The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-07-04
CHAPTER VIII.
GROUND BAIT.

For reasons the Port Edes took the
north about course-that is, she
headed across south Of the banks Of
Newfoundland nearly to Cape Hatteras
n then braved the three knot current
of the gulf stream by passing down the
Florida channel on the western side of
the Bahamas. They had carried good
weather with them-light head breezes
or calms-all the way, and although
Goals We're dear, owing to a strike, and
the days outlay was limited to TWEEN
ty-eight tons by order, the steamer
usually averaged 10h knots despite the
unskillfulness of the engine room staff.
In q canvas chair on the bridge deck
under the lee of the fiddle sat Patrick
Canlbel with a pipe between his teeth
and Pierre Lofts "Fantome d'Orient"
In his lap. He was distinctly idiing.
For the moment he was wondering
how, from so transparency blue sea,
the spray which jumped from the wave
trests could be colorless and opaque.
Then by following with the eye a
tangle Of yellow gulf weed which float
co Just past mis- attention was carried
away to some little gray spouts of fog
which told of whales and their calves
taking a summer outing in the milk
warm waters of the south. Beyond his
eye fell upon one of the screw pile
Lighthouses with which the United
States government mas frirgeG the
Florida shoal, and on the far horizon
spouted the wind thrashcd tops of some
scattered cabbage palms, which TOLD
that there at least the shallow sea was
sea no more. AT the back of these
palms lay the mysterious shelter Of the
Everglades.
A thought passed through Patrick
Cambcls mind, 4 thought of the drama
to be played under shelter of those re-
cesses within the next few days, and he
crowned. he thrust the thought from
him as an fnpertinence and turned
again to his novel. But he was des-
tined Just then to read no more from
that dainty vignette Of Stampool.
Through the grating of the fiddle
soove his head came a frightened
shout, then a chorus, then a prolonged
gathering ss iron tools were thrown on
the floor plates and the boots OF
scared men smote the rungs Of the
ladders.
Calnbel gave a quick smile to him.
self as though he understood some
thing, then mounted a lock Of concern
on his face, and getting up from his
the break of the bridge deck The
c;,ptain, coming out OF the c.,arthouse.
Joined him. From the door OF the al
ieyWay beneath them rushed a crowd
OF frightened mcn-trimnlers, stokers.
STRIPPED to tie waist; engineers in
ASN, Al VIC l-.@- @GOnLenJS OF
the lowest hold. Kettle singled out
the chief with his eye and addressed
him with sour irony.
Afternoon, Mr.. McFee. Fine, isn't.
1t. for the time of the year? Have your
ours forgotten they're paid to work this
up Mississippi river to a
city called New Orleans. or have they
induced the other watch to go below
and give them a spell?" -
Gui God, sir, dinna jest!" replied
the chief. Y remember what Won
scoun6rel said on Liverpool dock walI?5
ENeeel, he's been as guild as his words.
sir. We've found an Internal machine
already"
Weir" drawled Kettle.
Man we may be blowed to the sea
floor any minute"
SEA whisky! Sea grandmother"
Man, sir, see with your own cen.
BY Gods guild mercy the donkeynaan
we'd be with him this moment-or with
the deeyil."
Hand II up here" the skipper con-
manded shortly. S8
The burly donkeyman, half grinning,
half afraid. came up the iron steps and
handed the captain a box painted to
9 I q knob Of coal ut was
ticking when I picked it up, cir he
said. but when i handled It the tick
ing stopped"
The captain took the thing in his
hand. It started on fresh cluck.
cluck, q h grirny on the iron
decks below bumped their shoulders,
as though to better receive q blow
and began to shuttle away toward tie
! bows. "Oh, 1t may be something dam,
gerous," said Captain Kettle hove
his burden over the side, ..or it mayn.t.
Looked 20 me like asEtoy t 9 frighten
fats. There's only ONT man with the
lUluck OF a roach an1Oilp vnifs nnd boretc