Many Cargoes | Page 6

was saying something to me about it," said the mate
guardedly.
"Did he tell the cook and the cabin boy too?" inquired Miss Alsen,
flushing somewhat. "What did he tell you?"
"Told me about a man named Towson," said the mate, becoming intent
on the sails, "and--another fellow."
"I took a little notice of HIM just to spoil the other," said the girl, "not
that I cared for him. I can't understand a girl caring for any man. Great,
clumsy, ugly things."
"You don't like him then?" said the mate.
"Of course not," said the girl, tossing her head.
"And yet they 've sent you to sea to get out of his way," said the mate
meditatively. "Well, the best thing you can do"--His hardihood failed
him at the pitch.
"Go on," said the girl.
"Well, it's this way," said the mate, coughing; "they've sent you to sea
to get you out of this fellow's way, so if you fall in love with somebody
on the ship they'll send you home again."
"So they will," said the girl eagerly. "I'll pretend to fall in love with that
nice-looking sailor you call Harry. What a lark!"
"I shouldn't do that," said the mate gravely.
"Why not?" said the girl.
"'Tisn't discipline," said the mate very firmly; "it wouldn't do at all.
He's before the mast."

"Oh, I see," remarked Miss Alsen, smiling scornfully.
"I only mean pretend, of course," said the mate, colouring. "Just to
oblige you."
"Of course," said the girl calmly. "Well, how are we to be in love?"
The mate flushed darkly. "I don't know much about such things," he
said at length; "but we'll have to look at each other, and all that sort of
thing, you know."
"I don't mind that," said the girl.
"Then we'll get on by degrees," said the other. "I expect we shall both
find it come easier after a time."
"Anything to get home again," said the girl, rising and walking slowly
away.
The mate began his part of the love-making at once, and, fixing a gaze
of concentrated love on the object of his regard, nearly ran down a
smack. As he had prognosticated, it came easy to him, and other well-
marked symptoms, such as loss of appetite and a partiality for bright
colours, developed during the day. Between breakfast and tea he
washed five times, and raised the ire of the skipper to a dangerous pitch
by using the ship's butter to remove tar from his fingers.
By ten o'clock that night he was far advanced in a profound melancholy.
All the looking had been on his side, and, as he stood at the wheel
keeping the schooner to her course, he felt a fellow-feeling for the
hapless Towson, His meditations were interrupted by a slight figure
which emerged from the companion, and, after a moment's hesitation,
came and took its old seat on the skylight.
"Calm and peaceful up here, isn't it?" said he, after waiting some time
for her to speak. "Stars are very bright to-night."
"Don't talk to me," said Miss Alsen snappishly.

"Why doesn't this nasty little ship keep still? I believe it's you making
her jump about like this."
"Me?" said the mate in amazement.
"Yes, with that wheel."
"I can assure you "--began the mate.
"Yes, I knew you'd say so," said the girl.
"Come and steer yourself," said the mate; "then you'll see."
Much to his surprise she came, and, leaning limply against the wheel,
put her little hands on the spokes, while the mate explained the
mysteries of the compass. As he warmed with his subject he ventured
to put his hands on the same spokes, and, gradually becoming more
venturesome, boldly supported her with his arm every time the
schooner gave a lurch.
"Thank you," said Miss Alsen, coldly extricating herself, as the male
fancied another lurch was coming. "Good-night."
She retired to the cabin as a dark figure, which was manfully knuckling
the last remnant of sleep from its eyelids, stood before the mate,
chuckling softly.
"Clear night," said the seaman, as he took the wheel in his great paws.
"Beastly," said the mate absently, and, stifling a sigh, went below and
turned in.
He lay awake for a few minutes, and then, well satisfied with the day's
proceedings, turned over and fell asleep. He was pleased to discover,
when he awoke, that the slight roll of the night before had disappeared,
and that there was hardly any motion on the schooner. The passenger
herself was already at the breakfast-table.
"Cap'n's on deck, I s'pose?" said the mate, preparing to resume

negotiations where they were broken off the night before. "I hope you
feel better than you did last night."
"Yes, thank you," said she.
"You'll make a good sailor in