The Winslow mail., 1900-07-26

drunk all the time they are ashore.
After they get out to sea they are all
right"
capt. Coffin" said the mate, step
ping forward. 81 have not touched a
drop of liquor to-day. ordered this
man to go forward and he resisted me.
Ordered him forward! Well, that's
good one!" And the captain broke into
a hoarse chuckle. "Why, bless me, but
of course you didn't know! Mr.. Scott is
passenger on the Seabird and is goin'
to Frisco with US. There's another
down below, Mr.. Avery. Make YOU ac-
quainted with Mr.. Scott. Mr.. Scott, this
is my mate, Mr.. Rider. Its all nv fault
not telling him you was aboard. Kinder
funny, wasn't it?"
eve don't need any introduction, {"
said Tom, quickly. Il have known Obed
Rider a long time. l don't know any
good Of him, either"
Capt. Coffin was surprised, but he
asked no questions, preferring to wait
until he could see Tom alone. The
mate bit his lip in baffied rage as he
saw his prey not only removed from his
power, but placed in position where
he must be treated with outward re-
spect at least. He turned on his heel
and went forward, vowing vengeance
under his breath, but not daring to
show his feeling further before the cap
tain.
$50 you know my mate?" then asked
the captain.
81 knew him years age" replied Tom,
"and we had some trouble. 1t doesn't
matter whateit was about, but his nose
got broken, and he hates me as hard as
1 do him. He may be a good sailor,
however, and no doubt he is. He used
to sail with my father"
A hail from the tug saved Tom any
further explanation, and as the captain
hustled off to reply Avery came cut of
the cabin and joined his roommate, who
told him briefly about the recent trou-
BILE, making no mention of the original
cause of the enmity between himself
and Rider, for the charge against his
father was too sore subject to- pass his
lips.
sci was well down the harbor. When
Boston light was reached the westerly
wind began to freshen, and the sails
stood full. Lines were hastily cast off,
the tugs whistle gave short blast as
a parting salute, and, with a graceful
nod of her sharp bow in return, the
bark shot toward the open water, with
every square inch of canvas pulling at
the sheets, and the captain rubbing his
horny palms with delight at the pros
pect of fine departure.
John Avery was an old sailor, and the
motion of the vessel caused him no in
convenience, but Tom was soon
stretched in his bunk, where he re-
mained the better part of two days,
while the Seabird flew along before the
favorable gale in manner which did
not belle her name.
When he managed to get on deck
Cape Cod was more than 300 miles
astern, and already the weather was
beginning to grow milder. A few days
more made him completely well, and
long before the equator was reached
he had acquired quite professional
roll and felt perfectly at home.
Of the mate he saw very little, as the
latter stood watch and watch with the
second officer, being on deck every
other four hours, night and day. Mr..
Green, the second mate, was bright,
active young man about Toms age, and
the two became very friendly as the
Seabird sped steadily to the southwark.
1t seemed as if old Neptune had made
an extra effort to help the vessel along,
for she escaped the customary calms
near the line and caught the southeast
trades the same day she lost those from
the northeast which had served her so
well. No incident of Importance oc-
Cured to break the monotony of the
voyage, and as they stood by the wheN
one noon when Capt. Coffin was taking
his observation he announced that they
were as far south of the line as Boston
was north of it.
Then he went below to look at the
glass, cast careful glance around the
horizon, and went below once more,
only to reappear on deck.
"There amt cloud in the sky" he
said, bluntly, ''but the glass is going
down as though the bottom had
dropped out of everything. We're go
ing to catch it, as sure as my name is
Seth Coffin. My glass never lied to me
yet"
Gradually the wind died out, until the
Seabird lay becalmed, rising and fall
ing on the swell, but the sky remained
clear. The barometer continued to fall
in an alarming manner, and after an
hour the heat became oppressive.
Then from all quarters of the horizon
mass of white clouds arose, until they
presented the appearance of huge
mountains of snow, darkening as they
ascended, and massing together until
they formed a canopy overhead, en-
tirely concealing the blue sky above.
Soon they deepened until the whole
heavens were solidly black, as if cov-
cred with folds of velvet. In a few
places, however, the color seemed to
vary to a dark, purplish gray, as one
edge of an overlapping cloud was ex-
posed.
Long before this time all hands were
on deck, and the Seabird was stripped
for the battle with the elements. What
ever his other faults, Obed Rider was
a good seaman, and, with but few
suggestions from the captain, he had
made everything snug, only a close
reefed maintopsail and storm staysail
shovinU aft while a NORTON of +bo