Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-14
CHAPTER XIV.
AFLOAT.

~ o MORRIS thought his heart would
f.U break and his brain go daft the first
day he was afloat on the circus
steamer Pilgrim, after leaving New
York harbor.
The announcement of the circus
manager that the show did not mediate
stopping at any southern town, that the an
tipodes perhaps might be reached before an
other American port was seen, SO stunned
10, that he crept back to his bunk and gave
way at last to the seasickness that brave,
hopeful spirit had SO far enabled him to bat
tie successfully.
Nausea, loneliness and anxiety formed a
combination that ended in an harassing fever
before night and all JOS wild resolves to
leave the steamer in some way. even to spring
overheard before it got still further out to
sea and swim ashore or reach some passing
vessel, came to naught from sheer helpless
illness.
He Law and tossed and raved, and, as it
became evident to his companions that ne
was really sick, and not trying to shirk work,
rough as they were, they showed HIM many
little attentions that made his misery more
endurable.
The third day he managed to drag himself
around and do his share of work, but the
terrible fact communicated by the manager
seemed to weigh his soul down like load OF
lead
He watched the wake of the steamer, cross,
ed now very rarely by other craft Land
was entirely out of sight; every stroke OF the
machinery was carrying him further and fur
tber away from his native land: and, worst
of all. from the last chance, it seemed, of
learning the fate of beloved father.
He and the men in charge of the baggage
and animals were not allowed to go on the
saw and heard, that sixty persons were
aboard.
Among so many, he would be considered
of small account, reasoned 10,
Unless land was touched by chance, or
from necessity, it was not likely that any
plea or statement he might make would in
duce the circus manager to take the trouble
of deyiating from the steamers course to land
a dissatisfied and deceived employe.
The prospect grew positively hopeless at
last.
10 happened to hear two men talking, and
they were discussing the very situation that
SO worried him.
"Tts trick muttered one of them, sui
lenly. Bargain was with Jackson, the regu-
lar Southern trip, and here we're shipped for
well, pay and grub is fair enough I'd
rather loaf here than be putting up and pull
ing down tents every day" replied the first
Maybe; but I'm going to get paid for be-
ing fooled, you bet!'
"By raising a, kick, and threatening mu;
tiny. and all that The manager looked
scared, as it was, when .one of the boys told
him last night it was worse than kidnapping,
engaging man for a run down the coast
and carting him halfway around the globe.
We'll work him-you wait!"
'What made the change in plans, anyway,
SETH"
"Oh, jackson was head over heels in debt.
This new man paid him trifle for the trap.
pings and animals, chartered this old tub Of
a steamer, got together a new company and
fitted away in the night The man don't
dare to touch at any United States port, for
there's judgments by the score out against
every stitch of canvas and every animal
coast that an officer amt watching to clamp
down on the show the minute the Pilgrim