The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-03-25

EI on the other hand, as a patriotic Eng
lishman, I don't approve of helpin' q
IA German vessel to go out to the East
qu and collar something else from help
less country like China, especially as
we might want it ourselves by-and-by
Now do you see?''
Il see, SIR
~ Then we can get to business with
- clear program before u.s." said Sphinx
Have / explained it clearly to him
It, ward?"
Ward had got over his very un-
natural fit of silence and was burning
: to speak.
ii ..I'm glad you think of asking my
| opinion at last he grunted; land as
II you've asked for it you shall have it
Il straight I think you are wastin' a
II lot of valuable time in useless jaw with
h these Dutchmen. Why not name your
L price and have done with it?"
Sphinx turned to the German cap
tain with very red face.
81 apologize for this officer of mine,
who has no manners" he said sadly.
I'm greatly Inundated by his con-
duct--as much as you must be by
havin' no coal and bein' as silly
lookin' as winged duck in a pond
What would you do to any officer of
yours that was as insolent as mine?"
: The naval officer declined to say
what he would do in like circum-
stances. but if the way he looked at
Ward was any criterion of his con-
duct, the insubordinate officer was
likely to have a. very bad time. But
Ward only laughed. Sphinx explained
that he was a very unfortunate man
RI
Its very horrid,'' said Sphinx, "but
II have to ship officers that I can't
control because, if 1 can lick them. I
do, and then they pull me up for as
sault, and I pay most of my money
away in fines and [ get a bad name.
! Oh, I'm very unfortunate mani
You'd be all right if you had less
jaw" said Ward, land I sha'n't stay
here any longer. If you want me you
can call me-
He went to his berth and lay down,
and in a minute was fast asleep.
Nov we can do business" said
Sphinx with a sigh. But you see the
position am in. I want twenty
thousand pounds to tow you into the
lee Of Socotra and I will sell you a
thousand tons of coal at twenty
pounds a ton. That will make forty
thousand pounds altogether, and it's
dirt cheap
The Germans both gasped.
But you said exactly half the money
before urged the poor and helpless
captain of the German cruiser.
II know I did, said Sphinx, ''but
that was before you swore at me. /
have to put Up with it from my swabs
OF mates on account of my unfortunate
disposition, but that very fact makes
me all the more determined not to
stand it from any one else. I'm sure
you can understand that
But I really can not bind my gov
eminent to pay" urged the naval cap
tain
THAT is nonsense and you know it,
said Sphinx. And if it amt worth
forty thousand pounds to save you
from fioatin' about the Indian Ocean
an object of derision to every sailor !
man. you can't have the natural feel
ms OF one. And, speakin' of that, I
wish you'd tell me, when we get
through this business, what you Ger
mans want with a fleet at all. If
was our Chief Foreign officer I should
take it away from you. However,
that's by the way. Do you agree to
my terms or don't you? I have an i'm
pDrtant engagement at Singapore and
I shall be late. And you're driftin'
nior'east like billy-oh, and will go
ashore at last somewhere about the
benighted coast of OMAN
1T looks as if I had no CHOICE said
the German skipper.
I'm glad you see it, said Sphinx;
..for if you don't agree inside of five
minutes I shall double it,
Very WE'LL sighed the German
captain. will you draw up the pa
per which I am to sign?''
I'D rather have it all in your hand
of write said Sphinx and, as it
means a deal of money in a way, I'd
like all your officers to put their fists
to it, so that, if you come to grief
before you get where you are goin',
your Emperor won't be able to say
that I've forged your signature
This was agreed to and then Sphinx
looked at his friend the enemy.
There was another thing" he said,
"but, as 1 like you now, though you
are a Dutchman, I think I'll let you
off ii. When you swore at me off of
your bridge, said you should apologize
to me off it before I'd sell you as much ,
as aLondon landlady's scuttle of coal. ;
However, I'll let you off that. I'm
glad to be the means Of gettin' you
1ut of a difficulty. I often think you
foreigners must feel glad that there
ire SO many English ships spread I
about everywhere. You must feel very
much safer
The German did not deny it and f
sprinks heart warmed even TO poor, 7
miserable "Dutchmen' sailing on the r
eas that they knew nothing about. 7
they went on deck and Sphinx intro t
luced Day to the Germans. :
HE can lick me, too said Sphinx r
n a whisper. but I don't mind that /
o much as he was brought up to [
he prfzering. And, after all. that q
ther one is three stone heavier than
am. so It amt to be expected thst