On The Blockade

f and dumb, he "jawed" at him as though his hearing was as perfe

at each end of the sentence. "Oh, you can't hear me!" he shouted, as though the fact that the sculli

hat his ears were closed to all sounds, for he redo

onsequence," the steward heard the deaf mute

aking a spring at the canvas as though he was disgust

e just told you,

the first lieutenant were talking together in t

before," answered the scullion, rather impati

the operations of the futu

ders which he will not see before to-morrow. I heard him tell his father

s his orders," continued the second lieutenant. "He will be

saw him shake his head. "The captain has found me cleaning the brasses

abin where you can conceal your

tain," suggested Mulgrum; and it looked as though the deaf mute had not held his tongue and kept his ears open for nothing; but the steward could not understand how he had got this idea into hi

little jaw for the benefit of the seamen and petty officers within earshot of him.

and so am I, because she is under the command of a boy. But he is a tremendo

current history in connection with naval matters, and he was willi

re I have done with him," said Mr. Lillyworth contemptuously. "It is galling for

not forgetting y

ard of this vessel, Hungerfo

d we must do better. I think I ought to caution you not to neglect any outside tokens of respect to th

We must find out something about these orders, and you must be on the lookout for your chances at meridian to-morrow. If you can stow yourse

grum. "If I am discovered, no explanation co

it may not be necessary to conceal yourself. I shall say something to the captain on the subject at which

rd the conversation between the captain and the first lieutenant whi

ll not ruin our enterprise," Mulgrum r

tenant will be relieved, so that he will be at liberty to visit the c

ok about me, and see what can be done," said Mulgrum

must do the same. How is it with

e all the time in the midst of the rest of the seamen," repl

ht as well be on shore. As there are six of them, I should say yo

o far, and I have not considered the

o know how yo

t have no suspicion that I am not what I seem to be. The executive officer put me through a full examination, especially in re

Mulgrum took an entirely different view of the result of the test from that taken by the examiner and the c

een on the bridge long enough," said Mr. Lillyworth, walking to the w

g he could to make it appear that he was not talking to his companion. Mulgrum, overhauling the screen as he proceeded, made his way to the steps by the sid

o our conversation," said the deaf mute, plainly a

t it is all right, and the man at th

Mulgrum, and he d

im, he descended to the deck. He wandered about for a while, and saw that the supernumerary went to the galley, where, in the scarcity of accommodations for the extra persons on board, he was obli

had been writing at his desk in the

our bells had just struck, indicating that it was ten o'clock in the evening. Flint's prediction in regard to the weather seemed to be in the way of fulfilment, for the Bronx had been lea

resented himself at the door of the state room. "I suppose f

o if it isn't a big thing," replied Dave with his most expansi

t, I hope," replie

"Pink Mulgrum has been talking and listeni

ot a deaf mut

about his grammar and dictionary. You have just eight traitors on

y ei

d I think that is enough for

ave; but who are they?" ask

Pink Mulgrum is another, and Spoors, one of the quartermas

t stool, and tell me the whole story,

that he had seen and heard on the bridge. When Dave had finished his story, and answered the questions put to him, the commander was willing to believe that he had done a big thing; though he sai