The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-01-04
CHAPTER II.
A FRUIT-BAsKET AND A mn,

r,NN ". AJOR STEDE BONNET
Ha-EV the father of Kate, whose
H-1ii6--aGLSj mother had died when
the child was but a year old, was q
middle-aged Englishman of a fair es
tate. in the island of Barbados. He
had been an officer in the army, was
well educated and intelligent, and now,
In vigorous middle life, had become a
confirmed country gentleman. His
herds and his crops were, to him, the
principal things on earth, with the ex-
ception OF his daughter; for, although
he had married for the second time,
there We're good many things which
he valued more than his wife. And it
had therefore occasioned a 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 a soldier in his youth, and sol
diers are very apt to change their man
ner OF living. and SO, if Mai. Bonnet
had grown tired of his farm and had
determined to go into commercial en-
terprises, it was not, perhaps, very
amazing thing that military man
who had turned planter should now
turn to be something else.
Madam Bonnet had heard Of the
ship. although she had-n been told
anything about her step-daughter talk
ing 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 navi-
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 we'll suit her. She
was getting tired of Maj. Bonnet She
did not believe he had ever been q
very good soldier; she was positively
sure that he was not a good farmer;
and she had the strongest kind OF
doubt as to his ability as 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 han
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 the
head of the house. So she went her
way, saying nothing derisiye about the
nautical life, except what she consid-
cred 1t necessary for her to do, in order
to maintain her superior position in
the household.
Maj. Bonnet was now very much en-
gagged and 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
generously in the way of stores and all
manner of nautical needfuls. not for
getting the guns necessary for de-
fence in these somewhat disordered
times. and his latest endeavors were
towards the shipping of a suitable
crew. Seafaring men were not scarce
in the port of Bridgetown. but Maj
Bonnet, now entitled to be called
captain" was very particular about
his crew, and it took him a long time
to collect suitable men.
AS he was most truly a landsman,
knowing nothing about the sea or the
various intricate methods of ravigat-
Ing vessel thereupon. he was COM
PEELED to secure real captain-one
who would be able to take charge of
the vessel and crew. and who would
do, and have done. in thoroughly sea-
manlike manner, what his nominal
skipper should desire and ordain.
This absolutely necessary parsonage
had been secured almost as soon as the
vessel had been purchased, before any
OF the rest Of the crow had signed
ships articles; and it was under his
general supervision that the storing
and equipment had been carried on.
His name was Sam LOTUS He was a
big man with great readiness OF
speech. There were. perhaps, some
things he could not do, but there
seemed to be nothing that he was not
able to talk about AS has been said,
the rest of the crew came in slowly, nut
they did come. and Mai. Bonnet told
his daughter that when he mad secured
four more men. it his Intention tc