The Argosy — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

THE VOYAGE OF THE PULO WAY. ) 259 Now and again, while I was speaking, he turned interrogatively towards blackbeard, who did nothing but smile and shake his head; though once, turning suddenly upon that silent creature, I saw his eyes signal a look of assent. When next the captain spoke, his cadaverous little face was wreathed with amiability. “Well, well,’’ said he, like one who gives way much against his will, ‘since you’re so determined to come with us, we must see what we can do for you. No doubt we shall be able to fix you up somewhere.’’ ‘“And when do.you sail, captain ?”’ ‘* Not later than ten tomorrow.”’ “Thanks. Good day.’’ “Think you can catch us?’’ PEA try. > I shook hands cordially, nodded towards blackbeard, and made my way up on deck, not overpleased with myself or the captain of the Pulo Way. Truly, Captain Macshiel had flattered me but little, which, after all, was nothing ; but that he so obstinately refused to earn a few dollars was another and a more important matter. As for blackbeard, he never entered into my calculations at all. CHAPTER JI.—SHIPMATES. Ten o'clock of the following morning saw me aboard the Pulo Way, amid the accustomed bustle of a ship preparing for sea. An hour later we had cleared the Ly-ee-moon Pass, and were steaming into the full swell of the ocean. ‘Though the captain had professed his inability to provide me with any decent accommodation, I nevertheless found that one of the most commodious of the saloon cabins had been placed at my disposal, and this gave me a better opinion of Captain Macshiel. I fear my shore life had given me rather a liking for creature comforts. At all events, I had none of that desire for roughing it which some fellows seem to fancy. I was the only saloon passenger, and as I wandered aimlessly about the decks I had many opportunities of quizzing the officers and crew. The latter, as is usual on the coast boats, was Chinese, while Chinese greasers were to be seen skipping about among the pistons in the engine room. Our mate, who was away forward cursing at the men, was a man of good breadth, with a flabby, yellow face and a thin ginger mustache which shot clean out above his mouth like a fringe of bristles. He had two dark, narrow slits of eyes which might have been fathered by a Chinaman. ‘These lent to his big, yel- low face such a curious aspect of malevolence and piggish flabbiness that I could not bear to look at him. | The second mate was of an entirely different mold, broad of shoulder and elegant of build, with an extremely fine face, which, though more grimly honest than handsome, had in its dark, rugged outlines the beauty of strength and character. He was only a very young man, not more, I should say, than seven and twenty; yet his face showed signs of the wear and tear of twice that number of years. Eomichbooks (S@)