Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-03-16
there were not less than fifteen san
in sight Of the vessel which picked roe
uD
CHAPTER w.
The Ellgenie

Inc EuSenle.
After being conveyed on board, hot
brandy punch was readily administered
to me; all my wet clothes were taken
OFF, and I was put into snug berth,
the cozy warmth OF which. together
with the effect of the steaming punch
"a stiff nor'wester." as heard it called
and the toll and misery, mental and
bodily, I had undergone. all conduced
to give me a long and almost dream
less slumber. Thus the noon of the
next day was far advanced before l
awoke to the realities of life and a
consideration of the awkward predica-
ment in which l was placed.
had been picked up by the EugenIe.
n new brig of $50 tons register, cop
pered to the bends. and standing Al
at Lloyds," as | was informed by Sam
uel Weston, her master. He added
that she had n crew of twelve hands,
men and boys, exclusive of Mare His
lop, the mate, and Tattooed Tom, his
assistant, and that the brig had the
reputation of being one of the best
sailing out of London.
The morning was fine and warm; the
skylight was open. and pleasant cur
rent of air passed through the clean.
wainscoted cabin. A spotless white
cloth was on the table. across which
there were lashed certain bars of wood,
technically termed n fiddle, to keep
the plates and glasses from falling to
leeward; and on looking from my cur
tanned berth (for I was not permitted
to rise) l saw the captain and mate at
lunch over brandy and water. biscuits
and cheese: and busy the while with
charts and compasses. as they were
comparing their nautical notes and OBJ
servations.
The brig seemed to be running stead
fly through the water upon the star
board tack. and | could hear the gurgle
OF the sea under her counter. rs 1t bub-
bled away in the wake astern-in fact,
the sound seemed to be Just foot
above my ear. realizing the terrible
idea that there was 'oniy plank be-
tween me and eternity"
Capt. Samuel Weston was n we'll
made man OF middle hight, and some
where about forty years OF age. He
was rather grave than juvial in man
ner. but pleasant. kind and gentleman
ly. There was nothing about him that
particularly indicated the seaman, and
he never used startling adjectives. or,
according to the proverbial idea. inter
larded his conversation with obscure
nautical phraseology.
He wore short pea-coat with brass
buttons. and n straw hat. A handsome
gold ring secured his necktic. and the
fag-end of n cheroot was between his
teeth. He was exactly portrayed thus
In his colored calotype. which was
framed and screwed into the bulkhead.
Close by 1t was another Of a indy with
little boy. standing at the base of n
column. which OF course had n crimson
curtain festooned behind Il: and they.
had no doubt. were his wife and child.
So Capt. Westcn-or. us he preferred
to call himself, Sam Wcston-was more
domestic in his tastes than those who
usually live by salt water are sup
posed to be.
Neither was there anything partic-
ularly nautical in the appearance of the
mate. who was n smart and athletic
young fellow. about fiyc-and-twenty
years OF age, With somewhat of n Glas-
COW accent. keen gray eyes ana sandy
CoioTcd hair: and he II was (though I
was not aware Of II then. or for long
af.eD VINO boldly plunged into the
stormy Era. and swan to the founder
ing scionncr. and finding that could
neither TGGorstnnd nor obey instruc-
t,ons. had made line fast to my waist.
and thT3 conveyed me safely into the
beat: SO 10 this young Scotchman l
owed my life and n debt of gratitude.
ITO bc continued)