Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-07-14

us a little time below" I whispered to
my companion. "Feign overcoming
WEAKNESS as we pass out"
With this 1 signed to my companions
to follow, and returned to the fore
castle. The boatswain had lighted his
own pipe and was sitting on one of the
mems boxes, firing away in leisurely
puffs.
I 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, you
will find three hammocks. Sling them
and afterward take your bite. Aye,
and have a turn with the pipe. A sea-
man is naught without his clay, and
you will be filter for the work.
1 thanked him and translated the
talk to my companions.
We were not long, saving that we
dared not mend our pace too suddenly,
in singing the hammocks and dispos-
ing of our few effects.
1t was now the beginning of the first
dog watch, and none of the men were
in the forecastle. The time was sea-
sonable. and we fastened to begin our
confab with the cook. We asked him
first what had brought him on Span
ish ship. for we Britons are not often
found on such. and in answer he gave
us brief but consistent story of ship
ping from Scotch port and in smart
blow falling overheard. to be picked
up just in the nick of time by Span
ish coaster. She carried him to Mala-
ga, he said, his original port being Car
tagena. and from there he had been
| glad to ship on the Pilanca. His story
ended. we fell to questioning him on
| our present surroundings. What was
| the Pilanca, and who were these fine
| people she carried?
"Aweel, the Pilanca is naething but
common sort of merchantmen" he
| answered, land her trade is maist
| times betwiXt Havana and the straits,
| but just moo she is a special charterer
frae the king. She is carrying Don
Perez de Guzman, governor of Pana-
ma, to Chagre, and the auld noble ye
clavered wi is the man."
/ But now a word as to our own state,
| Sandy" I began. COR, first, should
| be thankful for better grip of your
name.''
It'll be cordial to heary speak it;
! these looms Gamma" he answered, with
| a sniff. Its Donald Mac Ivrach, frae
| Clagvarloch."
Then, friend Donald I went on,
what think you of our prospects? Are
| they not something dubious?
81 capna say nae" he answered, his
| countenance SOLDERING. "Ye are like
to be ser'd WI no sweet sauce ance We
reach Panama"
LET it rest so,'' said Mr.. lynn. 'And
now another question: Who are all
these other bravely dressed people?
noticed both men and women"
''Will it be brawly dress fowk?" said
MacIvrach, Frightening. Nay. but we
haze the governors leddy-the auld
| dame wi the dour look and the bit
whiskers-though it's no sure We wad
| see them, either, along wi the man
| tilla, and sic lil<e-and for anither grit
ane, Don Luis Delasco, a count by title,
and rich in land and gowd, but sma' in
body. and an i'll tyke to look upon. He
is the governors son-in-law, and is not
to be envied, they say, sic a deirs ane
scauld is her leddyship. Amang the
ithers are Don Lopez Castillo, Don En-
riQue de Cavodilla, and Don Leon de
| Cruzon. They are hidalgos, and friends
| o the governor, and three mair proud,
preceese auld cocks yell gaze far to
find"
| We were very well satisfied with this
description, and indeed, somewhat sur
| feited, especially in view of the tempt
| ing smells from the cookery. Mac
Ivrach hastily inverted another box,
hunted up three pannikins, with
| spoons, which he placed upon it, and
| poured out the mess from the pot. 1t
| proved to be 4 delicious onion stew.
We lost no time in proving it, which I
will say now pleased my palate more
| than anything 1 ever remember of eat
| ing, and in this wise 1 continued-be-
| ing no whit before my companions
till the pot was empty.
| Mac 1vrach now crowned his hos
| pitable efforts by producing pipes and
| tobacco, and when we had moved the
| boxes about, that we might take more
! comfortable Pastures, we raked a coal
| from the furnace, and with great ease
| and pleasure proceeded to light up.
| Our stomachs were satisfied, we were
! coZily by ourselves, and the ship was
| travelling very pleasantly along, so
| that, for the time a least, we might be
| said to be in a state of comparative
| content. This was all the more CRATE
full after the long hardship and eX-
| posture of the raft. In the discourse
that followed we answered freely Mac
Ivrach's questions, he having till now
but a scant knowledge of US, and con-
trived to impress him, as 1 thought,
with the advantage to himself in con-
tinuing his friendship and good offices.
Not long after this some of the crew
came down, and though none forced
their company on us we conceived that
it might not be wise to prolong our
confab. and accordingly gave the cook