El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-18
SMOKED SKIPPER.
Continued from Ninth Page.)


Meantime the mate went below and
overhauled his chest
''This is where he gets all them ideas
from" he said. coming aft with a big
bundle of penny papers. Look at the
titles OF 'em. The Lion of the Pacific.
The One Armed Buccaneer,' Captain
Kidd's Last Voyage"
He sat down on the cabin skylight
and began turning them over and pick
ing out certain gems Of phraseology
read them aloud to the skipper. The
latter listened at first with scorn and
then with Impotence.
Il can't make head or tail out Of
what you're reading, George" he said
snappishly. "Who was Rudolph? Read
straight ahead"
Thus urged, the mate, leaning for
ward so that his listener might hear
better, read steadily through a serial in
the first three minutes The third in
stallment left Rudolph swimming in q
race with three sharks and a boatload
Of cannibals, and the joint efforts Of
both men failed to discover the other
numbers.
'Just wot 1 should ave expected of
'im," said the skipper after the mate
returned frem fruitless search in the
boys chest. III make i'm a bit more
orderly on this ship. Go an lock them
other things up in your drawer. George.
He's not to ave 'em again."
The schooner was getting into open
water now and began to feel 1t. In
front of them was the blue sea, dotted
with white sails and tunnels belching
smoke speeding from England to
worlds of romance and adventure
Something of the kline the cook said to
Ralph and urged him to get up and
look for himself. He also, with the
best Intentions discussed the restora-
tive properties of fat pork from medi-
cal point of view.
The next few days the boy divided
between seasickness and work, the lat
ter being the shippers great remedy
for piratical yearnings. Three or four
times he received n mild drubbing and,
what was worse than the drubbing,
had to give an answer i'm the affirma
tive to the shippers inquiry as to
whether he felt in u more wholesome
frame of mind. On the fifth morning
they stood in toward Fairhaven, and to
his great joy he saw trees and houses
again
They staid at Fairhaven Just long
enough to put out small portion of
their cargo, Ralph. stripped to his shirt |
and trousers. having to work in the |
hold with the rest. and proceeded to |
Lowport. a little place some 30 miles |
distant. TO put out their powder. 1t !
was evening before they arrived and |
the tide being out. anchored in the |
mouth Of the river on which the town |
stands.
cit in about o'clock" said the |
skipper to the mate as he looked over |
the side toward the little cluster of !
houses on the shore. DO you feel bet
ter, now I've knocked some o the non |,
sense out O. you. boy?'
much better, SIR said Ralph re-
spectfully.
BE a good boy" said the skipper,
pausing on the companion ladder, land
you can stay with us If you like. Bet
ter turn in now, as you'll have to make
yourself useful again in the morning
working out the cargo"
He went below, leaving the boy on
deck. The crew were in the forecastle
smoking with the exception of the
cook. who was in the galley over a lit
tie private business of his own.
An hour later the cook went below to
prepare for sleep. The other two men
were already in bed. and he was just
about to get into his when he noticed
that RaIph's bunk. which was under
his own. was empty. He went up on
deck and looked round and returning
below scratched his nose in thought.
where's the boyT' he demanded.
taking Jem by the arm and shaking
him.
"Ehy' said Jem, rousing. Whose
boy?''
Our boy. Ralph" said the cook. 81
can't see i'm nowhere. l 'ope 'e amt
gone overheard, poor little chap"
Jem refusing to discuss the matter,
the cook awoke Dobbs. Dobbs swore at
him peacefully and resumed his sum-
bers. The cook went up again and
prowled round the deck, looking in all
sorts of unlikely places for the boy.
He even climbed a little way into the
rigging and, finding no traces Of him.
was reluctantly forced to the conclu-
sion that he had gone overheard
Poor little chapp' he said. solemnly
looking over the ships side at the still
water
He walked slowly aft, shaking his
head and, looking over the stern.
brought up suddenly with a cry of dis
may and rubbed his eyes. The ships
boat had also disappeared.
''Wot?" said the two seamen as he
ran below and communicated the news.
''Well. If it's gone. it's gone
Hadn't | better go and tell the skip
per" said the cook.
LET i'm find it out hisself," said
lem, purring cOnteptedly in the blan-