The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-06
By C. j. CUTCLIFF'E HYNE.


Mposo crew OF chattering krooboys
busted themselves aft, and presently I'M
der the guidance of a profane third mate
brace OF surf-boats jerked down to-
wards the water. the tackles squealing like
parcel OF angry cats as they rendered
through the blocks. The boats spurncd
away into the clear sea before the
steamers rusty iron side crashed down
onto them: the Krooboys perched them
selves ape-like on the gunwales, paddle
in hand: and in the stern of each strad-
died u noisy headman, in billycock an1
trousers straining and swaying at the
steering car.
The headman was IN charge, and the
well-spiced official English of ship-board
ceased The speech in the boats was one
OF the barbaric tongues of savage Africa
But the work they got through and the
skill they showed exceeded by far that
which could have been put forth by
any crew Of white men. Indeed, III his
more pious moments Captain Image. in
common with other mariners of his KIM,
firmly believer that God had invented
certain of the West African Coast tribes
for the sole purpose of handling the
boats of the Liverpool Oil tanks OH surf
smitten beaches.
Now. Captain Image was not in the
least degree a snob, and he did not take
even first-class passengers on their face
value. AS he would explain to intimates,
he was not out on the Coast for his
health: he very much wished to be able
some day to retire on competency, and
grow cabbases outside of Cardiff; and 80
he dispensed his affablity on nicely
regulated scale. II a man could inlu-
ence cargo in the direction of the M'poso,
Captain Image was ready at all times
to extend to him the rough red hand
OF friendship. and to supply gin cock
tails and German champagne till con-
versation flowed into the desired COM
mercial channel. He called this casting
bread upon the waters and could always
rely on getting the prime cost back in
commission. But he was no man to waste
either his good liquor or his pearls of
speech on mere fifty-pound- a-year clerk
with n red head, who would very pos
sibly be dead before the Mposos next
call. and who certainly would influence
no cargo for the next two years to come
So from tile day they left Liverpool to
the day when the steamers forefoo,
scraped at her cable off Malla-Nu
beach, Captain Image had not conde-
scended to offer that particular second-
class passenger so much as u morning
nod
But Captain Image was kindly enough
In the West African way, and when he
had drunk his morning cocktail and gone
through the Purser's papers, he came out
of the chart-house again and produced
from his pyjama pocket a half-iled box
of pills.
There. my lad" he said to Carter,
as he made the presentation, you take
one of those according to the directions
on the iid, when required, and youll
have your health kept in repair that
will surprise you. Now, mark me WE'LL
you'll be tempted with other brands Of
pills; old Swirl mean Mr.. Smith. your
boss, Is n regular crank on drugs; but
MS sure as you tip other medicines down
into your inside, my pills will get him
dered at their proper work. and you'll
be knocked over
Thanks" said Carter. But always
understood"
TN sure you did. Now there's one
other thing I want to impress on you,
my lad. Your d'rtv is N get on. and
we way to do that Is to scratch up cargo
and send 1t home NJ 1850. You
see. my lad, I've got more influence with
O'Ncill and Craven than any other cap
tain on the Coast Though you needn't
go and stir up mischief by spreading
that about. and If you keep yourself in
my memory by the way Malla-Nula
ships cargo by me, I'll let them fully
understand at the home office that SER
vices like yous want big raise in salary.
There, don't you bother to thank me, my
Idu ana JuSl you SLOW tlat DOx OF Pills
where they won't get lost II you're split
going ashore through that surf. It's
a mighty bad beach to-day"
"Ah, morning, Carter" said Mr.. BAL
garnie as he hustled up. Got all your
things up on deck? It's no concern of
mine, of course. but If there are any
little odds and ends you want, such as
socks, or Florida water. or n mosquito
BAR believe Chips and the bos'n keep
n sort of surreptitious shop somewhere in
the forecastle where YOU could fill up
your stores''
Much obliged" said the passenger,
but think I've got all want or rather
all ] can affnrd..''
Remembered to bring donkey clippers
for hair-cutting? No? Well, Just as YOU
please. What I really wished to mention
to you was this: when your pay comes
In, you'll naturally want little comforts
sent out from home, and you won't care
TO worry any of your friends to get them
Tor YOU. Now don't you have any qualms