The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-09

b cufoL1FrB HYHE.

~ WOulu % lying u Was u cay :
knew anything about pearl fishing.
I've heard of it, Of course. Who HASN'T
And, for the matter Of that, I've had
on diving suit myself and gone down
and examined a ships bottom to gee
II the divers that had been sent down
to look at some started plates had
brought up true report. But I've
never done more than pass through
those north Australian seas They tell
me the parl fishing's done from small
luggers Of some 10 or IA tons, sailing
out Of Thursday island.
ut ia" said the big man. and.
swell. sir. you'd better get another
captain. I'm d steamer aailor by bring
ing up. and on d steamer ! know my
business and can do 1t with any other
man alive But you d not find me much
good on little wind jammer like a
Thursday island rearler. I'm a hard
up man. Mr.. Carnforth. and desperate
ly in want Of a berth. I hope. too.
you II not think 1t undue familiarity
when say that I like you personally.
But honestly, don't think you'd bet.
ter engage me as your skipper for this
trip. You could get 80 much better
man for your money" .se.S r.A. # "a.
Carnforth laughed. my dear Ket-
tie. he said. II don't think ever
came across fellow, with less real
notion of looking after his own inter-
est. AZ you are aware, 1 know your
peculiar qualifications pretty thorcugh-
~ I'm an eminently. practical bust
ness man. / offer you handsome
salary with both eyes open, and yet you
refuse because you are afraid Of rob-
bing me Of my money" H..
"Mr. Carnforth," said the little
sailor stifly, II have my own ideas Of
what's right. You have seen me at sea
using violence and ugly words. But
you will kindly remember that I was
III service Of an employer then and was
earning his pay by driving his crew.
It's another thing now. We are ashore
here, and would have you know that
ashore am a strict chapel member.
with a high pressure conscience and a
soul that requires careful looking after
could never forgive myself if l
thought was taking your pay with.
out earning It thoroughly.
"1f you'll let me get word in edge.
ways" said the other irritably, land
not be 80 beastly cocksure that you can
rob me-which you could no more do
than Hy-perhaps you'd understand
what I'm offering and not sneeze at a
good chance. The lugger ie your own
invention, and 60 IL the idea that I'm
merely going pearl fishing in the ordi.
nary way My notion is to go pearl
poaching, which is very different
matter; TO get rich quick and take the
risks and get over them. and to 60 al
the business in steamer with strong
enough crew to-er-do what's need
full" ....
"Piracy. suggested Kettle gloomily.
"Piracy be hanged, The Japs have
annexed certain pearling islands and
have declared them closed. AT the out
side we should be only guilty Of poach
ing, and that's tolerably mild offenst
and one | want to see 10th sides Of
I've got pheasant covers here in Eng
land which are poached. 1t amuses me
to chase the poachers, and occasionally
catch them, and when l do l go TO,
them hot and heavy. So l know the
| joys Of the game preserver, you see
and want to taste the excitement
and the profits-of the poacher.
"And you re rich man.. eaid Ket
tle with fine position in the coun
try and seat in parliament. Som'
people never do know when they n
we'll Off"
"Some people don't" said earn
forth, land you're another Of them
skipper For myself. l do mad thinl
now and again because-oh, because
like the excitement and furry Of it
But you'll You go and refuse profit
able billet that would fit you down tt
the boots merely for the sake Of I
whim A quarter Of an hour ago yor
told me You were practically destitute
-er-on the streets your own wore
were. and here you are chucking NJ
a certain eco a month, and possibl,
900. when it's ready to your hand.
II didn't know about the steamer,
said Kettle, land that's fact"
"WelI, I'm telling you now, cap
tain, and if you don't take charge o
her upper bridge it will be your owl
fault Why, man, there isn't job be
tween here and New Jerusalem tina
would suit you better, and, besides
I'm keen to 60 there myself and yol
are the one man in the world l want t.
have as shipmate, and ! ask you t.
come as a personal favor.
I'm sick Of this snug orderly
frock coated life here. Nature intended
me for pirate. and fate has made IN,
a successful manufacturer I've TASTED
the wild, unregenerate life of the opeI
air under your auspices and rubbed
against men who were men, and
want to be there again. I'm tired O
fiddling among men and women wit
are merely dollar millers and dres
pegs I'm sick of what they call sue
cess. I'm sick Of the whole blessed
business
| Captain Kettle thought Of Mrs. Ket
tie and her children in the squalit
house in South Shields, with the slende
income and the slim prospects, and h
sighed drearily But he did not ute
those thoughts aloud. He said insteat
that he was very grateful to Mr.. earn
forth fer his magnificent offer, anc
would ~, his best to earn thorough!
the lavish income which was held GU
to him.
Carnforth reached out and grippet
his hand "Thanky, Kettle, he said
land, mind, I'm going to try and luz
you into competency over this. Yol
might just as well have given way be
fore. l always get my own way ovel
this sort Of things And now probably
you'd like to hear bit more about the
poaching ground"
IF you please, sir"
swell. I cant quote you latitude
and longitude offhand. but III show
you the whereabouts of the place mark,
ed on the chart afterward. It's Japan
I ,voy and tho Jopa have choaen fo claim,