The Washington herald., 1906-10-28


head and a stretch of level deck he hoped
to pace on moonlight nights when the
stars looked down. This once empty
space was now stored with lumber eX-
tending tro feet above the bulwarks and
almost flush with the cabin roof One
end Of the ships longboat, inverted, rest
ed on the edge of the roof amidship. and
the other was dashed TO q skid archeG
across decks fifteen feet forward of the
house. With his trousseau aboard. Mr..
Bloke looked IN vain for the cabin door
he recalled as one Of the conyeniences Of
life at sea.
They've gone and buried it," he
groaned. and I'll probably be asked 10
camp out on this beastly lumber. Won
der II they think / paid my good ducats
to go cruising on a gash-binged raft?''
Seeking out the chief mate. the tourist
approached him with an humble request
"W0Gld you mind showing me the route
into the cabin; that is, if you know"
wy not?' Bill said, cheerfuly. You'll
only be in the way Ike sore thumb
when the crew is aboard. Come On"
He escorted the buffaloed youth aft and
indicated. with a hosDilable wave Of the
hand, an Irregular opening in the lumber
directly under the inverted boat. Steps
left by jutting plank ends led down 10
this piny retreat, the sides OF which We're
garnlshed with fresh vegetables. mostly
onions In sacks. On a scat Of the boat
that formed o porte cochere above the
opening lay a bale OF dried Goldfish which
had eluded the quarantine officials
There you are. snug as bat in a
blooming belfry," said the chief mate.
Make yourself 10 home, regular and
shipshape."
well. IL this isn't very much minor
league." Mr.. Bloke gasped, as the blend
ed odors at the portal gave token OF sur
prises yet TO come I'm q lemon. if there
ever was one
sick at heart and with his stomach
next in line. the tourist dumped his trunk
into the hole Clambering down. he To-
Gated the cabin door, which opened out
ward, thus necessitaung another wrest-
ling match between 3fr. Bloke and his
baggage. Through the open door ne miz-
zen-mast doomed yellow and forhidding
Just within the portal There was space
enough between the mast and jamb for
the passage Of the human frame edge
on-with the trunk il was but another
version of the camel and the needles eye.
up against 10 at every turn walled
the unhappy Blokc. "Oh, why was
tempted 70 roam?"
Not without annexing fresh daubs 10
his ncar-duck suit did he succeed in hoist
iug the trunk TO the upper levels Paus-
ing 70 blow and smooth sent in his
helmet. Mr.. Bloke, hot and steamy. was
again accostcd by the chief mate,
You didn't forget TO mention my name
at the office when you took passage, like
told you
I'm sorry-I mean glad 70 say, I did
speak Of you. Why
'Becos she's there-the cxtry grub-all
right" and Mr.. Barnacle pointed 10 the
onions and a habby fore-quarter Of beef
sluns 20 the mizzen stay. There's one
Thing 1 can admire complete about the
Lulv Alice. and that's her grub. Nothing
soft and fancy-just filling"
Alr. Bloke shudderod. OF all the food
stuffs he abhorred, onions and Goldfish took
premier rank. and 10 hear those disgust
ing yiands rhapsodized. in conjunction
with the trunk stunt came near CapsiziIg
his sanguire temperament
You look like q feller fond OF good
living" said Bill
sure; but Just now I'm stuck with my
baggage" he replied. with Iow-grade
gayety. rs there any way TO break into
this Internal cablng7 .
TRY the after door wots over the
roof" suggested Bill
So, with dire forebodings. Mr. Bioke
once more took his worldly belongings in
tow and made the journey across the
Alps
Moving. I Sec wheczed Capt. Jute.
laughing internally like a naphtha launch
when Alr Blokc bumped the skylight in
his labored fight
Luckily. tho double haIf-doors in the
after companion y,.wned wide enough to
admit the trunk, and. with hope reviving.
Willie struggled through a narrow pas
sage that led into the main cabin This
sumptUous apartment was dull and
gloomy, and rich with the odors. peculiar
to unkempt vessels of mature age. !
dining table and benches bolted TO the
deck comprised the furniture. At a snail
locker IN the forward end stood a half
breed japanese, whose iron-gray hair
stuck straight Up, as though in perpetual
fear Of something. Casting a furtiye
glance at Mr.. Blolse. the Jap resumed his
semi-tropical pastimc of wIping q bunch
Of battered tableware.
Are you the steward?'' Willie asked.
hating the migratory trunk in the middle
Of the cabin.
The Jap swabbed his Oriental brow with
the towel and nodded.
Where's my stateroom?"
You passenger one timc?"
Almost ashamed 20 admit himself so
foolish, Mr. Bloke intimated that he had
taken first-class passage on the Luly
Alice and he would have expressed re-
morse in the presence Of an intelligent
white man
Wearing look Of commiseration. the
Jap threw open one Of two doors on the
port side. jerkcd his pompadoured head at
the interior. and went back to the dishes.
True TO his promise, the chief mate had
seen to it that Winies boudoir was fitted
Up proper. coy. and neat. Beyond one
glazed portfolio six inches in diameter. the
stateyoom. 10 bigger than a fat mans
coffin. contained nothing save two sta
ti0Rary wooden hunks. In the top berth
repOSed a blcated straw mattress devoid
Of sheets pillows and blankets while the
lower cell harbored two sacks of onions
and q case Of kerosene oil that leaked.
On beholding this lavish outlay for his
exclusive entertainment on the high seas,
the miId-mannered tourist burst into
tears. Then. lest the Jap should note the