In the Yellow Sea

HE OSPREY

" said my stepfather irritably.

the act of pouring out the breakfast

ve-that's all," replied my stepfather.

. I had already remarked that trait i

is eyes are all ri

said my stepfather ("Daddy," I called him). "There

my mother. "I will take him to Mr. Jones, an old f

ent. There's the letter, read it for yourself. It's a great nuisance. I su

uddenly. "To the warehouse in St. Pau

ible fate was presented to me I spoke out. The

ence. We have been educating you for

is own," interrupt

ish you would not introduce irrelevant remarks. He h

e it!" exclaime

ort in its official folds, finished his coffee,-still i

ng, Mark?" asked m

e question with the Admiralty," he answ

r a while. At len

Granding's? I hate it!

ied. "I am afraid your father is vexed about this. He

eyes are bad. They don't look weak.

ent will be most trying to your disposition. There may be some mistake about your eyesight; though I fear, even if so,

t,-and considered that the doctors had spun me on purpose. My eyes were perfectly sound, I knew, at least I thought I knew, and it was

s absurd! But even then I could not help myself; and, however ridiculous I fancied the decision to be, I was compelled to accept it. I had failed! The medical gentlemen-one, rather-had dec

e most kind and indulgent. They perceived my disappointment, and made allowances for me in all ways, including po

ket,-which they did not wish to see either too heavy or too light,-indulged me to the top of my bent; and I believe had I suggested a voyage to

er fairly well. Thus weeks passed. I grew a tall lad; my face was browned by sun and sea, and I quite forgot business,-had even been reconciled to my disappointmen

ment in place of liberty and fresh air! What had I done to deserve this prison fate? It was not my fault tha

but made no inquiry, and kept away from home as much as possible. But one day,

termined it! It was Granding and Smith, or a local

ing and Smith. Naval surgeons and examiners also "caught it," and, indeed, my expressions pained my fond

issed her penitently. She perceived my

, and sail about until this ill-feeling has subsided.

es me no good! I want to go to sea-I mean in the navy-a

will, in time, be very glad to reflect that you were induced to go

n't suit me, and I

your father think

r, and I won't go

took my straw hat, and hurried away into th

ed during the day. Perceiving that one of these tiny trains was approaching, I hastened on and caught it. In five minutes afterwards I

, a queer, old, weather-beaten salt, who had served

ed shortly. "H

ide, Tim," remarked another salted f

I replied savage

Thrown overboard? Who's be

bad, the doctor says," I

wish I'd one o' them at your age! It's a

in the navy, anyhow. Perhaps never at al

Ye can go where ye like to-day, i

storm?" I asked, loo

squall a bit. There's thun'er abou

Tim; "them mare's tails is subspi

away to Greystones. I s

lowin' sheet agin' it, proper. Here's my lad, Tim; he

hing you like, and some beer. Look sli

was then a small, almost unknown, watering-place. Now it is growing rapidly. Our house and grounds have already been purchase

westing, and the sky was deep blue, with a haze hanging about, indicative of heat in the future hours. The distant vessels-not

t summer more than usual, but as I was so much on the sea perhaps I felt it more then. At anyrate, that August day I felt the heat grea

ng a parcel and a jar, three tumblers being hung around his neck, and his jacke

iff, ye know. The boat's all ready-ballast and all. Don't ye w

little recess which was covered by a hatch, and called the cabin. There was room for ten or twelve people, and she could accommodate more. She carried the usual fore and aft sails, with a mizzen, and sa

and when we hauled up the mainsail, and set the jib

ng me a small sum, in which sixpence

ase. Now, Murry, wh

. Keep your luff, sir, that's what it is, and the

tones, though," I sai

when ye weather the Ratcham ye'll want all the luff ye can find to fetc

So you think I'm a sailor, Murry?" I c

like a cat. Why, I've see ye make out the rig of a coaster w

sked, with my despise

ould say. Fifteen, ain't i

d back the lad, from

l!" replied his fathe

ut I believe I'm thereabo

the reply. "Mind you keep your eye

onder, dad; seems like to spread. W

weather the point if we keep in. As it is

when ye can lay a point inside-well, half a

close hauled; and every now and then, with all my care, I could not prevent the sail shaking a bit. This back lift required me to ke

ects. Even the wind was warm, and appeared as if from a stove-pipe. I

ut a while, Murry,

my assumption of phrase. "It's eigh

servations,' Murry, I

o offer any except 'Hands

iments, pickled onions in a bottle, and a huge piece of strong cheese. Altogether it was a splendid dinne

," I said, after an interval, during which our attentions had been directed to the thw

Murry. "That big, black cloud is sailing up hand over fist. Th

e shall be under shelter of the cliff before it comes

hand, Tim, my lad. Get in a couple of re

ou're frightened. Why, it's o

Tim, smart. The squall will catch us o

ed. "The beastly ship won't stand up

breeze is backin' and fillin'. Give me the tiller

and held it in his left hand while steering the boat. Ever and anon he cast a glance above the cliff in the direction of which we were running

im. "What a black 'un! Whi

e're in for it, I

allus skeered in a big storm. Mother, s

ul! In a bo

r she was steerin', when smack come the lightnin' and kill her stone dead, settin' up like a statoo, she was; and when fa

o east, west, and south the horizon was clear, but great hanging tendrils were seeking to grip the blue below, and were curling up and retreating or advancing by turns; but apparently also

for any craft caught unprepared. The boat's head was necessarily put more west, and so, with the wind more on the beam, the rate of s

sat over more to the weather side. He made

rd, and haul a tarpaulin over ye. Th

'S A-COMI

t. It was a covering for the sails, which the old man used at times much to his friends' amusement. However, on this occasion we did not compl

er roared, the lightning flashed past us, the little yacht bounded and dipped. A

hunder. The boat careened over, righted, and flew before the wind like a frightened gull. I felt Tim rise, a