Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-07-28
THE PROFESSOR
AND THE TIGER.

third officer), isn't such simple thing
as YOU think it, One man is brave in one
way. and another in a different one.
Often enough, that which is called
bravery is nothing more than custom.
You fouldn't go up on the tore,royal-
yard in half gale to reef sail, would you?
Not you! You'd be afraid. Well, you
might think me brave man because |
would. But then I'd be afraid to cut a
chaps leg off, and you wouldn't.
That was what old Capt. Hoskins,
whom / used to sail WITH could never UNI
derstand. If a man was bit nervous
about the sea, he used to look down on
him as all sorts of a coward. But there
came day when he learned better.
1t happened when l was with him in a
three-master ship called the Arrow. We
Law at Singapore. alongside the Tanjong
Pagan wharf, loading with a general
cargo for Liverpool. The principal object
in that cargo-or, Mt least, the one we
took most notice of--was a tiger that we
were shipping for London.
We had a passenger or two. One OF
them was a young girl who went by the
name of Hilda Sandford She had been
a governess in the family of one of our
agents out there, but The climate hadn't
suited her, and she had to 90 home. She
was coming with US instead of by
steamer, because she got her passage for
nothing and she wasn't too well off. Di-
rectly the old man set eyes on her trim
figure and the wealth of golden brown
hair about her head he was struck all of
a heap, so to speak, and | could see that
he was promising himself a mighty pleas
ant voyage.
The other passenger was strange,
little, dried-u up man, who wore gold pince-
nez and kept peering about the ship in a
most uncomfortable way. He gave his
name as Mr.. Hay-Prof. Hay, he called
himself, though we didn't find out what
he professed until later. OF course the
tiger had its attendant; but he berthed
forward.
An hour or two before we started this
Mr.. Hay came up to the old man and
began asking him a lot of questions.
Captain" he said nevously, Il hope
we shall have a quiet passage"
81 don't see why we shouldn't" said
Hoskins genially.
Mr.. Hay looked up at the sky.
There seems to be a good deal of wind
about" he said.
Pretty fair" said Hoskins. chats
what's going to take us home. Not be-
ing a steamer, we can't do without it,"
You're sure it's quite safer" asked
Hay.
"Safe!" said the old man. getting on
his high horse, safe! I'm sailing this
ship"
The little man smiled apologetically.
you will excuse me, captain" he said
Il did not mean any offense. The fact is
am constitutionally nervous on ship
board. 1t is a feeling that l have never
been able to overcome"
The old man looked at him with sort
of good natmed contempt.
you've no call to be alarmed" he said;
"well take you to England safe enough"
Mr.. Hay smiled again and walked off
into the waist. where he had fixed up the
tigers cage. 1t seemed he stood 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"
W Clis va NLibN5 l llINt Il ICAluN lcGi-
ing for him. captain" she answered;
I'm afraid of the sea myself
"Ah," he said, but you're n woman,
you see. A bit of fear is all right in a
woman. It's natural to them. But with
man it's different. \ man ought to be
afraid of nothing"
And arc you afraid of nothing, cap
tain ." she asked
Not j. said Hoskins. You can have
the biggest storm ever Matched out by
the China seas and I'll thank YOU for it..
1t brings ont all the good in a man"
1T must be nice to be brave she ex-
claimed.
"Oh. it's all right when you're used to
it, said Hoskins modestly. "A brave
man and pretty woman are two of the
finest sights in creation. They ought al
ways to be together
There was something in his tone that
made her blush. And though she said she
agreed with him. she took the first op-
Iportunity OF clearing off to another part
of the deck
One afternoon me skipper was sitting
beside Miss Sanford on the poop deck
when Hay came up the companion and
made his way toward them
There's something | want to tell You.
jcaptain he said. It's getting ON my
mind and making me quite uncomfort
able. That man whose business it is to
look after the tiger isn't doing his work
property. The animal isn't getting enough
food. 1t is developing savage nature.
And yesterday. when l went TO see the
man about it, | found that he was in.
ItoNieated. l really think you should in
terfere'
ot course the old man should have in.
terfercd. But he didn't ike being told
his duty by the little professor. especially
when the girl was about. So he lust
'sueered
If You are 50 darned frightened about
the beast, you'd better look to the fasten.
ing yourself"
Excuse me" said the professor stifflv,
that Is not my business. The animal
does not belong to me. l have done what
believe TO be my duty. I can say no
more
That man" said Hoskins. LOOKING
after him is friubteua1 of HI. 49,,