The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-08
MIR. LAZAREETE.

The fullrigged ship, kismet upon which
l was the only passenger. was speeding
through the northeast trades with all sal
set. We were thirty days out from New
York and within few degrees of the
equator.
The captain was a typical New England
shipmaster-bluff. hearty. good-natured
but possessing sufficient sternness to en-
force the obedience OF his crew Having
reading this ancient mariner into the land
of dreams, | went into the laZareete-the
general store-room beneath the quarter
deck, which looks like small ship chand-
ler's shop-to inspect several boxes OF fruit
/ had brought
While no one helped me piCh out the
bad fruit. the good had been disappearing
with mysterious rapidity. together with
some OF the lighter stores, such as crack
ers, preserves. and pottcd meats. Attempts
too find the thief had failed. all the men
having sworn to their innocence in various
degrees of broken English. We had re-
moved all but the fruit to safer quarters
in the cabin a couple of days before. Since
then apples, bananas. and oranges mad
gone faster than ever.
AS l stooped over one of the boxes. / was
surprised to hear voice from dark Ger
ner exclaim. Good afternoon. MIR. Rot
crts!"
looked up and saw pair of eyes shin
ing out of the darkness. Little as i could
see of the face. l was aware it was new to
me.
to make your acquaintance, Mr. Roberts.
having long desired to do so-indeed. no
one could hear you read and not wish TO
know YOU
These words tickled my pride to such an
extent tina; l already felt strongly drawn
toward the stranger. He moved more into
the light, his long, dark hair forming
suitable frame for his handsome face and
keen penetrating eyes. But what struck
ne more especially at the first moment
was that his face was closely shaven.
had heard OF stowaways. but never of such
one as this.
II want to thank you" he said, for
the eatables you were good enough TO leave
in my care. My absurd position is due to
a very foolish wager which l made with a
friend. and which during the past month
have had ample leisure to repent"
Surely you didn't offer to go around
the Horn as StOwaway?'
NO. hardly that. The fact Is. it was
most ridiculous blunder- We were sitting
at the club was about to start for Bra
iii to visit relatives. We were speaking
Of the voyage and OF the country. Some
how the talk drifted to stowaways. OF
course everyone had his little tale to tell.
Suddenly my friend exclaimed, 'Harring-
ton. I'll bet you an even thousand you
can't steal your passage to Rio,' On the
spur Of the moment replied, 'DoneH We
wrote checks for the amount CT the wager
and placed them in the hands of friend.
1 rather liked the novelty OF the adyen-
ture. yet wished myself safely out of it.
OF course 1 could have gone on a steamer.
but the idea occurred to me TO try a sail
ing vessel. / found one was TO leave in
few days. The boys gave me a grand
send-off at the club the night before my
departure. The wine went to my head. ]
mistook the vessel and did not find out
my blunder until we were two days out"
Why on earth didn't you make your
self known? Your bet had nothing to do
with vessel bound for Frisco
II would have given up long before this
had It not been for your splendid reading.
and for your goodly assortment of provis-
fefs: but now you have withdrawn almost
all the latter. and one can't live on the
former, delightful it is
We arranged little surprise for the cap
tain. Mr. Harrington would Join us at the
supper table unannounced.
The captain did not awake until the bell
rang. When he reached the table we were
waiting for him. The first mate appeared
in the opposite doorway, and both caught
sight Of the newcomer at the same mo
ment. They looked at each other, then at
m yrhhipp bpir nd
at the stranger l introduced Harrington.
who told his story once more.
He had brought clothes enough for the
voyage, but net a morsel of food-it hav-
ing been a part of the contract that he
should depend upon the ship for board as
well as for lodging. He had enjoyed bath
at the dead hours Of the night-the tub
being Immediately forward of the lazareete
and had made use of his razor at the
same time. On several dark nights he had
on deck In the middle watch,
borrowing my hat and oyercoat as a dis
guise.
Well. I've heard a lot o yarns about
stowaways in my life." said the captain.
but this beats 'em all. My dear child
this was one of his favorite expressions.
used regardless of age-"1 am glad to
make yer acquaintance"
The stranger was attractive in person,
in manner. and in speech and brought
with him such new current Of life and
IDEAS that we all wondered how We had
got along without him On the morning
after his appearance the captain greeted
him as Mr.. Lazareete." a name which
clung to him thereafter.
Mr.. Lazareete possessed the rare and
happy faculty Of adapting his conversation
10 that OF his listeners. discussing all top
les as II they We're of personal interest to
him. He became a favorite from one end
Of the ship to the other. He was indeed a
good master of the art of entertaining. He
lad discovered my hobby while in the laz-
arctic. and insisted on my reading aloud
TO him as often as possible. Nor did it
AXE him long to find that the captains
hobby was farming. and this subject he
introduced at all hours of the day and
hight especially when he thought the old
nan was in need of being cheered up
We crossed THE line" few days after
his appearance. and he declared that Nep-
paint shave with delightful good humor:
while | was guilty Of making a slight cold |
he excuse for not following his example. |
We enjoyed the fine weather until reach |
ng the latitude off the mouth of the Rio
lie la Plata, where we had several days of |
ieavy gales. MIR. LaZareete had been a de- |
ightful companion before. but none of us |
ully appreciated his worth until the shin |
vas rolling and plungng in the heavy seas |
If the South Atlantic.
He seemed to be everywhere 1t once
the captain whose old nerves