The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-05-07
by Arthur ID. HOwden Smith
b. rthur D Howdens mih


take advantage of the opportunity to
emulate his shippers example. Mas
ter Jenkins, who had missed drowning
at the red hands Of the redoubtable
Rip-Rap and Flint, was In charge of
the ship. He was q melancholy, sour
visaged East-countryman, whs moved
with a elaboration as pronounced as
Peter Cerlaer's, and inspecting the
manifests with him was tedious bust
ness The afternoon was gone when
we concluded our work, agreed upon
the time Of arrival Of the lighters on
the morrow and returned to the deck.
Ny wherry had been dismissed long
age, and he bade the bosun muster a
crew to rev me ashore.
AS my boat Strengthened away from
the Bristol packets side barge shot
around the hull of the Spaniard and
pulled after US, dozen brawny fell
lows tusging at the ears. A single
cloaked figure sat In the stern sheets
beside the officer In command. The
two boats made the Bread street slip
almost together, and leaped ashore,
tossed several coins to the sailors who
had rewed me and started to walk off,
bent upon reporting to nay father, who,
l knew, would be provoked by the
length of time my errand had con-
sumed But / had not walked far
when a man called after me from the
wharf head.
"Sener! Sirr-rr-rah!'
turned to face the coxswain Of the
frigate's barge and farrago of Span
ish gibberish of which / understood
not word. And upon my saying as
much a second person stepped for
ward into the yellow glew Of an oil
lanthorn which hung from bracket
upon warehouse wall hard by. Twas
the cloaked figure of the barge, and
instead Of midshipman or under
officer the scanty light revealed a
young woman whose lisseme grace
was vibrant through the cumbersome
folds of her wrap. A single ejacula-
ton of sibilant Spanish, and the cox
swain was hushed
"Sir," said she In English as good
as my own, "can you direct me to the
Whales Head tavern?'
could bring forth no better than a
stammer in answer. She was the sec
ond stranger that day to ask for the
Whales Head, which my father had
remarked the previous evening for a
noted resort of bad characters; and
certes, she appeared to be the last
sort of woman who might be expected
to have anything to do with the kind
Of roistering wickedness which went
on there. Also, could not forbear
asking myself how came so fair a
maid aboard Spanish frigate.
In the soft lanthorn light she was
anything but Spanish in her looks.
Dark, yes, with hair that shone a
misty black, but her eyes were as blue
as Darby McGraw's, and her nose had
the least suspicion of tilt to it. Her
mouth was wide, with a kind Of twist
at the ends that quirked up oddly
when she laughed and dropped with a
sorrow fit to crack open your heart
If she wept. And she was little more
| than a child in years, with a manifest
| innocence which went oddly with the
question she had asked me.
A slim foot tapped impatiently upon
the cobbles as l stared
"Well, SIR. she said coldly, "does 1t
happen you do not know English bet
| ter than Spanish?"
"N-no," 1 managed to get out. but
| the truth Is, the Whales Head is no
place for such as you, mistress"
Her eyes narrowed.
81 do not catch your meaning, per-
haps," she answered. at is my father
I go to meet there"
"But he would never favor your
coming there at this hour" l pro-
tested Indeed, you should never
think of it."
| "I will be the judge Of that" she
retorted, instantly naughty. "And II
my father is there / can come to no
! HARM"
eff he is" said. II doubt you have
mistaken his ordinary"
"No, no." she said decidedly. 81
L
heard him speaking with them Of it.
But it may be you are right, sir, and
/ will not be so ungrateful as to flout
kindly strangers well-meant advice
Juan can go into the tavern when we
come to it, and will bide outside
But somewhere I must walk, for my
feet are all dancey with the way OF
| fho coo opd wa cho1I ho ouoy ooo;,,
with the tide in the morning. This is
the last dry land shall tread In many
a week"
IF you will allow me, I'll put you
on your way for the Whales Head
l offered. II must walk in that direc-
/ ton"
"Sure, sir, it is great favor yor
OFFER she answered. II cannot but
thank you"
| And she gave an order in Spanish
! which fetched the underoficer she
called Juan and one Of his men out
from the shadows. They fell in be
| hind us as we walked Off along the
| line of the warehouses.
/ "You are upon long voyageY ]
ventured.
You may well say So" she cried
| From here to the Floridas, and after
| that on to Havana and the cities OF
! the Main"