Ensign Merrill — page 160: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“THE JONK DISAPPHARS. aoe fe " pierced by rifle-bullet. Grave!’’ ~ Poor Ned,’? murmured Mark, turning away and looking out to sea. A mist rose before his eyes, caus- ing the faint blue line of the distant horizon to waver and tremble in many curious forms. He saw the crowded deck of a man-of-war in New York harbor: a ship thronged with friends and relatives come to bid the crew, bound on along voyage to foreign lands, -good-by He saw over. in one corner a lady with pleasant face crowned by a wealth of gray hair, hold- ing a young lad by the hand in touching affection. He saw the tear-dimmed eyes of the mother turned toward him, Mark Merrill, as she said. “This is my boy, sir; my only child, and I love him so. You will take care of Ned, and bring him back to me, won’t your”’ Again that pathetic voice sounded in his ears, al- though years had passed, and now—the ensign turned again to read the fateful words, but they were blurred red and indistinguishable by a moisture he felt with no sense of shame. He looked up at last to speak to the third officer, but he had gone, and standing close by was the chief engineer. **Steam’s ready, sir; the repairs have made her as right as a trivet. Wall you get under way now, sir?”’ ‘‘At once, sir; at once,’’ Merrill replied gruffly. Mr. Cranke stared at him in surprise for a moment and then went below. He was not accustomed to seeing the young commander in such moods. He knew not the cause. Stern words sometimes hide a full heart. It is the nature of mankind. _ Within a short time-the Badger’s engines were again throbbing away, causing the stout propeller to churn the water under the counter with its former vigor. Be P “«“Raward ace first entant Right breast . cae meee 3 ~ €omicbooks.col