The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-03-06
CHAPTER III

on his patience had l not known
that he had to be up again in two
hours to keep his watch.
The night was very dark and
threatening, the wind coming
across the water. in fitful gusts.
Now and again great wave was
flung back from our bows with an
ominous crash, and leaning over
the bulwarks l watched with
dreamy sort of interest the white
| line of froth form, lift itself above
the black water, and then subside
in infinite darkness.
Motionless | leant against the
bulwarks, thinking of nothing in
particular Then all at once | SEEM
ed to hear voices a little aft of me,
and peering intently into the dark
ness | discovered darker shadow.
Well, that was nothing. Other peo-
pie had as much right on deck as I.
This | fully recognized; but as this
shadow began imperceptibly to
draw near, and as it continued to
whisper in way incomprehensible,
thought it better to make my pres
ence known. This l did by stamp
ing hard upon the deck as stepped
out from the side.
| The shadow Immediately re-
solved itself into two figures, which
seemed to shrink in closer to the
bulwarks; but there being no way
of escaping me | saw that one was
the captain and that the other was
a Chinaman, evidently one of our
| coolie passengers fOrward-a fell
low who lowered head and shout
ders above Macsniel.
Though thinking it strange,
passed on, apparently oblivious OF
their proximity, and getting to the
leeward of the deckhouse, filled and
lit pipe. Here, minute or so
after, the captain joined me.
GLASS is going down." he began
in his civilest manner. 81 think we
shall have blow before morning.
Listen; and he pointed aloft, cs
Ting of the wind. isn't that a
warning as plain as any spoken
| words?"
True, to the ear that under
stands the language"
| He laughed rather brusquely.
"A man can't spend 20 years on
the coast and not understand the
lingo
| When I awoke the next morning
it was blowing gale. The sea had
risen alarmingly during the night,
and was now running with a loud,
sullen roar. Away forward the big
waves thumped heavily upon our
decks, sending up clouds of spray
lwhick, borne by the wind, glistened
on the deckhouse, the masts, and
the rigging.
The mate came up from below,
smothered in oilskins, his old SOU
wester tied tightly under his chin.
AS he stepped out on deck and took
a look round, he mumbled a surly
Good morning"
Good morning. I replied. mice
weather."
| 1t was sarcastic, but unavoidable.
The bad weather had got into me
in some way.
| rs, Dc SlOWlCu, ihohSo ohO
in love with the ocean, don't it,"
l admitted that such elemental
eccentricities were conducive to ex-
IRENE physical enjoyment. Then
asked him how the glass stood.
Steady" said he.
| "That means continuance OF
| this agreeable weather."
That's It, If were a passenger
| I'd 90 below-and stick there"
But, you see, am unaccustom-
ed to this sort of thing, and this is
a sensation"
at strikes me you'll have a few
more sensations before you see the
last of this packet"
His narrow, beady eyes glisten-
ed into mine, and something very
like a sneer stole up from his ugly
mouth. Then without more ado he
slouched off forward.
About 10 minutes after the
mate had disappeared l became
aware of an unusual presence near
me, and turning round | beheld a
big Chinaman standing in the door
way of the deckhouse. l looked at
him and he looked at me, and I
saw a smile steal from his little
black eyes right down to his ugly
mouth. For a Chinaman he was
an exceedingly well built fellow,
and though apparently approaching
middle age and getting somewhat
stout, was of an appearance which
would command respect in any
company. His dress was of the
usual coolie pattern-a loose blouse
and short wide breeches; though in
stead of being barefooted he wore
a pair of huge sea boots which
cacmem right up to his knees. On
his head was a soft, peaked cap,
which completely hid his pigtail.
"Hullo!" said |, what are you
doing here?'
He shook his head and grinned,
though he knew as well as l that
he had no right aft.
"Nothin', cap'n."
81 suppose you know you're
not allowed here?"
mo sabbee, cap'n."
l pointed forward.
"You sabbee forward?"
mo sabee folward, cap'n," said
the fellow.
"You sabbee this?" and point