The Argosy — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

376 THE ARGOSY, Into this wheelhouse, then, the front of which had two large glass win- dows, which in turn were duly protected by two stout teak shutters, which slid into grooves on either side, I popped to light my pipe. Finding it more comfortable there than out in the keen night wind, I settled myself on an old piece of sail cloth, and sat thinking and smoking in the dark. Presently I was aroused by hearing the hoarse laugh of the mate as that worthy approached. What had been said to make him laugh I could not tell; but the jocular outburst was followed by the captain saying, in a surly tone : “You may laugh, Murrell, but I’d like to feel as certain of the job as you do.”’ ‘Pooh, man !’’ replied the mate—and I thought his voice sounded ex- ceedingly familiar. ‘‘ You’re not getting squeamish, are you?”’ The captain laughed constrainedly as he said : ‘* Perhaps, a bit. Any way, it’s a ticklish job, and I wish it was well over. There’s an element of uncertainty about the thing that doesn’t suit me. Then there’s the second mate and this numskull of a passenger.’’ "He that is not for me is against me,’’ quoted the mate mockingly. ‘“ Leave them to me.’’ Again the captain laughingly replied, and in imagination I pictured his ugly little face, the malicious twinkle of his narrow eyes. Here the mate poked his head into the wheelhouse to light his pipe, while I shrank further back into the shadow, uneasy to a degree. I drew my breath in and held it fast ; but the light in the man’s eyes dazzled him so that he could not look beyond. After a few vigorous draws he turned again to his companion. , ““I do not deny that what you call the element of uncertainty exists,’’ he said. ‘‘ But Gupp and I have gone so carefully into this that there can be little doubt of our success. It is a thousand to one she will pass through © the Mindoro Strait. From there to Hong Kong is a straight line, and as we are on that line she must pass us.’’ ‘“ But what if she passes us at night ?’’ ‘‘ We shall see-her just the same.’’ The captain made some reply, the tone of which implied considerable doubt, but what he said I could not catch, as the men moved off together. For a time I remained plunged deeply in thought, a whole battalion of conjectures stampeding through my mind. ‘hat the mate referred to some ship was apparent, while, curious to relate, in describing her movements he had employed almost the identical words made use of by Hayling. Needless to say, this convetsation caused me considerable apprehension, especially as I had long since begun to doubt the good faith of Captain Macshiel. That we had purposely come out of our way, and for no righteous cause, I feared, was now self evident. Certain it was that the captain expected to meet a ship in this neighborhood, but for a ‘good or an evil purpose who should say? What that purpose really was I did not even dream of then, it _ being one of those awful things which would never enter into the calcula- tions of an ordinary person. ‘ ‘|omicbooks cd