The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-08-03
By oUToLIrFE HYNE.
Icopyright, 1000. By cutclire Hyne.l

ana was Ste0mlnS out OF the Dak1ng
heat of Suez harbor on her way down
toward the worse heat of the Red sea
beyond.
passenger, young man of eight
or nine and twenty. lounged on camp
stool under the upper bridge awning
and watched the Parakeet's captain as
he walked briskly across and across,
and presently, when the little sailor
faced him, he nodded as though he had
decided something that was in his
thoughts.
well, sir?" said Captain Kettle.
81 wish you wouldn't look so anx-
ious. We've started now and may as
well make up our minds to 60 through
it comfortably"
"Quite So" said Kettle. 'I'm think
ing out how we are to do this business
in comfort and safety" And with that
he resumed his walk
The man beside him had introduced
himself when the black workers were
carrying the Parakeet's cargo Of coal
in baskets from the holds to the light
ers alongside, and Kettle had been
rather startled to find that he carried a
letter of Introduction from the steam
boats owners. The letter gave him no
choice of procedure. 1t stated with
clearness that Mr.. Hugh Wenlocl, So
licitor, had laid his wishes before them
and that they had agreed to further
these wishes through the agency of
their servant. Captain Owen Kettle, in
consideration of the payment Of 1900.
The Parakeet was cargo tramp and
carried no passenger certificate, but a
letter of recommendation like this was
equivalent to direct order, and Kettle
signed Mr.. Wenlock ON to his crew list
as doctor" and put to sea with an
anxious mind
Wenlock waited awhile, watching
squalid Suez sink into the sea behind,
and then he spoke again.
Look here, captain" he said. 'Those
south Arabian ports have got lot
worse reputation than they really de-
serve. The people down there 20 years
ago were pack of pirates, I'll grant
you. but nowadays they've got the fear
of the gunboat always handy, and
that's wonderful civilizing power. I
tell you, captain. you needn't be fright
ened; that pirate business is exploded
for now and always"
81 know all about the piratical ham
kerlngs of those south Arabian niggers,
sir" said Kettle stifiiy, "and l know
what they can do and what they can't
do as well as any man living. And
know also what l can do myself at q
push. and the knowledge leaves me
pretty comfortable. But If you choose
to think me frightened I'll own that
am. It's the navigation down there
that gave me cold shivers the first mo-
ment you mentioned it,"
"Why. it's no worse than the Red sea
here anyway"
''The Red seas bad, but you can get
good charts of it and rely on them.
South Arabian coast is no better, and
the charts aren't worth the paper they
are printed on"
II wouldn't like you to wreck the
steamer down there. 1t might be awk-
ward for me getting back"
Quite 6O, Suiu AettlCs 4Ou EG
thinking of yourself, and don't blame
you. I'm thinking of myself also. I'm
a man that's met with great deal of
misfortune, sir. and from one thing and
another I've been eight years without
regular command. had the luck to
bring In derelict the other day and
pocket q good salvage out of her. and
my present owners heard of It. and
they put me as master of this steamer,
just because of that luck. / am not
anxious to pile up this steamboat on
some uncharted reef"
''I'm as keen as you are not to get
the steamer wrecked. and II there's
any way she can be kept out of dan
gerous area, and you can manage to
set me ashore where l want In boat.
just you say. and I'll meet you all
can. But at the same time, skipper. If
you don't mind doing a swap. you
might give me good deal of help over
my matter In return"
II haven't heard your business yet,
sir. All you've told me is that you
want to be set down in this place,
Dunkhot. and be taken off again after
you've staid there four and twenty
hours"
"Well. you see. didn't want 1t talk
ed over beforehand. If the newspa-
pers got hold of the yarn and made a
lot of fuss about it, they might upset a
certain marriage that I've very much
set my heart upon"
Captain Kettle looked puzzled. II
don't seem to quite follow you. sir"
"You shall hear the tale from the
beginning. We have plenty of time
ahead Of US just now. You remember
the wreck of the RangoonT
"She was coming home from East
Indian ports. wasn't she. and got on
fire somewhere off Cape Guardafui?
Only about ten of her people saved. II
remember"
THAT'S about right" said Wenlock.
"It's 20 years ago now. Among others
lost was Colonel Anderson and his
wife and their child. Teresa. aged 4,
and what made their deaths all the
more sad was the fact that Anderson's
elder brother died just a week before,
and he would have come home to find
a peerage and large estates waiting for
him."
II can feel for that man." said Ket-
tie.
II can feel most for the daughter"
said Wenlock.
How do you mean. sir2"
~WQll EolOnal Andaraontc daad ou6