The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-12-20
AT THE MERCY OF
SAUNDERS
ny MRS. C. ~. L. BROWN
(copyright. BY Joseph d. Dowlss,J

i hANNA AANHA AAaANAANA wi AAN NV NNA
per and magazine articles Both needs
could be met and his slender means
accommodated by a voyage In a sail
Ing vessel. and he promptly closed
with Capt Fridays terms
When he first appeared the captain
was ashore. but the first mate. who
took charge. OF his baggage, maryeled
greatly.
What's all thls9" he asked. point
Ing 10 sundry sacks and boxes.
"oh. that's a little stock Of groceries
Two laid In" answered Saunders. 10
or-supplemont the ships supplies
Mostly fresh fruit and canned goods"
What we've got Amt good enough
FOR you, ! suppose" growled the mate.
who was not fayorably disposed to-
ward the newcomer.
Now. that's more like the thing"
- exclaimed In Modified tones. as he
spicd a case Of assorted bottles and
TASKS. II don't mind sampllng some
Of that myself"
Very kind Of you. I'm sure" re-
piled Saunders. Those happen 10 be
Photographic supplies: don't think
youll find them 10 your taste" And
he slowly saun,ered aft.
Thus. before the voyage began were
the seeds OF discord sown: and ere
Sandy Hook had faded on the horizon.
Saunders realized the mistake he had
made. and deplored his lack OF tact.
on the side OF the mate were soon
ranged the cook and all OF the crew
but Jim. the educated sailor-of whom
moro hereafter-wlth the captain him.
self silent sympAthizer.
Saunders. In short. was voted fool.
and his constant scribbllng and photo.
graphing looked upon as huge Joke.
And he. too wise now TO court open
hostility. accepted iibes and horse.
play With an cquanlmlty that only In
tcnsinc' The contempt Of his persecu.
tors !o- little did they know Of the
scathing article that he was preparing
FOR one OF the sunday papers. In which
soaiaring men were pictured as the
very scum 81 focloty. a class too igno-
rant 20 deserve a vote In Hayti. The
crew smiled openly; Saunders laughed
In secret.
Only on Jim. the educated sailor.
could Saunders depend. Jim had been
90 college. and could quote with equal
| glibncss from the Greek and Latin
classics Moreover. he had seen no
Iuconsldcrable portion OF the earth.
and had an intelligent command Of
eight modern languages. And yet. as
Saunders was forced 20 admit. what.
ever Jim's learning. his common sense
In thus allying himself with the enemy
was wocfully lacking. For Saunders
prosecuted and ridiculed though he
was. ate three hearty meals a day.
whereas Jim. Disseminated against IN
the galley and robbed openly In the
| forecastlc. actually began to get thin.
He was not so utterly foOlhardy. how.
| ders' fancy groceries, and Saunders
did not press the matter knowing
Jim's decision to be wise.
Yet fate had kinder intentions TO.
ward Jim than he could have dreamed
OF. and as for Saunders. from being
the laughing-stock OF the entire ship,
he suddenly became its virtual master,
acquiring n prestige that quite over.
| Swallowed the captains.
II happened in this wise
| On the afternoon OF the sixth day
the cook suddenly complained OF i'll
| g, a.. Hale
hour later the second mate sought the
| captain in the cabin.
The cooks not feeling well, sir"
he announced. He's lying in his
bunk"
He needn't be in such a blamed
hurry about turnin' in" said the cap
tain Tell him I'll be right out to see
him; and say--lend a hand with the
medicine chest"
"Ay ay. sir" responded the second
mate; and he bore off the ponderous
mahogany case that contained the
ships supply of drugs.
Il say, Mr.. Saunders" said the cap.
| tain presently. Il fear-er-I think
I'VE left the dose book ashore; did
hear you say you once studied medi-
| aine?"
q put in two years at it, said
Saunders.
Then come along with me like a
good fellow; If you can tell what he's
got, guess ! can remember the
dosing"
Il think that would be a dangerous
way to go about It," replied Saunders.
don't mind seeing him. captain, but
= you want me to take the case fear
shall have to ask for free hand"
Captain Findlay looked at his pas
| senger with amazement. Did his eyes
deceive him or had Saunders really
grown taller?
"Why-er-certainly," he replied,
and he checked sudden impulse to
touch his cap.
When they reached the sick mans
bunk the second mates fears had been
realized; the poor cook lay uncon-
scious, tossing from side to side and
muttering inarticulately. Saunders
/ a -