The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC, 407 considered it to be a boorish remark. And the worst of it was, Monckton “took the trick’’ by appearing hurt and walking off without uttering a reply. Sydney moved away, too, but Thorne heard from it later through the captain. ‘“Vou’re kinder rough on that Monckton,’’ said he, good naturedly. ‘‘ But he don’t seem ha’f a bad sort. J hear he got into kinder wild comp’ ny at college, an’ he’s takin’ this v’yge to help him brace up. Never kick a man when he’s down, is my motto,”’ ° Thorne wondered what he would say if he had seen Monckton when’ he came aboard at New York. But he bit his lip and made no reply to the good captain’s pacific remarks. But he had injured himself with Sydney by his thoughtless retort and, argue with himself as he might, it troubled’ him, but he continued to avoid Monckton, and in so doing deprived himself of her society also. "This was a trial, for, greatly as he disliked the idea of a girl holding the position she did on the Naida, her strong character had not failed to impress him. She made herself respected by all on board, and her calm judgment and knowledge of scoped was the open wonder of the other mates. ‘‘ Most wonderful girl / ever see,’’ declared Mr. Pepper, ‘‘ an’ I was born on the gio where gals, as well’s boys, can sail a boat ’fore they get out of pinafores.’’ And the little first mate agreed. It was plain that Captain Latimer quite worshiped her, and geasteds in her judgment in many things. But Thorne thought that among the men the ' satisfaction was not so general. ‘They obeyed her well enough, but they evi- dently did not think it right in the captain to put awoman over them. With- out a doubt Atwell fanned this flame of discontent. As the days passed and the brig ran into warmer latitudes, the situation became still more strained. ‘Thorne’s face more than once expressed his dis- approval when he saw Monckton and Sydney walking the deck together, or talking in the cabin during her watch below. Sydney resented it and showed _ her resentment by treating Thorne more coolly while not abating her friend- liness with Monckton in the least. Between the crew and the captain there was ill feeling, too, and every day it became more and more apparent. As has. before been hinted, Captain Joshua Latimer was more than a little ‘‘ close.’ The cabin table was very well, though plainly, supplied, and Thorne but seldom resorted to his private stores. But the food supplied the seamen was of course another matter. The quality was all right—that is, the ‘‘ salt horse’’ was of good quality, and the cook made eatable bread ; but the quantity was what the men grumbled about. Captain Latimer was so economical that he doled out the food very grudgingly to ’Tonio for the fo’castle mess. This was a small matter, but’ in the mouth of a man like Atwell it became great. And, more than once, Thorne suspected that Atwell and some of his mates got liquor from some mysterious source. Captain Latimer was a strictly ‘temperate man, and all the liquor supposed to be aboard the Naida was a little for medicinal purposes, locked up in the commander’s cabin. GEOMIGDOOkKS