Ensign Merrill — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

PS ial i was no. easy iaiele to oe a the clene: but, ree ere managed after a while to cover every spot except di- rectly abreast of the ship. There a dark smudge, barely perceptible, came into the field, instantly at- tracting his attention. ““By Jove! I believe I see a vessel over there, Ned,”’ he exclaimed. ‘‘Look just off the beam. Here, use this glass.’’ The middy glanced in the direction indicated, then wheeling around, replied quickly: “You are right,as sure as guns. Ican make her out without any trouble. I wonder—’’ Not stopping to finish his remark he looked again, this time more care- fully. Without removing his eyes from the object, he continued: ‘‘It must be heading this way, Mark, as I ean see her more plainly every minute. It’s a junk.”’ x av : “, - ad He returned the instrument to Merrill, who immedi- ately focussed the object of their attention. It was cer- * | tainly nearer, and, as the middy had said, a Chinese junk. He could distinguish the strange shape of the hull with its lofty stern and forecastle, the curved bulwarks sweeping down toward the waist, the two clumsy masts supporting their single yards, the — ribbed sails of matting, double reefed at the fore, and, just dimly visible in the darkness, a crowd of beings om the poop-deck. They were evidently steering a course which would bring them across the bow of the Badger, — and probably too near for comfort. Mark involuntarily glanced at the starboard running — light, supported in a framework above the bridge’s end rail. It was burning bright and clear, sending a greenish tinge seaward, ae ‘““Ahoy, the lookout!’ he shouted through the trumpet to the man in the little cage mga be ge _ foremast.