The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-23
be Ships MdUen1upe>
BY W. CLARK RUSSELL Copyright 1892 by s. S Moclur. Co..
Chapter Ix.-The Indiaman's Boat.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL

Chapter IX.-The Tndiaman's Boat.
The seas were breaking fast and fierce
from the bows, and the wake flashed into
the windy distance in a fan-shaped splen-
dor of sunshine, and hands were aloft
furling the fore and mizzen royals, and
some Tore-and-aft canvas was rafting
hanks and lacing on their stays to the
drag of dOwnhauls; the ship was sonor-
GUS with the music of the sea, and by
looking over the weather side you could
have seen the green sheathing sweating
with foam, storming through the dazzling
smother like a wounded dolphin whose
. blood is sweet to dolphins; yet this was
but fragment of the magnificent picture
OF foaming seas and flying cloud, with
the lofty swelling ship shearing through
the heart of the day in a thunderstorm
of prisms and of spray, lovely as the
heights OF heaven when some stars are
green and some shine like the rose.
Hardy came on deck He stood and
looked about him, refreshed by a shift
OF clothes and by nip of grog He had
worked out his sights, and before mount
ing the steps had stood a minute at the
captains door listening; he heard the
poor mans voice, and judged by its SOL
elnn lmplorlng note that he was praying.
but the noise of the sailors above made
him hurry and though it was his watch
below, he felt that he was in command
and that the safety of the ship was in
his hands.
Any seaman will understand this mates
critical and difficult situation. A captain
is not to be lightly deposed; drunken can
talns and-unless they grow frantic-mad
captains must be Obeyed or It is mutinv
with heavy penalties awaiting the arrival
OF the ship; and the mate of merchant
man may though by conscientious act
lose power of earning bread for himself
and his home unless as a foremast hand
Tor the law is hard and shipowner hard
er still.
You had better take the mainsail off
her, Mr. Candy, and furl the main row.
al said Hardy. 'She has more than she
wants" Nii0
Inc stu nsail was in and so was the
boom, and Hardy gave other directions
but they need not be repeated. becanee
minuteness is tedious, and the language
OF the sea cryptic to millions. When
Sheridan was asked how the noetae+ey
described the Phoenix, he answered Just
as a poulterer would!' The poulterer is
not good in art and the beak, taions and
all are merits when left out.
1t was about 12:45 O'clock, and the cab-
In dinner would be coming aft soon. The
COOK was busy In his galley, and black
smoke was smothering the bulwarks
ABREAST from the chimney. Hardy paced
"NNNNiAA4ASo the S6dUlen at work.
Candy superintendent the business. There
was plenty for the mate to think of The
grlet planted in his kind heart, bv reco1-
lection of his hopeless effort to rescra
the poor drowned child, was overu,beI,7,-
ed py thoughts of the captain. his mn
doubted madness, the state of the shin.
and then his mind on a sudden wapt
away to Julia Armstrong; he wondered
what would be her fortune If lucl1 Uorl6
attend her in India. if her love for him
he would not pretend aught else to him
seif-would hold her unwilling to remain
that she might return in the vessel and
meet him once more. In which case be
declared to himself I will marry her and
chance it.
The ship was rushing onward like q
shooting star, and the wind clothed the
sails with the thunder of it's power: hut
she was comfortable and dry. The
bright bursts were flung clear of her bv
the rush Of the breeze, and she took the
seas with that perfect grace of lean and
courtesy which sails alone do give.
AS Hardy walked the cabin servant
came up to him and reported dinner on
the tabe
Have you told the captain?'
eyes, SIR
''Is he at table2"
Eyes, SIR
Hardy went below. The captain was