Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-08-02
>5Y J. sAcKVlLLE MARTIN

For the next few days we had the best
of weather and everything went
smoothly. had my time pretty well
taken up with my work, but for all
that could see one or two things that
set me thinking. The first was that
the old man was making himself un-
commonly attentive to Miss Sanford.
The second was that this Mr.. Hay in
quiet and timid sort of way, was think
ing good deal of her, too.
Hoskins saw quickly enough that he
had a rival, but as he had started off
with healthy contempt for him, he
didn't disturb himself over and above
much. For my part l thought the
girl fancied Hay rather than Hoskins;
and though she couldn't avoid the old
man and could not help listening to
his sea yarns, | could see her eyes
turning forward toward the waist
where Hay was putting in his time
looking at the tiger.
One afternoon the skipper was sit
ting beside Miss Sandford on the poop
deck when Hay came up the companion
and made his way toward them.
"There's something | want to tell
you, captain" he said ''It's getting
on my mind and making me quite un
comfortable. That man whose bust
ness it is to look after the tiger ism
doing his work properly. The animal
isn't getting enough food. 1t is de-
veloping savage nature. And yester-
day, when l went to see the man about
it, found that he was intoxicated. I
really think you should interfere. y
Of course, the old man should have
interfered But he didn't like being
told his duty by the little professor, es-
pecially when the girl was about. So
he just sneered.
81 suppose You re afraid of the beast
escaping?" he said.
II should certainly regard it as un-
fortunate, the little man replied.
you see, a drunken man might be
careless about the fastenings. / must
really insist upon you speaking to
him.
He's not one of my crew. said
Hoskins. II have enough to do to look
after them. If any of them get drunk,
they'll hear of it. But this chap is a
passenger, even if he is only a steerage
one. He can do as he likes with his
spare time. If you're so blamed frigh-
tened about the beast you'd better
look to the fastenings yourself. /"
Excuse me, said the professor
stiffiy, that is not my business. The
animal does not belong to me. have
done what l believe to be my duty. /
can say no more.
He turned away without even a
glance at the girl.
That man, said Hoskins, looking
after him, lis frightened at his own
shadow. Let me give you bit Of
fatherly advice, Miss Sanford, When
you are looking for man to marry,
never marry a, coward A girl like you
wants some one who will protect her
in time Of danger; some one she can
rely on and look up to- :"
I'm not thinking of getting mar
ried, she said shyly But when
do I'll bear your advice in mind, cap
tain. "
That's it, !" asid Hoskins. "Thinl
over it carefully. And as for getting
married, I'd be glad if you'd think ov,
er that, too.
She started like frightened horse
"Oh, captain she said. Il dom
understand. What do you mean?"
You do understand he said tend
erly, drawing his chair a bit nearer tt
her, Miss Sandford Hilda Hav,
mt You word for poor old seaman
who worships the very ground yor
tread on Think it over. None bu
the brave deserve the fair, you know.
You mustn't speak like this, - sh,
exclaimed, rising as though she wa
distressed. "You are older than am
And / don't know that you are brav,
man. 1 have only your word for it
Please don speak to me about thi
again.
The old man saw that he had gone
little bit too far
watt he said; don't be frigh
tened promise not to say word un
til we reach England. Before we ge
there, if we have bit of rough wealth
er, I'll show you the sort of man am
l should love bit of danger for you
sake -
For the next few days he went abou
+ whistling for wind, as though b
: wanted to send us all TO Davy Jones
. locker. | believe he would have bee
glad of typhoon just to show his sea
manship and his contempt for danger
AS for his seamanship, no one eve
questioned it; and as for his contemp
for danger, he was TO get his chanc
all right, though not quite in the wa
he expected.
IL was about week after his cor
! versation with the girl that it came
] Hilda was sitting ON the poopdec
Il. III