Left on the Labrador | Page 2

which he was admitted,
and had decided that, as uncomfortable as it was, he preferred the deck
to cabin or smoking room.
It was the middle of October, and the last voyage the mail boat was to
make until the end of the following June, when the winter's ice would
clear from the coast, and navigation would open for another short
summer. The last fishing schooner had already hurried southward to
escape the autumn gales and the blockade of ice, and the sea was
deserted save by the lonely mail boat, which was picking up the last of
the Newfoundlanders' cod fishing gear at the little harbours of the
coast.
"A swell time I'm having!" Charley muttered. "Not even a decent place
on the old ship where I can sit and read!"
"Not having a good time, eh?"
Charley looked up into the smiling face of Barney MacFarland, the
second engineer.
"Hello!" he exclaimed. "I didn't know anybody was around. I didn't
hear you."
"Having a rotten time?" Barney grinned good-naturedly.
"The worst I've ever had!" said Charley. "It's too cold to stay on deck
and too close and smelly inside, and there's no one to talk with. Mr.
Wise sprawls in his bunk reading silly novels he brought with him,
when he isn't playing checkers with the Doctor."

"'Tis a bad season to be coming down to The Labrador," suggested
Barney. "Though there's fog enough in July and August, we're having
fine weather too, with plenty of sunshine. 'Tis then the passengers are
with us, with now and again sightseers from the States. And the fishing
places are busy, with enough to see. Then's the time to come."
"I didn't pick the time," explained Charley, glad to have an opportunity
to talk into sympathetic ears. "Dad was going hunting in Newfoundland,
and he took me to St. John's with him. I thought I was going along, but
after we got to St. John's he said I was too young to hike through the
country, and that this trip on the mail boat would be more interesting
for me while he hunted. He sent Mr. Wise along to keep me company.
He's Dad's secretary. He's left me alone most of the time. Dad said I
would see Indians and Eskimos and loads of interesting things, but I've
been on the ship ever since we left, except at Hopedale when the
Captain took me ashore for an hour while we were lying there before
we turned back. That was dandy! I saw Eskimos, and Eskimo dogs, and
I bought some souvenirs at the Moravian Mission for Mother and some
of the boys. But I wasn't there half long enough to see everything. They
never let me go ashore in the boat at the harbours where we stop."
"Well, well, now! That is hard on you, b'y," agreed Barney
sympathetically. "Where is your home?"
"In New York. But Dad is so busy at his office that I don't see him
often. I thought I was going to have a dandy time with him!"
Charley choked back tears, which he felt it would be unmanly to shed,
and gazed out over the sea.
"Lad, when you gets lonesome to talk come down to the engine room
when it's my watch on," Barney invited heartily. "I'll show you the big
engines, and we'll chum up a bit. I'm off watch now, but I'll be on at
eight bells. That's four o'clock, land reckoning. I'll come and get you,
b'y, and show you the way."
"Thank you! Thank you ever so much!" Charley acknowledged
gratefully, as Barney left him.

The ship which had been standing off from the shore was now edging
in toward the land. Suddenly there came a long blast of the whistle.
There was activity upon the deck at once. Sailors were swinging a boat
out upon the davits. Charley hastened to join the sailors, and asked:
"Are we going to make a port?"
"Aye, lad," answered one of them good-naturedly.
"What place is it?" asked Charley.
"Pinch-In Tickle."
"Will it be a long stop?"
"Now I'm not knowin' how long or how short. We stop inside the
Tickle to take on fish and gear. I'm thinkin' 'twill be a half hour's stop,
or thereabouts."
"May I go ashore in the boat?"
"Ask the mate. I'm doubtin' there'll be room. The boat comes back with
full cargo at this harbour."
Charley turned his inquiry to the mate, who was directing the men.
"No, lad. I'm sorry," he answered, "but there'll be no room for
passengers."
It was always that way! Charley left them to return to his old place at
the rail. The ship had slowed to half speed, and was already picking her
way cautiously into the tickle, where the cliffs, nearly as