Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 28: what you’re looking at

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818 And now, its fulfillment was possible. Here at hand was a chance. The business might be repugnant to his feelings, and there was a risk of the fever, and of capture; but beggars could not be choosers. All this flitted through his mind in a twinkling as he sipped his toddy. Finally he replied: ‘““T have just come ashore, you know, and wish to stay a few days at least. When would you want me to go aboard the ship?”’ “You can remain ashore eight to ten days, perhaps longer,” replied Smythe. “That would do me,” rejoined Hunt, ‘“‘ for I should like to visit the Cape before I go to sea again; and now, how much money can you advance me?” ‘“Name the amount yourself, my boy,” said Smythe, adding, a bit sarcastically, “ anything else you wish?” | ‘No, no; I don’t mean to be finical in this business, Mr. Smythe, but I am in strange water, as you know, and I must take soundings; and besides, financially I’m on my beam ends.” “Well, look here; come down to busi- ness. What terms do you want to go as first mate on this voyage? First class ves- sel, good captain, rich owners, all of which I guarantee.” “T suppose,” replied Hunt, musingly, ““T should like a week’s time to myself ashore, $100 a month and the regular per- centage on the profits, about which you know better than I do, and $250 advance which is rather large I know, but—”’ ‘“ Petticoats again, old fellow! When will you ever learn the folly of that sort of thing? Vanity and vexation all,’ said Smythe. “ But you are wrong, sir,” replied Hunt hastily. ‘I need that much money just now for my old mother. I am in debt at home, have been dilatory in the past, and must catch up. The gossip I hear galls me. But no matter, T’l—” “The money is yours, say no more. When do you want it?” asked Smythe. “As soon as possible. I would leave for the Cape to-night if I could,” replied Hunt. “You can do so, old fellow,” and Smythe counted out in crisp bank notes the $250, which he handed over to Hunt, saving: “You are shipped in the schooner Madeline ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. of Baltimore for a voyage to the coast of Africa and return, as her first mate. You are to report at my office one week from to-day—and now we will take a drink. You understand?” ‘“‘T understand you, sir,” said Hunt. “I'll send my dunnage to your office immediately and then I’m off for home. Keep this thing quiet or I shall be ruined down on the Cape.”’ They shook hands and Hunt started on his trip home. As Smythe had ingenuously declared, he knew Reuben Hunt well, knew him not only as a good sailor on a square rigged craft but also aboard a fore-an-after; in fact, the sailor par excellence. The Made- line was a large fore-and-aft rigged schoon- er, aboard which the ordinary deep water sailor, when in a tight place, was like-a fifth wheel to a coach. Smythe had had carte blanche from the Madeline captain for weeks to find the right man, and soon after concluding the transaction with Hunt he went to a well-known Spanish banking house in Wall Street where, in the rear of- fice he found this captain and likewise owners of the vessel. “I have shipped you a mate,” he said, “and in a week he will be ready to go aboard. He has gone Down East for a short visit. I’ve been lucky. You have in him the best sailor man I know—and I know lots of them.” ‘““ Certain he will be on time, sir?” asked one of the party. ‘Tf he don’t drop dead he will,” replied Smythe. IT. “Sotp and got the money,” thought Hunt, as he set out for Cape Cod. For the first time in his life he felt the necessity of sailing under false colors, and it chafed him. His arrival home was un- expected, and he was lovingly greeted by his mother and sister. It was two years since they had seen him, their idol, and the news soon spread about the little town that Reuben Hunt was back. He had always been a favorite with the young folks, and calls and _ invitations poured in upon him, to all of which he ComiclbookS.e© nn