The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-01-26

CHAPTER Y.
a YHEN Wilbur came on deck
"" the morning after the sink
ing of the bark he was sur
prised to find the schooner
under way again. Wilbur and Charlie
had berthed forward during that night
Charlie with the hands, Wilbur in the
captains hammock. The reason for
this change of quarters had been found
in a peremptory order from Moran
during the dog watch the preceding
evening.
She had looked squarely at Wilbur
from under her scowl and had said
briefly and in a fine contralto voice
that he had for the first time noted:
Il berth aft in the cabin; you and the
Chinaman forward. Understand?
Moran had only forestalled Wilbur's
intention, while after her almost
miraculous piece of seamanship in the
rescue Of the schooner Charlie and the
Chinese crew accorded her a respect
that was almost superstitious.
Wilbur met her again at breakfast.
She was still wearing mems clothing
part of Kitchelps outft-and was boot
ed to the knee, but now she wore no
hat, and her enormous name of rye
colored hair was braided into long
strands near to the thickness Of a
mans arm. The redness of her face
gave startling effect to her pale blue
eyes. and sandy, heavy eyebrows that
easily lowered to frown. She ate
with her knife, and after pushing
away her plate Wilbur observed that
she drank half tumbler of whisky
and water
The conversation between the two
was tame enough. There was no com.
mon ground upon which they could
meet. To her fathers death-no doubt
an old matter even before her rescue
she made no allusion Her attitude to-
ward Wilbur was one of defiance and
suspicion. Only once did she relax.
"How did you come to be aboard
here with these rat eaters? You're no
sailor,'' she said abruptly.
'Huh!" laughed Wilbur mirthlessly
Huh! was shanghaied.'
Moran smote the table with red
fist and shouted with sonorous. bell
toned laughter:
''Shanghaied-you? Now, that is
really good! And what are you going
to do now?''
what are you going to do?''
"Signal the first home bound vessel
and be taken into Frisco. I've my in
surance to collect (Wilbur had given
her the Letty's papers, and the disas-
ter to report
"Well, I'm not keen on shark hunt
ing myself" said Wilbur. But Moran
showed no interest in his plans.
However, they soon found that they
were not to be permitted to signal. At
noon the same day the schooner sight
ed steamships smoke on the horizon
and began to raise her rapidly. Moran
Immediately bound on the ensign, IN
ion down, and broke it out at the peak.
Charlie, who was at the wheel, spoke
sentence in Chinese, and one of the
hands drew his knife across the hal
yards and brought the distress signal
to the deck. Moran turned upon Char
lie with an oath, her brows knotted.
"No, no" sang Charlie, closing his
eyes and wagging his head. '.No! Too
muchee los time; no can stop. You
come down side cabin; you an one
piece boss No. 2 (this was Wilbur) have
UNI chin-chin'
The odd conclave assembled about
Kitchelrs table 1.-The clubman, the half
masculine girl in mems clothes and the
Chinaman. The conference was an an
CRY one, Wilbur and Moran insisting
that they be put aboard the steamship,
Charlie refusing with calm obstinacy.
81 have UNI chin-chin with China
boys las nigh. China boy heap flaid
no can stop UNI steamship; heap faid
too much talkee-talkee; no stop; go fish
now; go fish chop chop; los heap time;
go fish. no savvy sail UNI boat; Chi
ma boy no savvy sail UNI boat. tink-
um you savvy (and he pointed to Mo-
ram. tinkum you savvy plenty heap
much disa bay. Boss No. 2 no savvy
sail um boat, but him savvy plenty
many all same.''
"And we're to stop on board your
dough dish and navigate her for your"
shouted Moran, her face blazing.
Charlie nodded blandly. 81 tinkum
yass."
"And when we get back to port" ex-
claimed Wilbur, '.you think perhaps T.
we won't make it interesting for your
Charlie smiled.
Il tinkum ship company heap rich"