The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-07

port ! was completely worn out with my
labors. and almost sick from lack of
sleep. At last / could stand guard no
longer. so went through a regular pam
tomime with the man at the wheel. sig
nifying that he was to keep the ship go
ing Just as she was Then threw my
self down on top OF the cabin house and
immediately fell asleep.
cit was quite dark when / was awakened
by Nero shaking me roughly and utter
ing loud and angry yelps. In one jump
made the wheel, jammed It hard over.
brought the vessel to her course again.
then called Nero. who stood on top OF the
|, cabin whining in an ugly way at the
Cinnamon who were grouped about the
door of the carpenters shop alongside
the galley.
IT saw through the trick at once. The
sorting his post. the ship would fly up
into the wind and be wrecked IN the
strong breeze then blowing. In this way
the vengeful spirit OF the men was to be
satisfied. When they saw that their plan
had failed they sullenly entered the hold
through the booby-hatch. and that was
the last I ever saw Of my Chinese crew.
Il waited a little while. then dashed the
wheel. pulled of my shoes. and sneaking
forward noiselessly closed the door of the
hatch and slipped the bolt into its socket.
That accomplished ! went back TO the
wheel much easier in mind. tor knew
that the crew could not gain the deck in
any other way.
During the night the wind died COM
pletely away. leaving the vessel becalm
ed, and the sea subsidized into long. easy
swells. dozed at intervals. trusting TO
Nero to warn me of any danger. and so
obtained some little rest. Just before
daybreak. upon awakening from one OF
these cat-naps. l became sensible that
the ship was lifting in r very sluggish
way to the seas. and Their her motion was
new and strange. Casting my eyes over
the side. l was almost pertified TO see
that the vessel had settled in the water
almost TO her deckline. and was rapidly
sinking under my feet. At the same in
slant there came a violent pounding for
ward from the inside OF the booby-hatch
I'm q flash the heathenish trick was
revealed to me. The Cinnamon had de-
ternired not to be cheated out of their
revenge. SO had bored holes in the ship
with an anger taken from the carpenters
chest. They had expected u rush out
on deck in time and escape in one OF
the boats. probably leaving me to so
down in my vessel, but found their way
blocked by the locked 1oor OF the hatch.
However deviish their action had
been. could not let them drown like
rats in a trap. so I started forward to
their release. and had Just laid my hand
en- the bolt when the deck blew up. owing
to the confined air. with a report like
that Of a cannon. and I was hurled into
the sea.
Il quickly gained the surface. but was
Immediately drawn down again in the
suction of the sinking vessel, and when
at last 1 once more found myself on top
OF the water I was so far spent. strong
swimmer though was. that I would
have sunk helplessly, but Nero caught
my collar and held my head up until I
recovered my breath and strength.
shortly after this some floating OBJ
ject bumped up against us. which to
my Joy discovered to be the large
wooden chicken coop that had rested on |
the deck. I climbed on top Of It and
pulled Nero UP beside me, ana we drift
ed about on it until late that afternoon.
when we were picked up by a Chinese |
Junk, and carried into port.
"And now, my boy" said Grandfather |
Sterling. IN conclusion. you have the
story of the time that I went to sea
withsa Chinese crew and had Nero for |
my first mate"
fCouvrirht bv HRrr>r A. Brcal