Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-07-12
CHAPTER VIII.-CoNTINUED.

l got below, and in great WEAKNESS
put down Mr.. Tym's box and fetched
glance around. BY degrees, as l be-
came accustomed to the duskiness,
made out the features of the place.
1t was low for the bigness of the
ship, and was furnished after a very
poor and rough sort. The hunks and
ha1nmocks were old and fit to drop
apart, none of the timbers or work of
the ship were smoothed except by the
friction of use, and mere dilapidated
fence served as a bulkhead to part off
the cooks quarters. Luckily the
smells of the place, i'll as they were
for all was disordered and dirty--were
not of the worst, for at this time both
a windward and leeward port stood
partly open, and the passage 81 the
small breeze through served to sweep
out the chiefest of the odors.
We did not come by a good knowl
edge of the place instantly, for it was
somewhat dimly lighted, the port on
the larboard side being closed and that
upon the starboard standing scarce two
inches upon the hook, but upon peer
| Ing dDOul d DlU dJ IISt OHC anu
| then another came OCT.
We had taken two or three steps for
ward, and l was casting a glance in
! the direction of the cooks furnace,
when an object nearly concealed by it
moved, and this / presently saw was
the cook himself. He had been sitting
on a box, with his elbows on his knees,
or in some manner bowed forward. and
rose up as we stopped and looked alert
| " at us. He was a little fellow, in
clined to- be pursy, and near all his
figure was hidden by long white
apron. his face, however, coming out
in the winks of short pipe. 1 dis
covered that he had light hair, which
is not common among the Spanish, and
this made me notice him little more
than l should otherwise have done.
He came out from his place. seeing us
halt, and made little civil gesture,
upon which l bowed gravely and gave
him good morning.
"Beunos dias.' he responded, and
then, to my great surprise. softly
added: But guide marning in the
auld tongue, if sac yen haze it,
He took out his pipe as he spoke and
| crossed over to us.
What, a Sandy!" cried. delighted,
land what is he doing here?"
l seized his hand and gave it most
cordial grip, as did also my compan-
ions. "Gae a bit cautiously" he whis-
pered, with a meaning nod toward the
forecastle. 'Ye mauna seem over
pleased. You'll find this a pleasant
ship" he added in Spanish, land able
in all weathers. l take it yonder is
where you are to sling your ham
Knocks"
My companions caught the point be
would make. which was to avoid the
jealousy or suspicion of the boat
swain, and they did not interrupt
while returned a suitable answer.
"Peteetion to sling your hammock
noo," he swiftly whispered, as l ended
Likewise say bawldly that ye need
mckle rest. and wad haze a bit drinl
, and a sup"
nodded and asked aloudfor pipe
mine is broken" l said in Spanish
land YOU know what seaman is with
out his clay"
ST am to ask the boatswain TO gran
us little time below" whispered t.
my companion. "Feign overcoming
WEAKNESS as we pass out"
With this signed to my companion
to follow, and returned to the fore
castle. The boatswain had lighted hi
own pipe and was sitting on one of tn
mems boxes, firing away in leisurel
puffs.
1 made heavily along to him, exag
: gerating my real WEAKNESS, and pre-
: ferred my request.
"Aye, if you like he replied, care
lessly. "Yonder, in that corner, 20
will find three hammocks. Sling theI
and afterward take your bite. Ay'
and have turn with the pipe. A sea
man is naught without his clay, an
= you will be filter for the work"
! / thanked him and translated tn
!, talk to my companions.
: We were not long, saving that w
: dared not mend our pace too suddenl,
in singing the hammocks and dispol
y ing of our few effects.
1t was now the beginning of the frs
dog watch, and none of the men we1
in the forecastle. The time was Sc,
sonable, and we FASTENED to begin OF
confab with the cook. We asked hi
4 first what Ind brought him on Spar
= ish ship, for we Britons are not ofte
- found on such. and in answer he ga,
us brief but consistent story of shi
= ping from Scotch port and in a sma'
blow falling overheard. to be pickle
: up just in the nick of time by Spa
! ish coaster. She carried him to Nal