West Wind Drift

he was given command of the Doraine, relieving a younger man for more drastic duty in the North Sea. He was an Englishman, and his name, Weatherby Trig

rican papers, and, with some difficulty, an English master. The Captain was making his last voyage as master of the ship. An American captain was to succeed him as soon as the Doraine reached its destination in the United States. Captain Trigger, a little past seventy,

board were noticeably unfit for active duty in the war zone. There was a small contingent of Americans, a great m

hman, although he had lived in the United States since he was two years old,-a matter of forty-seven years and three months, if we are to believe Mr. Codge, who seemed rather proud of the

n consolidated on the Doraine as was the case with the harried trans-Atlantic liners,-and approximately three hundr

e in these parlous days meant but one thing to the people of South America: a visit to an unsentimental land whose traditions, if any were cherished at all, went back no farther than yesterday and were to be succeeded by fresh ones tomorrow. At least, such was the belief of the Latin who still dozed superciliously in the glory of his long-dead ancestor

aturalists, entomologists, mineralogists, archaeologists, explorers; sportsmen who had forsaken the lion, rhinoceros, hartebeest and elephant of Africa for the jaguar, cougar, armadillo and anteater of South America; soldiers of fortune whose gods had lured them into the comparative safety of South American revolutions; miners, stock buyers and raisers, profiteersmen,

ph Fitts, of Boston, the well-known architect; Percy Knapendyke, the celebrated naturalist; Michael O'Malley Malone, of the law firm of Eads, Blixton, Solomon, Carlson, Vecchiavalli, Revitsky, Perkins & Malone, New York; William Spinney, of the Chicago Police force, (and his prisoner, "Soapy" Shay, diamond thief); Denby Flattner, the taxidermist; Morris Shine, the motion

rs during the anxious, watchful days and weeks that succeeded the

iday, resolved not to be deprived of their right to wander, nor the right to return when they felt inclined. Whilom, defiant rovers in search of change, they scoffed at conditions and went their way regard

s of the vanquished fleet, and no passenger went aboard who did not experience the thrill of a hazardous undertaking. The ever-present and ever-ready individual with official information from sources that could not be questioned, travelled with remarkable regularity on each and every craft that ventured out upon the Hun-infested waters. In the smoke-room the invariable word went round that raiders were sinking everything in sight. Every ship that sailed had on board at least one individu

along steadily through a choppy sea when Mr. Mott, the First Officer,

ired Captain T

t and, what's more, he doesn't act it

ming these days, Mr. Mott. We can't take a

in person to the Chief Engineer about half an hour ago and asked for a job. He said he was perfectly willing t

commanded Captain Trigger. "I'll h

chin dubiously, and then came back. "He's having a bit of bre

oared the

er, which leads me to confess still further that I gave orders to feed him,-he hasn't had a mouthful to eat since we left port, owing to the fact, he says, that his luggage shifted the first day out and try as he would he couldn't locate it without a match, or something t

with something more than emotion in his

courteous fellow, too, sir. I forgot to mention that he sent his co

the heels, if necessary. Tell him I shan't keep hi

In the event, sir, that he

Present my compliments to him, Mr. Mott, and say that he needn't dress up on my account. I am an old-fashioned sa

," said Mr. Mot

peared with the s

ist as the result of a most violent soaping. He wore corduroy riding-breeches, cavalry boots that betrayed their age in spite of a late polishing at the hands of an energetic and carefully directed bootblack, and a broad leather belt from which only half an eye was required to see that a holster had been detached with a becoming regard for neatness. His hair was thick and sun-bleached; his eyes, dark and unafraid, met the stern gaze of the captain with directness an

eyed him narro

is you

Perciva

me, young man

o add an inch to his

ir," he said, a very clear n

and the First Officer, after a brief st

id Mr. Mott, with conviction. "Nobody would

Mott," said the Captain warily. "They've got wh

d. His teeth were

ained. "That ought to account for it,

ile. Mr. Mott, however, lo

n,-a citizen of the United

y home is in

here Mr. Gray hails from, sir," he added, as a so

owaway's spotless white shirt and co

Engineer," he explain

of one of the oldest and most highly connected fam

n. "We need not discuss Mr. Gray

last Fri

rri

, s

nts l

, s

ing aboard this ship and hiding yourself in t

't seem to be quite

igger: "Wh

y his word for it. You see, he wasn't discovered un

r: "On the bri

he bridge and he was below on the promenade deck. He

ger: "He did

how he fell in with the Chief Engineer. Mr. Gray informs me that he applied for work, admitting that he was aboard without leave, or passage, or funds, or anything else, it

te, that the stateroom I had chosen,-at random, I may say,-was merely in the state of being prepared for a lady and gentleman who had asked to be transferred from a less desirable one. I had some difficulty in getting out of it without attracting attention. I don't know what I sh

into that room, young man? The doors are n

at least three stateroom doors unlocked that n

s is most extraordina

shall be loo

ger: "Go on,

,-but along about midnight two men opened the door with a key and came in. They were stewards. I gathered that they were getting the room r

Did you say

That's what I t

are either lying, youn

At least, he said he didn't want to live. I offered to put him to bed and to sit up with him all night if it would make him feel a little less like passing away. He lurched at the chance. I accompanied him to his stateroom, and so got a few much-needed hours of repose, despite his groans. I also ate his breakfast for him. Skirmishing around this morning, I found there were no unocc

d at the young man, a puzz

this ship as a stowaway? Don't you know that I can put you in irons,

a gentleman, I am prepared to do everything in my power to

The Captain stiff

e aboard this sh

I induced one of the native coal carriers,-a Portuguese nobleman, I shall always call him,-to part with his trousers, shirt and hat. I slipped 'em on over my own clothes, stuffed my boots and socks inside my shirt, picked up his basket of

pay for this carelessness, Mr. Mott. I've never heard of a

Perciva

d to book your passage in the regular way, as any gentleman from Baltimore might have been expected to

his hands in a gesture

al belongings were supposed to have arrived in town on the train with me. A couple of cow-hide trunks, in fact. Well, they didn't arrive. I don't know what became of them. I had no time to investigate. This was the last boat I could get for two or three weeks that would land me in the U. S. A. I put up at the Alcazar Grand for the night. It was then too late to secure passage, but I fully in

with it," urged

ight and went up to my room. Now comes the part you will not believe. During the night,-I sleep very soundly,-some one entered my room, rifled my pockets, an

ok your lucky coin?" inquire

from the influence of evil companions. I did not discover the loss until morning. It was then too late to do anything, as you were sailing at eight. My Providence friend was not available.

ce as he looked. He could not k

s. "Assuming that your story is true, why are you in such a tremendou

even care who wins. But a couple of months ago we got word up there that the United States had finally got into it with everybody under the sun, and that the Germans were bound to win if we didn't get a couple of million men across in pretty short order. I am thirty years old, Captain, strong and healthy, and I'm a good American. That's why I want to get home. I've told you the truth about being robbed. I don't mind losing the money,

illed in Flanders," sa

here, my country ought to supply some one to take his place. I expect to be one of t

still eyed h

. Percival. I shall put you to work, never fear, but in the meantime I am very much interested in what you were doing up in the hills. Yo