The Cairo bulletin., 1904-07-01
CHAPTER II.
A rRrrrT-BAsKEr AND A FRIEND

kG-IAA-~-sA--p IHULuGF Hiu ultu WHCH
the child was but a year old, was a
middla-aged Engishman of fair es
tate, In the island of Barbados lie
had been an officer In the army. was
well educated and Intelligent and now.
in vigorous middle life, had become q
confirmed country gentleman. His
herds and his crops were, to him, the
principal things on earth, with the ex-
ccption Of his daughter; for, although
he had married for the second time,
there we've good many things which
he valued more than his wife And 1t
had therefore occasioncd Il good deal Of
surprise, and more or less small talk
among his neighbors, that Maj. Bonnet
should want TO buy ship, But he had
been d soldier III his youth, and SOL
dicrs are verAalt to change their man
ner OF living, and so, ii Maj. Bonnet
had grown tired of his farm and had
determined to 30 into commercial en-
terprises. it was not, perhaps a very
amazing thing that a. military man
who had turned planter should now
turn to be something else.
Madam Bonnet had heard OF the
ship, although she had not been told
anything about her ster-daughter taxi
ing a trip in her, and If she had heard
she might not have objected. She had
regarded, in an apparently careless
manner, her husbands desire to navl-
gate the sea; for no matter to what
point he might happen to sail his ship
would take him away from Barbados.
and that would very well suit her She
was getting tired of Maj. Bonnet. She
did not believe he had ever been
very good soldier she was positively
sure that he was not good farmer;
and she had the strongest kind OF
doubt rs to his ability as a commercial
man But as this new business would
free her from him, at least for time
she was well content, and. although
she should feel herself somewhat ham
dicapped by the presence of Kate, she
did not intend to allow that young
lady to interfere with her plans and
purposes during the absence of tho
head OF the house. So she went her
way, saying nothing derisive about the
nautical life, except what she eonsld-
cred 1t necessary for her TO do, in order
to maintain her superior position in
the household o
Mai, Bonnet was now very much en-
gagged and a good deal disturbed, for ne |
found that projected sailing even IN
ones own craft is not always smooth |
sailing. He was putting his vessel in /
excellent order, and was fitting her out /
manner of nautical needfuls. not for
getting the guns necessary for de-
fence in these somewhat dsordered
times. and his latest endeavors were
towards the shipping of a suitable
crew. Se2faring men were not scarce
in the port OF Bridgetown, but Mai
Bonnet, now entitled to be called
captain" was very particular about
his crew and 1t took him a long time
TO collect suitable men.
AS he was most truly landsman.
knowing nothing about the sea or the
VARIOUS intricate methods of navigat-
ing q vessel thereupon, he was COM
PEELED TO secure a real captain-one
who would be able to take charge of
the vessel and crcw, and who would
do, and have done, IN thoroughly sea-
manlike mannT, what his nominAI
skipper should desire and ordain.
This absolutely necessary parsonage
had been secured almost as soon as the
vessei had been purchased before any
of the rest OF? the crew had signed
ships articles; and It was under his e
ge1sal supervision that the storing
and equipment had been carried on.
His name wfs Sam Lotus. He was
big man with great readiness OF
speech. There were perhaps. sole
things he could not do. but thefes.E
seemed TO be nothing that he was not Z
able to talk about As has been said
the rest of the crew came in slowly, but
they did come. and Maj. Bonnet told
his daughter that when he had secured
four more men. it was his intention to
leave port
And sail for jamaican" she ex-
claimed.
"ob. yes" he said with an affection
ate smile, land will leave you with
your Uncle Delaplaiue. where you can
stay while ! make some little cruises
here and there"
And so am really TO gog" she ex-
her eyes sparkling.
Really to 60" said he.
She was Nvery happy. and she
laughed
Yonrs viii y an easily laden ship"
said she. for bu take in with you no
great store Of apods for traffic. But /
IMPOSE you design 70 pick up your
argo among tho islands where you
Fcise. and a. a less cost, perchance, I
han it cos.Id be rtoeured heregs
Yes. yes" he iaid. you have hit {
fairly. my little sirl. you have hit 1t
airy" {
New annoyancea how began to beset
iaj. Bonnet What his daughter had
emsrked IN pleasantly. the people Of s
he town began to talk about unpleas-
ntly. Here was a good-sized craft
bout 70 set sail, El5h little OF no car
0. but with a crew apparently much L
arger than her requirements. but not s.
urge enough for the desires Of her
Nner To be sure, as Hal. Bonnet did