The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-26
BY w. CLARK Russell
Chapter v.-Capt. Layard.


ence and movement of lovely music,
through the dark blue evening waters OF
the Atlantic about two hundred miles to
the southwark of the Chops, and the
autumn glory of the fast westering sun
clothed her.
She was the well known clipper ship
York, bound to Melbourne and to another
port, and she had followed, after four
days, another beautiful vessel which we
have Inspected mean the Glamis Castle,
bound, as the York was bound, for the
Cape parallels, where their liquid paths
would diverge, one going away east for
Cape Leeuiwn, and the other shifting her
helm for the Indian ocean.
The York had made a noble passage
down channel, driven by q black salt,
shrieking, easterly breeze that grew into
half a gale, with soft, dark clouds smoul-
dering as they flew. The Channel sea had
the look of flint, and to each foaminG
scud the ship drove in a curtesy of fury,
as though to the thrust of some mighty
hand. She stormed along under two top
gallant sails and single reefs ard swelling
fore-courSe, and a swinging wing or two
of jib and stay sail, until she was out of
Soundings in passage that had the
SWiftnesS of steam, as steam then was,
and then the strong breeze fined down,
the wind shifted into the northwest, and
behold this clipper of spacious pinions
breaking the dark blue heave at her bows
into scintillant lines like the meteors
thread of light, with every curve of cloth
at the teaches from head-earing to clew,
of a faint pink with the light in the
west
The officer Of the watch stood on the
Weather-side of the quarter deck with his
eyes liked upon a distant sail, close
hauled and reaching WestWards; but 1t
was evident by the expression of his eyes
that his attention was not with her. A
single figure at the wheel grasped the
spokeS with an occasional movement, and
sometimes a glance at the card of the
compass, and sometimes a look at canvas
aloft, which swelling out and sinking In,
breathed like the breasts of human be.
ingS. The flush deck ran with a fair
white sweep into the "eyes," and you
guessed by the neatness everywhere Wis
ihe that the vessel owned a smart chief
mate.
The anchors had been slowed. 1t was
the first dog watch, and a few of the
crew were idling on the forecastle. Pres
emily up through the companionWay,
whose steps led into the cabin where the
captain and the two mates lived, rose a
little boy of about eight years of age,
dressed as a navy sailor, and his bright
gold curls shone to the setting sun past
the round cap which was perched on the
little boy OF the purest English type; no
arch Irish eye was ever Of g darker blue
than his. A drum-not q child'S toy but
a real drum, though a small one-Wae
slung by a lanyard round his neck, and
he clutched the two sticks, whilst he
looked at the officer Of the watch with g
smile of his red lips, disclosing row OF
little milk white teeth, and said:
"Mr. Hardy, may l play my drum?"
Johnny YOU
may" answered Hardy, "and if you'll
beat smart tattoo the breeze will fresh
en-, for we are wanting legs, Johnny"
May l go on the forecastle and beat
it?" said Johnny 1.-The man who has
the whistle Will play it while I beat"
''Hurrah for the girl I left behind me, "
said Hardy. go forward, little sonny,
and beat the music out OF the sails, and
mind how you 60"
Just when the little boy was about to
run along the decks an immense
Newfoundland dog sprang through the
companion-hatCh as though it had missed
the little fellow below. The dog instant
ly saw the boy and they sped forward
together, the beautiful animal often
bounding to the height of the boys head
in its delight in his companion. The men
on the forecastle all looked at them as
they came and those who walked stood
still 10 watch them coming. The instant
the dog was forward it swept its saga
cious, beaming eyes, fuller of intelligence
than many which look out of human
faces, round the ocean line, and when IT
saw the sail to WindWard it set up deep
baying bark, very organ note, grand In
tone as the solemn stroke Of a great bell,
which translated as clearly signified sail
ho!'' as the setting of the sun denotes the
coming of night.
Where away, sailor?' shouted Hardy
from the quarter deck, and the seamen
| laughed out, while the dog, after one
| glance aft, pointed his noble head in the
direction of the ship, and, lifting up his
nose to heaven, barked deeply twice,
! which was his English for starboard. The
seamen laughed loudly again
| Johnny beat a roll on the drum and the
sailors gathered round him, and others
came springing up through the forescut-
| tie, which is the name of the little hatch
| through which you drop into the fore
| castle or living room of the crew. The
boy beat that drum marveiously well; he
| made it rattle as though a regiment
marched behind him, and the sails On high
ratified In echo as though several phan-
| tom drummers were stationed in various
| parts of the rigging.
| The dog lay down and watched the
| boy, and few of the seamen, one after
! another, went up to 1t and stroked It's
| head.
| "Wheres the man that's got the
! whistler said Johnny, ceasing to beat.
where's Dicky Andrews?" shouted a
man, and another going to the scuttle,
cried down, Below there! tumble up,
| Dicky, and bring your whistle with you;
! you're wanted on deck"
In a few minutes a young ordinary sea-
! man rose through the hatch he was
! slightly curved in the back without be-
ing bumped, and carried the face of the
| hunchback, the corners of his mouth be-
/ ing puckered into a dry aspect OF ad-
| vanced years, such as may often be OBJ
! served in people who are afflicted with
! spinal complaints. He was red-haired
and his little eyes were full OF humor
| and as lively as laughter itself, and he
wore the togs of the merchant Jack
| dungaree for breeches, an old striped
shirt, a dirty flannel jacket and a cap
without a peak
"All right, Master Johnny" said he
pulling a fife out Of his pocket. 'What
| shall it be, sir?"
| What shall it be, my lads?" asked
| Johnny, looking around with his sweet
delightful smile and arch-blue eyes at
the weather-stained faces of the men, one
| of whom was q negro, another a Dane
brown as coffee, two others Dagos, with
friZzled hair and silver hoops in their
ears; and these this boy of eight mad
called my lads
Give us the British Grenadier " said a
! seaman.
"A dog before soldier" exclaimed the
| voice of an Irishman, "Give us st. Pat
ricks Day in the Morning. me dear
"Hurrah for st. Patrick's Day!" shout
| ed several voices; and Dicky, putting his
! fife to his lips, started the most inspirit-
| ing air that ever mortal genius composed