The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 95: 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. 479 The ship was now going at full speed, and curiosity taking me into the wheelhouse aft, I saw by the compass that we were steering about due south, or in the direction whence the Chung Tong had come. Therefore, bidding good by to all thought of ever seeing Manila, I tried to bear myself with fortitude, to be prepared for any emergency, and to hope that in some in- explicable way things would right themselves. Wherever we went, the voy- age for me would mean an unceasing vigil. Somehow I never hoped to see the end of it ; but, nevertheless, I meant to proceed with the utmost caution in my speech and actions. Yet scarcely had I inwardly vowed this good resolution before I seemed bent on breaking it. The captain, having set the course, came aft in company with the mate, and as he approached me he saluted ironically. . ‘“Well,’’ he sneered, ‘‘ have you got over your qualms yet ?”’ ‘This is no affair of mine, Captain Macshiel.’’ ‘‘T think you'll find it is,’’ he said. ‘‘ You’re one of us, whether you like it or not ;’’ and, immensely tickled with the thought, he banged the mate playfully on the back. ‘‘T am not one of you, nor will I touch one penny of the plunder.’’ He laughed again. ‘‘ That’s neither here nor there. If weswing, I'll take jolly good care that you keep us company.’’ ‘*T think not,’’ said I. His eyes grew ugly, and he drew down his forehead like a monkey. I was a fool to cross him at such a moment, but the devil himself wouldn’t have frightened me just then. ‘“You’re with us or you’re not,’’ saidhe. Then he smiled malevolently. ‘“Upon my soul, I don’t know why I don’t drop you over the side.’’ But I saw his evil little eyes wander to the right hand pocket of my coat, and I guessed the reason. ‘“Well,’’ grinned the mate, ‘‘ he may as well be drowned as frightened to death.’’ ‘“But I have hopes of him,”’ replied Macshiel, with a meaning smile. Then changing his bantering tone, he said sharply, ‘‘ Look here, they tell me you’re a bit of a doctor.”’ ‘‘T have not qualified, though I have studied medicine.”’ “Then there’s a man sick forward. Go and see what you can do for him.’’ There was, of course, nothing to do but to obey; and as, fortunately, the man was only suffering from a very mild distemper, I soon had him about. This gave me a sort of standing on board, and for a little while relieved me of the tyranny of those with whom I had the misfortune to sail. In the mean time the ship, swinging steadily on her course, worked her way down the more open waters of the Sulu Sea. Hitherto the men had gone secretly about the decks, as though living beneath the shadow of their awful crime ; but once the scene of the outrage was left far behind, and the ship stole further and further into the open sea, the spirits of those on board seemed to improve. ‘There was much free drinking among the officers and crew, the latter frequently finding their way aft and loitering about in a man- Gomichbooks (S@) >