The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

THE CRUISE OF “So would the cannibals be,” an- swered Ross. “ Well, we’ve organized,” said Foster. “Now, it seems to me a proper thing to do would be to instruct Captain Balfe what to do toward getting the yacht ready to start. How much hay do we want, professor? ”’ “The kaybee is not fond of hay.” “Got no teeth, of course. Well, we've got to carry a huge supply of grub. We'll want something to eat our- selves. Bayne, you'd better attend to that right after dinner.” Being a third partner in a chartered yacht is not without its peculiar draw- backs. Foster, Ross, and I had contributed equal shares toward the expense of our trip around the world, and I had been unanimously chosen treasurer and man- ager. As far as Ross was concerned, no one would ever dream of permitting him to manage anything. Foster knew little about the needs of such a cruise, and I accepted the responsibility with some misgivings. I had done fairly well, however, and there still remained more than one- half of our capital. Immediately after dinner we invited the professor to accompany wus on board. We found Captain Balfe writing out a list of things he needed, for he knew we were soon to leave Sydney, al- though he had no suspicion of the Journey before him. “ Captain Balfe,” I said, “‘ permit me to introduce Professor Koonar Balden, the proprietor of the only kaybee known to civilization.” “TI am glad to meet the professor,” said Balfe, shaking hands. “ What did you say he was the proprietor of?” “The belle of the Indian Ocean,” said Ross. } “The kaybee is a bird,” I explained, keeping in my laughter as well as I was able. “It is a large enough bird, as birds go, and quite a curiosity in a small way. The professor has invited us to cruise in the Indian Ocean for the pur- pose of discovering more of the species and studying its habitat, mode of life, and what it 1s good for.” P 7 said: Balfe, looking mysti- ed. THE HANDICAP. “We have suddenly become scien- tists,” broke in Foster. ‘“‘ Instead of carrying three worthless, idle fellows around the world, you have suddenly risen to the exalted station of com- manding an expedition of the Society for the Promulgation of Idiocy on the High Seas.” “Been drinking?” asked the cap- tain, looking at me and jerking his thumb in Foster’s direction. I drew the captain away from the others to avoid their persiflage, and ex- plained tHe situation. “The bird is really a strange crea- ture, as you will agree when you see it,” I said. “It really matters little where we go, as we have no time sect for reaching any particular place. It will provide amusement, and possibly satisfy the old gentleman’s ambitions.” “’ Oh, it is all one to me,” said Balfe. “You are spending the money, not I.” 197 “Will there be any trouble about the | crew?” I asked. “Oh, no. Why should there be any trouble? This is different from a regu- lar liner or a ship engaged in trade. A crew hired for a certain trip is paid for that trip. These fellows care little ‘where you go, and the longer the cruise lasts the better they will like it. You pay well, and they are intelligent men, and in no hurry to lose the berth.” “Then hustle arrangements, will you? I will have the bird brought on board in the morning.” The professor enjoyed inspecting the vacht, which was a very commodious one, and left us finally to perfect his arrangements for leaving. | | “That’s the happiest man in Aus- tralia to-day,” remarked Ross. “I could never have it in my heart to re- fuse him so small a boon as a lifelong cruise in the Indian Ocean, hunting for monstrosities. Of course, In mv opin- ion the less kaybees we find the better. But then, we'll get some fun out of the thing, and it will be just as good as a cruise to Hongkong, anyhow.” Captain Balfe at once plunged into his arrangements, sent the steward ashore for supplies, and these began ar- riving before night. We had to leave the purchase of food for the kaybee till we saw the professor again. ECOMRiNIEloOO@ SS) Colin