El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-10
THE PEARL POACHERS.
b. CUTCLIFFE HYNE.

NO MI CarElOIED. SAID Kettle,
sit would be lying if 1 was to say 1
knew anything about pearl fishing.
I've heard of it, of course. Who hasn't :?
And, for the matter of that, I've had
on diving suit myself and gone down
and examined a ships bottom to see
if the divers that had been sent dow
to look at some started plates had
brought up true report. But I've
never done more than pass throue b
those north Australian seas. They tell
me the parl fishing's done from small
luggers of some 10 or IA tons, sailing
out of Thursday island. ,"
1T is said the big man. "And''-
"Well, sir. you'd better get another
captain. I'm steamer sailor by bring
ing up. and on steamer l know my
business and can do it with any other
man alive. But you'd not find me much
good on a little wind TANNER like a
Thursday island rearler. I'm a hard
up man, Mr.. Carnforth, and desperate
ly in want of a berth. [ hope. too,
You'll not think it undue Familiarity
when L say that 1 like you personally
But honestly, don't think you'd bet
ter engage me as Your skipper for this
trip. You could get so much better
man for your money"
Carnforth laughed. MY dear Ket-
tie. he said, - don't think L ever
came across a fellow with less real
notion of looking after his own inter
est As you are aware, l know your
peculiar qualifications pretty thorough
ly. I'm an eminently practical bust
ness man. | offer yOu a handsome
salary with both eyes open, and yet yoa
refuse because you are afraid of rob
bling me of my money"
MIR. Carnforth.' said the little
sailor stiffly. II have my own ideas Of
what's right. You have seen me at sea
using violence and ugly words. But
you will kindly remember that I was
in service of an employer then and was
earning his pay by driving his crew
It's another thing now. We are ashore
here, and | would have you know that
ashore | am strict chapel member.
with high pressure conscience and
soul that requires careful looking after.
1 could never forgive myself if |
thought l was taking your pay with
out earning it thoroughly.
eff YOU II let me get word in edge
ways, said the other irrita bly,, land
not he so beastly cocksure that you can
rob me-which you could no more do
than fy-perbaps you'd understand
what I M offering and not sneeze at a
good chance. The lugger Is your own
invention, and so is the idea that IN
merely going pearl fishing in the ordi
nary way My notion is to go pearl
poaching which is very different
matter; to get rich quick and take the
risks and get over them, and to go at
\,
enough crew to-er-do what's need
full. 4"
PIRACY - suggested Kettle gloomily
Piracy be hanged. The .Japs have
annexed certain pearling islands and
have declared them closed. At the out
side we should be only guilty of poach
ing, and that's tolerably mild offense
and one | want to see 10th sides Of
I've got pheasant covers here in Eng
land which are poached 1t amuses me
to chase the poachers, and occasionally
1 catch them. and when 1 do go for
them hot and heavy. So l know the
joys of the game preserver. you see
and l want to taste the excitement
and the profts-of the poacher."
And you rich man." said Ket
tie, with fine position in the conn
try and a seat in parliament. Some
people never do know when they re
well off.
''Some people don t." said earn
forth, land you're another of them,
skipper. For myself, L do mad thing |
now and again because-Oh, because | |
like the excitement and furry of it |
But youi You 90 and refuse profit |
able billet that would fit you down to !
the boots merely for the sake Of 9 !
within y quarter of an hour ago you |
told me yOu We're practically destitute |
-er-on the streets your own word .
were, and here You chucking up .
certain geo Il month. and a posi- bic
goo. when its ready to Your hand.
81 didn know about the steamer
said Kettle. and that's Il fact.
''Well, I'm telling you now, cap
tain, and if you don't take charge of
her upper bridge it will be your own
fault Why, man, there isn't a job be-
tween here and New Jerusalem that
would suit you better. and, besides,
I'm keen to go there myself. and you
are the one man in the world l want to
have as shipmate, and L ask You to
come Il personal favor.
I'm sick of this snug, orderly,
frock coated life here. Nature intended
me for pirate, and fate has made me
successful manufacturer. I've tasted
the wild, unregenerate life of the open
air under your auspices and rubbed
against men who were men, and !
want to be there again. I'm tired of
fddling among men and women who
are merely dollar nillers and dress
pegs I'm sick of what they call sue
cess. I'm sick of the whole blessed
business. .
Captain Kettle thought of Mrs Ket-