim ahead
the great. pale moon rose languid1y and
lighted pathway of shining steel to the
east. The breeze freshened at once, and
the sleepy mate, reused by the change,
shifted to windward and whistled through
his teeth for more Of 1t.
So bright and clear was the night that
the thrifty officer gave orders to douse the
sidelights. The lookout man relaxed his
vigilance, and the watch on deck sneaked
| into the forecastle, and stretched them
selves upon their chests. Mr.. Calker was
ncne too strict with his men, and Hike most
OF their kind. they took advantage of him.
It was getting on for four bells in the
middle watch, when the drowsy silence of
| the ship was broken by a sharp, alarming
cry:
vessel on the starboard bow! Hard a
starboardi'
Hard a starboard!'' came In a half
shrek from the lookout
"a
| rail. He began to give IN order, but the