The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-06-20

think 1t. one man is brave III
ono way. and another in a different
one. often enough, that which is
called bravery is nothing more than
custom. You wouldn't go up on the
forc.royal.yard in half gale to reef
sail would you? Not you! You'd be
afraid. We'll, you might think me n
brave man because l would. But then
Id be afraid to cut chaps leg of,
and you wouldn't.
That was what old Captain Hoskins,
whom used to sail with, could never
understand II a man was bit ner-
yous about the sea- he used to look
down ON him as all sorts of coward.
But there came a day when he learned
better.
If happened when | was with him
in a three masted sailing ship called
the Arrow. We lay at Singapore.
alongside the Tanjong Pagan Wharf,
loading with general cargo for Liv-
crpool. The principal object of that
cargo-or ut least the one we took the
most notice ot-was a tiger that we
were shipping for London. 1t lay in
strong cage of wood and iron, with
door in the front through which it
could be fed. 1t was fine big brute,
and every time it stretched itself you
could see the muscles slipping over its
sides and the big. wicked looking
claws peeping out of the pads Of its
feet u way that made you very
thankful for the bars
We had passenger or two. One
of them was Il young girl who Went
by The name of Hilda Sandford. She
had been n governess in the family of
one of our agents out there. but the
climate hadn't auiled her, and she had
TO 20 hcme. She was coming with
us instead of by steamer because she
got her passage for othing and she
wasn't too welt Off. Directly the old
man set eyes on her Trim figure and
the wealth OF golden brown hair about
her head lie was struck all of heap
50 10 speak and | could see that he
was promising himself mighty pleas
ant voyage.
The other passenger was Il strange
little. dried up man, who wore gold
pince-ne2 and kept peering about the
ship in a most uncomfortable way. He
gave his name as Mr.. Hay-Professor
Hay, he called himself, though we
didn't find out what he orCfessed unit!
later. OF course, the tiger had its at
tendant, but he berthtd forward.
An hour or two before we started
this Mr.. Hay came Up to the old man
cl. ~ 1nt nf
tlons.
Captain" lie said, nervously, 81
hope we sh.. i have quiet passage"
Il don't see why we shouldn't" said
Hosklns genially.
Mr.. Hay looked up at the sky.
There seems to be good deal of
wind about" he said
Pretty fail." said IIoskins. That's
what's going to take rs home. Not
being a steamer, we can't do without
it."
You're sure it's safe;" asked Hay.
"Safe"' says the old man. getting
on his high horse, safe! I'm sailing
this ship"
The little man smiled ap@loGetically.
said. II did rot mean any offence. The
TACT Is / am constitr tionally nervous
On shipboard. 1t is feeling that l
have never been able to overcome"
The old man looked Q. him with a
sort of good natured contempt.
You've no call 70 he alarmed" le
said; "we'll take :ou to England safe
enough"
Mr. Hay smiled again and walked
on INTO the waist, where we had fiZed
up the tigers cage. 1t seemed to have
sort of attraction :or him, for he
ftood before it for at least a quarter
of an hour. Hoskins looked after him,
and then turned to Miss Sandford, who
was sitting near.
Nice sort of chap to have on a
ship" he said. "a man like that
ought to stick to dry land"
well. you know, l have n fellow
feeling for him. captain" she an,
swered; I'm afraid of the sea my.
self"
All" he said. "but you're a woman
you see. \ bit Of fear is all right in q
woman. It's natural to them. But with
a man lis different. A man ought to
be afraid of nothing"
And are you afraid of nothing, cap
tain?' she asked.
mot T. said Hosklns. "You car
have the biggest storm ever matched
By the China seas and I'll thank yor
for 1t. 1t brings out all the good in n
man."
1T must be nice to be brave" she
exclaimed.
"oh, it's all right when you're uset
10 A. said Hoskins, modestly. "Ant
a brave man and pretty woman ar,
TWO or the finest sights in creation
They ought always to be together"
There was something In his tone tina
made her blush. And though she sait
she agreed with him. she took the frs
opportunity of clearing off to anothe
part of the deck.
Shortly afterward we put to sea. Fo
the next few days we had the best O
weather and everything went smoothly
l had my time pretty well taken u,
with my work, but for all that l coul,
see one or two things that set MI
thinking. The first was that the oil,
man was making himself uncommonl,
attentive to Miss sandford. The sec
ond was that this Mr.. Hay in quie
ana timid sort OF way, was thinkin
6A - Ia. A.