The Argosy — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

256 THE ARGOSY. turning upon him with a sorrowful look, I. made nly way to the chief’s private sanctum. What followed between us need not be set down ijn detail, though as it happened the interview was to prove of much consequence to me. It seemed that the manager of our branch house in Manila had been taken seriously ill; the doctors had ordered him rest and a complete change of air, and I was offered his post till such time as heaven should restore him to health or take him from a wicked world. Should the last presumably regretful contingency occur, I was given to understand, providing sundry ‘‘ifs’? were not insurmountable, that I might find the post a permanent one, _ Needless to say I jumped at the offer, which, coming at such an op- portune moment, seemed like a gift of the gods. ‘“ And when shall I go, sir? ?’ By the very first ship,’ said he. ‘‘It is imperative that you should lose as little time as possible.’’ My next duty was to discover which was the first ship to leave for Manila, and in less than an hour I learned that the Pulo Way, a small steamer of about eight or nine hundred tons, was to sail on the morrow. I didn’t much fancy small coasters of such tonnage, but under the present circumstances I had neither the right nor the wish to be fastidious. Upon calling at the agent’s office I ascertained that the Pulo Way was not in the habit of carrying passengers, or at least not passengers aft. Coolies she carried forward in the steerage, asdo all the coasters ; first class passengers generally wait to choose their ship. But as I could not wait, the agent very kindly gave me a letter to the captain, saying he doubted not that worthy mariner would be able to fix me up. Well, armed with this introduction, I made my way down to the jetty, hired a sampan, and very soon the Pulo Way hove in sight. Honestly, I cannot say that the first glimpse of her impressed me. She was an ideal ocean scavenger, even to her dirty funnel and her two black sticks of masts. Nor did a closer inspection prove more alluring. Here and there, at. irregular intervals along her side, the paint had been rubbed off, and great blotches of rust mad@ the wretched little tub look dingier and dirtier than she really was. As I stepped on the deck I found that portion of the ship just what I expected to find it, though I should not forget to make due allowance for a vessel that is loading. Away forward a winch was going as if for dear life, and if there is a brain breaking brute of a thing it isa steam winch. Aft rose a deckhouse about twenty five feet long and some ten or twelve feet broad, on each side of which was a door that swung outwards. Peeping through the door nearest me, I saw that the house contained the companion- way which led into the saloon, and as there was no one about to guide me, I immediately began to descend the stairs. But I had not proceeded more than half a dozen steps when the sound of a man speaking arrested me. ‘Pll tell you what it is,’’ a rough voice was saying impressively, ‘‘ it’s as safe as eggs ; and who’ll be a penny the wiser?’’ Eomichooks. con