Prisoners
By H. S.
CHAPTER TTT ffWHniiw1
Lieut. Grace was present and certain
entries were made in the log book. The
two servants of her majesty were prompt
and business-like in their questions. Tyars
had taken the precaution of bringing the
log-book of the Martial, in which the
deaths of the whole crew excepting him
self were faithfully recorded. The pro
ceedings were ship-shape and business
like, but as the story progressed the old
commander became more and more inter
ested, to the detriment of his official punc
tilio. When at last Tyars finished his
narrative with tha wnrila
"And this afternoon Lieut. Grace found
me asleep on the wheel," the old sailor
leaned forward across the little cabin ta
ble and extended an unsteady, curved
nana.
"Your hand, sir; I should like to take
by the hand a man with such a record
as yours. You have done a wonderful
thing in navigating the ship almost single-handed
as far as this. In nursing the
poor fellows you have acted with the ten
derness of a woman ; in the management
of your ship you have proved yourself a
good sailor, and in your marvelous pluck
you have shown yourself a1 gentleman
for such I think you must be, though you
shipped as second mate of a merchant
man." Tyars took the proffered hand, smiling
his slow, unconsciously mournful smile.
"But," he said, calmly ignoring the in
terrogation of the old man's glance, "you
must not give me the whole credit. There
are other records as good as mine, but
they are finished, and so the interest suf
fers. Some of the men behaved splen
didly. One poor fellow actually dropped
, dead at the wheel, refusing to go below
until it was too late. He knew it was
hopeless, but he took a peculiar sort of
pride in dying with his fingers around the
spokes."
Then the young surgeon of the Foam
appeared and took charge of his second
patient for the terrier Muggins had, by
lyars request, been attended to hrst.
In the quiet days that followed the
rescued man and his dog recovered from
the effects of their hardship with wonder
ful rapidity. Muggins had a decided dis
advantage of his master. He was older
as a dog than Tyars as a man ; moreover,
his hardships had been greater, for thirst
is a terrible enemy and leaves his mark
deep sunken. Tyars had passed through
a most trying period, but Providence had
chosen to place within his broad chest' a
heart semi-indifferent, semi-stubborn the
hard heart of a fearless man. In his
place nine out of ten would have lost
their reason; Grace found him as nearly
hysterical as a strong will could well be.
Claud Tyars soon regained his energy,
and with the return of it came that rest
lessness which characterized his daily way
of life. He wished to be up and doing,
holding idleness as an abomination. A
few men had been put on board the mer
chantman with instructions to keep near
their own ship under all circumstances,
and In consort the vessels were creeping
elowly through the placid waters toward
the north.
It happened that Lieut. Grace was soon
to leave the slaver on a "long leave of
absence, and he was therefore selected
to go on board the Martial, with Tyars
as joint commander, and a few men
with a view to sailing for Madeira, where
the crew would be strengthened.
At last the doctor announced that the
rescued man was perfectly strong again,
and that the fever-stricken ship was puri
fied and disinfected.
"But," he added gravely, looking at
Tyars, "the dog is In a critical condition.
I do not consider myself justified in al
lowing him to go out of my hands. He
requires constant medical attendance."
"Bosh !" replied Tyars, with much sol
emnity. "I will give you five pounds for him,"
said the doctor, innocently.
"I have not come on board this vessel
to sell my dog."
The offer was increased, but to no pur
pose. Tyars was as faithful to his dog
as Muggins to his master. And so the
two returned to their vessel early one
morning, when a fair breeze was blow
ing. , For the third time since her de
parture from South America the Mar
tial's sails were all shaken out, and be
neath a cloud of snowy canvas she moved
away on her stately progress northward,
while the little slave-catcher returned to
the cursed coast which required so close
a watch.
1 Tyars held a master's certificate, and
by right of seniority succeeded to the com
mand of the Martial, vice captain and
first mate, dead and burled. In Lieut,
Grace he found a coadjutor of sympathet
ic mettle. Energetic, alert and bold, he
ruled the deck with cheery despotism,
and went below for rest with the comfort
ing conviction that Grace would never
shorten sail from nervousness.
The question before this little band of
men was the safe conduct of a valuable
ship and precious cargo home to Eng
land, and this they one and all came to
look upon In time with that breadth of
view which the circumstances required.
Man-of-war trimness was out of the ques
tion carpenter there was none, so paints
could not be mired, nor decks caulked,
nor woodwork repaired. There was no
eailmaker, so things must perforce be al
lowed to go. a little ragged.
After a lone consultation with ftmna
Tyars had called together his little crew
. i, 1 I J 1L i lt . .
rouna tne wneei, uuu mere aeuvc
them a short harangue in his
ueat
'Union" style. The result of this and
-
fanr word from the lieutenant was Hint
"
the island of Madeira wag enthuslastlcal-
ly shelved. There were to be no half
measures on board the Martial They
and Captives
MERRIMAN
would take'the ship home If there was no
watch below for any of them.
This program was ultimately carried
out to the letter. With the aid of good
fortune. a anfo and rnnlil nnsHflefl was Der-
formed, though, indeed, there was not too
much sleep for any on board. Wo mean
enerzy was disnlaved bv Muejtlns among
others. He gravely superintended every
alteration of sail, every bit of work re
quiring all hands, and was never missing
trom nis post by night or day. When at
last the Channel pilot came on board,
gazing curiously up aloft, where things
were anything but taut, Muggins was
among the first to greet him with that
self-possessed gentlemanliness which he
wielded so unconsciously.
And dnrlnir ftm vctvnim home Lieut
Grace had studied his companion with a
slow, comprehensive scrutiny. The two.
commanders had not been thrown much
together, hv reason nf thir rinHpa helnir
separate, but it was not to this fact alone
that the naval officer attributed his fail
ure to make anvthino- nf ninnri Tvnrs.
He had found this ex-wrangier calmly In
stalled in the humble post of second mate
to a merchant sailing ship. Moreover,
there was no attempt to conceal an iden
tity which was, to say the least of It,
stranire. Tvars annenred in no wnv con
scious of an unanswered question existing
in his intercourse with the naval officer,
and there was no suspicion of embarrass
ment such as might arise trom anomaly.
CHAPTER IV.
Things were in this state hetween tho
two young men when, one mornlne in
June, the Martial dropped anchor at
Gravesend to await the tide. The
of her tardy arrival had been telegraphed
from the coast, and the Channel nilnt hn,1
thought fit to communicate to a friend in
the journalistic interest a somewhat sen
sational account of the wonderful voyage.
It thus happened that before the an
chor was well home in its native mud a
stout gentleman came alongside in a
wherry and climbed on deck with some
alacrity. His lips were a trifle white
and unsteady as he recognized Tyars, and
came toward him with a fat gloved hand
outstretched.
"Mr. Tyars," he said, breathlessly, "you
don't remember me, perhaps. I am
George Lowell, the owner. I have ten
riggers coming on board to start unbend
ing sail at once. I have to thank you
In the name of the merchants and of my
self for your plucky conduct, and you,
too. sir, as well as these men."
So the voyage was accomplished, and
Grace recognized the fact that the Hm
had arrived for him to withdraw his eight
bluejackets. Their strange duties were
at an end, and one more little tale of
bravery had been added to the great roll.
He gave the word to hla
below to get together his few belongings.
As first officer he had navigated the shin.
and for some minutes he leaned over the
plain deal table In his diminutive state
room, with his elbows upon the out
stretched chart.
Across the great SDread of ocean was
dotted line, but In the marks there was
a difference, for three navierators had
worked out the one voyage. As his eyes
followed the line, day by day, hour by
hour, In vivid retrospection back to the
still, hot regions near the equator, the
young fellow realized that the voyage had
been something more than a mere Inci
dent In his life. The restless d va And
sleepless nights had been very pleasant In
tneir sense ot satisfactory toil; the very
contrast of having too much to do In
stead of too little was pleasurable. But
above all, there was the companionship
and friendship of a man who interested
him more than any "he had vet come In
contact with.
Looking back over the davs and nlirhto
they had passed through together, he re
alized how little leisure there had been
for mere conversation. In the working
of the ship, in the attempt to enable ten
men to do the work of twenty, there had
been sufficient to keep them fully engag
ed without leaving time for personal mat
ters. But It is In such a life as this,
lived together, that men really learn to
know each other, and not in mere inter
change of thought, or give and take of
question and answer.
Lieut. Grace was in his small wnv n
student of human nature. Men who watch
the sea and skv. to eather from thplr
changes the deeper secrets of wind and
weatner, acquire a habit of watching lips
and eyes, gathering therefrom little hints,
small revelations, tiny evidences which,
when pieced together, make that strange
incongruous muddle called Man. Of the
human being Claud Tvars he knew A ffnnn
deal of the gentleman, the university
atniete, tne traveled sportsman, he knew
absolutely nothing. Beyond the bare fact
that Trinity Colleee had left its ln(Tnna.
able mark upon him, the past history of
tnis sailor was a blank to Grace.
When he went on deck a little later,
leaving his baggage to be brought up by
one of the bluejackets, this thought was
still uppermost in his mind. He found
Tyars and Mr. Lowell walking together
on the after, deck; the former talking
earnestly, while the owner of the ship
listened with pained eyes. They came to
ward Grace together, and he told them of
his intention to take his men up to Lon
don by train at once in order to report
themselves at the Admiralty.
I ttic wniB uiuugmue uie riggers
were on board, indeed, they were already
ui. wum niou, ana mere was no cause for
-"';' buwieu away wuu V18-
Ihln ruin Motion mJ j i.
rurtner delay. He turned away with vis
t MUM ncu. iv.waru lu Call
his men together. Mr. Lowell followed
and shook hands gratefully, after which
he went ait to apeak to the pilot. Thug
Grace and Tvar were left alone amid.
ships, for the. men were busy throwing
iaeir eiiects into tho attendant boats.
"I hope," said Tynrs, "that you will
not get Into a row for coming straight
noma witiiout calling at Madeira on the
chance of picking up more men."
"I don't anticipate any difficulty," was
the reply; nnPu has the milling of
afew of the strings, you know."
Tyars nodded his head. There wag
nothing more to be said. The two men
were already clambering down the ship's
side, eager to get ashore.
"Good-by," said Grace, holding out his
hand. "I eh I'm glad we got her
home."
"Good-by."
Theyshook hands, and Tyars stood still
upon the deck he had trodden so bravely,
while the little officer moved away to
ward the gangway. Somehow there was a
sense of Insufficiency on both sides. There
was something l,,ft unsaid, and yet neith
er could think of anything to say. Grace
had not gone many yards when ho stop
ped, hesitated, and filially returned.
"I say, Tyars," he said, hurriedly, "is
this going to be the end of it all? I
mean, are we going to lose sight of each
other now? We have been tarown togeth
er in rather a singular way, and, under
peculiar circumstances, we have got on
very wen togetherhaven't we?"
Tyars changed color beneath his sun
burn.
"Yes," he replied, with the awkward
geniality of a man accustomed to the
exercise of an iron reserve over any emo
tion, leg, we have eot on verv well."
"I don't think we oueht to lose sleht
ot eacn other," suggested Grace.
ao; I don't think we ought."
"Then will you come up and see us In
town? The guv'nor would like to make
your acquaintance. Come and dine to
morrow evening. No. 105 Brook street.
Grosvenor Square. You won't foreet the
aaaress '
"Thanks ; I shall be most haDDV. What
time do you dine?"
'Well, I don't know. I have been awav
from home four years;" but come at
seven."
'Seven o'clock: No. 105 Brook street.
Thanks."
They had reached the eancrwav. and
Grace now turned with a little nod of
acknowledgment, and began making his
way down the unsteady steps into the
boat awaiting him. Tyars stood on the
grating, with one hand resting on the rail
of the ship, the other in his jacket pocket.
ay tne way," called out Grace, as the
boatman shoved off, "bring Muggins."
mat sage dog, standing between his
master's legs, wagged the white stump
that served him for a tail and dropped
his pointed ears in quick acknowledgment
of the mention of his name in a way
which he knew to be friendly.
lie is not accustomed to the hahlta
of polite society," remarked Tyars In a
shout, because the stream had carried the
boat astern already. "He has got out of
the way of It."
Muggins is a gentleman." shouted
Grace, "who knows how to behave him
self in all societies and all circumstances,
You must .bring him !"
All right!" laughed Tyars: and ha
smiled down at the upturned eager face,
the quivering ears and twitching tail of
the dog for Muggins knew well enoiurh
that he wag under discussion, and wait
ed the verdict from his master's Hps.
1 CHAPTER V.
At 7 o'clock that night the Martini
found rest at last, moored safelv along
side the quay in the East India dock.
There was a little crowd of Idlers upon
the pier and on the gates of the tidal
basin, for the fame of the ship had
spread. But more eyes were directed to
ward the man who had done this deed
of prowess, for the hui.an Interest Is,
after all, paramount In things in vhlch
we busy our minds. For one who look
ed at the ship there were ten of those
mariners, dock laborers and pilots who
sought Tyars. ,
"He ain't one of us at all," muttered
a sturdy lighterman to his mate. "A gen
tleman, If yer please."
But gentleman or no gentleman, these
toilers of the sea welcomed the plucky
sailor with a hoarse cheer. The stately
ship glided smoothly forward In all the
deep-seated glory of her moss-grown
decks, her tarnished brass, her slack
ropes. There seemed to be a living spirit
of calm, silent pride in the tapering spars
and weather-beaten hull, as if the vessel
held high her head amid her sprucer com
peers. She seemed to be conscious that
her name was far above mere questions
of paint and holystone. Her pride lay in
her deeds and not In her appearance.
Her sphere was not! In moorings, but
upon the great seas. She came like A
soldier Into camp, disdaining to wipe the
blood from off his face.
Tyars stood near the wheel, hardly
noticing the crowd upon the quay. The
pilot and the doekmaster had to gome ex
tent relieved him of his command, bnt
he gtlll had certain duties to perform, and
ha wag still captain of the Martial, the
only man who sailed from London in her
to return again.
When at last she was moored and his
command had ceased, he went below and
changed his clothes. When he came on
deck a little later Claud Tyars was trans
formed. The keen, resourceful sailor was
merely a gentleman of the world. Self
poBsessed and somewhat cold in manner,
he wag the' sort of man one would expect
to meet on the shady side of Piccadilly,
while his brown face would be accounted
for by military service In a tropical cli
mate. (To h rontlnncd.l "
His Reason.
"Bowly calls his wife's dog 'Sim
ple Life.
"Gracious! Why?" -
"Because she leads It" Cleveland
Plain Dealer.
Of all Americans those of French
extraction spend the smallest propor
tion of their Income on food.
Vvntllutlon of Farm HulliMna.
There ure no small buildings on the
farm thut cannot bo amply ventilated
by the simple plan here described,
Generally such buildings nw of tho
jingle or sloping roof sort so that the
plan can be carried out lit small ex
penso. In tho rear of tho limine, near
one corner, 1ml Id an air shaft, mode.
by Joining nt the edges four Inmrds
about eight Inches wide. Set this Into
tho grouud or fasten to the floor if of
boards so that It will be Ann. llitvo It
open nt the top, of course, and make
It three or four feet high. In tho side
of It, next to the wall of the building
and about a foot up from tho floor cut
out a piece so ns to have un opening
the width of the board and about six
Inches the other way, and In tho side
PLAN OF VENTILATION.
of tho building opposite this hole In the
shaft cut a bole of corresponding size.
Cover those two holes ns well us the
hole In the top of tho shaft with wire
netting so that no bird or small animal
can get In.
This is the shaft by which the air
enters the building. Then build an
other shaft long enough to reach the
floor up through the roof so that It
will come out' through the roof a foot
or fifteen Inches. The top of this shaft
must be capped so that the opening
will be protected from rain. The lower
end Is to be covered with wire netting.
Fasten this firmly nt the roof end and
with corner supports to tho floor at
the bottom. The plan Is simple, easy
to construct and works splendidly. - It
is particularly good for ventilating
poultry houses. In the plain illustra
tion A represents the shaft through
which the foul air passes and B the
shaft through which the fresh air en
ters. X Barrel Cucumber Garden.
An Interesting form of backyard
gardening is raising cucumbers In bar
rels. An old sugar barrel without
heads will answer. Get several of them
and saw them In two, setting the
halves according to the space available,
about twelve feet apart Drive a stake
through the center of the barrel to hold
firm during storms and fill the half
barrel with manure. Plant four hills
of cucumbers around the Inside of each
barrel and make a kind of trellis In
the shape of the letter II out of luths,
one trellis for each bill, one end to rest
on the top of the barrel. The vines
may be readily made to run over the
barrels and trellis, making a very at
tractive and luxuriant appearance, and
producing immense quantities of cucum
bers. The crop will be greatly in
creased If the vines are thoroughly
soaked during the dry weather.
Combined Roller and Marker.
A neat attachment to a garden rol
ler Is the following: Bore holes eight
inches apart lengthwise and put In
HOLLER AND MAItKEB COMBINED.
pins. To mark the garden make these
pins each hold a small rope, encircling
the roller by driving them Into the
holes beside the ends of the rope. More
than one row of holes can be used to
change distances. Tack strips length
wise of the roller to mark places In
row for setting plants. '
Seed Testing.
The bureau of plant Industry Is do
ing a good deal of seed testing this
spring owing to the reports published
In regard to widespread adulteration.
Special attention Is given to testing
samples of alfalfa seed for fodder.
Many other seeds come In for careful
examination as to purity but testing
for germination does not receive so
much attention. This Is a branch of
seed testing that can be better attend
ed to by the farmer himself and It Is
lomethlng that every farmer should be
Intensely Interested In.
t4rowliiir lltitolc HiLMiibMrrlttM.
Tho amateur who wishes to try berry
growing will llnd the black raspberry
il good plant to begin with. The rasp
berry 1m In nil probability the most
honest of berry growing plants. There
Is no waste, the berries are uniform In
nIkc, mill as soon ns gathered they are
ready for tlio table, or for preserving.
A plantation of this fruit, once estab
lished, should Inst six or eight years.
It will grow In almost any soil except
very stiff clay, or one that Is so
IHiorly drained thut tho water stands,
on the soil for some tlmo before being
drained away. It Is a heavy feeder,
so Its soil must lie fertilized every year
or two to keep up Its maximum pro
ductiveness. " '
A northern exposure Is best for the
plant, for It suffers from extreme hent,
and the direct rays of the sun, more
thnn from extreme cold weather. A
sloping ground Is preferred to either
tho summit or base of a hill. Tho black
raspberry Is propagated by burying the
tips of the ennes about August. Sim
ply dig a little holo with a spade, and
bond the cane so that the tip will lay
in tho holo, then cover it with soil and
press it down. The weight of tho soil
will usually hold tho cane; If not a
small peg may bo used. In the fall
a young plant with a mass of roots will
have been formed. The old cane may
be cnt away and the young plants will
bo ready for setting out In most
cases It Is well to let the young plants
remain until spring before transplant
ing. Proper attention should be given
to pruning raspberries. Canes of tho
first season produce fruit the follow
lug season, but after bearing they may
bh cut away.
Hold Croxa-Cat Saw to File.
Take two pieces of one-inch board
(hard wood Is boRt), wide as saw In
widest place, and as long as the saw
between the handles. Shnpo tho boards
with a "billy" like the cutting edge of
saw. Lay your saw on one of theRe
boards with the teeth above the board
enough to file nicely, and straddle tho
saw with a pair of six-inch strnn
hinges, near the ends of the boards.
saw, and mark around the hinges to
show where to let them in the board
the thickness of the hinge. Fasten
hinges to this board, and then to the
other board In the same manner. Now
you have a pair of Jaws In which your
saw will rest on Its back, nermlttinn
the teeth to come above the edge of the
Jaw to file. Bevel edge of boards. Now
FOB FILING THE CBOSS-CUT SAW.
get two legs for each board, of 2x4,
or sticks from the woods, as I did, and
bevel to stand like legs of a sawhorse,
and long enough to stand up to filo
easily. Fasten your Jaw boards to
these legs, from Inside of Jaws, with
screws- or wire naila Fasten a strip
o cross two of the legs at the bottom
to put your foot on while filing to help
to keep the horse steady. Put In your
saw and pull out on the legs to tighten
the Jaws on the saw. Farm Progress.
- Note for the Bee Keeper.
Bees, like men, are good-natured
when they are making headway In pro
viding for the future. This accounts
for tho different receptions given to
an intruder at different times.
Beehives are now so constructed that
they may be opened and their contents
removed or changed about and exam
ined without materially Interfering
with the action of the bees. They fre
quently continue their labors even when
the comb Is held In the hand of the
beekeeper.
Honey Is always a ready seller and
the price per pound averages anywhere
from 12 to 20 cents, depending upon
the locality and quality. A good hive
of bees In the average locality will pro
duce about seventy-five pounds of honey
per year and pay 50 per cent on the
Investment of the first season. Get
posted on beekeeping if you seek a
pleasant and profitable occupation.
It Is claimed that a strong colonv
of bees Is the best preventive against
moths.
Any one who doubts that there la
money In beekeeping need onlv lnnir
up statistics on the hou'ey crop of the
United States to find out what a great
marketable article honey Is. In tho
year 1900 the total amount of capital
Invested In bees In the United Statpa
was $10,180,000. The returns from the
national honey crop that same year were
$8,665,000, a dividend of 65 per cent
on the amount Invested. What other
crop payi this rate of Interest!