The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-09-28

During UnlS compulsory lciSuAc
Clawbonny determined to have {
talk with the captain on an i'm
portant subject-the building O.
a sloop out of the Porpoise.
The doctor hardly knew how t.
begin, as Hatteras had declared
so vehemently that he would new
er consent to use morsel Of
American wood; yet 1t was high
time he were brought to reason
as June was at hand, the only sea
son for distant expeditions, and
they could not start without 9
ship.
He thought over 1t long while
and at last drew the captain aside
and said, in the kindest, gentlest
way:
"Hatteras, do you believe I'm
your friend?"
Most certainly do" replied
the captain, earnestly; my best
indeed, my only friend"
"And II l give you a piece OF
advice without your asking, will
you consider my motive is perfect
ly disinterested?"
Eyes, for l know you have new
err been actuated by self-interest
But what are you driving at?"
"Wait, Hatteras; l have one
thing more to ask. Do you looh
on me as a true-hearted English
mon like yourself, anxious fol
his country's glory?"
Hatteras looked surprised, but
simply said.
81 do"
"You desire to reach the nortf
pole" the doctor went on, "and
understand and share your amb
ton, but to achieve your objec
you must employ the RICH
means"
well, and have l not sacrificed
everything for it?"
mo, Hatteras, you have no
sacrificed your personal antipa
thies. Even at this very momen
l know you are in the mood to re
fuse the indispensable condition
of reaching the pole"
"Ah! it is the boat you want t.
talk about, and that mani
"Hatteras. let us discuss tn
question calmly, and examine tn
case on all sides. The coast Of
which we find ourselves at pres
ent may terminate abruptly: W
have no proof that 1t stretche
away to the pole; indeed, If you
present information prove COZ
rect, we ought to come to an ope
sea during the summer months
Well, supposing we reach this arc
tic ocean and find it free froI
ice and easy to navigate, wha
shall we do If we have no ship?
Hatteras made no reply.
Tell me, now, would you lik
to find yourself only a few mile
from the pole and not be able t.
get to it?"
Hatteras still said nothing, bu
buried his head in his hands.
besides" continued the doc
tor, look at the question in it
moral aspect. Here is an Eng
lishman who sacrifices his for
tune, and even his wife, to viii
fresh glory for his country, blu
because the boat which bears hin
across an unknown ocean, o.
touches the new shore, happens
Ito be made of the planks of al
American vessel-a castawa.
wreck of no use to anyone-wil
that lessen the honor of the dis
covery? If you yourself haC
found the hull of some wrecked
vessel lying deserted on thu
shore, would you have hesitatet
to make use of it; and must no
a sloop built by four Englishmel
and manned by four EnglishmeI
be English from keel to gun
whale?"
Hatteras was still silent.
NO." continued Clawbonny
1.-The real truth is, it is not tn,
sloop you care about; it is tn,
man."
Yes. doctor, yes," replied tn,
captain. ''It is this American
detest; I hate him with a thor
ough English hatred. Fate ha
thrown him in my path"
ITO save you!"
ITO ruin me. He seems I,
defy me, and speaks as If he wer,
lord and master. He thinks h,
has my destiny in his hands, an,
knows all my projects. Didn't W,
see the man in his true color
when we were giving names t,
the different coasts? Has h,