The Detroit times., 1912-11-19
cHAuTER TX.
(COntinuedD


las Palmas harbor. tucked away uIr
der the decayed volcano of the lsleta
displayed the usual collection OF Brit
ish steamers. Canary bacalao schoon'
ers, and coal dust, and the warmth
OF the sun overhead was cooled by a
racing trade-wind, which carried with
il strong scour OF African sand. On
the Quays and in the coal lighters
Spanish cargadores shouted unsteady,
but did little work until they were
urged thereto by profane British
mates, and those units OF the army OF
Spain which happened to be OF duty
appeared to be dangling their cotton
trousered legs over the edges of the
concrete walls, and smoking intermin-
able eigaEettaS--An -oXer- the whole
harbor water was spread q scum or
coal dust, and an odor OF bacalao, inn
perfectly cured.
A grinning Parsee In an deliberately
embroidered .smoking-cap brought his
boat alongside as Captain Kettle hui
morod his precious kangaroo up 10
the mooring buoy, and displayed
Birmingham Benares brass, Teneriffe
drawn-linep work. and Three Castles
cigarettes 10 prospective buyers, add
ing for the benefit of the ignorant. u
am your fellow countree-man. sell
you best stuff, cheap-price. Also |
have letter from lady TO captain
Lower away the companion-ladder,
Mr.. Smith" said Captain Kettle 20 a
mariner beside him on the upper
bridge.
The little steamer. from her size,
could at the utmost afford only two
mates. But Kettle had picked from
the crew steady man who had signed
on as A. b. had added ten shillings
a month out-of -his~own pocket 10 his
wages, and given him bfeyet rank as
third mate from sheer delight at hav-
ing an aidede-camp at moments like
these, when the mate was on the fore
deck, and the second mate on the
poop. as by sea rubri cordained.
IF you can get that chattering ba-
boon's boat underneath" continued
Kettle. ''let 20 your ladder by the run
and stove him in I'll let the son OF
a dog know what's the tariff for bring
ing OF letters to me from ladies'
don't know"
AYE, aye, SIR" said Smith, and ran
briskly down OF the narrow bridge,
while Captain Kettle ached to think
that In spite OF all his care and In
structions the kangaroo might have
been brought up more smartly to her
mornings. And then, with his spruce
uniform fairly straining with pride,
he descended to do the honors OF his
own chart house TO the port officials
a. he Arcf tvan m
Kettle, Master" at the foot OF docu'
ments.
There was one unpleasant interiude
The Parsee managed to make his way
on board, and again proffered his, let
ter from lady" to the new-fiedgeC
skipper. Spanish port doctor ant
Spanish port captain grinned knowing
ly. and Kettle arose I'm his wrath anc
kicked his fellow subject down over
the side.
"Quartermaster," said he, III that
man or anything else that's escaped
out OF the monkey house gets on board
agsin III disrate you"
The advent Of the coaling COM
pany's agent handicapped mis- further
remarks, and for the next hour Cap
tain Kettle was immersed In the In
tricacies OF the ships business in a
foreign port And then came other
tradespeople and touts innumerable.
The entry OF Miss Dubbs was a
marvel OF quietness and discretion.
Captain Kettle gulped and collected
himself. MY James," he said, you
here, miss! Whateyer's gone
wrong?"
Nothing. Captain. Is this your
private cabin?"
Its the chart house-yes.
'And are you at liberty at any
time soon?"
"Yes--now. Here, you clear out.
Ny dear, there must be something
gone very wrong"
She laughed little nervously. 81
tell you nothing has happened, ex-
cept that I've changed my job. All,
there's Sir Georges retriever Good
old dog. Rex. But haven't you got
my letter? | sent one by native
in boat"
"My conscience! That'll have
been what that unbaptized Parsee
was jabbering about. No, my dear,
i never got ii. But II you're In
trouble, OF course you've come to the
right place"