The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1908-10-09


, :; t's'Because, he, deserved it,, Sos Miss
Mallow. 49,
THE skipper shook his cad and
looked at the mate so sorrowful that
he began to stamp up and down the
cabin and bang the table with his
fist. ~,
eff I hadn' tH heard it myself,
couldn't have Believed it, ses the
skipper; and you the father of fam.
lily, too. Nice example for the young
men, must say
Please don't say anything more
about it, ses Miss Mallow; I'm sure
he's very sorry
livery good ses the skipper; but
you understand, Mr.. Jackson, that if
l overlook your conduct, you're not to
speak to this young lady agin. Also.
you must consider yourself as removed
from the committee
Curse the committee, screamed
the mate. Curse
HE looked all round, with his eyes
starting out of is cad, and then sud
denly shut his mouth with a snap and
went up on deck.
1--WE got to Melbourne at last, and
the fust thing the skipper did was to
give our young lady some money to 60
ashore and buy clothes with. He did
it in very delikit way by giving her
the pay as boy, and I don't think I
ever see anybody look so pleased and
surprised as she did. The skipper
went ashore with her. as she looked
rather odd figure to be going about,
and comes back about hour later
without 'er.
81 thought perhaps she'd come
aboard he ses to Mr. Fisher man
aged to miss her somehow while was
waiting outside shop.
They fidgeted about bit, ard then
went ashore to look for 'er, turning
up again at eight o'clock quite Wor.
ried. Nine o'clock came, and there
was no signs of 'er. Mr.. Fisher and
Mr.. Scott was in dreadful state, and
the skipper sent almost every man
aboard ashore to search for 'er They
united for 'er high and low, up and
down and round about, and turned up
at midnight so done up that they could
'ardly stand without holding on to
somethink, and so upset that they
couldn't speak. None Of the officers
got any sleep that night except Mr..
Jackson, and the fust thing in the
morning they was ashore agin looking
for her.
Shed disappeared as completely as
If she'd gone overheard, and more
than one of the chaps looked over the
side half expecting to see 'er come
floating by. BY IL o'clock most of us
was convinced that she'd been made
away with. and Mr.. Fisher made some
remarks about the police of Melbourne
as would ha' done them good to hear.
II was just going to see about din
ner when we got the first news of her.
Three of the most miserable and SOL
emn looking captains I've ever seen
came alongside and asked for a few
words with our skipper. They all
stood in row looking as if they was
going to cry.
Good morning, Capt. Hart ses one
of EN-, as our old man came up with
the mate.
Good morning. ses he.
Do you know this?' ses one of en-
suddenly, holding out Miss Mallow's
dressing gown on walking stick.
Good 'eavens,' ses the skipper I
hope nothing's happened to that pore
gall
THE three captains shook their
heads all together.
She is no more ses another
of 'em.
How did it happen?' ses the skip
per, in a low voice.
She took this off, ses the first
captain, shaking his head and pointing
to the dressing gown.
And took a chill?' ses the skip
per, staring very ard.
THE three captains shook their
'eads agin, and I noticed that Trey
seemed to watch each other and do
it all together.
81 don't understand ses the skip.
per.
81 was afraid you wouldn't ses
the first captain; she took this off,
so you said before ses the skip.
per, rather short.
And became a boy agin,' ses the
other; the wickedest and most artful
young rascal that ever signed on
with me-
He looked round at the others, and
they all broke out into a perfect roar
of laughter, and jumped up and down
and slapped each other on the back,
as if they was all mad. Then they
asked which was the one wot had
lis ears boxed, and which was Mr..
Fisher and which was Mr.. Scott, and
told our skipper what a nice fatherly
man he was. Quite crowd got
round, an wouldn't go away for all
We could do to 'em in the shape O.
buckets O water and Jumps O. coal.
We was the laughing:stock O. the
place, and the way they carried on
when the steamer passed us two days
later with the first captain on the
bridge. pretending not to see that imp
of boy standing in the bows blowing
US kisses and dropping curtsies, nearly
put the skipper out Of - mind"