PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES
 
 PAUL TRAVERS' 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 BEING A FAITHFUL NARRATIVE OF A 
 BOY'S JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD ; 
 SHOWING HIS MISHAPS, PRIVATIONS 
 AND OFTTIMES THRILLING EXPERI 
 ENCES AND HOW HE WON HIS RE 
 PORTER'S STAR 
 
 BY 
 SAM T. CLOVER 
 
 Chicago 
 
 Way & Williams 
 1897
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1897, BY WAY * WILLIAMS 
 TWELVE ILLUSTRATIONS BY BERT CASSIDY
 
 35O5 
 
 TO MY FRIEND AND CHIEF 
 
 HERMAN H. KOHLSAAT
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I. WHAT THE EDITOR PROMISED. 
 
 II. IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES. 
 
 III. DOWN TO HARDPAN. - 
 
 IV. TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY. 
 V. PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS. - 
 
 VI. A FORTUNE IN EYE-WATER. - 
 
 VII. IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC. 
 
 VIII. ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY. 
 
 IX. FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON. 
 
 X. CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 XI. ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN. 
 
 XII. WRECK OF THE KOTURAH. 
 
 xin. IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS. 
 
 XIV. UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS. 
 
 XV. RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES. - 
 
 XVI. EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES. 
 
 XVII. FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA. 
 
 XVIII. LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE." ' 
 
 XIX. ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO. 
 
 XX. HEADED FOR HOME. - 
 
 PAGE 
 
 5 
 
 21 
 
 37 
 
 54 
 
 72 
 
 90 
 
 107 
 
 124 
 
 142 
 
 1 60 
 
 178 
 
 197 
 
 217 
 
 236 
 
 255 
 
 273 
 
 292 
 
 3ii 
 330 
 350
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 FRONTISPIECE. - I 
 
 "PAUL STOOD STOCK STILL." - 30 
 
 AT THE SECTION HOUSE. 52 
 
 AMUSING THE EMIGRANTS. - ... g6 
 
 SELLING EYE-WATER AT THE FAIR. ... Ioo 
 
 DOWN IN THE LAZARETTE. .... r ^ o 
 
 ESCAPING FROM THE SHIP. ----- 148 
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND. - - - - 172 
 
 ADRIFT ON A QUEER RAFT. ----- 22O 
 
 PEDDLING "KAISER TINTS" IN SYDNEY. - - 266 
 
 IN THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD FIELDS. - 280 
 
 PAUL'S FIGHT IN THE GLORY HOLE. 328
 
 Paul T ravers' Adventures. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 WHAT THE EDITOR PROMISED. 
 
 ' ' WELL, my boy, what can I do for 
 you?" 
 
 The speaker was chief editorial writer 
 on one of the leading daily papers in 
 the West. Of medium height, fairly 
 robust frame, piercing black eyes, high 
 forehead, and sallow features, his was 
 perhaps the most familiar figure known 
 to the Chicago newspaper world, where 
 his trenchant pen had long since won 
 for him the recognition that his tal 
 ents deserved. 
 
 He now sat in his cozy den on the 
 fifth floor of the Mercury Building, and 
 with his swivel chair half wheeled from 
 his desk turned toward a lad of six 
 teen, who, straw hat in hand, had just 
 entered the room in response to the 
 invitation that followed his modest tap 
 on the door.
 
 6 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 In the bright-eyed, alert figure of 
 the youth who advanced toward him 
 Mr. Wilder recognized the son of an 
 old college friend, whose unpractical 
 business notions, despite his cultured 
 mind, had ever proved a bar to his 
 financial success in bustling, matter-of- 
 fact Chicago. 
 
 During the occasional visits paid to 
 his former college chum, Mr. Wilder 
 had learned to . admire the younger 
 Paul Travers, whose modest deport 
 ment, bright observations, intelligent 
 questions and fund of wit were qual 
 ifications that readily attracted the keen 
 newspaper man, who, perhaps, saw in 
 the lad some trace of his former boy 
 hood self. 
 
 The cordial greeting he accorded 
 Paul put the latter at his ease imme 
 diately. After inquiring if his parents 
 were well, and receiving an affirmative 
 reply, Mr. Wilder divined the youth 
 had come to see him for some specific 
 purpose, and not for a mere friendly 
 call, so, pointing to a chair, in a pleas 
 ant tone he asked: "Well, Paul, what's 
 on your mind? What can I do for 
 you?"
 
 WHAT THE EDITOR PROMISED 7 
 
 Paul's eyes traced the pattern on 
 the carpet for a moment, and then, 
 meeting the kindly gaze of his father's 
 friend, the lad modestly replied: " It's 
 like this, Mr. Wilder: I finished my 
 studies at the high school last month, 
 and knowing that father can't af 
 ford to pay my expenses at college, 
 I am anxious to relieve him of my 
 support at home, for you see the dear 
 old pater, with his slender income, has 
 had a hard struggle to provide for 
 mother and the girls and to keep me 
 at school so long. His department 
 chief in the railroad office has offered 
 me a clerkship, but it isn't at all to 
 my taste; in fact, Mr. Wilder," contin 
 ued Paul, hesitatingly, "I want to do 
 newspaper work and have come up to 
 see if you can give me any encour 
 agement." 
 
 Paul blushed as he finished his 
 speech, realizing that his ambition 
 might appear extravagant to the man 
 of ripened experience whom he ad 
 dressed. Still, as he inwardly reflected, 
 even Mr. Wilder had to have a be 
 ginning, and perhaps he might remem 
 ber this fact.
 
 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 The editor pulled thoughtfully at his 
 mustache before replying. Then he 
 said: "I don't know any better crude 
 material in the city, my boy, for a fu 
 ture good newspaper man than yourself. 
 But are you sure you have fully con 
 sidered what you wish? Remember, 
 a reporter's life is not all roses. The 
 pay is small, the snubs are many, and 
 there is no such thing as riches or 
 fame awaiting eve him who does his 
 work thoroughly and conscientiously, 
 as I am sure would be the case with 
 you. Better aim for the president's 
 chair in that railroad company, it 
 will bring you more glory and a fuller 
 purse than the editorial management 
 of the biggest newspaper in Chicago." 
 
 Paul smiled, but shook his head. 
 ' ' I know that money is a mighty good 
 thing to have, but I assure you, sir, I 
 wasn't cut out for a rich man; you 
 know it isn't in our blood," he added 
 with a pleasant laugh. "I honestly 
 believe I can fit myself for the news 
 paper profession and hope to attain a 
 moderate success in its ranks. As for 
 the snubs, I am ready to take my 
 share, but I should think if a fellow
 
 WHAT THE EDITOR PROMISED 9 
 
 behaved himself he might expect de 
 cent treatment in return." 
 
 ' ' So he might, so he might, " re 
 turned the editor heartily, ' ' and it's 
 not nearly so bad now as when I was a 
 youngster. Well, I find you are de 
 termined to break in on us, so I will 
 do all I can to help you along. Let 
 me see, Paul, how old are you?" 
 
 ' ' I shall be seventeen in August, 
 sir. " 
 
 "Pretty young yet to start in, my 
 son. I hate to see you buckle down 
 in earnest without first having a glimpse 
 of the outside world. After once fairly 
 in harness, it is hard to get away, and 
 one draws to manhood and' assumes its 
 responsibilities almost before one real 
 izes what has happened. My advice is 
 to roam around a bit before plunging 
 into the stern realities of life. It 
 would be an experience of even far 
 more value than a college training in 
 the calling you wish to follow." 
 
 ' ' I feel that you are right, Mr. Wild 
 er; indeed I have often wished that 
 I could be in the position of those 
 wealthy young Englishmen who are 
 sent abroad to make the grand tour
 
 10 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 after finishing their studies at home; 
 but of course that sort of a trip is out 
 of the question. I can't even afford 
 the economical tramps afoot, such as 
 Bayard Taylor took; but do you know, 
 Mr. Wilder," continued Paul, in his 
 chatty, confidential way, ' ' I have had 
 serious thoughts at times of starting 
 out to see something of the world, re 
 gardless of money or prospects. I 
 actually believe I could leave Chicago 
 with just a few dollars in my pocket 
 and circle clear around the globe if I 
 only had the nerve to make the start. 
 Do you think I could succeed?" 
 
 The editor laughed grimly. ' ' I be 
 lieve if anyone could you could, Paul, 
 but it is a more serious undertaking 
 than I should care to essay at my age. 
 With your activity and pluck, however, 
 I guess you would pull through all 
 right, though I am not advising its 
 attempt, mind. Just think over what 
 I have told you and come back to 
 see me next week. Meantime I'll ask 
 the city editor to bear your application 
 in mind." 
 
 Paul had the good sense to see that 
 the interview was at an end, so, pick-
 
 WHAT THE EDITOR PROMISED 1 1 
 
 ing up his hat, he thanked Mr. Wild 
 er warmly for his interest and with a 
 cheery good afternoon, withdrew. 
 
 He was unusually quiet that even 
 ing, and when his sisters attempted 
 to rally him he let their banter pass 
 almost unheeded. When his mother 
 kissed him good-night she drew her 
 hand caressingly over her boy's face 
 and tenderly inquired if his head 
 ached, but when Paul fondly returned 
 the kiss and assured his mother that 
 nothing ailed him physically her heart 
 told her that the lad was wrestling 
 with some problem which would un 
 doubtedly be revealed in good season. 
 
 1 ' Father, I want to walk ,down town 
 with you," said Paul next morning at 
 the breakfast table. 
 
 "All right, my son; I shall be de 
 lighted. Have you concluded to take 
 that clerkship after all?" 
 
 "No, sir; but I want to have a talk 
 with you." Then, seeing the looks of 
 curiosity depicted on the faces of his 
 sisters, he laughingly added : ' ' Now, 
 girls, just possess your souls in pa 
 tience and I'll disclose the dark secret 
 this afternoon."
 
 12 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 Both Madge and Edith declared they 
 hadn't the least particle of interest in 
 his mysterious plans, and begged him 
 not to think of revealing them on 
 their account, but Paul smiled good- 
 naturedly, and said he knew they were 
 burning with curiosity. To his mother 
 he whispered as she followed his father 
 to the door, "I'll tell you all about it 
 when I come back." 
 
 The elder Paul Travers always 
 walked to his office in fine weather. 
 In the first place it saved car fare, 
 and secondly the two-mile tramp acted 
 as a tonic on the system of the man 
 who sat all day at his desk in the 
 auditor's office of the big railroad com 
 pany where he was employed. Then, 
 too, the miserable street-car service in 
 the west district where he lived re 
 pelled rather than attracted passenger 
 traffic. 
 
 Father and son traversed several 
 blocks without either saying a word. 
 Suddenly Paul spoke. "Do you think 
 you could get me a pass to Pueblo?" 
 was his startling' query. 
 
 "I might if I applied for it, I sup 
 pose; but what do you expect to do
 
 WHAT THE EDITOR PROMISED 13 
 
 in Colorado?" asked his perplexed 
 parent. 
 
 ' ' I went to the Mercury office yes 
 terday," returned Paul, evading a 
 direct reply, "and had a talk with 
 Mr. Wilder about newspaper work. 
 He thought he could help me, but 
 suggested that I see a little of the 
 world and rub off my rawness before 
 starting in as a reporter. He thinks 
 that a practical experience of this sort 
 will be invaluable to me later on. 
 What do you think, father?" 
 
 Mr. Travers hesitated. He was 
 proud of his son's energy and ambition, 
 but the boy was dear to his heart, and 
 the thought of any separation was 
 painful. Yet, knowing his own short 
 comings, he realized that a journey of 
 the kind proposed would give the lad 
 practical ideas and a knowledge of the 
 world which would at least save him 
 from the fate that had befallen his 
 father. Then, too, he shrewdly guessed 
 that Paul's imaginative mind would 
 never be satisfied with the dull routine 
 of clerical work; so with a rapid men 
 tal survey of these various problems 
 he replied : "I certainly believe travel
 
 14 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 and observation will improve anyone, 
 but, my boy, suppose you go to Colo 
 rado. What are your plans?" 
 
 "Frankly, I have no definite ones, 
 father. You know I have a standing 
 invitation from Ernest Horton to visit 
 him at Silverton, to which point I 
 would probably go from Pueblo. I am 
 anxious to see some of the famous 
 silver mines in Colorado, and to tramp 
 over part of the Rockies. It seems 
 to me that one who has lived all his 
 life in a flat prairie country might be 
 inspired by the sight of those mighty 
 peaks out there." 
 
 ' ' But fifty dollars won't last you very 
 long, Paul. What will you do when 
 your money is gone? I am sorry to 
 say I can't spare any just now." 
 
 "Don't you worry about that, dad," 
 returned Paul affectionately. "When 
 my last cent is spent I may take a 
 notion to turn tramp and keep on 
 walking until I strike salt water. But 
 just rest easy. I'm sure I can take 
 care of myself, and I'll keep you all 
 posted so that you may know I am 
 safe and in the land of the living. 
 Only give me your permission to go
 
 WHAT THE EDITOR PROMISED 15 
 
 and help me win mother's consent. 
 Is it a bargain, father?" And the lad 
 halted on the Adams street viaduct, 
 over which they were then passing, and 
 laid his hand caressingly on the elder 
 man's shoulder. ' 'You know what Mr. 
 Wilder's views are," he continued, by 
 way of a clincher, "and I wouldn't 
 urge it myself if I didn't feel certain 
 it was a good thing." 
 
 Five minutes more and they had 
 reached the general offices of the rail 
 road company. As Paul turned to re 
 trace his steps his father called from 
 the stairway: "I'll think it over, my 
 son; I'm half inclined to let you go, 
 but I must consult with your mother. " 
 
 Mrs. Travers was decidedly averse 
 to the project at first, but after a long 
 discussion that night with her husband, 
 during which he told some forcible 
 truths regarding his own early life and 
 its isolation, the mother yielded and 
 reluctantly gave her consent. When 
 Paul outlined his plans and hinted of 
 a possible extension of his Colorado 
 trip to points far beyond, both his 
 mother and the girls thought he was 
 merely joking, and Edith laughed gayly
 
 16 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 at the notion of any prolonged travels 
 with so slender a purse as Paul car 
 ried. None of them could believe he 
 was really in earnest. 
 
 In his way Paul was something of 
 a fatalist, and was willing to be guided 
 to a great extent by circumstances. 
 He was determined to travel, and had 
 planned to do any honest work, how 
 ever humble or rough, in order to suc 
 ceed in his object. Hard knocks and 
 buffetings he expected to encounter, 
 but if he could have foreseen some of 
 his later experiences even his enthu 
 siasm might have suffered a collapse. 
 
 Two days before the time set for 
 starting out on what Madge facetiously 
 termed her brother's "grand tower," 
 Paul made a farewell call on his father's 
 friend at the Mercury office. 
 
 1 ' I have come to say good-bye, Mr. 
 Wilder," he said, advancing to where 
 the newspaper man sat at his desk. 
 "You see, I have taken your advice 
 and intend to knock around a little 
 before joining the Mercury staff." 
 
 The editor leaned back in his chair 
 until the springs groaned. ' ' Bless my 
 soul, boy, you surely are not in ear-
 
 WHAT THE EDITOR PROMISED 17 
 
 nest; I never dreamed your parents 
 would give their consent. Which way 
 do you go, and when do you start?" 
 
 "I am going to Colorado first and 
 expect to leave Thursday," answered 
 Paul. "I want to see something of 
 the mountainous country and will put 
 in a month or two at the silver mines; 
 what my route will be after that I 
 have not determined. I only know that 
 I intend to keep my face to the West 
 and hope that I won't have to turn in 
 my tracks until I strike Chicago again. " 
 
 The newspaper man emitted a long 
 whistle. "Well, come, I like that," 
 he ejaculated; "and what do you ex 
 pect such a trip will cost you ?" 
 
 Paul smiled. "Well, not much; I 
 have fifty-three dollars in cash and a 
 pass over the Santa Fe road to Pueblo. 
 But I mean to make it, though, sure 
 as I live," added the lad earnestly, 
 noticing the look of incredulity on Mr. 
 Wilder's face. 
 
 "Tell you what I'll do, Paul," said 
 the editor banteringly, "I'll give you 
 six weeks to get back to three meals 
 a day and a clean bed. You'll do 
 well if you stand the pressure that
 
 1 8 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 long. Why, boy, you'll starve to death 
 out in that country when your money 
 is exhausted." 
 
 This light estimation of his powers 
 nettled Paul, as Mr. Wilder had pur 
 posely intended, and his tone was a 
 trifle brusque as he retorted: "Oh, 
 no, sir, I guess not, and I am certain 
 you will not see me back here in less 
 than a year, for I will surely go clear 
 around the world. But that isn't all; 
 I hope to get back with more money 
 than I have now, if possible." 
 
 Paul was far from being a boaster, 
 and the quiet, earnest manner in which 
 he said this seemed to carry conviction 
 to the quizzical editor, who immedi 
 ately exclaimed: "Ah, Paul, forgive 
 my skepticism. I haven't the slightest 
 doubt of your ultimate success, and I 
 promise that a first-class position shall 
 be ready for you on the Mercury staff 
 as a reward for your courage and en 
 terprise, when you return. Meanwhile, 
 if you care to send us in any letters 
 descriptive of your travels we will not 
 only publish them but pay you a good 
 price if they prove interesting. 
 
 ' ' Do you know, my boy, " he con-
 
 WHAT THE EDITOR PROMISED 19 
 
 tinued, ' ' I really am proud of your 
 spirited resolution, and only wish I 
 were twenty years younger, so that 
 I could offer myself as a traveling 
 companion. But don't forget, Paul, 
 that wherever you go or in what com 
 pany you are thrown you have a good 
 name to cherish and a mother whose 
 heart would be broken if her boy 
 went wrong. Another thing ; don't rush 
 into danger needlessly. One can be 
 brave without being foolhardy. I firmly 
 believe you will turn up here some 
 fine morning safe and sound, with a 
 fund of experiences worth the price of 
 one of those silver mines out in the 
 Rockies. So keep a stiff upper lip, 
 my lad, and try to take things phil 
 osophically the feathers with the tur 
 key. " 
 
 Then this usually cynical leader- 
 writer, whose pen, people said, was 
 tipped with gall, gave Paul a hearty 
 handshake, wished him Godspeed, and 
 as the door closed on his retreating 
 form, muttered, ' ' It's a fool thing to 
 attempt, I am afraid, but if he comes 
 through all right it will be the making 
 of him." Then he whirled around to
 
 20 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 his desk, dipped his stub pen in the 
 ink and was soon deep in a scathing 
 editorial on the unblushing boodlers of 
 the city hall.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES. 
 
 THE Santa Fe train was speeding 
 rapidly toward Pueblo, and Paul, with 
 the exuberance and elasticity of youth, 
 was beginning to recover from the 
 terrible attack of homesickness that 
 had haunted him since the day pre 
 vious. 
 
 It had been harder to say good-bye 
 to his parents and sisters than he had 
 anticipated, and but for his brave 
 promise made to Mr. Wilder it is 
 possible that he would have aban 
 doned the trip at the last moment 
 when he saw the grief of his mother 
 and the tears of Madge and Edith. 
 But although there was a big lump 
 in his throat and a heaviness of heart 
 that oppressed him sorely, he man 
 aged to go through the ordeal without 
 utterly breaking down, and the prom 
 ise of liberal letterwriting on both 
 sides was a slight measure of comfort. 
 
 To the lad who had never before 
 
 21
 
 22 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 been out of Illinois the journey so 
 far had been full of novelty. The 
 crossing of the Father of Waters and 
 later of the mighty Missouri were 
 events not to be soon forgotten, while 
 the ever-changing scenery through 
 which the train passed so engrossed 
 his attention that gradually his spirits 
 brightened and his features resumed 
 their accustomed vivacity. 
 
 Perhaps it was his lively interest in 
 the surroundings, together with his 
 cheery countenance, which attracted 
 the attention of a young army lieu 
 tenant, who presently opened a con 
 versation that, by the time they reached 
 Pueblo, resulted in establishing quite 
 a bond of friendship between the two. 
 
 Mr. Hatfield was in the cavalry 
 branch of the service, and was re 
 turning to his post on the Colorado 
 frontier, after a two months' leave of 
 absence. He was greatly interested in 
 Paul's proposed trip, and the gentle 
 breeding of the lad, added to the fact 
 that both had recently severed home 
 ties, warmed his heart toward the 
 youngster. 
 
 At Pueblo they stayed over night
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES 23 
 
 at the same hotel, where the officer 
 insisted on settling the bill next morn 
 ing. As the route of each lay in a sim 
 ilar direction, over the Denver and 
 Rio Grande Railroad, both went south 
 on the same train, the presence of 
 the lieutenant adding greatly to the 
 charm of the ride in that picturesque 
 region. 
 
 Paul was fairly overcome by the 
 awful grandeur of the mountains, whose 
 beauties he experienced for the first 
 time, and if he said little it was be 
 cause he was too full for mere words. 
 But there was an exultant leap at 
 his heart and a thrilling of the pulses, 
 as he absorbed the inspiring scenery, 
 that caused his eyes to dilate and his 
 cheeks to blush with gratified pleasure. 
 
 Lieutenant Hatfield had business to 
 transact at Fort Garland that would de 
 tain him a day and he invited Paul to 
 be his guest at the post. As the lad 
 was in no hurry to reach Silverton, he 
 gladly availed himself of the chance 
 to see something of soldier life on the 
 frontier. 
 
 ' ' But you won't see much activity 
 at this post, " remarked the lieutenant.
 
 24 PAUL TRAVERS* ADVENTURES 
 
 "It is to be abandoned shortly, and 
 only two companies of ' doughboys ' 
 remain. Just wait until we reach my 
 command on the Uncompahgre River, 
 then I'll give you a taste of army 
 life." 
 
 However, Paul passed a very enjoy 
 able day, especially in the forenoon, 
 when, in company with two young 
 lieutenants fresh from West Point, he 
 hunted jack-rabbits through the scrub 
 oaks and sage brush in the San Luis 
 valley. It was great sport, and as 
 Paul had the good luck to knock over 
 a big jack, he returned to the post 
 elated with his success. 
 
 His friend's business proved to be of 
 a nature not suspected by Paul, who 
 incidentally learned that Mr. Hatfield 
 had lost his heart to the charming 
 daughter of a rich rancher down the 
 valley. This accounted for the late 
 arrival of the lieutenant at the post 
 that night after an all day's absence 
 and for the glum looks he wore as 
 they rode to the station next morning 
 in the ambulance. 
 
 Paul rallied his friend on his lugu 
 brious aspect, and his lively sallies
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES 25 
 
 finally elicited a hearty laugh from 
 the young officer, who apologized for 
 his dullness. At Anamosa they en 
 gaged seats in the stage coach w.hich 
 was to carry them through to Lake 
 City, and at 10 o'clock the conveyance 
 started, Paul and the lieutenant set 
 tling themselves for an all-night ride 
 to Wagon Wheel Gap. 
 
 At daylight the next morning the 
 two comrades jumped out to stretch 
 their cramped limbs and for an hour 
 trudged alongside the horses that toiled 
 up a steep incline. At the summit 
 the driver halted to breathe his team 
 and, pointing with his whip across the 
 intervening yalley, oracularly observed: 
 "Deer yander. " 
 
 Paul's eyes danced with excitement 
 as he took in the graceful contour of 
 the slender animals that, scenting the 
 strangers, suddenly darted back into 
 the woods. Hearing the sigh of dis 
 appointment which escaped him the 
 lieutenant laughingly exclaimed: 
 "Never mind, Paul, I promise you 
 plenty of sport when we get to camp." 
 
 It had been settled that before go 
 ing to Silverton Paul was to leave the
 
 26 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 coach at Los Pinos and accompany 
 Lieutenant Hatfield to his command, 
 which was camped forty miles north of 
 the agency. There had been trouble 
 with the Utes some months previous, 
 necessitating the presence of troops, and 
 although the excitement had abated 
 the regulars still remained in the field. 
 
 At Los Pinos an ambulance from 
 the camp was found awaiting the ar 
 rival of the coach, into which Paul 
 and his friend climbed, after eating a 
 hearty dinner at the agency mess. A 
 dusty ride through the reservation be 
 hind four spanking mules brought them 
 to the camp just in time for supper, 
 to which meal both did ample justice. 
 Paul's appetite, never particularly poor, 
 had materially improved since his ad 
 vent into Colorado. 
 
 The army officers, from the colonel 
 down, gave the young Chicagoan a 
 warm welcome, and Paul spent a 
 very delightful week in their company. 
 Owing to the absence of the captain 
 on sick leave, Mr. Hatfield, as senior 
 lieutenant, was in command of his troop, 
 and he proved a capital host. He ar 
 ranged many pleasant excursions for
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES 27 
 
 the lad, on one of which Paul^shot his 
 first big game, a fine buck. He was 
 even permitted to accompany the lieu 
 tenant on a scouting expedition in the 
 neighborhood of White River, where 
 some unruly Utes were reported. 
 
 This was quite a notable event to 
 him. He was mounted on the lieu 
 tenant's spare horse, sported a pair of 
 borrowed spurs, had a big revolver 
 strapped to his belt and, wearing a 
 pair of gauntlets and a gray slouch hat, 
 rode off with the party in gallant style. 
 They were absent from camp four 
 days, during which time they covered 
 150 miles and saw lots of game, but 
 no Indians. The second day out one 
 of the sergeants shot a magnificent elk, 
 some steaks off which the lieutenant's 
 ' 'striker" broiled for supper. It proved 
 a toothsome dish and, washed down 
 with clear mountain spring water, made 
 a delicious meal. 
 
 It was hard to say good-by to his 
 army friends, and especially to the 
 lieutenant, from whom he parted with 
 many expressions of regret, and with 
 the fervent hope of a future reunion. 
 On the way back to the agency the am-
 
 28 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 bulance halted at Chief Ouray's cabin, 
 where Paul met the old warrior and 
 his squaw, Chipeta, who offered him 
 a bowl of soup, but the previous sight 
 of a string of skinned puppies hang 
 ing near the shack caused the lad to 
 decline the proffered hospitality. 
 
 The fare from Pueblo to Anamosa, 
 thence by stage route to Los Pinos, 
 had made quite an inroad on Paul's 
 slender purse, so, after resting over 
 night at the agency, he decided to send 
 his valise to Silverton by express and 
 set out afoot for that camp. 
 
 His outfit consisted of a blanket 
 strapped to his back, in which were a 
 change of underclothing and a few 
 handkerchiefs. On his person he car 
 ried a comb, toothbrush, telescopic 
 tin cup, a pocketknife and a small re 
 volver which Lieutenant Hatfield had 
 pressed upon him as a parting gift. 
 The slouch hat that he had worn on 
 the scouting expedition, a woolen shirt 
 and stout shoes completed his tramp 
 attire. 
 
 The alkali dust was nearly a foot 
 thick on the trail, so Paul quickly took 
 to the brush, where the startled sage
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES 29 
 
 hens flew up almost in his face as he 
 trudged along. For a time he amused 
 himself by popping at them with his 
 revolver, but as he hit none and car 
 tridges were scarce, he soon desisted. 
 
 At mid-day he halted near a moun 
 tain spring, nibbled some crackers and 
 cheese in the shade of a huge rock and 
 later bathed his swollen feet in the cool 
 stream. It was a scorching hot after 
 noon, and often Paul was tempted to 
 throw away his blanket, but the thought 
 of a cold night camp proved a stronger 
 argument than the broiling sun. That 
 evening he found lodging at a rough 
 frontier hotel in Ouray and early next 
 morning struck boldly out over the 
 trail, crossing the San Juan divide 
 without any mishap. 
 
 At Mineral Point he camped over 
 night, and from there trudged on to 
 Animas Forks. Between that camp 
 and Silverton he had an awful scare. 
 He was plodding through the dust, 
 mentally wondering what Mr. Wilder 
 would think of his experiences, when 
 forty or fifty feet ahead he spied a big 
 black bear with a cub by her side
 
 30 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 trotting unconcernedly along in the 
 middle of the trail. 
 
 Paul stood stock still; then came a 
 strong impulse to turn and run back. 
 But the next minute, to his delight, 
 bruin and her baby slunk off into 
 the timber and disappeared. Paul took 
 no chances, however, but, making a 
 grand detour, did not strike the trail 
 again until he was a mile beyond the 
 dreaded spot. He ruefully thought of 
 his revolver and realized what a poor 
 protection it offered in case he had 
 been compelled to test its powers. 
 
 At Silverton, to his great chagrin, 
 Paul found that Ernest Horton was 
 out prospecting near Bridal Veil Basin, 
 and was not expected back until fall. 
 This was a bitter disappointment to 
 the lad, who had counted on a joyful 
 meeting with his former school chum, 
 to whom he had written announcing 
 his prospective arrival. But at the post- 
 office he found a card from Ernest 
 reading as follows: 
 
 CAMP CHICAGO, August 13, 188 . 
 Dear Paul'. Inquire at the Silverton Bank 
 for the location of my claim, and come out as 
 soon as you arrive in town. Sorry I can't be
 
 "PAUL STOOD 
 STOCK S'lILL."
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES 31 
 
 there to meet you, but will let you get even 
 with me up here, Can give you lots of sport 
 and promise you a jolly visit. As ever, your 
 friend, ERNEST. 
 
 From the cashier of the bank Paul 
 obtained the desired information, and 
 after getting permission to leave his 
 valise in the office, so as to save 
 storage charges, he renewed his lonely 
 tramp over the mountain trail. He 
 had no difficulty in finding the camp, 
 although it was nearly dark when, in 
 response to his prolonged "Hello, 
 Horton !" the flap of a wall tent was 
 pushed aside and his friend appeared 
 in the doorway, his figure thrown into 
 strong relief by the glare from a gen 
 erous camp fire. 
 
 "By all that's glorious, it's Paul," 
 shouted Horton. "Say, but I'm glad 
 to see you. Come in and meet the 
 boys. Here, Dave, Ned, Harry, let 
 me introduce my friend from Chicago, 
 Paul Travers, " and in a minute Paul's 
 hand was warmly gripped by three 
 sturdy young miners, who cordially 
 welcomed him to their camp. 
 
 The two friends spent the evening 
 in exchanging mutual reminiscences of
 
 32 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 school days, Ernest's companions mean 
 time sewing industriously on certain 
 garments that needed repairing. Oc 
 casionally they interrupted the flow 
 of conversation to ask some questions, 
 but only at rare intervals, so that 
 when it was time to turn in each had 
 pumped the other nearly dry. 
 
 Ernest warmly approved Paul's de 
 sign to put a girdle around the globe, 
 but said he had no intention of let 
 ting him start until he had paid the 
 camp a long visit. He explained that 
 he and his three comrades had formed 
 a partnership to do prospecting that 
 season and had entered several prom 
 ising claims, one of which they ex 
 pected to sell to a Boston syndicate. 
 The fishing in the mountain streams 
 was good, the hunting was excellent, 
 and if Paul wanted other exercise he 
 might handle a pick and shovel on 
 one of their recently acquired "pros 
 pects." 
 
 Ernest was a royal good fellow, and 
 his partners proved to be a jolly trio, 
 who insisted on treating Paul as a 
 guest and giving him the best of 
 everything, despite his protests. The
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES 33 
 
 healthy outdoor existence, good hours 
 and plain food imparted a rich color 
 to the lad's cheeks and sent the blood 
 coursing through his veins, so that 
 when the time for leaving arrived he 
 felt strong enough to surmount any 
 and all obstacles. 
 
 It had been a delightful fortnight. 
 Hunting, fishing and exploring moun 
 tain fastnesses had caused the days 
 to glide by all too swiftly, so that 
 Paul was reluctant to leave the camp. 
 But he had determined to reach the 
 coast before cold weather should catch 
 him en route, so he manfully resisted 
 the appeals of his friends to remain 
 longer, and one bright, crisp morning 
 toward the ist of September started 
 down the trail with a hearty God 
 speed from the quartet that assembled 
 to see him off. 
 
 In his pocket he carried a letter 
 of introduction to the agent of the 
 stage line at Silverton, who was a 
 brother to Dave Enderley, one of 
 Ernest's partners. Guessing the state 
 of Paul's finances, Dave had suggested 
 that he could just as well save him 
 coach fare to Gunnison City, to which 
 
 3 
 
 \
 
 34 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 point the stage ran. Paul gladly ac 
 cepted the proffered kindness, for he 
 dreaded the return tramp over the 
 divide, the recollection of his narrow 
 escape from the bear being still fresh 
 in his mind. 
 
 The agent proved to be all that 
 Dave had depicted him, and Paul 
 was deadheaded through to Gunnison, 
 the only expense being his meals on 
 the road. But even these were costly, 
 and when he alighted from the coach 
 at Gunnison City his stock of cash 
 was reduced to three dollars. The sit 
 uation began to grow serious, but Paul 
 knew that sooner or later his purse 
 would be emptied, so he did not borrow 
 trouble. 
 
 After registering at the only hotel 
 the place afforded he scrubbed off 
 some of the dust and dirt, ate a 
 dubious meal and then strolled over 
 to what the old-timers called ' ' New- 
 town, " m a collection of tents and board 
 shanties that marked the more recently 
 settled portion of Gunnison City. 
 
 The main street presented an odd 
 appearance to the eyes of the obser 
 vant lad. Dance halls, hurdy-gurdy
 
 IN THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES 35 
 
 saloons, cheap clothing stores and gam 
 bling houses constituted the ' ' sub 
 stantial " buildings, which consisted 
 of hastily constructed shanties of 
 dressed lumber that were conspicuous 
 because of their contrast with the 
 prevailing style of tent architecture. 
 
 There was the usual medley of mixed 
 characters that may be met in all new 
 camps. Clerks from the states in 
 feverish search for riches and with 
 poorer prospects of getting them than 
 ever before; typical miners, stage dri 
 vers, bullwhackers, gamblers, loafers 
 and roughs of all descriptions, with 
 here and there a gaudily dressed fe 
 male the advance guard of her gen 
 tler sisters. No wonder Paul was fasci 
 nated by the strange sights; the at 
 mosphere he breathed fairly teemed 
 with excitement. 
 
 A crowd that was constantly pass 
 ing in and out of one of the wooden 
 psSaces attracted his attention, and 
 with boyish curiosity he strayed inside 
 with the rest. A dance was in prog 
 ress on the sanded floor, the bars on 
 either side of the room were doing a 
 flourishing business, while away at the
 
 36 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 rear end a number of gamblers bent 
 over a green table where a man sat 
 dealing cards from a polished steel box 
 
 Just as Paul approached this corner 
 there was an excited protest from one 
 of the players, followed by loud and 
 angry cries of profanity. Next instant 
 was heard a sharp report, and with a 
 fearful groan the disputant fell in a 
 nerveless heap to the floor, his late 
 associates hastily scattering in a dozen 
 different directions. 
 
 In the rush Paul was borne swiftly 
 out doors and before he could fully 
 realize what had happened he found 
 himself running a foot race with a 
 strapping young fellow, who led the 
 way in the direction of ' ' Oldtown, " 
 and whose long mustache fluttered 
 like the streamers on a masthead, as 
 they breasted the keen night air.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 DOWN TO HARDPAN. 
 
 PRESENTLY both slackened their 
 speed and settled into a walk. 
 
 "Pretty tough experience that," 
 observed Paul's companion, with a 
 backward wave of his hand. "Mighty 
 glad to get away with a whole skin, 
 weren't you ? " 
 
 ' ' I should think so. I had no idea 
 what sort of a den it was or I guess 
 I should have kept out. Nice recep 
 tion to give a stranger, isn't it?" 
 
 The other laughed. ' ' Oh, well, it's 
 what you must expect in these boom 
 towns, where all the scum of civiliza 
 tion is collected; ain't a bit sorry I'm 
 going away." 
 
 "Then you don't live here?" 
 
 "Oh, no; my home is in Denver; 
 my two partners and I had an offer 
 of plenty of carpenter work at pretty 
 stiff prices; so as trade was dull at 
 home this summer we came up here 
 
 37
 
 38 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 by wagon; but we are going back to 
 morrow." 
 
 "To Denver?" queried Paul, wist 
 fully. 
 
 ' ' Yep ! Don't live there, do you ? " 
 ' ' No, but I am headed that way. 
 I suppose there's no chance to join 
 your party, is there ? " 
 
 "I don't know; can you cook?" 
 Visions of his experiences in camp 
 at Bridal Veil Basin came to Paul's 
 mind as he hesitatingly answered, 
 "Well, I'm not an expert, but I can 
 make good coffee and can turn a flap 
 jack without spilling the batter in the 
 fire." 
 
 ' ' Where are you staying ? " 
 "Over at the Gunnison House." 
 " Oh, yes; we're camped near there; 
 that's our tent just the other side of 
 the prairie schooner you see with the 
 green box. Tell you what I'll do. I'll 
 speak to the boys to-night about it, 
 and if you're up before we get away 
 in the morning perhaps I can fix 
 you out." 
 
 Paul was profuse in his thanks and 
 eagerly promised to be on hand. He 
 did not sleep soundly owing to the
 
 DOWN TO HARDPAN 39 
 
 number of bedfellows that forced 
 their acquaintance, and he was glad 
 to turn out at daybreak and settle his 
 bill. He had just a dollar left when 
 this was done. 
 
 His companion of the previous night 
 was vigorously splashing around in a 
 tin basin as Paul neared the wagon 
 with the green box. Presently he 
 looked up and with a cheery "Hello, 
 stranger, you did make it, didn't you ? " 
 motioned him to a seat on an inverted 
 bucket. 
 
 "Well, what luck?" was Paul's anx 
 ious salutation. 
 
 ' ' First rate. We don't really need 
 
 a cook, but I managed to talk the 
 
 boys into the idea, so they agreed 
 
 you might join us. Got any baggage?" 
 
 \^'I have a valise at the hotel." 
 
 "Better get it over here, then, be 
 cause we want to make an early start. " 
 
 Paul fervently expressed his obliga 
 tion for these good offices and made 
 a bee-line for the hotel, returning in 
 a few minutes with his grip. 
 
 "Had breakfast?" asked his new 
 acquaintance, who introduced himself 
 as Jack White.
 
 40 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 ' ' No ; I was too early and didn't 
 wait for fear of missing you. " 
 
 "All right; might just as well pitch 
 in now and show what you can do. 
 There's the coffee beans and you'll 
 find plenty of kindling under the 
 wagon. " 
 
 By the time the rest of the outfit 
 was up and dressed Paul had a good 
 fire blazing and a pot of coffee almost 
 boiled. With the handle of a ham 
 mer inserted in a mustard can he 
 had pounded his beans on the tire of 
 a wagon wheel until they were pretty 
 well pulverized, and having mixed up 
 a batter and heated his pan he was 
 ready to fry the flapjacks. Luckily, 
 everything went off without a hitch 
 and Jack's two comrades voted the 
 new cook a success. 
 
 Down the Tomichi River, over Mar 
 shall Pass and across the South Park, 
 the little caravan wended its way, 
 averaging from twenty-five to thirty 
 miles a day. A saddle horse that 
 had been bought from an impe 
 cunious prospector was allotted to Paul, 
 who generally rode ahead of the party 
 and selected the camp for the night.
 
 DOWN TO HARDPAN 4 1 
 
 The hunting and fishing were prime, 
 his duties were not exacting, and his 
 companions were sociable and good- 
 natured, so that the trip to Denver 
 was almost like a continuous picnic to 
 the young traveler, who was actually 
 sorry when the capital city of the 
 Centennial State was reached. 
 
 Paul's first night in Denver was 
 passed on a pile of shavings in the 
 workshop occupied by Jack White 
 and his two friends. It was not a 
 choice couch, but this was no time to 
 be squeamish, and wrapped in his 
 faithful blanket the lad slept as con 
 tentedly as if he were in his own bed 
 at home. 
 
 "You can hold this down as long 
 as you stay here, " said Jack, ' ' but I 
 suppose you will be moving toward 
 the' slope before the week's out. eh?" 
 
 Paul thought he might, but hadn't 
 quite decided just when he would leave 
 town. He was grateful to Jack for his 
 kind offer, however, and told him so. 
 
 "Oh, that's all right. Don't cost 
 a cent and I guess you won't steal 
 anything; you look honest." 
 
 A budget of news from home await-
 
 42 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 ed him at the postoffice in answer 
 to his letters mailed at Silverton. All 
 wondered how he could possibly travel 
 around so much on his slim capital, 
 and expressed the hope that he would 
 soon be with them again. 
 
 But Paul had no intention of re 
 turning yet. He was fairly imbued 
 with the spirit of travel and was de 
 termined to prove to Mr. Wilder that 
 it was no idle boast he had made. 
 It did seem to be a foolhardy under 
 taking, as he mentally confessed that 
 noon, when, after writing the folks to 
 direct their next letters in care of 
 the general delivery at San Francisco, 
 he sat with his last quarter in his 
 pocket, eating dinner in a cheap res 
 taurant on Holliday Street. 
 
 Perhaps it was the grim humor of 
 the situation that lent a flavor to the 
 meal which the cooking could never 
 have imparted. After settling his bill 
 he would be down to hardpan, but 
 instead of feeling alarmed he had 
 only curiosity to know how he would 
 fare. He stoutly rejected the sugges 
 tion that at times insinuated itself of 
 writing home for funds, for, although
 
 DOWN TO HARDPAN 43 
 
 he knew they would be forthcoming, 
 he was also aware how illy his father 
 could spare any money. 
 
 ' * No, I must get out of town, and 
 at once," was his final conclusion. 
 " If I have to work for my meals I 
 might just as well do it on the road. 
 I'll start to-day now just as soon as 
 I finish my dinner." 
 
 Paul had been in Denver about a 
 week. He had sold his valise and 
 reduced his wardrobe to the single 
 change of underclothing strapped in 
 his blanket. His marching attire was 
 the same as when he was tramping 
 over the mountain trails. There was 
 no ticket to buy, no trunk to check, 
 and no farewells to make, except to 
 shake hands with Jack White. All 
 he i^ad to do was to strike the rail 
 road track and follow the ties until he 
 reached the Union Pacific junction 
 near Cheyenne, which meant a tramp 
 of about 140 miles. He figured that 
 he could do this easily in six days. 
 
 Paul was a novice at track walking 
 and after covering the first five miles 
 he felt very tired, but he kept doggedly 
 on, as he had planned to pass the
 
 44 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 night at Golden, fourteen miles from 
 Denver. 
 
 While he was limping along feeling 
 decidedly uncomfortable and lonesome 
 he came suddenly to a culvert on 
 which was seated a tall, slim lad per 
 haps a year older than himself. 
 
 "Walkin' good?" the latter asked, 
 quizzically, as Paul stepped on the 
 cross-ties. 
 
 4 ' Not particularly. How far is it 
 to Golden?" 
 
 " Six miles." 
 
 Paul groaned. ' ' Why, a man back 
 there about a mile said it was only 
 three. " 
 
 "Yes? Well, lem'me tell you that 
 the fellows out here make mighty curi 
 ous calculations. A Colorado mile's 
 equal to two ordinary ones back East, 
 'specially if you're walkin'. Goin' to 
 stay long at Golden?" 
 
 "Only over night; I'm on my way 
 to Cheyenne." 
 
 "Walk?" 
 
 ' ' I guess so. " 
 
 1 ' Well, that's what I call a piece of 
 luck; bound that far myself. What 
 do you say, shall we hoof it together?"
 
 DOWN TO HARDPAN 45 
 
 Paul signified his willingness and 
 sitting on the culvert with his feet 
 dangling alongside those of his com 
 panion's the two compared notes. 
 Neither had a nickel, but both were 
 headed for San Francisco and they 
 solemnly shook hands to go through 
 as ' ' partners. " Paul's new acquaint 
 ance said his name was Dick Tracy; 
 that he had wandered up to Colorado 
 from Texas and had concluded to 
 spend the winter in California. 
 
 He was a lively youth with a fund of 
 entertaining stories regarding his cowboy 
 adventures in the Lone Star State; 
 not particularly clever, but sharp- 
 witted, owing to his long contact with 
 the world. His experiences gained 
 while on the tramp were invaluable 
 to them in their present plight, as 
 Paul presently discovered. 
 
 The miles now seemed much shorter, 
 and it was not long before the smoke 
 from the smelters at Golden were un 
 covered. The 6 o'clock whistles were 
 just sounding as they passed the little 
 station and their piercing shriek seemed 
 to intensify the fact that it was supper 
 time.
 
 46 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 ' ' See here, " observed Dick, as the 
 two sat on an empty soap box at the 
 end of the platform, "you're new to 
 this sort o' thing. Wait here for me 
 while I go up town and rustle for sup 
 per. I'll be back in three shakes of 
 a lamb's tail, see if I don't," and be 
 fore Paul could enter a protest he 
 was off. 
 
 Dick managed to keep his word, 
 returning in about ten minutes with 
 several slices of bread and butter and 
 some cold steak that he said the cook 
 in an eating house had handed him 
 from the back door. As both were 
 hungry they made short work of the 
 provisions, afterward rinsing their 
 throats at a big tank near the station. 
 
 4 ' Looks dubious, doesn't it ? " re 
 marked Paul as they sat on the edge 
 of the platform an hour later after 
 having searched in vain for an empty 
 car in which to pass the night. 
 
 "That's what! " returned Dick, sen- 
 tentiously. ' ' Guess we'll have to 
 crawl under that pile o' ties stacked 
 over yonder; it's the best thing in 
 sight" 
 
 It was a chilly retreat, but the boys
 
 DOWN TO HARDPAN 47 
 
 were pretty tired and slept soundly 
 with Paul's blanket wrapped around 
 their shoulders. They awoke early, 
 made their toilet at the tank, and at 
 6 o'clock Dick said he guessed he'd 
 go up and strike the cook for break 
 fast. 
 
 He was absent about half an hour, 
 but returned with full hands. ' ' Had 
 to split some wood," he explained. 
 ' ' Cook said he wouldn't feed no more 
 tramps unless they did a spell o' work. 
 Didn'tjiurt myself, though," he added, 
 with a chuckle. "Pitch into this 
 stuff, Paul; I ate all I could hold up 
 there." 
 
 From Golden to Boulder, thence to 
 Longmont, Loveland and Fort Collins, 
 the two lads tramped, sleeping in 
 empty box cars or in deserted section- 
 houses, as the opportunity presented. 
 Paul had managed to overcome his 
 repugnance to ask for food, but never 
 failed to offer his services first. Some 
 times he was given a stick or two of 
 wood to saw, but more often than 
 not his fresh young face won the de 
 sired meal without further parleying. 
 
 The worst part of the journey was
 
 48 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 now before the pair. From Fort Col 
 lins to Lone Tree stretched a thirty- 
 mile desert, absolutely without shade 
 or water; so, after a long discussion, 
 the lads decided to wait until sunset 
 before attempting its passage. They 
 passed the afternoon in sleeping near 
 the fair grounds, and on awaking 
 had a refreshing bath in an irrigating 
 ditch adjacent. Toward 6 o'clock the 
 boys made a sorry meal on the rem 
 nants saved from dinner, after which 
 they bravely started down the track 
 on their all-night tramp. 
 
 The first few hours were beguiled 
 by lengthy dissertations on favorite 
 delicacies, in which each minutely de 
 scribed his ideal dish, but finding this 
 was provocative of hunger, they finally 
 desisted and settled into a dogged 
 walk. Toward midnight the wind 
 came on very fresh, and the howling 
 of the coyotes on both sides of the 
 track rendered the lads slightly un 
 comfortable, but they kept closely to 
 gether, and although neither could 
 see the other, they gathered courage 
 from their companionship. 
 
 It was a long night and a tedious
 
 DOWN TO HARDPAN 49 
 
 tramp, so that the first gray streaks 
 of dawn seemed vexatiously slow in 
 appearing. Sunrise found them in the 
 vicinity of a deserted section-house 
 two miles from Lone Tree, with a 
 record of twenty-eight miles to their 
 credit. Utterly exhausted, the boys 
 spread out their single blanket, and, 
 throwing themselves upon it, sank im 
 mediately into deep slumber. 
 
 The sun was high in the heavens 
 when Paul awoke, hungry and stiff 
 after his long walk. Dick was still 
 snoring in the shade of the shanty, 
 where he had unconsciously rolled to 
 escape the downpouring rays of the 
 sun. A shout from his comrade 
 caused him to open his eyes, emit a 
 long yawn, and to wonder how long 
 they had slept. 
 
 "Must be nearly noon, I should 
 judge," said Paul, glancing upward. 
 "Time we were moving on to Lone 
 Tree to capture breakfast." 
 
 Lone Tree consisted of a single 
 ranch and the new section-house. Dick 
 said he would take the ranch while 
 Paul went on to try his luck at the 
 red-painted house adjoining the track.
 
 50 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 A little woman, carrying a big baby, 
 answered his knock at the kitchen 
 door. 
 
 1 ' Can you do anything to pay for 
 a dinner?" she said, repeating Paul's 
 question, meantime eyeing him critic 
 ally. ' ' I guess you can. Jest take 
 that bucket and go to the tank and 
 fill it with water; after that mebbe I'll 
 have somethin' for you to eat." 
 
 Paul trudged off with the wooden 
 pail, and, presently returning, set it 
 down in the kitchen sink. A big pile 
 of unwashed dishes stood on a low 
 bench, and through an open doorway 
 the remnants of a meal were discer 
 nible on the dining-room table. 
 
 While Paul discussed a generous 
 plate of corned beef and cabbage the 
 little woman sat on a chair and told 
 her troubles. She was the wife of the 
 section boss, with six men to board; 
 her baby was only a month old and 
 her hired girl had left her only two 
 days before on half an hour's notice. 
 She was utterly tired out and would 
 feel very grateful if Paul would stay 
 and assist her in the kitchen until she 
 could engage help from Cheyenne.
 
 DOWN TO HARDPAN 51 
 
 As the delay of a few days mat 
 tered little to Paul he readily con 
 sented to remain and cheerfully set 
 to work on the pile of dishes as soon 
 as he finished his dinner, or, rather, 
 breakfast. When Dick came up an 
 hour later he found Paul installed at 
 an open window in the little sitting-room 
 with a fat baby in his lap that was 
 crooning away in great glee. 
 
 "Must ha' struck some o' yer rela 
 tions, I reckon," ejaculated Dick, with 
 a broad grin on his freckled face. 
 
 "No, sir; I have hired out as assist 
 ant dishwasher and nurse to the fam 
 ily. Please go away; we don't want 
 any tramps around here." Then, as 
 Dick grinned again in appreciation of 
 this joke, Paul asked, "Did they treat 
 you well over yonder?" 
 
 "Jest a hand-out, that's all. No 
 good there to-night, though," added 
 Dick, disconsolately. 
 
 ' ' Oh, well, I guess I can fix you 
 out if you hang around here, but 
 keep shady, as I wouldn't want them 
 to think I was in league with a gang 
 of tramps." 
 
 Paul stayed three days at the sec-
 
 52 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 tion-house, at the end of which time 
 the little woman had inveigled a stout 
 Norwegian girl from Cheyenne to 
 Lone Tree. The section boss gave him 
 two dollars for his trouble and passed 
 him on to Union Pacific junction by 
 the regular passenger train. Dick 
 had gone up the night previous on a 
 freight, having agreed to meet Paul 
 at the junction next day. 
 
 And there they did meet, but not 
 as either had expected. When Paul 
 jumped from the train he asked one 
 of the station hands if he had seen a 
 lad answering to Dick's description. 
 
 ' ' Sort of a tall, freckled-faced duck, 
 with long hair an' high cheek bones, 
 wan't he?" 
 
 "Yes, I guess that's Dick." 
 
 "Well, I reckon he's in the freight- 
 house stretched out acrosst two bar 
 rels, deader'n a door nail ; the crowner's 
 in there now." 
 
 "Dead! Dick dead! What do you 
 mean?" 
 
 "Killed last night on No. 6. Went 
 ter sleep on the brakes an' got his 
 head crushed. You'll find out all ther
 
 AT THE 
 SECTION HOUSE.
 
 DOWN TO HARDPAN 53 
 
 perticklers in there if you ask ther 
 crowner. " 
 
 It was horrible, but only too true, as 
 Paul discovered when he entered the 
 freight room. His late comrade lay 
 outstretched on a board, around which 
 stood six men in charge of the coro 
 ner from Cheyenne, a verdict of acci 
 dental death while stealing a ride 
 having just been rendered. 
 
 There was nothing on the body to 
 identify the remains, and Paul could 
 only say that the name of the dead 
 lad was Tracy and that his home was 
 somewhere in Texas. As this infor 
 mation shed no light on the case the 
 coroner curtly ordered the body to be 
 sent to Cheyenne for burial, and the last 
 look Paul had of his late companion 
 was when he lay in a cheap pine 
 coffin awaiting transportation to the 
 city. He turned away with a sicken 
 ing feeling at his heart. It might be 
 his fate any moment.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY. 
 
 FOR many hours Paul wandered 
 aimlessly through the streets of Chey 
 enne, so utterly depressed in spirit 
 because of Dick's tragic death that he 
 felt no desire to eat, even had he 
 possessed the means to pay for a 
 meal. About 4 o'clock in the after 
 noon, when his stomach vigorously 
 rebelled against its prolonged fast, the 
 lad mechanically bent his steps to 
 ward a restaurant, but just before 
 entering it he suddenly remembered 
 that the money given him by the 
 section boss was gone. 
 
 On the way to Cheyenne from the 
 junction Paul had encountered a gang 
 of tramps, some of the members of 
 which had relieved him of his blanket 
 and underclothes and coolly appropri 
 ated his knife, revolver, tin cup and 
 the two-dollar bill, but had allowed 
 him to retain his tooth brush and pocket 
 comb, for which articles, apparently, 
 
 54
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY 55 
 
 none of the party had the slighest 
 use. 
 
 Thankful to get off with a whole 
 skin, and with the clothes he wore, 
 Paul had submitted philosophically to 
 the robbery, seeing that it was worse 
 than useless to enter any protest, but 
 the incident had not tended to 
 elevate his spirits, and, more down 
 hearted than ever, he continued his 
 tramp into town. Turning disconso 
 lately from the restaurant he spied a 
 pleasant-faced boy standing in the 
 doorway of a grocery store, with 
 whom, after a short parley, he managed 
 to trade a natural agate for a piece 
 of cheese and a handful of crackers. 
 
 The edge of his hunger worn off, 
 he continued his tramp around town 
 until the gathering dusk warned him 
 he had better hunt sleeping quarters 
 for the night. At 9 o'clock, after 
 meeting repeated rebuffs, Paul grew 
 desperate, and approaching a blue- 
 coated man standing under a gas 
 lamp inquired if he could help him to 
 a night's lodging. 
 
 ' ' Can I ? Well, I should say so. 
 What are you doing around here,
 
 56 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 anyway?" the man demanded in an 
 authoritative voice. 
 
 Paul explained that he was a 
 stranger and had no money. 
 
 "Oh, you haven't, eh? Well, I 
 can fix you out, young fellow; just 
 come with me," and up the street he 
 started, half dragging the unwilling 
 lad, who began to suspect the lodging 
 provided might not be at all to his 
 liking. 
 
 This suspicion shortly became a 
 certainty, when, after traversing a few 
 blocks, the burly stranger pushed the 
 hesitating youth up a stairway, over 
 the entrance to which was a lamp 
 bearing the legend "City Hall" in 
 black letters on the glass. Down a 
 long corridor Paul was marched by 
 his captor, who by this time had an 
 nounced himself as the city marshal. 
 
 Halting before an iron-grated door 
 the officer produced a big key, which 
 he fitted to the lock and turned the 
 bolt back with a smart snap that 
 sent a shiver through the frame of 
 his prisoner, who realized with pain 
 ful suddenness that he was about to 
 be thrust into jail. The thought was
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY 57 
 
 so agonizing that he turned fiercely 
 upon the marshal and protested ve 
 hemently against the indignity. 
 
 "You keep quiet, youngster, or 
 mebbe you'll get more than you bar 
 gained for. We have just one place 
 for all tramps and vagrants. Inside 
 here you stay until 8 o'clock to-morrow 
 morning, and if you don't pull your 
 freight then, lively, like as not you'll 
 get sent up for sixty days." 
 
 It was a bitter dose for the poor 
 lad, but Paul had no recourse. Ar 
 gument with the bullet-headed officer 
 was useless, so, swallowing his indig 
 nation along with a few salty tears, 
 he passed through the heavily barred 
 door, which closed with a bang. Then 
 Paul found himself in a large cell, in 
 the center of which a smoky oil lamp 
 shed its dim rays over the room, 
 emitting at the same time a most 
 villainous smell. 
 
 As soon as he became accustomed 
 to the uncertain light Paul discerned 
 a dozen shapeless forms, wrapped in 
 blankets, strung out around the brick- 
 walled chamber, from some of which 
 the most unmelodious snores emanat-
 
 5^ PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 ed. A drunken brute in one corner, 
 who persisted in filling the air with 
 his idiotic yells, was being kicked 
 into silence by two wakeful tramps, 
 whose rest the noisy reveler had dis 
 turbed, and a general uprising was 
 threatened, when the crazed wretch 
 fell back into unconsciousness and the 
 agitated blankets returned to their for 
 mer appearance of torpidity. 
 
 Not a pleasant situation for a deli 
 cately nurtured lad to be placed in, 
 and Paul's heart was like lead as he 
 thought of passing the night in such 
 hideous company. A single window 
 at the farther end of the cell, guarded 
 by iron bars, admitted a sickly glare 
 from a street lamp, and toward this 
 spot Paul picked his way, the broad 
 sill suggesting to him, in the absence 
 of chair or table, a possible camping 
 place for the night where he would 
 at least be semi-detached from the 
 other inmates. 
 
 With his back against the casing 
 and his feet planted on the opposite 
 side, Paul managed to snatch a few 
 hours of sleep, but racking nightmares 
 haunted his rest and several times
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY 59 
 
 before daylight he awoke from fright 
 ful dreams, in which he suffered men 
 tal tortures. 
 
 The first to open his eyes in the 
 morning, he had ample opportunity to 
 study his fellow lodgers before they 
 awoke. A more disreputable gather 
 ing it would have been hard to find 
 anywhere, and Paul shuddered as he 
 surveyed the brutal faces of the 
 sleepers, who appeared even more 
 repulsive in the gray dawn. 
 
 On the walls of the cell, once white, 
 were scratched dozens of fanciful, if 
 not elegant, nicknames of the various 
 choice visitors that on former occasions 
 had been compulsory guests of this 
 queer lodging house. Here and there 
 were grinning skulls, startlingly sug 
 gestive hanging scenes, hideous cari 
 catures, ribald verses, and other 
 illustrations of like nature, penciled by 
 rude artists whose term of incarceration 
 had been beguiled in this manner. 
 The lad's cheeks burned with honest 
 blushes as he contemplated this 
 offensive decoration, and he suddenly 
 experienced an acute nostalgic attack
 
 60 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 that almost made him forswear his 
 tramp and resolve to return home. 
 
 Suddenly he was aware of a pair 
 of black eyes watching him from be 
 low, and presently their owner 
 straightened up, threw off his blanket, 
 and disclosed the features of a man 
 who might have been anywhere be 
 tween the age of thirty and forty, a 
 closer estimate being impossible to 
 make, owing to the accumulation of 
 dirt he carried. 
 
 "Whatcher in fer?" he demanded 
 of Paul. "Liftin'?" 
 
 Paul was shrewd enough to guess 
 this meant stealing, so he shook his 
 head negatively, adding, half humor 
 ously: "Reckon the marshal was 
 afraid I might run away with the 
 town, though, so he put me in here 
 for fear of accidents." 
 
 The owner of the black eyes and 
 dirty face condescended to grin at this 
 flippancy and then observed, "Trampin' 
 it, eh?" 
 
 1 ' Trying to, " answered Paul. ' ' I 
 want to get through to San Francisco." 
 
 "'Frisco? Oh, yer do! Coin' ter 
 walk there, I s'pose? Nice time yell
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY 6l 
 
 have crossin' the mountains. Me an' 
 Seldom Seen's bound that far, but 
 we don't do no walkin', though, does 
 we, Seldom?" and the speaker turned 
 toward a man with agrizzled beard whose 
 frowzy head had just emerged from a 
 villainous blanket. 
 
 "Not none," growled the newly- 
 awakened tramp. "We never walks 
 nowheres, we don't." 
 
 ' ' But you can't afford to ride all 
 the time, though, can you?" queried 
 Paul. 
 
 The grizzled tramp laughed derisive 
 ly at this exhibition of innocence. 
 
 " O' course we kin. An' we allers 
 takes a Poolmin box-car an' has ther 
 drorin'-room section ter ourselves." 
 Then, with mock gravity, he inquired 
 of his partner: "Jimmy, did yer 
 engage er t'rough sleeper to Ogden 
 fer us las' night?" 
 
 ' ' Ye bet 1 did, " answered his com 
 rade, whose full cognomen Paul dis 
 covered was Jimmy-Hit-the-Road-a- 
 Welt. ' ' Got a private parler reserved, 
 an' we pulls out ter night, sure." 
 
 "Good 'miff," returned Seldom
 
 62 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES . 
 
 Seen. ' ' That'll get us ter Salt Lake 
 nex' Friday. " 
 
 In his talks with Dick Tracy Paul 
 had learned how cleverly the expert 
 tramps "spring" open the doors of 
 box-cars to steal rides; but he also 
 knew that it was a dangerous practice 
 as well as a state's prison offense; yet 
 he was strongly tempted to ask these 
 two worthies to let him accompany 
 them, if only for the sake of the ex 
 perience he might gain. He deter 
 mined to make the venture. 
 
 "Say, Jimmy," he began, somewhat 
 nervously, ' ' do you suppose I could 
 join you and Seldom Seen in this 
 trip, or will it interfere with your 
 plans?" 
 
 " Come, fer all I keer," said Jimmy. 
 "Wot do you say, Seldom?" 
 
 1 ' I sez let ther kid in ef he ain't 
 afraid ter resk his precious carkiss. " 
 
 "It's a go, then," cried Paul, by 
 way of a clincher, "and I'm willing 
 to take all chances if you are." 
 
 By this time the rest of the inmates 
 of the cell had come out of their 
 semi-comatose state, and presently a 
 jailer appeared with some chunks of
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY 63 
 
 coarse, dry bread and a big pannikin 
 full of steaming liquor which Jimmy 
 declared was "corfy." Paul scalded 
 his mouth with a cup of the dark 
 mixture and gnawed away at the dry 
 bread, a thick slice of which was 
 tossed to him by the surly official, 
 whose curses were liberally bestowed 
 with his more tangible offerings. 
 
 Half an hour later the door opened 
 again and the city marshal entered to 
 release those against whom no charges 
 were pending. Paul was dismissed 
 with a caution; while Seldom Seen 
 and Jimmy-Hit-the-Road-a-Welt were 
 threatened with severe penalties if 
 they did not make themselves scarce. 
 Then the chief of police pointed to 
 the door, and Paul, followed by Sel 
 dom Seen and Jimmy, led the way 
 downstairs and out into God's fresh 
 air, which to the lad had never be 
 fore seemed so pure and precious. 
 
 "Ain't got any scads, I persume?" 
 was Jimmy's first question, when the 
 trio had put several blocks between 
 them and their late sleeping quarters. 
 
 "I suppose you mean money," re 
 turned Paul. ' ' I had two dollars
 
 64 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 yesterday, but I fell among thieves 
 on my way to Jericho I mean 
 Cheyenne and they 'lifted,' as you 
 call it, all my loose change, together 
 with various other of my belongings. 
 No, I am sorry to say I am flat 
 broke." 
 
 "Oh, well, it ain't no consekence, " 
 said Jimmy, grandiloquently. ' ' Sel 
 dom Seen kin step inter ther First 
 Nash'nal Bank an' get a draft cashed, 
 can't yer, old man?" 
 
 ' ' Onforch'nitly ther ain't nobody 
 here as kin identerfy me, 'cept ther 
 city marshal," remarked Seldom, with 
 a serious air, "an" I hates ter ask 
 any favors from these yer petty 
 offishals. Reckon we'll have ter worry 
 along ontel I gets my nex' remittance 
 at Salt Lake." 
 
 "You see, we'll have ter take along 
 some grub, " explained Jimmy, ' ' but, 
 in course, if you're broke yer can't do 
 nothin'. Me and Seldom'll put in 
 ther day rustlin' an' mebbe you'd 
 better try yer luck, too, 'cause we'll 
 need three or four days' rations, sure." 
 
 "Tell you what I'll do," exclaimed 
 Paul, a brilliant idea occurring to him.
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY 65 
 
 ' ' I'll go out to Camp Carlin, where I 
 have some army acquaintances, and I 
 shouldn't wonder if they'll let me have 
 enough provender for us all. What 
 do you think of the scheme?" 
 
 The two professionals both heartily 
 approved it, and after designating a 
 rendezvous for that evening, this curi 
 ously assorted trio separated, Paul 
 starting out on a brisk walk for Camp 
 Carlin, which lay three miles north of 
 the city. 
 
 Lieutenant Hatfield had often spo 
 ken to Paul of a classmate named 
 Boyd, who was stationed at Carlin, 
 and whom he had painted as a royal 
 good fellow. It was on the bare 
 chance of finding him at the post that 
 Paul based his hopes of success. For 
 tunately he was not doomed to dis 
 appointment, and Paul had only to 
 introduce himself as a friend of Hat- 
 field's to be cordially welcomed and 
 entertained by the lieutenant, who later 
 loaded him down with provisions from 
 his own mess when he learned of its 
 contemplated use. 
 
 In the basket, which the lieutenant's 
 "striker" had filled with cold chicken,
 
 66 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 fresh bread and several pies, was also 
 placed a small flask of brandy that 
 Mr. Boyd suggested would be useful 
 in case any of the party should fall ill 
 on the journey. Thus liberally weighted 
 down Paul set out at dusk for the 
 city, heading direct for the rendez 
 vous, where he found his queer ac 
 quaintances awaiting his arrival. 
 
 As soon as it was fairly dark the 
 three started for the railroad yards, 
 accompanied by a friend of Jimmy's, 
 who had been impressed. to cover up 
 their tracks, after breaking into the car. 
 Seldom Seen led the way straight to 
 ward some freight cars standing on a 
 side-track that were awaiting trans 
 portation to the West, and which he 
 had previously located. With a beat 
 ing heart, Paul watched, while the 
 three experts, with incredible swift 
 ness, unscrewed the nuts that held 
 fast the sliding door of the box-car, 
 and then, by means of a flat board 
 used as a lever, pried the door open 
 from the bottom until there was space 
 enough to admit a human being. This 
 done, Seldom Seen quietly and dex 
 terously v/riggled into the car, motion-
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY 67 
 
 ing Paul to follow. Awkwardly enough, 
 and with some trepidation, the lad 
 shinned through the aperture, but not 
 without severely bruising his shoulder- 
 blades and knees in the attempt. 
 
 Jimmy next passed up the basket of 
 provisions and two lard cans filled with 
 water, which Seldom Seen carefully 
 stowed away in a secure place. Then, 
 as silently and as skillfully as his part 
 ner, Jimmy wormed himself through 
 the opening and called softly that 
 everything was all right. The next 
 minute the board was withdrawn, the 
 door sprung back into position, the 
 nuts carefully replaced by the friendly 
 tramp, and Paul was left in inky dark 
 ness with two presumably tough citi 
 zens whom he had known just eight 
 een hours. No wonder that he was 
 seized with a sudden nervous fit and 
 an ardent desire to be safe outside 
 breathing the free air of Heaven again. 
 
 Barely had the trio managed to fit 
 into comfortable niches among the 
 merchandise piled in the car when a 
 noise outside proclaimed the appear 
 ance of the yardmen for the purpose 
 of making up a train. Backward and
 
 68 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 forward from one track to another the 
 car was switched until the entire train, 
 composed of fast freight, was ready 
 for its journey to the West. Mean 
 time absolute silence was maintained 
 by the imprisoned tramps, for the 
 yardmen have quick ears, and discov 
 ery meant at least sixty days in the 
 county jail. By the time the train 
 was ready to start Paul's uneasiness 
 had subsided to such an extent that 
 he dozed off into unconsciousness, 
 from which he did not emerge until 
 the night had far advanced and the 
 incessant rumbling of the wheels and 
 continuous jerking of the cars told him 
 he was fairly started on his journey 
 toward the Pacific Coast. 
 
 The atmosphere in the car was heavy 
 and almost stifling, a small grated aper 
 ture near the roof at one end ad 
 mitting homeopathic doses of fresh 
 air. A violent headache that soon at 
 tacked Paul rendered sleep out of the 
 question, and as he tossed restlessly 
 on the hard boxes that formed his 
 couch his thoughts were not of the 
 pleasantest. Visions of dreadful acci 
 dents floated before his perturbed
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY 69 
 
 brain, and all the newspaper reports 
 that he had read of railroad disasters 
 were painfully fresh in his memory. 
 When at length he did sleep it was 
 only to experience a series of dire mis 
 haps in his troubled dreams, which 
 were so realistic that he awoke from 
 time to time with the perspiration 
 standing in big beads on his forehead. 
 He heard his companions convers 
 ing in low tones when he finally re 
 gained consciousness next morning, 
 but his head was so hot and his throat 
 so dry that his voice sounded like its 
 own ghost when he asked softly for a 
 drink of water. A pull at the tin pail 
 helped to freshen him up a bit, and a 
 dash of brandy that Jimmy insisted 
 on his swallowing cured the sickness 
 in his stomach caused by the motion 
 of the car. Conversation all that day 
 and the next was confined to whis 
 pers, the constant passing and re- 
 passing of the brakemen overhead 
 rendering such a precaution necessary. 
 All three ate and drank sparingly, 
 most of the time being spent in 
 sleeping. Two days and two nights 
 of this was an experience that Paul
 
 70 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 mentally determined should never be 
 repeated, but he wisely refrained from 
 giving voice to his thoughts and out 
 wardly appeared perfectly reconciled 
 to the situation. 
 
 Several long halts had been made 
 at intervals during the trip, but the 
 two old-timers knew the route so well 
 that they made no movement to get 
 away, and it was not until the car 
 was finally detached from the train 
 and side-tracked that Jimmy announced 
 their arrival at Ogden. It was the 
 morning of the third day, and know 
 ing that the car contained perishable 
 merchandise, the trio hoped for speedy 
 release from their prison. Nor were 
 they disappointed. Soon after day 
 light voices were heard outside, the 
 seal of the car was broken, and pres 
 ently the door was rolled back, ad 
 mitting a flood of delicious fresh air 
 to the three tramps, who, concealed 
 behind some boxes, awaited an op 
 portunity to jump and run. 
 
 "Now's our chance," whispered 
 Jimmy, after taking a hurried survey 
 of the field. The yardmaster had dis 
 appeared and the teamster was busy
 
 TRAVELING IN QUEER COMPANY. 71 
 
 with his horses. ' ' All together, now, 
 jump!" In spite of their cramped 
 limbs the three managed to make a 
 fairly creditable leap, and away across 
 the tracks they dashed, into the shad 
 ow of a convenient lumber pile, al 
 most before the astonished driver knew 
 what had happened. 
 
 There was no pursuit, as they 
 quickly discovered, to Paul's infinite 
 relief, and after ten minutes' rapid 
 walking all three stopped to take a 
 breather, which was rendered impera 
 tive by their long inactivity.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS. 
 
 "On, but I'm glad to get out of 
 that prison," Paul feelingly remarked 
 as soon as he had recovered his wind. 
 
 "Lots o' wuss places 'n that," said 
 Jimmy, sententiously. 
 
 "Well, I hope I'll never find them," 
 was the fervent rejoinder. u But, say, 
 fellows, what are your plans?" 
 
 "Me and Jimmy's goin' ter let 
 Ogden take keer of us fer er few 
 days," broke in Seldom Seen; "an' 
 mebbe longer, if the city marshal ain't 
 too pertickler 'bout our health. You 
 said you was goin' ter Salt Lake, 
 didn't yer?" 
 
 "Yes," returned Paul in a decided 
 tone, glad in his heart to know that 
 he could part company with this queer 
 pair without appearing ungrateful. 
 "You see, I'm anxious to take a peep 
 at the tabernacle and other of Brigham 
 Young's curios, to say nothing of a
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS 73 
 
 plunge in the big salt lake. Better 
 come along." 
 
 "Not none, "growled Jimmy. "Had 
 all we wanted o' Salt Lake last time 
 we went up, eh, Seldom ?" 
 
 "I should smile," observed that 
 worthy, scratching his grizzled chin. 
 "Some o' them Mormons is wuss'n a 
 reg'mint o' depperty sher'ffs. Ain't 
 got no regard for travelin' toorists, they 
 ain't." 
 
 Paul laughed merrily. "Oh, that's 
 the way the wind blows, is it? Well, 
 then, I won't urge you. Just put me 
 on the right road and I'll pull out 
 lively." 
 
 1 ' Easy done, that, " drawled Seldom 
 Seen, gathering his loose limbs to 
 gether and slowly rising. "All ye 
 hev ter do is ter folly ther track off 
 there ter the left an' keep walkin' till 
 yer gits ter ther city." 
 
 'How far do you call it from 
 Ogden ?" 
 
 " 'Bout thirty miles or so, I reckon." 
 
 Paul groaned. ' ' Nice prospect for a 
 fellow with tender feet. Well, there's 
 no help for it, I guess, so the sooner 
 I start the better."
 
 74 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 The lad put out his hand, and, 
 awkwardly enough, wrung the grimy 
 paw of Seldom Seen, then performed 
 the same operation on Jimmy-Hit-the- 
 Road-a-Welt, both worthies stoically 
 enduring the novel experience without 
 uttering a word. 
 
 The two stood watching the young 
 ster until his lithe figure had almost 
 disappeared from view, each with a 
 queer expression on his countenance. 
 
 It was Jimmy who spoke first. 
 "Well, I'm blowed, " was his earnest 
 if somewhat inelegant ejaculation. 
 "He's a corker, Seldom, ain't he?" 
 
 ' 'A t'orrerbred, Jimmy, a reg'lar out- 
 enouter. He don't need no gardeen, 
 he don't." 
 
 ' ' D'yer reckon he'll go clean 'round, 
 like he says he's goin?" asked Jimmy 
 presently, when the pair had resumed 
 their recumbent positions on the grass. 
 
 ' ' Do I ? " responded Seldom, as he 
 lazily blinked at the morning sun. "In 
 course I does. W'y, Jimmy, didn't I 
 say ther kid was er t'orrerbred ? " And 
 with this unanswerable retort Seldom 
 Seen pulled down the brim of his rusty 
 hat, and in a few minutes was blend-
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS 75 
 
 ing his snores with those of his precious 
 partner. 
 
 Meanwhile Paul had been stepping 
 briskly along the track, his heart beat 
 ing high in anticipation of fresh expe 
 riences to be gained in the Mormon 
 capital, his whole frame rejoicing in the 
 contact with the balmy September air, 
 which blew soft and warm, despite the 
 proximity of October. 
 
 After the confinement of the preced 
 ing days, with its fetid atmosphere, 
 unpleasant quarters and awful jolting, 
 this was like a taste of heaven to the 
 youth, who at times cried aloud in 
 sheer exaltation of spirit and talked 
 such a string of nonsense that any 
 one overhearing him might have had 
 good reason to question his sanity. 
 
 But it was only a natural ebullition 
 following the enforced whispers which 
 for three days had escaped his lips, 
 and if he shouted occasionally to re 
 lieve his feelings there was after all 
 nothing extraordinary in such perform 
 ance. 
 
 As the sun rose higher in the heav 
 ens Paul's step grew less elastic, and 
 when he had tramped some ten or
 
 76 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 twelve miles the lad discovered that 
 he was not only very tired, but ex 
 tremely hungry. 
 
 "I'll tackle the next ranch house 
 I spy along the track, " was his mental 
 resolve, after fighting off the pains as 
 long as he was able. "Can't get 
 much worse than a refusal anyhow 
 and I'll have to risk that." 
 
 Another quarter of an hour and the 
 outlines 'of a fairly thrifty appearing 
 farmhouse were seen, framed in a 
 grove of timber, about half a mile 
 distant from the railroad. 
 
 ' ' Here goes, " muttered Paul, as he 
 jumped the ditch that skirted the 
 track. "A hungry stomach has no 
 business to be squeamish, and a din 
 ner of some sort I must have." 
 
 Between the railroad track and the 
 house a small bunch of cattle was 
 grazing, and as Paul neared the stock 
 he spied a boy of about fifteen stretched 
 on the prairie intently reading a book. 
 
 So interested was the young herder 
 in the story that he failed to notice 
 Paul's approach and started up with 
 a nervous jump when the newcomer,
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS 77 
 
 halting within two feet, mildly ven 
 tured: 
 
 "Say, do you live over yonder?" 
 
 -Yep." 
 
 "A-h, what time is it?" 
 
 "'Bout 'leven o'clock, I guess." 
 
 Just then Paul caught a glimpse of 
 the title of the book the lad held in 
 his hand and the interest he felt was 
 perhaps reflected in his voice as he 
 exclaimed, "Swiss Family Robinson, 
 isn't it? How do you like the story?" 
 
 "Bully! Par's I've got. Have you 
 read it?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, a number of times. They 
 were wonderfully lucky to be wrecked 
 on that island, weren't they?" 
 
 The boy darted a keen glance into 
 Paul's face as if he had detected a 
 quizzical note. ' ' Well, " he said, 
 1 ' ' pears to me they had an awfully 
 smart father. He knew a heap, he 
 did." 
 
 "I should say so," assented Paul, 
 and the ice being broken it did not 
 take the young Chicagoan long to es 
 tablish himself on a very friendly foot 
 ing with the quick-witted herder, who,
 
 ?8 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 after a while, asked Paul to go over to 
 the ranch house for dinner. 
 
 This offer was accepted with so 
 much alacrity that both were quick 
 to see the absurdity of the situation 
 and the hearty laugh that burst from 
 each served to clinch their newly 
 formed friendship. 
 
 "Didn't think I'd refuse, did you?" 
 questioned Paul, as the two drove the 
 cattle into an adjacent corral. 
 
 "N-o. You see I kinder guessed 
 you was hungry when you asked me 
 the time. I knew you wan't a reg'lar 
 tramp, by the way you talked." 
 
 Supposing Paul to be some boy ac 
 quaintance of Rob, which was the 
 young herder's name, the folks at the 
 ranch house asked no questions and 
 the tired traveler vouchsafed no re 
 marks, particularly as dinner was on 
 the table when the lads entered. 
 
 Ah! that was a meal indeed, and 
 the way Paul disposed of the whole 
 some food was a caution. But as he 
 rose from his chair the thought of a 
 twenty-mile tramp caused him to groan 
 in spirit and he began to wish he had 
 not indulged so freely.
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS 79 
 
 Something of this he expressed to 
 his friend Rob as they sauntered back 
 to the corral. 
 
 "Must you go on to Salt Lake 
 this afternoon then?" the latter anx 
 iously inquired. 
 
 ' ' Oh, I haven't any pressing engage 
 ment," returned Paul. "Why?" 
 
 ' ' ' Cause if you wait till to-morrow 
 I'll take you up in my buckboard. 
 Mother wants to send some things to 
 my aunt and you can just as well ride 
 with me, if you care to." 
 
 "Care to? Why, that will suit me 
 tip-top. But how about a bunk to 
 night? " 
 
 "Oh, that's all right. I have a big 
 bed in the attic all to myself and you 
 can sleep with me." 
 
 "It is better to be born lucky than 
 rich," thought Paul, as he closed his 
 eyes that night after indulging in a 
 refreshing bath. ' ' I guess the folks 
 back home haven't forgotten me, 
 either." 
 
 The ride through the beautiful val 
 ley into town was a rich treat to Paul, 
 whose entertaining conversation seemed 
 to fascinate his younger companion so
 
 8o PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 that they both were fairly sorry when 
 their destination was reached. 
 
 By this time Rob had learned Paul's 
 plans, and his interest in the proposed 
 trip was so great that he could talk 
 of little else. He insisted on taking 
 Paul to his aunt's house, and as he 
 was to remain over Sunday entreated 
 his new friend to stay with him. 
 
 "But your aunt might object to 
 receiving a stranger," remonstrated 
 Paul, who had some qualms about 
 accepting this generous invitation. 
 
 "Oh, no, she won't," urged the boy, 
 " My friends are hers, too. She's jolly 
 good, she is." 
 
 And so she was. The best in the 
 house was laid before the lads, for 
 Paul's unaffected manners proved a 
 direct passport to the good woman's 
 heart, and during his stay in Salt 
 Lake her generous hospitality never 
 wavered. 
 
 Paul could have found no better 
 guide than Rob, for the young rancher 
 had been born and brought up in the 
 great Salt Lake valley, so that of the 
 two days spent in town not a min 
 ute was wasted. All the famous places
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS 8l 
 
 were visited, including the late Brig- 
 ham Young's mansion, his tomb, the 
 tabernacle, the great Mormon temple, 
 not then completed, the cooperative 
 stores and the memorable aqueducts 
 where the water refused to run up 
 hill despite the spiritual assurances 
 revealed to the prophet. The beau 
 tiful wide streets were duly admired 
 and a drive to Camp Douglas, one 
 of Uncle Sam's most picturesque army 
 posts, brought the lads to the fort in 
 time to witness dress parade at sun 
 down. Last, but not least, came a 
 bath in the Great Salt Lake, an ex 
 perience that each of the boys hugely 
 enjoyed. 
 
 When Monday afternoon arrived the 
 feeling that he had put in his time 
 to the best advantage sent Paul away 
 in a very happy frame of mind, for, 
 true to his original design, he was 
 keen to continue his journey to the 
 west. 
 
 ' ' How do you expect to cross the 
 mountains, Paul?" inquired Rob, as 
 they were jogging back to the ranch. 
 
 "Haven't any definite plan, yet. I 
 didn't know but Seldom and Jimmy
 
 82 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 might be able to point out a way," 
 he replied, for Rob had heard all about 
 these queer cronies. 
 
 ' ' I have a better scheme than that, " 
 remarked Rob, presently, emerging 
 from a brown study. ' ' We used to 
 have a hired man of the name of 
 Jack Turner, who went to braking on 
 the U. P., and I b'leeve he's running 
 on an emigrant train now. If I could 
 catch him going west I know he'd 
 help you, for Jack's a rattling good 
 fellow. " 
 
 Here was an unlooked-for lead that 
 promised to pan out big, and Paul 
 was soon in a state of feverish anx 
 iety to reach the Union Pacific lest 
 Jack should go through. When Rob 
 explained that Ogden was the end of 
 the division and that Jack lived in 
 town when he was off duty, Paul 
 quieted down, especially as Rob prom 
 ised to drive over to Ogden first thing 
 in the morning. 
 
 Paul's star was still in the ascendant. 
 When the lads reached Ogden next 
 day Jack Turner was almost the first 
 acquaintance Rob greeted. The brake- 
 man chanced to be on his way to the
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS 83 
 
 yards to see if the through trains 
 were on time, as he expected to pull 
 out that afternoon. 
 
 In response to Rob's earnest request 
 he readily agreed to help Paul out 
 by ' ' fixing " the conductor, so the lat 
 ter would fail to see him when he 
 went through the train. 
 
 "Of course, you understand," said 
 Turner, ' 'that I can only get you passed 
 on to the end of my division, but I'll 
 see if a brakeman I know on the re 
 lief crew won't keep you going. Just 
 show up at 2 o'clock and I guess 
 everything will be all right." 
 
 Both lads were profuse in their 
 thanks, at which the good-natured 
 brakeman laughingly declared he'd get 
 even by falling back on the ranch for 
 a job if he happened to be laid off 
 any time. 
 
 Rob's sincere regard for Paul was 
 made still more apparent when the 
 time for parting arrived. From under 
 neath the seat of the buckboard the 
 boy fished out a market basket tied 
 over with brown paper, which he thrust 
 into Paul's hands, saying: "S'pose you
 
 84 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 didn't figure that you'd need anything 
 to eat on the road?" 
 
 It was an act of thoughtfulness for 
 which Paul was wholly unprepared, 
 and his voice was a bit husky as he 
 stammered his thanks. ' ' If all my ex 
 periences are to be as pleasant as this 
 one has been, " he said, as soon as he 
 regained his composure, "my tramp 
 will be nothing but a prolonged picnic. 
 Just wait till I get you in Chicago, 
 Rob, and then I'll try to repay some 
 of your many kindnesses." 
 
 It was really quite hard to part from 
 the brown-eyed, freckle-faced young 
 Mormon who had proved so true a 
 friend, and Paul found himself specu 
 lating as the train sped westward un 
 der what circumstances, if ever, they 
 might meet again. But the problem 
 was too deep for instant solution, and 
 before he could arrive at a satisfac 
 tory conclusion he was fast asleep. 
 
 Jack Turner's "pull" with the new 
 crew was so strong that when he came 
 in the car next afternoon to say good 
 bye he assured Paul everything would 
 be all right as far as Sacramento, a
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS 85 
 
 piece of news that was, of course, most 
 gratefully received. 
 
 Meantime Paul had made some ac 
 quaintances among the passengers, so 
 that a hot cup of coffee or tea was 
 always forthcoming at meal times. 
 
 The car in which Turner had found 
 him a seat was filled with a motley 
 collection of emigrants, most of whom 
 were on their way to southern Cali 
 fornia. Families predominated, with 
 the usual quota of children, from babies 
 in arms to restless boys and girls of 
 twelve and fourteen. 
 
 The confinement in the crowded car 
 had, naturally, tried the patience and 
 temper of both parents and children, 
 so that when Paul entered on the scene 
 the prospect was anything but inspirit 
 ing. But with the blissful disregard 
 of surroundings peculiar to a healthy 
 boy, Paul had curled himself up on 
 the seat, after eating his first meal 
 aboard the train, and despite the noise 
 and confusion on all sides, he found 
 no difficulty in wooing the drowsy god. 
 
 Next day he had plenty of oppor 
 tunity to study his fellow travelers at 
 leisure, and it was not long before his
 
 86 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 cheerful good nature began to assert 
 itself. 
 
 The heart of a little woman, whose 
 eldest of three tots was scarcely seven, 
 he gladdened by enticing the youngsters 
 into his seat, where he amused them 
 for upward of an hour by story-telling 
 and propounding mysterious conun 
 drums, which gave the tired mother, 
 traveling to rejoin her husband, a 
 chance to rest for the first time since 
 she had boarded the train. 
 
 A fretful child that had cried half 
 the morning he quieted by walking up 
 and down the aisle with the baby 
 perched on his shoulder, until it crowed 
 with delight. 
 
 At dusk of the second day the chil 
 dren began to regard Paul as their 
 especial friend, and after their early 
 supper had been discussed he had all 
 the little people in the car crowded 
 into his seat, on his knees, at his 
 back anywhere within earshot for 
 Paul could tell the most wonderful 
 fairy stories in a way that held the 
 youngsters spellbound, and their de 
 mands for "just one more, please,"
 
 AMUSING THE 
 EMIGRANTS.
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS 87 
 
 were met until the story teller was too 
 hoarse to continue. 
 
 Thus it was that Paul shortly found 
 himself a most popular individual, not 
 only with the children, but with the big 
 folks, too, for since his advent a dif 
 ferent sort of atmosphere seemed to 
 pervade the car, and the elders were 
 not slow to perceive the cause. Hence 
 it was not strange that with the ap 
 proach of meal time three or four in 
 vitations were always open to Paul's 
 choice. 
 
 At Sacramento many of the emi 
 grants left the train to continue their 
 journey southward, and as Paul met 
 a peremptory challenge for "ticket" 
 from the new conductor, he knew his 
 rope was run, and that he could not 
 hope to get to San Francisco aboard 
 that car. Sadly, but philosophically 
 withal, he said good-bye to his big and 
 little friends, and escorted by a brake- 
 man was piloted through the forward 
 door and ordered to make himself 
 scarce. 
 
 Not, however, without having formu 
 lated certain definite plans. One of 
 the passengers had advised him to
 
 88 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 steal aboard one of the river steam 
 ers plying between Sacramento and 
 San Francisco and stow away among 
 the cargo. Having at some previous 
 time successfully essayed this trick 
 himself, he further explained how it 
 might safely be accomplished, which 
 so appealed to Paul's imagination that 
 he determined to make the attempt. 
 
 With a sandwich resting snugly at 
 the bottom of each outside pocket of 
 his coat, the lad made his way across 
 the gridironed tracks to the wharf, 
 where he remained until dusk awaiting 
 an opportunity to elude the Cerberus 
 at the gate. 
 
 As Homer was said to sometimes 
 nod, so also did the vigilance of the 
 guard relax, and at the first good 
 chance Paul slipped inside the gate, 
 bounded lightly across the gangway 
 of a packet moored to the dock, and 
 in a trice had concealed himself among 
 a pile of freight on the lower deck, 
 forward. 
 
 Two months before his heart would 
 have beaten like a trip-hammer had 
 he attempted anything so daring as 
 this, and he would probably have re-
 
 PAUL FALLS AMONG FRIENDS 89 
 
 mained in a state of constant terror, 
 for fear of discovery. 
 
 But now he merely shrugged his 
 shoulders as he lay outstretched across 
 the bags of grain, and with a mental 
 apology to the owners for surrepti 
 tiously boarding their vessel, he gazed 
 steadily at the bright moon overhead 
 and actually dropped asleep before 
 the boat left the wharf to steam down 
 the Sacramento River. 
 
 As a tramp Paul was making prog 
 ress.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A FORTUNE IN EYE-WATER. 
 
 ONCE only during the night Paul 
 awoke to find the big moon-eye still 
 beaming above, while the monotonous 
 "chug!" "chug!" of the engine indi 
 cated that the boat was keeping stead 
 ily on her way down the river. 
 
 The next time he opened his eyes 
 it was broad daylight; the vessel was 
 just steaming into her dock, and the 
 clatter all about him told the stow 
 away that the American continent had 
 been crossed and that San Francisco 
 lay invitingly open to his inspection. 
 
 It was no trick to steal ashore un 
 observed during the bustle contingent 
 on making fast. This safely accom 
 plished the first and most natural 
 question that intruded was how to get 
 breakfast. 
 
 "Here, young fellow, want to carry 
 my sample case?" called a gray- 
 bearded drummer at this juncture. 
 90
 
 A FORTUNE IN EYE-WATER 91 
 
 "I'm only going three or four blocks 
 up the street." 
 
 With alacrity Paul responded to the 
 hail and quickly fell into line behind 
 the traveling man, whose other bag 
 gage consisted of a valise and an um 
 brella. 
 
 Twenty cents all the small change 
 the man had Paul received for this 
 service, and with lighter spirits he 
 started in search of a modest restau 
 rant where he might break his fast. 
 
 This done he next bent his steps 
 to the post office, where, at the general 
 delivery, three or four fat letters with 
 the Chicago postmark were passed to 
 him through the window. 
 
 Outside the big doors, on the front 
 steps of the main entrance Paul ea 
 gerly tore open the envelope bearing 
 his mother's familiar handwriting. A 
 quick glance sufficed to assure him all 
 were well at home, and, with a thank 
 ful heart, he sat down on the stone 
 coping to leisurely read the letters from 
 his father and sisters. 
 
 All were of a like tenor brimful of 
 love for the wanderer, but anxious for 
 his speedy return. "Surely," wrote
 
 92 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 Madge, ' ' you have done enough tramp 
 ing by this time, and must be about 
 ready to settle down to matter-of-fact 
 life in Chicago. Be a good prodigal 
 and we will promise you the fattest 
 calf in the market." 
 
 It was his father only who suspected 
 the true scope of Paul's tramp, and he 
 begged the boy to think twice before 
 putting salt water between him and 
 the shores of America. Yet he placed 
 no limitation on his son's travels, but 
 left the lad free to follow his inclina 
 tions, asking in return that he write as 
 often as possible. 
 
 It was the last question which Paul 
 ruefully pondered. As to returning to 
 Chicago, why, of course, that was not 
 to be considered he was only fairly 
 started; but if he could raise money 
 enough to buy stationery and stamps 
 so as to write home he would be mod 
 erately happy. That duty must be 
 performed at the earliest opportunity, 
 even if he missed a meal. 
 
 From his reverie he was aroused by 
 a smart slap on his back, while a voice 
 in his ear shouted: "Hello, Scotty!" 
 
 This familiar salute was given by a
 
 A FORTUNE IN EYE-WATER 93 
 
 smartly dressed individual, whose sal 
 low features, under a shiny silk hat, 
 were adorned by a luxuriant black 
 mustache. As Paul quickly turned the 
 man saw he had made a mistake, and 
 hastened to apologize. 
 
 "Beg your pardon, son. Thought 
 you were a friend of mine from Cin 
 cinnati. Had a little job for him and 
 rather expected to meet him here." 
 
 Paul took this in good part and smil 
 ingly remarked that he bore ' ' Scotty " 
 no ill-will, but he was looking for a 
 job himself. 
 
 The man with the mustache ran his 
 eyes over Paul, as if he were mentally 
 "sizing him up." The inspection was 
 evidently satisfactory, for he began to 
 ask a number of questions, and ended 
 by telling the lad to meet him at that 
 same place at 12 o'clock. 
 
 The two hours intervening Paul spent 
 in writing letters. Strolling into the 
 Palace Hotel to admire its gorgeous 
 interior, he spied some loose paper 
 and envelopes on one of the writing 
 tables, which had evidently been left 
 by a surfeited guest. 
 
 Dropping unconcernedly into the va-
 
 94 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 cated seat, Paul took off his hat, picked 
 up a pen and wrote industriously un 
 til nearly noon, unmolested and un 
 challenged by anyone. At the end 
 of that time he had four bulky letters 
 ready to mail. All he lacked was 
 stamps. 
 
 Depositing them in an inside pocket 
 he carelessly meandered out doors, 
 and then walked swiftly to the ren 
 dezvous, which he reached just as the 
 clock tolled the noon hour. 
 
 Five minutes later his acquaintance 
 of the morning appeared. 
 
 "Ah! You're on time, I see," he 
 called, as he mounted the steps. 
 "Well, I admire promptness. Haven't 
 been to dinner, I suppose?" 
 
 Paul shook his head, 
 
 "Then come along with me, and 
 while we are eating I'll tell you what 
 sort of a job I can offer you." 
 
 The unknown led the way to an 
 attractive restaurant on Kearney Street, 
 where he ordered a substantial dinner. 
 During its discussion he explained that 
 his name was Dr. Queechy, and that 
 he was the owner of a wonderful cure 
 for sore eyes that he expected to sell
 
 A FORTUNE IN EYE-WATER 95 
 
 at the state fair at Sacramento, which 
 was to begin next day. 
 
 "What I want you to do, Paul," 
 he continued, after the preliminary ex 
 planations were over, ' ( is to take charge 
 of my booth at the fair grounds and sell 
 my eye-water to the country visitors. 
 I have the stuff all bottled in pints and 
 quarts, which you may give away at 
 fifty cents and a dollar a bottle." 
 
 Paul grinned. "That's a pretty 
 steep price for a countryman to pay, 
 isn't it?" 
 
 "Oh, well," returned the doctor, 
 with a fatuous smile, " if it was cheaper 
 the idiots wouldn't touch it at all. It's 
 human nature, my boy. High-priced 
 goods must be extra fine, and, there 
 fore, worth having. You'll see; the 
 stuff'll go off like hot cakes when you 
 get your bills well distributed." 
 
 If Paul had any doubts about the mer 
 its of Dr. Queechy's lotion they should 
 have been entirely dissipated when 
 he read the sample handbill which the 
 doctor displayed. The wonderful cu 
 rative properties of the medicine were 
 set forth in no uncertain light, while 
 numerous testimonials from various
 
 96 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 distinguished citizens vouched for the 
 benefits they had derived from its use. 
 With all this staring him in the face, 
 Paul would have been an ingrate to 
 have doubted, so with a cheery "thank 
 you" he announced his willingness to 
 accept the place. 
 
 "All right, then; that's settled," ex 
 claimed the doctor. "Two dollars a 
 day and your expenses. Let's see 
 train leaves in an hour. Ought to 
 catch that so as to get an early start 
 at the fair to-morrow. Stuff is at the 
 depot; all we have to do is to check 
 it through. Come ahead, son." 
 
 On the way to the station Paul 
 pulled out his letters and remarked 
 that he would like to mail them if his 
 employer could make him a small 
 advance on his salary. 
 
 The doctor opened his purse and 
 handed his new assistant a silver dollar. 
 
 "Would give you more," he said, 
 in his terse, choppy way, "only I'm 
 a little short just now." 
 
 Paul protested that ten cents was 
 enough, but the doctor waved him 
 back and told him to say no more 
 about it.
 
 A FORTUNE IN EYE-WATER 97 
 
 It was a great relief to get the let 
 ters off his mind, for Paul's love for 
 his parents was too genuine to allow 
 them to worry through his neglect. 
 As he dropped the envelopes into the 
 box he felt as if that action completed 
 his record up to date. What followed 
 would be a new chapter, which he was 
 only too eager to enter upon. 
 
 On arriving at Sacramento their first 
 care was to transfer the bottled goods 
 from the depot to the fair grounds. 
 It was too late to do any work at the 
 booth that night, so the doctor made 
 arrangements for Paul to board at a 
 cheap hotel near by, promising to meet 
 him early the day following at the 
 booth. 
 
 By 7:00 o'clock next morning Paul 
 had eaten his breakfast and was off 
 to the grounds. When his employer 
 appeared on the scene the bottles were 
 neatly arranged in pyramids around 
 the octagonal counter, while attractive 
 hangers and flaring dodgers proclaimed 
 the virtues of the lotion in the most 
 effective manner. 
 
 "Better get a few small boys to 
 pass around your handbills," advised 
 
 7
 
 98 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 the doctor, after signifying his ap 
 proval of Paul's work. ' ' Spend this 
 dollar on it," he added, tossing over 
 the coin, ' ' but wait until the grounds 
 fill up before you set 'em to work. 
 You must stick close to the stand, as 
 I have other business on hand." 
 
 Toward noon Paul managed to hire 
 four youngsters at a quarter each, who 
 solemnly promised to scatter the dodg 
 ers all over the fair grounds. Appar 
 ently their work was honest, for later 
 on he sold half-a-dozen bottles to as 
 many different people, each of whom 
 carried a handbill. By 6 :oo o'clock he 
 had disposed of fifteen dollars' worth of 
 eye-water, and as the crowd was then 
 rapidly thinning out, he concluded it 
 was time for him to quit, too. So, lock 
 ing up his bottles, he closed the booth 
 and went over to his hotel to supper. 
 
 Contrary to his expectations, the 
 doctor failed to meet Paul that even 
 ing, but, supposing that he would 
 surely receive a visit at the booth in 
 the morning, the lad thought nothing 
 of the omission and went to bed, feel 
 ing fairly jubilant over his first day's 
 business.
 
 A FORTUNE IN EYE- WATER 99 
 
 The second day opened bright and 
 pleasing. The attendance was larger, 
 and, with another judicious distribution 
 of dodgers by his faithful emissaries, 
 sales of eye-water steadily boomed, so 
 that by supper-time Paul's receipts 
 amounted to upward of fifty dollars. 
 Still the doctor did not appear, much 
 to the concern of his assistant, who 
 began to fear some mishap had befallen 
 him. 
 
 The day had not passed without 
 bringing many incidents to Paul's notice. 
 Numerous were the questions, both 
 funny and serious, that he was re 
 quired to answer regarding the efficacy 
 of the eye-water, to all of which the 
 lad replied as truthfully and intelli 
 gently as he could. 
 
 One old lady, who thought the stuff 
 might possibly help her son Peleg's 
 eyes, wanted to be certain that the 
 medicine would do all that the hand 
 bill stated before she invested. Her 
 shrewd questions rather flurried the 
 young salesman. 
 
 1 ' You say that ' one bottle will cure 
 the worst case of sore eyes ever known, 
 she exclaimed, quoting from the bill
 
 100 PAUL TR AVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 she held before her spectacles. ' ' Will 
 you swear to that, young man?" 
 
 "Madam, let me explain, " answered 
 Paul, deprecatingly. ' ' You see, I can 
 not swear to it, because I'm only hired 
 to attend this stand, and know very 
 little about the lotion. The doctor is 
 away just now, but he assured me 
 before he left that the medicine would 
 do all he claimed for it. That's all I 
 can tell you." 
 
 ' ' Humph ! little enough, " she grunted. 
 ' ' However, you look honest, boy, so 
 I'll take a bottle, anyway. Peleg's 
 eyes is that bad he can't read out o' 
 the family Bible, which is printed in 
 extry big letters. S'pose them instruc 
 tions on the bottle tells how to use 
 it, eh? But it's an awful high price to 
 pay, though," she grumbled, as she 
 hobbled off. 
 
 They were mostly grangers who 
 bought. It seemed to Paul that a 
 great many farmers were afflicted with 
 ophthalmia in that region, and he 
 wondered if the lotion would make 
 their eyes much worse. Whether the 
 stuff was genuine or a rank humbug, 
 he had no means of telling. He only
 
 SELLfNG EVE- WATER 
 AT THE FAIR.
 
 A FORTUNE IN EYE-WATER IOI 
 
 had the doctor's word that it was all 
 he represented it to be. 
 
 The third day was a repetition, with 
 but slight variation, of the one pre 
 vious, except that the sales fell off a 
 trifle. The fourth and last day of the 
 fair found the doctor still missing, 
 and so far all Paul's inquiries had 
 been fruitless. In the afternoon, hav 
 ing sold every bottle of eye-water in 
 the booth, and with upward of one 
 hundred dollars in his pocket, he con 
 cluded to take a stroll around the 
 grounds in search of the absent one. 
 
 It was while describing his employer 
 to one of the fair police that Paul 
 stumbled on his first bit of informa 
 tion concerning the doctor. 
 
 "Doctor Quaichy, d'ye call him?" 
 remarked the officer, in a strong Hi 
 bernian accent. ' ' Divvle a docther is 
 he, oi don't think. Sure ther feller's 
 as slick a fakir as iver ye seen. Him 
 an' another chap's bin run' out o' town 
 for worrkin ' a lotthery racket on ther 
 grounds. It's me that's tellin' yer he 
 won't throuble this parrt o' Calliforn- 
 yer agin for a good bit. Some o' ther 
 lads he bilked lambasted him awful
 
 102 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 the fust day he opened up and then 
 chased him to the thrain goin' East. 
 Sure he must be nearly to Ne-York 
 be this toime." 
 
 This was startling news that might 
 or might not refer to Dr. Queechy. 
 Further investigation, however, con 
 vinced Paul that the policeman's story 
 was, in the main, true, for the addi 
 tional evidence he gathered all pointed 
 to the doctor as the exiled gambler. 
 
 What bothered Paul was to know 
 just why his employer had taken so 
 much trouble with the stand. He fin 
 ally concluded that the gambling had 
 been an after consideration, particu 
 larly when he learned that another 
 man had been implicated with him. 
 
 After lingering two days in Sacra 
 mento to give an account of his stew 
 ardship, Paul decided that the doctor 
 either feared to return or else imagined 
 the sale of eye-water hadn't amounted 
 to enough to bother about. There 
 was nothing for him to do but to go 
 back to San Francisco, and with five 
 double eagles wrapped in a chamois 
 bag and visions of the Southern Pa 
 cific haunting his active brain, he again
 
 A FORTUNE IN EYE-WATER 103 
 
 turned his face toward the Golden 
 Gate. 
 
 His next problem was a knotty one. 
 It was whether to try to reach China 
 and Japan or embark for New Zea 
 land and Australian ports. Regretfully 
 brushing aside thoughts of cute little 
 Japs and pretty musmees, as he realized 
 how helpless he would be in a strange 
 speaking country, without money or 
 friends, he decided that the Eng 
 lish colonies would be more suitable 
 for his purpose. It may be that the 
 fact of having an uncle living in South 
 Australia aided him in coming to this 
 determination. 
 
 This question settled, the more dif 
 ficult one of how to get there pre 
 sented itself. At first Paul supposed 
 it would be an easy matter to ship 
 aboard any of the steamers lying in 
 the harbor, but after spending a day 
 or two in visiting the various vessel 
 agents and captains, he discovered his 
 error. 
 
 He wasn't a sailor, cabin boys were 
 out of date and experienced under- 
 stewards were a glut on the market. 
 Evidently there was a conspiracy to
 
 104 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 turn him down, and with a sigh Paul 
 came to the conclusion that "running 
 away to sea" was more of a fairy tale 
 than a reality, despite all the story 
 books to the contrary. 
 
 "Well," thought he, "if I can't 
 ship as a sailor, or get a billet as a 
 steward, I can at least buy a passage 
 as far as my money will carry me. 
 Might just as well spend it this way 
 as any other." 
 
 Of the hundred dollars he had about 
 eighty-five left, fifteen having been 
 spent in buying a few necessary arti 
 cles of clothing, a valise, renting a 
 room and in living expenses. A first 
 class passage to Australia was worth 
 two hundred dollars; by steerage, 
 one hundred dollars. Clearly he 
 could not get that far. To the Sand 
 wich Islands saloon fare was $75; 
 steerage, $30. This was possible, so 
 Honolulu he decided should be his 
 next port of call. 
 
 With a philosophy that was open to 
 serious criticism, he next determined 
 to travel first class, arguing that so long 
 as he had money in his pocket he 
 would get the best in sight. Instead,
 
 A FORTUNE IN EYE-WATER 105 
 
 then, of contenting himself with steer 
 age passage and saving the difference, 
 Paul went to the steamship office 
 and rashly engaged a saloon berth to 
 Honolulu. 
 
 If he had been a few years older 
 the prospect of landing on an island 
 in the Southern Pacific with but a few 
 dollars in his pocket might have taught 
 him more discretion. As it was he 
 trusted to his usual happy faculty of 
 alighting on his feet, and refused to 
 give any thought for the morrow. 
 Perhaps it was largely owing to his 
 sublime faith in himself that he over 
 came difficulties which might have ap 
 palled a more experienced traveler. 
 
 It was on a Thursday morning that 
 Paul planked down his gold twenties 
 on the counter of the steamship office 
 and received in exchange his berth 
 ticket on the City of Sydney. The 
 boat was advertised to sail at 2:00 
 o'clock in the afternoon. A letter to 
 his father, telling of the step he had 
 taken, another to his mother, and Paul 
 was ready to go on board. 
 
 At 5 :oo o'clock he was passing through 
 the Golden Gate on his way to the
 
 106 PAUL TR AVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 Sandwich Islands; the Pacific coast 
 was gradually receding and an unknown 
 region lay before him. But the swell 
 was becoming too obtrusive for further 
 reverie on deck, so down to his berth 
 he hurried, with an awful feeling of 
 nausea that stretched him helpless. 
 
 When at length he slept, it was to 
 dream that he had married the daugh 
 ter of a rich planter, and was made 
 prime minister of Hawaii.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC. 
 
 THE City of Sydney was badly 
 crowded. In addition to her regular 
 passenger traffic she carried an Ameri 
 can circus troupe, with its accompany 
 ing impedimenta, that was going to 
 "do "New Zealand and Australia and, 
 incidentally, the colonials. 
 
 The circus pervaded the entire ship. 
 Its trick horses, performing stallions, 
 mules, elephants, camels and other 
 uncaged animals were confined in nar 
 row stalls on the lower deck between 
 the steerage way and amidships, while 
 the fiercer ones, lodged behind iron 
 bars, were scattered up and down the 
 gangways and wherever there was space 
 enough to lash a cage. 
 
 The roaring of the lions, hoarse 
 bellowing of the seals, trumpeting of 
 the seasick elephants and other kin 
 dred noises emanating from the menag 
 erie, produced a very bizarre effect 
 107
 
 108 PAUL TRAVERS* ADVENTURES 
 
 that first night at sea; hence it was not 
 strange that few passengers slept. 
 
 Awakened from his dream of the 
 premiership by the furious trumpeting 
 of a frightened elephant, Paul lay quiet 
 in his bunk for a few minutes until he 
 got his bearings. Then, as a long roller 
 threw the ship over, he felt his stom 
 ach rebel, and hastily slid to the cabin 
 floor just as a voice from the lower 
 berth called out, "What's the matter, 
 boy, sick?" 
 
 It was the ship's surgeon who asked 
 the question. Pushed for room, the 
 steamship company had even invaded 
 the cabins allotted to the officers, and 
 Paul had been quartered with Dr. 
 Penrose, who had cheerfully consented 
 to the arrangement. It was another 
 instance of Paul's luck, for the jolly 
 doctor was able to do him many a 
 good turn later on. 
 
 "I don't feel just right, doctor," re 
 sponded the lad, as he labored over 
 the basin. "Seems as if I'd lose my 
 toe nails if this keeps up. Oh, dear, " 
 he groaned, "guess I wasn't cut out 
 for a sailor," and once more he 
 struggled with his rebellious stomach.
 
 IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC log 
 
 The hard-hearted doctor laughed. 
 "Why, my boy, in another day I'll 
 have you guzzling the fattest piece of 
 fried pork there is in the cook's galley. 
 That's right, let 'er come; you'll be 
 better pretty soon." 
 
 Not until there was nothing left to 
 come did Paul feel safe in climbing 
 back into his bunk, and then he was 
 so weak that he quickly dropped to 
 sleep in spite of the bedlamic noises 
 which prevailed. 
 
 He told the doctor the next morn 
 ing that he guessed he'd stick to the 
 cabin for a while, when the latter 
 urged him to get up and eat break 
 fast; so, promising to send the steward 
 in with a bowl of beef tea and a bis 
 cuit, Dr. Penrose left Paul to his 
 meditations. 
 
 It wasn't a pleasant morning for the 
 young traveler, and those who have 
 been there themselves will be ready 
 to extend their sympathies. But his 
 was not a very severe attack, and 
 along in the afternoon, by keeping his 
 lips tightly closed, he managed to 
 wriggle into his clothes, and presently 
 found courage to crawl on deck.
 
 I 10 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 There were few passengers prome 
 nading. Those who had escaped the 
 prevailing complaint were mostly old 
 stagers who had crossed the ocean so 
 often they had their sea legs with 
 them constantly. There was one nota 
 ble exception, however, as Paul shortly 
 discovered. 
 
 For about an hour he persistently 
 strode up and down the deck, a little 
 white under the eyes and still rather 
 green about the lips, but the awful 
 feeling of nausea had passed away, 
 and with each fresh breath of salt air 
 that he inhaled the lad felt a new in 
 vigorating force creeping into his veins. 
 
 Oh, but it was glorious to breast the 
 sharp, keen breeze, laden with minute 
 crystals that flecked his cheeks and 
 occasionally lit upon his lips. This 
 was worth all it had cost him so far, 
 he decided, as he rested his arms for 
 a minute on top of the bulwarks and 
 stood watching the dolphins play leap 
 frog in the briny waves. 
 
 Suddenly a smart gust of wind sent 
 the hat of one of the promenaders 
 sailing past the companionway, brought 
 it in collision with a ventilator, low-
 
 IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC III 
 
 ered it for a second on the skylight 
 over the saloon, and then, picking it 
 up sharply, dashed it full in Paul's 
 face, where its erratic career ended. 
 
 It was a Tarn o' Shanter of soft, 
 gray wool which Paul grasped and 
 the next minute its owner came beat 
 ing up into the wind in search of her 
 lost property. She was young not 
 over sixteen with merry, laughing 
 eyes, light brown, crisp, curly hair 
 and red, rosy cheeks a picture of 
 health and youthful beauty. 
 
 ''Oh, I am so glad you stopped 
 it," she exclaimed, as Paul handed 
 over his prize. ' ' I never expected to 
 get it back again, you know." 
 
 Paul smiled and said he was glad 
 to have had the chance of saving her 
 cap from going overboard, and then, 
 as the girl paused to cover her flying 
 locks, he politely called her attention 
 to the dolphins disporting in the 
 water. 
 
 She moved close up to the bul 
 warks and leaned over, the better to 
 look at them. 
 
 "What jolly fun they're having down 
 there," she remarked, and by her ac-
 
 H2 PAUL TR AVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 cent Paul knew she was English. ' ' See 
 how easily they keep up with the ship. " 
 
 Her companion tried to look down 
 over the rail, too, but his head was 
 hardly equal to the effort, and with a 
 sickly smile he said he guessed he 
 would have to keep moving. "You 
 see, miss," he apologetically explained, 
 "this is my first appearance on deck 
 and I'm not quite used to the motion 
 yet." 
 
 Hastily lifting his hat, he started 
 off at a brisk pace, leaving the girl 
 still watching the sportive fish. On 
 his return the second time she started 
 to renew her walk, and the pleasant 
 smile she gave Paul encouraged him 
 to fall in step beside her. 
 
 "What a capital sailor you are," 
 he ventured. ' ' This can't be your first 
 trip at sea ? " 
 
 1 Not quite, " she replied. ' ' We left 
 Liverpool three weeks ago, so I had 
 a chance to get used to the motion 
 while crossing the Atlantic; but it 
 didn't bother me a bit, even then. Dear 
 mamma was dreadfully ill, though, 
 and stayed in her cabin until we 
 reached New York. I don't suppose
 
 IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC 113 
 
 we shall see her on deck until we get 
 to Honolulu. Poor Jones, too that's 
 mamma's maid is just as bad, so I 
 have to look after myself entirely." 
 
 Further conversation with this ingen 
 uous miss revealed the fact that her 
 mamma was the wife of a high official 
 attached to the English embassy at 
 Suva, Fiji, who with her daughter 
 Ethel and the maid, Jones, was on 
 her way to Sydney to meet her hus 
 band. 
 
 At three bells, or half past five, the 
 lively Miss Ethel announced her in 
 tention of going below to dress for 
 dinner, and as by this time Paul had 
 overcome his repugnance for food, he 
 expressed the hope of meeting his new 
 acquaintance in the saloon. 
 
 But, as he descended the compan- 
 ionway, he ruefully thought of his one 
 suit of clothes and what a sorry fig 
 ure he would cut at the dinner table. 
 However, he was too young to let 
 this worry him much, and, after all, 
 with clean linen and a neat four-in- 
 hand tie, he presented a not unattrac 
 tive exterior. 
 
 It was too early in the voyage for
 
 114 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 the saloon to be crowded, so Paul 
 found no difficulty in getting a seat 
 near the rosy-faced English lass, who 
 had a good British appetite which 
 nothing seemed to disturb. Consider 
 ing his recent unpleasant experiences, 
 the young Chicagoan managed to make 
 a very fair meal himself, and between 
 courses mustered up enough ambition 
 to attempt a few responses to the 
 bright sallies of his fair neighbor, whose 
 effervescing spirits were so contagious 
 that Paul had forgotten all about sea 
 sickness by the time cofTee was served. 
 
 It was a very innocent and wholly en 
 joyable comradeship that the two young 
 people formed for each other during 
 the succeeding days at sea. Just a 
 healthy boy and girl friendship, devoid 
 of any sickly sentimentality. They 
 walked, talked, sung and read together 
 as if they were college chums, and, 
 with no one to interfere with their 
 movements, had a royal good time. 
 
 Through the ship they roamed at 
 will, all avenues being open for their 
 inspection. They visited the steerage 
 quarters together, dived down into the 
 fo'castle, made friends with the ele-
 
 IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC 1 15 
 
 phants, chatted with the lion tamer, 
 watched the juggler practice his art 
 on the lower deck, hobnobbed with the 
 side show people, and even discussed 
 amateur photography with the clown, 
 that being his particular hobby. 
 
 Card playing, quoit pitching, hop 
 scotch, bean bag, hoop pole, chess, 
 checkers, dominoes, dancing all the 
 mild diversions calculated to while 
 away the hours on shipboard they 
 indulged in, the weather meantime 
 proving delightfully fair. 
 
 With so charming and congenial a 
 companion it was not strange that the 
 week passed with lightning speed, and 
 Honolulu was in sight almost before 
 Paul realized that the time had arrived 
 when he must say good-by to the ship 
 and his pleasant acquaintances. 
 
 Waiting until the last minute before 
 making his adieus, with a heavy heart 
 he left the ship, paid his shore tax of 
 two dollars and then rode up town to 
 the Hawaii Hotel, where he decided 
 to spend the night, cost what it might. 
 
 There was a mosquito netting over 
 the bed in his room, but the Kanaka 
 variety of insect laughed it to scorn,
 
 Il6 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 and the warm welcome they accorded 
 the stranger when he crept under the 
 canopy was an earnest of the hospitality 
 of the island. 
 
 With such bedfellows sleep was ban 
 ished and after tossing from one pillow 
 to another until daylight, what was left 
 of Paul crawled out of range, hastily 
 dressed and went down to breakfast. 
 When he settled his bill the young 
 traveler found he had just seventy-five 
 cents in cash left, a state of affairs 
 that set him to thinking seriously. 
 
 The prospect of being stranded on 
 an island did not please him. Stroll 
 ing down to the wharf he found the 
 City of Sydney still at her moorings, 
 and, going aboard, incidentally learned 
 from the chief mate that several of 
 the crew had levanted during the night, 
 leaving him short-handed. 
 
 A sudden inspiration seized Paul. 
 "See here, Mr. Le Due, why can't you 
 ship me before the mast? I want to 
 go to Sydney and will gladly sign 
 with you for my passage." 
 
 The mate snorted and looked in 
 credulous. "Pretty figure you'd cut 
 aloft in a gale o' wind. I guess not."
 
 IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC 1 17 
 
 But Paul protested so stoutly and 
 stated his predicament so earnestly 
 that the officer weakened and ended 
 by agreeing to transfer his late saloon 
 passenger to the fo'castle as a common 
 sailor. 
 
 Half an hour later Paul had actually 
 signed the ship's articles for Sydney, 
 and was soon stowing his valise in a 
 vacant bunk which had been assigned 
 to his use. Doffing his linen shirt, 
 collar and necktie, he again rigged him 
 self out in his tramp attire, and in an 
 hour had reported to the mate for 
 duty. 
 
 While helping to take in cargo he 
 kept a sharp lookout for the bright 
 English girl, but as she had gone 
 ashore with her mamma and the maid 
 he was spared all explanations for the 
 present. From his position on the 
 lower deck he saw them drive up to 
 the wharf shortly before the boat cast 
 off, and with curiously mixed feelings 
 watched Ethel and her mamma, half 
 buried under gay flowers, trip across 
 the gang plank, followed by Jones 
 bearing a large bunch of bananas. 
 
 A lump rose in his throat as he
 
 Il8 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 realized there was now a sharp line 
 drawn between them that would effec 
 tually end further intercourse, and he 
 dreaded the hour when they must 
 meet. He found himself speculating 
 how his former jolly comrade would act 
 when she encountered him at work 
 scrubbing the deck or engaged in some 
 such menial labor. Shrugging his shoul 
 ders, he reflected that it was only a 
 part of his experiences, and his native 
 philosophy again came to his aid. 
 
 Paul was assigned to duty with the 
 port watch, and by the time he had 
 served a week before the mast he was 
 thoroughly imbued with the deep re 
 ligious convictions Dana experienced 
 when he sailed around Cape Horn. 
 The same sentiment pervaded the City 
 of Sydney. It was: 
 
 Six days shalt thou labor and do all thou 
 
 art able, 
 And on the seventh holystone the main deck 
 
 and scrape the cable. 
 
 Paul's efforts at ' ' sailoring" were con 
 fined chiefly to scrubbing the deck, 
 cleaning paintwork, polishing brass or 
 namentation and shifting cargo in the
 
 IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC HQ 
 
 hold, all of which was pretty hard 
 manual labor to the tenderly-reared 
 youth. 
 
 But he never shirked his duty nor 
 shrank from it, no matter how distaste 
 ful the work. He had one solacing 
 thought that kept him ever cheerful. 
 He knew the discomforts were but 
 temporary, and was prepared for a 
 stoical endurance until the ship reached 
 Sydney harbor. 
 
 The hardest task to which the em 
 bryo sailor was assigned was in hand 
 ling cargo in the ship's hold on hot 
 afternoons, when the thermometer reg 
 istered anywhere from 90 to no de 
 grees. The youngest and slimmest 
 of any in his watch, he was expected 
 to work alongside the toughest old 
 stagers and still make as good a show 
 ing as they. 
 
 Stripped to the waist and perspir 
 ing at every pore, he would yet man 
 age to compress his lips into a grim 
 smile and try to think that in another 
 month the agony would be over and 
 he would be laughing in real earnest. 
 
 Sometimes his back ached so fright 
 fully and his tongue was so dry and
 
 120 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 parched that he felt he must drop 
 in his tracks before the hour of relief 
 arrived. But he was too proud to 
 complain, and by gritting it through he 
 became gradually inured to the rough 
 service. 
 
 When resting in his bunk, after such 
 spells, he decided that the lad who is 
 dissatisfied with his home and yearns 
 to become a sailor has only to ship 
 aboard an ocean steamer for a voy 
 age to the South Pacific to have the 
 nonsense knocked out of him. One 
 trip, he thought, would be sufficient 
 unless the lad were made of extra 
 stern stuff. 
 
 Perhaps Paul's severest test came 
 when he was first sent aloft. It was 
 the second night out from Honolulu. 
 Going on deck at eight bells, midnight, 
 he was ordered up with the rest of 
 the watch to furl the sails, which strong 
 headwinds rendered useless. 
 
 A small sized gale was blowing above, 
 and the glance Paul threw upward sent 
 his heart into his boots. He looked 
 around for a hiding-place, and found 
 it behind a coil of rope, which hung 
 from a belaying pin. Just as he was
 
 IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC 121 
 
 disappearing in the gloom, the second 
 mate's voice rang out: 
 
 "You young scamp, come out o' 
 that, or I'll skin ye alive. Hump your 
 self, now." 
 
 The culprit meekly crawled forth. 
 
 "Now, then, jump into them shrouds, 
 unless ye want the toe o' my boot 
 along yer spine. No skulking here. 
 Pile up there in a hurry ! " 
 
 Paul stole a glance at the mate 
 the "little bulldog," the sailors had 
 dubbed him noted his heavy sea- 
 boots and concluded to follow the rest 
 of the port watch. With his heart in 
 his mouth he sprang into the rigging 
 and slowly and cautiously made his 
 way into the maintop. 
 
 Here the sailors lay along the yard 
 taking in canvas, and when they saw 
 the greenhorn creeping along the foot- 
 rope they gave him a characteristic 
 reception. 
 
 "Hang on with your eyebrows, 
 Johnny!"" 
 
 "Bet he's glued to the ropes!" 
 
 "Somebody throw him a fishline!" 
 
 "Put a half hitch 'round him!" 
 
 It was good-natured banter, if a trifle
 
 122 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 rough, but the lad paid little attention 
 to it, for meantime the wind was whist 
 ling about his ears and singing a tune in 
 them that might as well have been a 
 dirge, for Paul never expected to get 
 back alive. However, he kept his teeth 
 tightly shut and doggedly took up a 
 position on the precarious footrope, 
 which seemed like packthread to his 
 excited imagination. 
 
 Over the boom he bent, and with 
 one hand grasping the jackstay em 
 ployed his right in scooping in sail. 
 Still higher up was another portion of 
 the crew taking in the main-top-gal 
 lant-sail, but for a first attempt Paul 
 concluded he had done enough, and 
 he had no ambition to join them. 
 Waiting until all the sails were neatly 
 furled, he crawled out to the end of 
 the yard and began the descent. 
 
 As he had scorned to take advantage 
 of the lubber's hole in ascending he gave 
 it as wide a berth going down and 
 bravely swung himself into the futtock 
 shrouds until his body assumed the 
 shape of a right-angled triangle. For 
 a moment he hung in space; then 
 his feet caught the ratlines and his
 
 IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC 123 
 
 hair began to resume its normal con 
 dition. With his heart beating like a 
 trip-hammer he reached the lower 
 shrouds, and jumped to the deck, where 
 he leaned heavily against the bulwarks 
 to steady himself. 
 
 But the "bulldog" was laying for 
 him. 
 
 "Hello! Skulkin' again, eh?" ex 
 claimed the mate, catching sight of 
 Paul's trembling figure. "Blast my 
 buttons if I don't knock that foolish 
 ness! Get a bucket o' hot water and 
 a scrubbin' brush and report to me 
 lively." 
 
 The remainder of the night Paul 
 spent in scrubbing paintwork on the 
 bridge, his efforts being expedited by 
 constant growls from the vicious mate, 
 who seemed to take a keen delight 
 in worrying the lad. 
 
 The youngster was buying his ex 
 perience pretty dearly these days.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY. 
 
 AFTER that first trip to the upper 
 regions Paul rather enjoyed the order 
 to ' ' lay aloft. " Being light and active 
 his station was at the extreme end of 
 the yard on the main-to'-gallants'l. 
 Here, resting on the footrope and 
 grasping the jackstay, he would stand 
 and look down on the deck, which, from 
 that height, appeared like the back of 
 a huge snake wriggling through the 
 water. With so much weight above 
 it seemed impossible for the ship to 
 maintain her equilibrium while plow 
 ing through the waves. Sometimes 
 he would close his eyes and try to 
 believe the boat was keeling over, but 
 she always righted when he opened 
 them again. 
 
 It was inevitable that the bright 
 little English girl should, sooner or 
 later, discover Paul's identity in the 
 young sailor whose duties often called 
 him to that portion of the deck abaft 
 124
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY 125 
 
 the wheelhouse held sacred to saloon 
 passengers. 
 
 As a matter of fact his story had 
 already been discussed at the saloon 
 table. One of the circus performers, 
 having noticed the lad's resemblance 
 to their former fellow passenger, 
 chanced to mention the circumstance 
 in the presence of the mate, who, of 
 course, explained away the mystery. 
 Gossip in restricted quarters spreads 
 rapidly, any incident is news on ship 
 board, so that Paul's sudden transposi 
 tion furnished material for speculation 
 to the entire cabin. Some sympa 
 thized with the youngster's ambition 
 to see the world; a few expressed the 
 opinion that he would better be at 
 steady work, while several hinted sig 
 nificantly that perhaps the young scape 
 grace had good reasons for leaving 
 America. Uncharitable people like the 
 latter are always to be met, but for 
 tunately they are in a blessed minority. 
 Those who had been on speaking terms 
 with the lad were prompt to reject 
 a suggestion so palpably absurd and 
 unjust. 
 
 In Miss Ethel Paul unconsciously
 
 126 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 found a warm defender. Someone in 
 her hearing having referred slightingly 
 to her quondam companion, with the 
 fearlessness of youth she rebuked the 
 speaker and stoutly resented the im 
 plied slur. 
 
 It was shortly after a discussion of 
 this nature that his champion met 
 Paul face to face as the latter stood 
 coiling ropes' ends around their re 
 spective belaying pins on the starboard 
 quarter, aft. 
 
 Four or five days had elapsed since 
 Honolulu had been left behind and this 
 was their first meeting. Several times 
 Ethel had been on the point of speak 
 ing to her former acquaintance, but 
 Paul had always evaded her approach. 
 It was now impossible to avoid her 
 without appearing positively rude. 
 
 "You don't know how astonished I 
 was to find you back here again," she 
 exclaimed in a breath, as if anxious to 
 save him any explanations; "but I am 
 sure it's all right and I'm awfully glad 
 you didn't stay in Honolulu." 
 
 "You are very kind, Miss Ethel," 
 he murmured, keeping his eyes fixed 
 on the rope he continued coiling. ' ' The
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY 127 
 
 truth is, " he blurted, suddenly meeting 
 her sympathetic gaze, "I'm trying to 
 see a bit of the world, and as my 
 money gave out I started in to work 
 my way as far as I could." 
 
 "And quite proper, too, I am sure." 
 
 "That's what I thought. It isn't 
 so very easy, " he confessed, half laugh 
 ingly, "and not nearly so pleasant as 
 when I was a passenger, but I don't 
 mind it now I'm getting used to the 
 work. How is your mamma? Does 
 she still keep to her cabin?" 
 
 "Oh, my, yes; and Jones, too. Cap 
 tain Dearborn threatened this morning 
 to have them both carried on deck by 
 force if they didn't try to get up, but, 
 of course, he was only joking. You 
 don't know how I miss our walks and 
 talks," she added, wistfully. 
 
 "You are very good to say so, Miss 
 Ethel, " returned Paul, as he threw the 
 last coil over the pin where it belonged. 
 "I wish but no, what's the use of 
 wishing. It will be a pleasant thought 
 always, though, to know that you en 
 joyed our short acquaintance. " Then, 
 as he spied the form of the second 
 mate coming toward them, he hastily
 
 128 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 doffed his hat, and crossed to the port 
 side, where more uncoiled ropes awaited 
 his dexterous manipulation. 
 
 The second mate still had it in for 
 Paul, and took it upon himself to 
 make life on shipboard as burdensome 
 as possible to the lad. When he was 
 in charge of the deck Paul was sure 
 to get the meanest and most obnox 
 ious duties assigned to him, regardless 
 of his adaptability to the work, and if 
 everything did not prove satisfactory 
 the young sailor was deluged with curses 
 by way of reward for his pains. 
 
 These unpleasant attentions became 
 so marked that the usually unimpres 
 sionable sailors forming the port watch 
 declared the little bulldog took a special 
 dislike to Paul because he was a gen 
 tleman. Among themselves he was 
 simply "Chicago," the only title by 
 which they addressed him, and that 
 he was a general favorite with all was 
 proof positive that the attitude of the 
 second mate was wholly unwarranted. 
 
 So far Paul had been able to main 
 tain a perfectly respectful exterior to 
 ward his tyrant, although on several 
 occasions he was sorely tempted to
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY 129 
 
 rebel. But his philosophy had nerved 
 him to accept the situation meekly, 
 and he had determined that nothing 
 should induce him to talk back. 
 
 But there are limits to one's most 
 patient endurance, as Paul was fated 
 to discover. Scarcely had he begun 
 to coil the tangled ropes that lay on 
 the port deck when the bulldog bore 
 down upon him. 
 
 "What were you chinning that girl 
 for?" he demanded, in his most inso 
 lent manner. 
 
 A quick retort sprang to the lad's 
 lips, but repressing it by an effort, he 
 deliberately turned his back on the 
 little bully and grimly stuck to his 
 task. 
 
 His attitude was so contemptuous 
 that the mate could not fail to inter 
 pret it aright, and his bile rose in 
 stantly. 
 
 "You young whelp!" he shouted. 
 "D'you think you were hired to loaf 
 away time by spinning fairy tales to 
 the passengers? Just keep your mon 
 key tongue to home or I'll shove you 
 down in the lazarette for a few days 
 to teach you manners. You can't play 
 
 9
 
 
 13 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 the sympathetic dodge on this boat 
 while I'm around." 
 
 If Paul could have annihilated the 
 fellow with a look the hot glance he 
 flashed at him would have shriveled 
 the mate in his tracks. So far he had 
 let all insults pass unnoted, but this mis 
 erable insinuation made him very angry. 
 Furious with rage, he turned savagely 
 on his tormentor. "You coward," he 
 hissed, "if I had you on shore and 
 you were ten times my size I'd lick 
 you for that if I died doing it. But 
 I've stood all I'm going to take from 
 you anyway, mister, so just keep your 
 hands off." 
 
 The worm had turned. Paul con 
 fronted his enemy with a mien so un 
 daunted that it told the officer he had 
 made a mistake. The sturdy, well- 
 knit youngster, for all his soft skin and 
 smooth-spoken ways had plenty of grit 
 As he stood there with the half-coiled 
 rope quivering in his left hand, his 
 right fist hanging clinched by his side, 
 and his face blazing with honest in 
 dignation, he presented a striking con 
 trast to the scowling mate, who, after 
 muttering some unintelligible threats,
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY 131 
 
 turned on his heel and walked rapidly 
 toward the bridge. 
 
 Angry as he was, Paul could not help 
 laughing to see the sulky humor dis 
 played by the little bulldog as he went 
 snarling away. But he mentally vowed 
 that he would hold no further conver 
 sation with the saloon passengers. It 
 hurt his pride to be accused of seek 
 ing sympathy. 
 
 Next morning was Sunday, and the 
 day was ushered in by a funeral. 
 Not of a human being, but of a favor 
 ite black performing stallion belonging 
 to the circus, which had died during 
 the night. Its trainer shed real tears as 
 the inert form of his pet was hoisted 
 over the side, and even the hardy sail 
 ors felt a sympathetic throb as the 
 glossy hide of the dead brute struck 
 the water with a great splash and was 
 swallowed up by the waves. The white 
 belly of a shark was seen as it rushed 
 toward its prey, and Paul had an un 
 comfortable twinge as he realized how 
 easily the latter might have been a 
 passenger or one of the crew instead 
 of a dumb animal. 
 
 Down in the fo'castle Sunday was
 
 132 PAUL TR AVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 devoted to the repairing of wardrobes, 
 washing of clothing, haircutting, shav 
 ing, bathing and other personal affairs, 
 which a partial respite from cargo 
 shifting, paint cleaning and brass pol 
 ishing rendered possible. Lying in his 
 bunk, watching the wreaths of cigar 
 ette smoke that were puffed up by the 
 swarthy Spaniard below him, Paul 
 half forgot the indignities to which he 
 had been subjected, and for a few hours 
 listened with drowsy delight to the 
 yarns spun by the heterogeneous mix 
 ture that composed the crew of the 
 City of Sydney. 
 
 A careless, godless gathering of the 
 restless element of all nations. Scandi 
 navian, Finn, Spaniard, Italian, French, 
 English, German and Greek, with a 
 whaler or two from New Bedford and 
 several fresh-water sailors from the big 
 inland lakes; grumbling constantly, as 
 is their wont, yet ready in an instant 
 to face the dirtiest weather that ever 
 fell to ' the lot of a navigator. Good 
 enough fellows of their kind, but a 
 kind that was not the best in the world 
 for an impressionable lad to become 
 intimate with. Luckily the compan-
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY 133 
 
 ionship was not to continue long enough 
 to leave any lasting ill effects on Paul. 
 
 Sunday dinner for the cabin passen 
 gers was usually a swell affair, and as 
 the appetizing odor from the saloon 
 galley seeped into the fo'castle Paul 
 could not help an involuntary sigh for 
 the fleshpots of Egypt, as he thought 
 of their own regulation "salthorse" 
 and the pale slabs of bilious pudding, 
 known as ''plum duff," thrown in by 
 way of Sunday dessert. Fo'castle fare 
 palled on his palate for the time being. 
 
 When the port watch went on duty 
 that evening there was a fair wind 
 and little to do except laze around 
 and wait for orders. While resting 
 in the shadow of the engine room Paul 
 felt a light touch on his elbow, and 
 the musical voice of the English lassie 
 suddenly recalled him from dreams of 
 home. Before he could stammer a 
 refusal she had thrust into his hands 
 half a dozen oranges that she took 
 from a black silk bag and which she 
 ordered Paul to slip inside the loose 
 tennis shirt he wore. 
 
 "But, Miss Ethel," he protested, "I 
 really can't permit you to "
 
 134 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 "Hush, sir, not a word," was the 
 half laughing, half imperious retort. 
 ' ' I bribed the pantryman to get these 
 for me, and you must take them or I 
 shall feel hurt. Here are some nuts 
 and raisins, too, so hold open your 
 pockets," and regardless of Paul's dep 
 recations the warm-hearted girl emptied 
 the bag of its contents. 
 
 "All right, since you insist," he said 
 resignedly; "but I claim the privilege 
 of dividing the spoils with my watch. " 
 
 "Do as you please, only take them," 
 she answered lightly, and with a merry 
 laugh and a cordial good-night disap 
 peared in the gloom. 
 
 The port watch had its full share of 
 the plunder from the cabin table and 
 asked no questions. The sailors ac 
 cepted what was given without caring 
 to know how it was obtained, and in 
 doing so displayed a true philosophical 
 spirit worthy of the craft. Nor was 
 that their only feast, for the week fol 
 lowing, on six successive nights, the 
 black silk bag came up loaded from 
 the cabin and its burden was duly 
 transferred to Paul's capacious tennis 
 shirt.
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY 135 
 
 During this time the little bulldog 
 had refrained from openly blackguard 
 ing Paul, but he never failed to evince 
 his hostility to the lad by assigning 
 him to the most onerous tasks when 
 ever he was on duty. Once he hap 
 pened along just as Paul was distributing 
 the night's plunder among his fellow 
 sailors, but they scattered quietly and 
 apparently escaped detection. 
 
 It was shortly after this that the 
 big fruit box on the main deck just 
 aft of the engine room was broken 
 open during the night and a quantity 
 of bananas and other edibles abstracted. 
 The crew was subjected to a rigid ex 
 amination, but nothing incriminating 
 was proved and inquiry had about sub 
 sided when the second mate, with a 
 malignant grin, asked one of the sailors 
 who gave him the fruit that he had 
 seen him surreptitiously eating on sev 
 eral consecutive nights while on watch. 
 
 The man was staggered and tried 
 to evade the question, but the mate 
 was persistent and the story of Paul's 
 generosity had to be disclosed. The 
 bo's'n was instantly dispatched to find 
 the youngster, and, with the little bull-
 
 136 PAUL -TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 dog as his accuser, Paul was promptly 
 haled before the first mate to explain 
 his conduct and to tell how and when 
 he obtained the fruit. 
 
 "It was given me on several differ 
 ent occasions by one of the cabin 
 passengers," was the reply. 
 
 "Which passenger?" 
 
 "I prefer not to give the name." 
 
 "But you must if you expect me 
 to believe such a yarn, " exclaimed the 
 mate contemptuously. 
 
 "I am very sorry, Mr. Le Due," 
 said Paul, feeling how hopeless this 
 rendered his case, ' ' but, indeed, I can 
 not tell you." 
 
 "Then, sir, I am compelled to think 
 that you are lying and a thief to boot. 
 Bo's'n, lock him up in the lazarette 
 until Captain Dearborn decides what 
 shall be done." 
 
 The lazarette was a dark hole on 
 the deck below the saloon cabin, a 
 stuffy compartment, where the liquor 
 was stored and where big, gray rats 
 held high revel. Into this dismal, illy- 
 ventilated hold Paul was rudely thrust 
 and left to commune with his thoughts, 
 his only protection against utter dark-
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY 137 
 
 ness being a tallow candle set in a 
 horn lantern which swung from a beam 
 overhead. 
 
 Arming himself with a stave to re 
 pel unpleasant boarders, Paul climbed 
 on top of a barrel of rum, and, draw 
 ing up his knees, fell to pondering his 
 position. 
 
 The situation was dubious, he had 
 to confess, and the chances for proving 
 his innocence appeared slim. With a 
 deep sigh he reflected that he could 
 not expect his good luck to last for 
 ever, and must prepare for the other 
 kind, which he knew was bound to 
 overtake him sometime. Of course 
 there was a way of clearing himself, 
 but he instantly rejected the notion of 
 divulging the name of his fair bene 
 factor. Better rats and misery than 
 be guilty of so scurvy a trick as that, 
 he decided. 
 
 Eight long, weary hours he passed 
 in the foul-smelling lazarette, with only 
 one caller from the outside world, who 
 left a pannikin of water and some 
 hard bread for the prisoner's diet. 
 There were plenty of other callers, 
 though, from within; big fellows, with
 
 138 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 black, beady eyes and ugly-looking 
 teeth, whose eager, hungry looks made 
 Paul's flesh creep. But the vigorous 
 manner in which he handled the barrel 
 stave kept the rats at a respectful dis 
 tance, and so long as the lantern held 
 out to burn he was safe from attack. 
 
 But the candle sunk lower and lower 
 in its socket, and Paul's heart was 
 correspondingly depressed as the pros 
 pect of total darkness insinuated itself. 
 Nerved to desperation, he began to 
 search around the lazarette and at 
 length discovered three candle stumps 
 tucked away in a crevice, which the 
 rats had been unable to reach. Over 
 joyed at his find he bore his precious 
 prizes back to the barrel and then 
 grimly waited while the candle in the 
 lantern slowly melted away. But be 
 fore it sputtered out he caught the 
 dying gleam, and in the still warm 
 socket inserted the first of his fresh 
 supply. 
 
 Three times the lone watcher deftly 
 made the transfer of his candle stumps, 
 and Paul could not help thinking that 
 the operation was a good deal like 
 sitting up with one's own corpse. But
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY 139 
 
 what next? His last candle end was 
 now burning, and only an inch or so 
 remained between him and the horrible 
 darkness. He tried to shout, but the 
 low ceiling flung back all sound and 
 showed him the futility of his efforts. 
 
 Then, for the first time since leaving 
 home, his nerve failed him, and, bury 
 ing his face in his hands, the poor boy 
 groaned in misery. Presently a scuf 
 fling among the refuse at the base of 
 the barrel recalled his wandering senses, 
 and, with an exclamation of disgust, 
 Paul awoke to life and renewed cour 
 age in time to aim a quick blow at a 
 big, saucy rat that was making des 
 perate leaps to reach the silent figure 
 on the barrel. 
 
 Just as the candle was expiring and 
 odd shadows were chasing each other 
 around the compartment the door of 
 the lazarette was thrown back and the 
 bo's'n's voice called : ' ' Hello, Chicago !" 
 
 "Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 "Cap'n wants you on deck." 
 
 Down slid Paul from his perch, and 
 in two seconds he had scrambled up 
 the short steps to the fresher air above. 
 Filling his lungs as he followed his
 
 140 PAUL TR AVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 guide, he presently emerged on the 
 upper deck, where the cool night wind 
 singing through the shrouds made 
 sweetest music in his ears. 
 
 Captain Dearborn received him 
 brusquely but kindly. "Look here, 
 my lad," he said, "we have found the 
 real thief that broke open the fruit bin, 
 which, of course, exonerates you. I 
 have also learned where your supply 
 came from. The young lady has been 
 to see me and explained everything. 
 I am sorry that you were placed in 
 durance, but, as you know, the evi 
 dence was against you. Now go and 
 turn in and report for duty in the 
 morning. " 
 
 "Very good, sir," replied Paul, some 
 what mystified. "But, if you will ex 
 cuse me, captain, surely Miss Eth 
 that is you don't mean to say the 
 young lady is the culprit?" and his 
 looks of consternation were a study. 
 
 The skipper broke into a hearty laugh. 
 "Well, no, hardly that. Perhaps it 
 is only fair to tell you that some of 
 the passengers two of the circus 
 troupe, in fact drank more wine than 
 was good for them last night, and in
 
 DOWN IN- THE 
 LAZARET TE.
 
 ABOARD THE CITY OF SYDNEY 141 
 
 a crazy freak looted the fruit bin. 
 They very promptly owned up to it 
 when they learned one of the crew 
 had been charged with the theft. 
 Then came the young lady to tell of 
 her share in forging the chain of evi 
 dence, after which I sent for you at 
 once. Better say nothing about this," 
 he added, as Paul stepped back toward 
 the door. "The bo's'n will explain 
 that you are innocent." 
 
 "All right, sir, I'll remember," re 
 turned Paul, saluting as he withdrew. 
 But as he walked slowly toward the 
 fo'castle he thought a little bitterly of 
 the horrors of the last few hours; of 
 the search for candles; of his agony 
 lest the light should fail; of the black, 
 beady eyes and sharp teeth of the 
 rats, and of the unjustness of it all. 
 Then he turned in; but his sleep was 
 troubled, for a procession of monster 
 rats chased across his pillow all night 
 long.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON. 
 
 OF course no more fruit from the 
 cabin table found its way into the 
 fo'castle. Even if the inclination re 
 mained, the opportunity was lacking, 
 for a spell of bad weather succeeded 
 the long, unbroken run of pleasant 
 sailing, rendering the deck anything 
 but attractive to the passengers. 
 
 Once only Paul and the rosy-cheeked 
 English lass met before Auckland was 
 sighted. It was after a steady down 
 pour lasting twenty-four hours, which 
 had kept everybody immured below 
 deck. Chafing under the confinement, 
 the girl had slipped on her London 
 goloshes, donned her mackintosh, and 
 stolen out of the stuffy saloon for a 
 breath of fresh air above. She passed 
 Paul as he crouched under the lee of 
 the port lifeboat, and at first did not 
 recognize the young sailor clad in 
 dripping oilskins, who touched the brim 
 of his sou- wester as she scudded along. 
 142
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON H3 
 
 "Oh, dear, is that you Paul?" she 
 stammered, with a pretty hesitancy. 
 "I have so wanted to see you. I 
 think it was just splendid in you not 
 to tell. I did not hear of the broken 
 fruit bin until long past dinner-time, 
 and then only by the merest accident 
 learned that you were suspected and 
 had been put in that horrid lazarette. 
 I felt sure you hadn't said a word to 
 Captain Dearborn about my giving you 
 the fruit, so I went to see him imme 
 diately. Gracious, how he scolded," 
 she exclaimed, with an expressive 
 shrug. "But I didn't mind that, for 
 he promised to send the bo's'n to get 
 you instantly. He told me the circus 
 men had just owned up to what they 
 had done, but said I mustn't say any 
 thing about it, as it was a foolish 
 piece of business. Did he tell you I 
 had talked with him?" 
 
 ' ' Yes, indeed, and " here Paul 
 looked rather foolish "do you know, 
 I came near making a horrible blunder? 
 The captain hadn't said a word about 
 the circus fellows, but after telling 
 me the real culprit had been found 
 he remarked that you had called on
 
 144 PAUL TR AVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 him and confessed everything. Well, 
 for a minute I thought he meant 
 you had committed the burglary. 
 You should have heard him laugh 
 when I declared it was impossible. 
 Then he explained more clearly and 
 sent me off to my quarters. But it 
 was very good of you to go to him, 
 Miss Ethel," declared Paul, earnestly, 
 ' ' and I have anxiously looked for a 
 chance to tell you how deeply I appre 
 ciate it." 
 
 ' ' Nonsense, " she retorted. ' ' It would 
 have been despicable had I kept silent, 
 and I should have hated myself ever 
 after. It is I, not you, who am in 
 debted, and I shall never, never for 
 get it." Then, with characteristic im 
 pulsiveness, she held out both hands 
 toward Paul, and after leaving them in 
 his firm grasp for a brief moment, sud 
 denly snatched them loose and darted 
 away into the mist, and, as he felt, 
 out of his life forever. 
 
 As was natural, Paul had come in 
 contact with quite a number of the 
 circus people since his advent ' ' before 
 the mast, "from the "main guy, "as the 
 proprietor was known, down to the
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON 145 
 
 humblest animal attendant. The knowl 
 edge that the troupe intended to make 
 a tour of New Zealand before visiting 
 the mainland of Australia had rilled 
 him with a strong desire to see the 
 islands also. To hire out to the circus 
 in some capacity had been his fixed 
 purpose from the day they left Hono 
 lulu, but until the fruit-bin incident he 
 had been unable to get any encourage 
 ment. 
 
 His manly attitude on that occasion 
 was bruited around among the troupe 
 and proved an open sesame to the jolly 
 Irish-American who controlled the Great 
 American Consolidated Arenas. Word 
 came to Paul soon after that if he 
 happened to be in the vicinity of the 
 show grounds when the big tent went 
 up at Auckland he would be taken care 
 of by the manager. 
 
 To quit the ship at Auckland was 
 his firm resolve. The little bulldog 
 continued to make things so unpleasant 
 for him that at times he felt wicked 
 enough to steal up behind his tor 
 mentor and push him overboard. 
 Luckily he always managed to resist 
 this inclination, but after each fresh
 
 H 6 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 f 
 
 indignity he was more than ever de 
 termined to break away at the first 
 opportunity. 
 
 Perhaps the second mate divined 
 the intention of the young sailor, for, 
 as the ship steamed into the Auckland 
 harbor, he ordered the bo's'n's mate 
 to keep his weather eye on the lad, 
 who, having signed articles for Sydney, 
 was amenable to discipline if detected 
 in an attempt to "jump the ship." 
 
 One of the sailors in the port watch, 
 chancing to overhear the mate's in 
 structions, warned Paul to be on the 
 lookout, and suggested that he throw 
 the little bulldog off the scent by wait 
 ing until all the paraphernalia of the 
 circus was unloaded on the wharf 
 before he made a move. This advice 
 was so good that Paul concluded to 
 profit by it, so instead of trying to 
 steal away the first night, as he 
 originally intended, he turned out next 
 morning at daylight to bear a hand 
 in unloading, and for the rest of the 
 day worked almost under the nose of 
 his persecutor. 
 
 The ruse was successful. His sus 
 picions lulled, the little bulldog relieved
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON 147 
 
 the bo's'n's mate from further espion 
 age, and that very night Paul slung 
 his valise over his shoulder, shinned 
 down a rope that hung over the 
 vessel's side, dropped like a cat on 
 the wharf, and quietly disappeared in 
 the direction of the town. 
 
 Snugly hidden in a convenient lodg 
 ing house which commanded a view of 
 the shipping, Paul did not venture 
 forth until the City of Sydney had 
 cast off her mooring ropes and was 
 steaming out into the ocean again. 
 Then, safe from all pursuit, he quickly 
 made his way to the circus grounds, 
 where the ' ' boss " canvasman was 
 marking out the pins for the big tent. 
 
 "Hello, Chicago!" was the greeting 
 he received. ' ' How did you manage to 
 break away?" 
 
 ' ' French leave, " returned Paul, 
 laconically. 
 
 "Want to go to work?" 
 
 "Sure thing." 
 
 "Grab a sledge, then, and join that 
 gang over yonder; you'll get all the 
 exercise you want with this outfit." 
 
 Paul selected a light sledge-hammer 
 from the pile indicated, and, slinging
 
 148 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 it across his shoulder, trudged to the 
 north end of the grounds, where five 
 men, under the direction of the assist 
 ant boss canvasman, a tall freckled- 
 faced young fellow called "Redney," 
 were driving stakes. 
 
 Redney grinned as the lad ap 
 proached. "Made it all right, didn't 
 ye?" he said. "Well, git a move on 
 yer and edge in here." 
 
 The gang widened and made a space 
 for the newcomer. Circled around a 
 fresh stake pin the first man tapped 
 it into an upright position; after which 
 each hammer fell in rapid sequence 
 until the billet was driven home, and, 
 Redney calling "belay," the squad 
 passed on to the next pin. 
 
 This was Paul's introduction to circus 
 life. It was some days before he be 
 came adept at slinging a sledge, and 
 many a time he missed the pin and 
 broke the continuity of blows by com 
 ing down on his neighbor's hammer. 
 But he had been putting on muscle 
 down in the hold of the City of Syd 
 ney and his hard labor there now 
 served him an excellent turn. 
 
 The boss canvasman was right when
 
 ESCAPING FROM 
 THE SHIP.
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON 1 49 
 
 he told Paul he would get all the ex 
 ercise he wanted. The canvas hands 
 were worked like horses and treated 
 with even less consideration than is 
 usually accorded dumb animals. The 
 majority, however, were but little better 
 than brutes. A drinking, thieving lot 
 of men, homeless, friendless and des 
 titute of any self-respect, with a sprink 
 ling of the greatest rascals that ever 
 cheated justice. For weeks they had 
 awaited the coming of the circus, 
 which had been extensively billed in 
 advance, and the tougher the applicant 
 the more likelihood of his being em 
 ployed. 
 
 This was the sort of society in which 
 Paul mingled for the next ten days 
 following his connection with the show. 
 But in the second week of his engage 
 ment the property man chanced to 
 take a fancy to Paul's active figure, 
 and with the consent of the boss can- 
 vasman the lad transferred his allegi 
 ance to the "dressing room," where 
 he came into more intimate relations 
 with the stars of the arena the leapers, 
 tumblers, bareback riders, clowns, con-
 
 15 PAUL TR AVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 tortionists, trapeze performers and con 
 jurers. 
 
 The "dressing room" was a wall 
 tent', a trifle the worse for wear, divided 
 into two compartments by a strip of 
 canvas, on either side of which the 
 male and female members of the troupe 
 disrobed and ' ' made up " for the ring. 
 Across this flimsy barrier the star 
 actors flung jokes and exchanged re 
 partee during the process of dressing, 
 and in one corner of the tent Paul 
 was initiated into the secret of balloon 
 making those flat, tissue-paper, circus 
 affairs with which every American boy 
 and girl is so familiar. 
 
 His ship name stuck to him. He 
 was ' ' Chicago " to everybody from the 
 day he hired out to the show, and as 
 "property boy" he was at the beck 
 and call of everyone who had the 
 run of the dressing room. But in 
 spite of the drudgery, the snubs and 
 indignities, Paul actually enjoyed the 
 new condition of things. This was 
 seeing life in earnest, and if being be 
 hind the scenes took away much of 
 the glamour of the ring, it added largely 
 to the lad's experience.
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON 151 
 
 Paul possessed the happy faculty of 
 forgetting unpleasant things quickly. 
 He saw and heard a great deal that 
 was not calculated to elevate him either 
 mentally or morally during the three 
 months he traveled with the circus, 
 and yet it is doubtful if his sense of 
 right and wrong was in the slightest 
 degree blunted by his temporary affil 
 iation with the show people. 
 
 The troupe remained nearly three 
 weeks at Auckland, with audiences 
 packed clear to the ring. The day 
 before the circus was to sail for Well 
 ington Paul was taken with a raging 
 headache, and by the time the night 
 performance was over he was burning 
 up with a fever. Heroic doses of 
 quinine served to check the latter, but 
 the pain in his head continuing, some 
 one suggested a dose of chloral, which 
 the lad swallowed unquestioningly. 
 
 Through a stupid blunder on the 
 part of the chemist the quantity given 
 was largely in excess of the regulation 
 amount, so that next day when the 
 Rotomahana was ready to sail his 
 circus friends carried Paul on board 
 still unconscious. Of that short voy-
 
 152 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 age along the New Zealand coast to 
 the capital of the north island the 
 poor boy knew nothing, nor had he 
 recovered his senses when the troupe 
 disembarked at Wellington. 
 
 There were subdued voices in the 
 room adjacent when Paul finally awoke 
 to a consciousness of his surroundings. 
 He lay perfectly still for a long time, 
 trying to decide where he was, and 
 by what means he had reached quar 
 ters so unfamiliar. The room was 
 evidently in a hotel, that was appar 
 ent from the meager appointments. 
 Had the troupe left him behind at 
 Auckland, or was this Wellington? 
 If the latter, how did he get there? 
 
 Still drowsy from the effects of the 
 drug, he closed his eyes and was drift 
 ing away again when the door between 
 the two rooms was pushed open, and 
 a female voice, which he recognized, 
 recalled his wandering senses. 
 
 "Isn't it singular, Jenny, that the 
 boy doesn't wake up? Dick called in 
 a doctor to see him, and he said that 
 there was no danger, but I declare I 
 don't like the looks of it, do you?" 
 
 ' ' Why, it is queer, " assented the
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON 153 
 
 other, whom Paul knew as one of the 
 women riders, ' ' but why wasn't he left 
 at Auckland, Fanny?" 
 
 ' ' Oh, Dick took a fancy to him. 
 He said it was a shame to leave him 
 behind among strangers, so he guar 
 anteed to stand all expenses, and 
 asked the 'old man' to let him come 
 along with us. Just look at the boy's 
 face, Jen; he's from a pretty good 
 family, I know. Wonder why he left 
 his home?" 
 
 "Yes, and haven't you noticed how 
 well he talks, too. The boys say he 
 ran away from his folks to go around 
 the world. Do you suppose they have 
 any idea where he is? What's his 
 real name, Fanny?" 
 
 ' ' Paul Travers, I believe ; his people 
 live in Chicago. Dick found a letter 
 from the boy's father, and he says 
 he'll write to the old gentleman if the 
 young one doesn't get better soon. 
 No use scaring him, though, without 
 any need for it." 
 
 The door was closed and the voices 
 became inaudible. Thoroughly awake, 
 Paul recollected with a sensation of 
 relief that he had mailed two letters
 
 154 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 home the second day after reaching 
 Auckland. He felt very thankful that 
 Dick had not yet written to his father. 
 
 Dick Baxter, or, as he appeared on 
 the circus bills, "Leonard Trevylian," 
 the wire-rope bicycle rider, was one 
 of the star attractions. His wife did 
 a clever "manege act" also, besides 
 singing in the concert at the close of 
 the regular performance. He had gone 
 out of his way on one or two previous 
 occasions to do Paul a good turn, and 
 now, it appeared, he was instrumental 
 in bringing him to Wellington. A 
 single salty tear fell on his cheek as 
 Paul dwelt on this last kindness to an 
 almost total stranger. Thinking of it 
 helped him to throw off the lethargy, 
 and with a great effort he opened his 
 eyes again and sat up in bed. 
 
 He was only partially undressed. 
 His hat, coat and shoes lay on a chair 
 by the washstand. Nerving himself 
 to the attempt, Paul crawled out of 
 bed and started across the uncarpeted 
 floor to reach them. But he had over 
 estimated his powers; the room spun 
 before his eyes and he sunk in a nerve 
 less heap just as the hall door opened,
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON 155 
 
 and his friend Dick, entering, ex 
 claimed: "What are you trying to 
 do, kid?" 
 
 "Get up," murmured the boy. 
 
 "Yes? Well, don't be in too much 
 of a sweat, " was the playfully sarcastic 
 response. "You sneak back into bed 
 again until you've had a square meal 
 inside of you. D'ye know how long 
 you've been asleep?" 
 
 "I can't imagine," returned Paul, 
 dropping thankfully across the foot of 
 the bed, "but I know you have been 
 very kind to me." 
 
 "Oh, pshaw! that's nothing. But 
 what do you think of sleeping seventy- 
 two hours at a stretch without wak 
 ing once? That's the kind of a trick 
 you've been up to." 
 
 ' ' Seventy-two hours without wak 
 ing?" Paul repeated in bewilderment. 
 "Is it possible ?" Then after a minute's 
 thought he exclaimed: "Ah! It must 
 have been the medicine they gave me. 
 It was too strong, I guess." 
 
 ' * Well, yes, rather, " said Dick dryly. 
 "Took enough to put the big elephant, 
 Queenie, to sleep. Lucky thing you
 
 I5 6 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 had a good constitution, or it's good 
 bye, Mister Chicago, that trip." 
 
 Paul smiled feebly and again ex 
 pressed his gratitude to his good friend 
 for what he had done. But Dick cut 
 short further remarks by hastening 
 downstairs to order a bowl of beef 
 tea and other nourishing food for his 
 patient. 
 
 Paul's recovery was rapid. Two days 
 later he was back at the circus filling 
 his former assignment of balloon-mak 
 ing and in a week had fully regained 
 his accustomed strength. 
 
 One morning, about three days after 
 the Wellington engagement expired, 
 Paul found the ringmaster fretting 
 under a bad dilemma. Dick Baxter, 
 the bicycle rider, whose act was billed 
 as one of the star performances, was 
 suddenly attacked by typhoid fever, 
 and a substitute had to be procured 
 in order to keep faith with the colo 
 nials. In this case it was not so easy 
 to provide an understudy, as the bicy 
 clist's act was to ride across a wire rope 
 stretched from pole to pole some forty 
 or fifty feet above the ring. 
 
 The grooved wheel he sat was held
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON 1 57 
 
 in position by two trapeze performers, 
 whose combined weight maintained the 
 equilibrium of the machine. It was 
 Dick's custom, when the center of the 
 ring was reached, and amid the breath 
 less suspense of the audience, to stand 
 on his head on the saddle of the wheel, 
 the gymnasts preserving a rigid immo 
 bility below during the progress of the 
 thrilling scene. 
 
 Aside from this daring feat it was not 
 much of a trick to work the treadles, 
 but it required considerable nerve to 
 climb to that height and calmly submit 
 to the jars and joltings of the trapeze 
 performers, whose gyrations swayed the 
 fragile wheel clear out of perpendicular 
 every time they moved. 
 
 In vain the ringmaster begged and 
 bullied the leapers and tumblers to 
 essay the feat. Each one he adjured 
 flatly refused to entertain the propo 
 sition for a minute, although, as he 
 explained, he did not expect them to 
 stand on their heads, but simply to 
 ride the wheel. Finally one of the 
 leapers jokingly cried: "Why don't 
 you ask ' Chicago ' to do it? He's used 
 to going aloft."
 
 158 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 The ringmaster in despair turned to 
 him. "How is it, Chicago? do you 
 want to ride the wheel for me until 
 Dick gets well ? " 
 
 ' ' I wouldn't mind trying it, sir, on 
 one condition." 
 
 "What's that?" 
 
 ' ' If you'll agree to pay Dick his 
 salary right along." 
 
 The ringmaster thought a minute. 
 "I'll do it," he said. "We're going 
 to move Dick to a private hospital 
 this afternoon, and his wife will stay 
 behind to nurse him until he is able 
 to join us. He shall be taken care of 
 all right." 
 
 "It's a go, then; I'll try it," was 
 Paul's quiet response. 
 
 "Very good; we'll have a rehearsal 
 in an hour, or as soon as the stallions 
 have been worked. Meantime you and 
 the Kelseys talk it over." 
 
 The Kelseys were brother and sis 
 ter. They were the two who per 
 formed on the trapeze, which, affixed 
 to the wheel, hung below the wire rope. 
 Both assured the lad there wasn't a 
 particle of danger if he kept cool and 
 that all he had to do was to sit firmly
 
 FOLLOWING THE RED WAGON 159 
 
 in the saddle and work the treadles 
 while they did their "act" underneath. 
 
 They explained how he was to get 
 on the wheel after they were in posi 
 tion, their weight insuring the perpen 
 dicularity of the machine and reducing 
 the danger to a minimum. For like 
 reasons he was to get off first when 
 the performance was over, and stand 
 on the platform, so they could descend 
 together to receive the plaudits of the 
 relieved audience in proper style. 
 
 When the hour had expired Paul 
 was ready to make the trial trip, and, 
 wearing a pair of borrowed canvas 
 shoes, he stepped into the arena, where 
 the ringmaster anxiously awaited his 
 coming.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 A SELECT audience had gathered in 
 the big tent to see the property boy 
 break his neck. On the two lower 
 rows of reserved seats were congre 
 gated half the talent in the show, 
 whose witticisms at Paul's expense 
 would have quickly driven him dis 
 heartened from the field could he have 
 heard them. But his eyes were fixed 
 on the ringmaster and his thoughts 
 on poor Dick, so that he barely no 
 ticed the buzz of comment which arose 
 as he faced the manager. 
 
 "Now, my boy, "began Ringmaster 
 Mclntyre, "I don't want you to have 
 an attack of stage fright and fall off 
 and break your neck when you get 
 up yonder. There isn't any real dan 
 ger if you don't get rattled, and I 
 hardly think you'll do that. Are you 
 ready to try it?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 1 60
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND 161 
 
 "Up you go, then, and good luck 
 attend ye." 
 
 Slipping his right foot into a bow 
 line that hung from the pole ring, and 
 with both hands firmly clutching the 
 rope, Paul was rapidly hauled aloft 
 by two property boys until he reached 
 the platform level with the wire cable 
 where the bicycle was fastened. 
 
 Waving his hand as a signal to stop, 
 he swung himself into the eyrie, re 
 leased his foot from the loop and sent 
 the rope down again for the use of the 
 Kelseys. 
 
 Up they came together, laughing 
 and chatting lightly, as if it were the 
 jolliest picnic imaginable. Their gaiety, 
 whether false or genuine, served to 
 reassure Paul, who, to tell the truth, 
 was almost in a blue funk. But he 
 held his teeth close together to keep 
 his heart from taking an unexpected 
 leap outward, and a dogged deter 
 mination to go through to the end 
 possessed every fiber of his being. 
 
 Loosing the chain which pinioned 
 the wheel to the pole, he let the ma 
 chine slide along the cable until it was 
 clear of the platform and then held
 
 1 62 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 it steady until the gymnasts had taken 
 their seats on the trapeze below. 
 
 Now came his turn. For an instant 
 he glanced below and saw the set face 
 of the manager intently watching him 
 from the edge of the ring. He caught 
 a glimpse of the ' ' main guy " on the 
 reserved seats surrounded by the flower 
 of the troupe, now strangely silent, 
 and then, with a queer ringing in his 
 ears and a slight film before his eyes, 
 he vaulted into the saddle and was 
 half way between the poles before he 
 realized what had happened. 
 
 " Bravo! bravo! Chicago! "arose from 
 a dozen throats, accompanied by a 
 vigorous clapping of hands, as the 
 company testified its appreciation of 
 Paul's grit. 
 
 Arrived at the further pole, the young 
 bicyclist reversed the action of the 
 treadles and worked backward to the 
 starting point, repeating the operation 
 several times until he had acquired a 
 perfect control of the machine. 
 
 During these preliminary trials the 
 performers remained inactive on the 
 bars, not deeming it prudent to at 
 tempt any of their feats until the rider
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND 163 
 
 had become thoroughly accustomed to 
 the novelty of his position. 
 
 The severest test was yet to be 
 made. After the fourth trip across, the 
 gymnasts started in to rehearse their 
 program, and as the wheel swayed 
 dangerously over from left to right 
 and then back again it was all Paul 
 could do to keep from throwing him 
 self from his perch and grasping the 
 cable at his feet. But the worst shock 
 of all came at the close, when the 
 male tumbler, hanging suspended by 
 his knees, caught his sister by the 
 right wrist and left ankle, and, dexter 
 ously turning her face downward, held 
 the girl outstretched in full view of the 
 audience. 
 
 The suddenness of the movement 
 carried the wheel far out to the right; 
 then back it flew to the left of center, 
 rocking frightfully on its grooved tires 
 and threatening every second to be 
 come displaced. For a moment Paul 
 had an awful feeling of nausea at the pit 
 of his stomach, then his hair seemed to 
 shoot straight upward, his lower limbs 
 trembled so violently that his feet 
 played a fandango on the treadles,
 
 164 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 and a great desire to emit an agoniz 
 ing yell became paramount. But the 
 wheel righted, the wobbling ceased, 
 and, with the word "go" rising from 
 below, the discomfited rider pulled 
 himself together and slowly worked 
 the machine back to the platform, 
 which he quickly occupied. 
 
 Fastening the wheel to the pole, he 
 was ready in an instant to make the 
 descent, and a minute later was tread 
 ing the sawdust and receiving the con 
 gratulations of Ringmaster Mclntyre 
 and the entire troupe. He had won 
 his spurs and was property boy no 
 longer. 
 
 Paul was to make his initial bow to 
 the colonials at the matinee perform 
 ance. As he could not appear in his 
 working clothes, it was absolutely 
 necessary that he be furnished with a 
 suitable outfit, so the wardrobes of the 
 entire troupe were ransacked to supply 
 his deficiencies. A pair of slippers from 
 one, silk tights from another, trunks 
 from a third, a spangled vest from a 
 fourth, with a belt and other generous 
 contributions from the feminine side 
 of the dressing-room, served to pro-
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND 165 
 
 vide him with a handsome equipment 
 for his new position. His trimly-built, 
 compact figure, which showed to good 
 advantage in his snug-fitting garments, 
 evoked numerous comments from the 
 performers as Paul hastened toward 
 the big tent in response to the call 
 from a property boy, and the senti 
 ment was general that ' ' Old Mac " 
 had made a ten-strike in hiring ' ' Chi 
 cago. " 
 
 As usual, the audience filled every 
 seat and spread over the ground clear 
 to the edge of the ring wherein Paul 
 and the Kelseys now stood, with the 
 girl hand-clasped in the center, making 
 their initiatory bows. This was no 
 time to show the white feather, and 
 yet that same sickening sensation which 
 he experienced in the forenoon was 
 insidiously stealing over him as he 
 mounted to his aerial perch. Again 
 he clinched his teeth, and by sheer 
 will-force fought back the horrible 
 feeling which threatened to overwhelm 
 him. He wondered, as he stood there 
 watching his companions ascend, if 
 this were akin to stage fright, and 
 whether it would result disastrously
 
 166 PAUL TR AVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 in spite of his efforts. His heart-beats 
 were so violent that he fancied every 
 person in the tent must hear them, 
 and for a moment he held his hand 
 at his left side as if to stifle the pal 
 pitations. But now the gymnasts were 
 seated, there was no excuse for delay, 
 and with a great gulp that was half 
 sob, half sigh, he swung himself into 
 the saddle and began anew his ex 
 periences of the morning. 
 
 All at once the unpleasant sensations 
 left him. It was as if a leaden weight 
 had been snatched from his shoulders 
 and dropped into the ring below. The 
 revulsion was so great that he could 
 have shouted for joy had it been con 
 sistent with the dangerous part he was 
 enacting. Back and forth he rode, 
 utterly unmindful of the tumblings of 
 the gymnasts, and not even at the 
 final coup, which so upset him in the 
 morning, did he experience the slight 
 est tremor. There was a smile on his 
 face that was genuine as he bowed 
 his acknowledgments to the storm of 
 applause which greeted the trio when 
 they descended, and the ringmaster's 
 cheery "Well done, Chicago," amply
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND 167 
 
 repaid him for the cost. But better 
 than all was the thought that Dick's 
 welfare was assured. 
 
 Two pounds a week in English 
 money and his expenses was the mod 
 est stipend which Maclntyre allotted 
 Paul for risking his neck twice a day 
 in this manner. The sum was not 
 large, but it more than sufficed for the 
 lad's wants, and in a few weeks he 
 had managed to add materially to his 
 scanty wardrobe, which sadly needed 
 replenishing. Before leaving Welling 
 ton he called at the hospital to see 
 his friend Dick, but the poor fellow was 
 delirious and failed to recognize the 
 youngster he had befriended. His 
 wife was pleased to see Paul, however, 
 and warmly thanked him for his gen 
 erous action, of which she had heard 
 through her circus friends. She as 
 sured him that if Dick ever got well 
 he would be glad to know he had not 
 made a mistake when he played his 
 good Samaritan act. At which Paul 
 blushed, and, with many fervent wishes 
 for Dick's speedy recovery, left the 
 little circus woman dissolved in tears. 
 
 For two months following this in-
 
 1 68 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 terview Paul played his star engage 
 ment on the aerial wire without mishap 
 and to the intense delight of thousands 
 of good colonial subjects of Queen 
 Victoria. In addition to the bicycle 
 act his services were utilized in the 
 ring to place poles for the horses to 
 leap over; as the banner bearer, across 
 which the bareback riders turned som 
 ersaults, and again as balloon holder, 
 through which the lady riders dashed 
 headlong as they careened around the 
 circle. The boy fully earned his salary. 
 
 But he made lots of friends, too, 
 and in a community that was always 
 indulging in internecine quarrels, the 
 result of petty jealousies, he retained 
 the good-will of every one. Perhaps 
 his warmest attachment was for the 
 lion tamer, a stalwart, black-mustached 
 six-footer, known as the "Parson," 
 who, in addition to subjugating wild 
 animals, had entire charge of the 
 menagerie annex. 
 
 It was in the menagerie that Paul 
 spent much of his leisure time, for he 
 had always been partial to natural 
 history, and this was an opportunity 
 to study at close range not to be dis-
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND 1 69 
 
 regarded. ' ' Old Tobe, " the big, tooth 
 less lion, learned to know his voice, and 
 never failed to stick out his paw for 
 a friendly shake when the lad passed 
 his cage. Tiny ' ' Mimi, " a pretty little 
 marmoset monkey, would chatter with 
 delight when Paul approached her, 
 and at his departure would cling to 
 the bars and cry piteously for his re 
 turn. Even vicious "Potiphar, " the 
 black elephant that had killed two of 
 his keepers, permitted Paul to fondle 
 his trunk and feed him crackers, a 
 supply of which he usually kept in his 
 pocket when he visited the elephants. 
 
 There was one member of the "Par 
 son's" family with which Paul could 
 never get on intimate terms, despite 
 all his friendly advances. This was 
 a beautifully spotted tigress called Sa 
 tan, which the lion tamer had formerly 
 exhibited when she was younger, but 
 whose ugly temper had compelled him 
 to desert after two or three attempts 
 that nearly cost him his life. 
 
 One day, while showing at a place 
 called Timaru, along ninety-mile beach 
 in the middle island, Satan broke 
 loose from her cage. The time she
 
 17 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 chose for this pleasantry was imme 
 diately following the afternoon per 
 formance, when, luckily, the menagerie 
 was pretty well deserted, only Paul 
 and the attendants chancing to be 
 present. Feeding time had arrived, 
 and a mass of raw meat, placed inad 
 vertently in front of her cage, had so 
 tantalized Satan that she tore up the 
 floor near the front of her prison, and, 
 squeezing through, with a wild scream 
 of delight reached in a bound the quiv 
 ering meat for which she hungered. 
 
 At that moment Paul was feeding 
 tiny "Mimi," the pet monkey, not a 
 dozen steps from where Satan lay 
 crouching and snarling. The shouts 
 of terror from the scattering attendants 
 and the hasty glance he caught of the 
 liberated animal were enough to cause 
 him to join the others in a mad rush 
 for safety, and in a minute he was 
 shinning up the main guy of the center 
 pole as if a battalion of wildcats was 
 hot on his trail. 
 
 The "Parson" was feeding his pet 
 lions strips of raw beef when Satan's 
 triumphant cries rang through the 
 menagerie, and although his back was
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND 1 71 
 
 toward the tigress he divined instantly 
 what had happened. Seizing his heav 
 ily loaded whip, without a moment's 
 hesitation, the intrepid fellow strode 
 across to where Satan lay worrying a 
 bloody bone. She growled savagely 
 as he approached, and began lashing 
 her beautiful tail from right to left, 
 while her long, supple spine gradually 
 arched as she rose for a spring. 
 
 From his coign of vantage aloft 
 Paul was an intensely interested spec 
 tator of what followed. He saw the 
 lion-tamer concentrate his fearless gaze 
 on the escaped brute, which for one 
 moment quailed before his piercing 
 eyes. That moment was fatal to her 
 hopes of liberty. Like a flash of 
 lightning the loaded whip leaped in 
 the air and descended with the force 
 of a sledge hammer on Satan's skull. 
 She sunk back with a long wailing cry 
 of distress that was almost human, 
 and in two minutes lay insensible un 
 der the terrific blows administered by 
 her trainer. 
 
 By this time half a dozen attendants 
 had rushed to the rescue, when, with 
 a single sarcastic reference to their
 
 I? 2 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 tardiness, their chief curtly ordered the 
 animal placed in stronger quarters and 
 placidly returned to the task from 
 which he had been so abruptly sum 
 moned. 
 
 The lion tamer chuckled as he caught 
 s^'ght of Paul's lithe figure slipping 
 down the center pole, and he was still 
 smiling when the lad joined him in 
 front of the hyenas' cage, which hap 
 pened to be next that in which the 
 attendants were depositing Satan. 
 
 "Say, son, you made pretty good 
 time getting up there, didn't you?" he 
 observed, in his quiet, drawling tones. 
 
 Paul blushed and looked sheepish, 
 but before he could answer, the sturdy 
 trainer remarked: "Oh, well, I don't 
 blame you for it, boy; but I might 
 have expected something different from 
 my own men." And that was the 
 only rebuke the big-hearted giant 
 launched toward his weak-kneed at 
 tendants, nor did he ever recur to the 
 subject. 
 
 By gradual stages the circus covered 
 all the principal towns of the middle 
 island, and at length reached the pretty 
 city of Christchurch, in the province
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND 1 73 
 
 of Canterbury, where a two weeks' 
 stand was on the program. At this 
 place the troupe was reinforced by the 
 arrival of Dick Baxter and his wife, 
 the former still too weak to work, but 
 entirely recovered from his illness and 
 rapidly growing stronger. 
 
 He greeted Paul very kindly, thanked 
 him cordially for what he had done, 
 but insisted on turning over half his 
 salary to his substitute. To this the 
 latter stoutly demurred, and ended by 
 flatly refusing the proffered money. 
 Finding him obdurate, Dick sought a 
 jeweler's and purchased a plain, broad 
 band of Australian gold, inside which 
 he had engraved: 
 
 DICK TO PAUL, 
 
 Jan. 22, 1 88 . 
 In grateful remembrance. 
 
 Paul wore this ring in sickness and 
 starvation, in trouble and danger, all 
 through that eventful trip until he was 
 safe home again. And he wears it to 
 this day, although the donor has long 
 since lain at rest beneath the tropic
 
 174 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 skies of South America, a victim of a 
 broken cable and his own temerity. 
 
 It was the last day of Paul's appear 
 ance in tights and spangles, for Dick 
 was to resume his duties on the mor 
 row. Sitting on a bale of hay out in 
 the menagerie tent, the lad was cogi 
 tating upon his next move. To return 
 to the drudgery of "Old Props'" rule 
 was too distasteful after the glitter 
 and glare of the ring, and the offer 
 of peddling popcorn, peanuts and the 
 clown's song books was not at all to 
 his fancy. Circus life, in fact, was be 
 ginning to pall on him, when an inci 
 dent occurred which thoroughly settled 
 the question in his mind and left no 
 hesitating doubts. 
 
 It happened in thiswise: The "boss 
 hostler," a man of powerful physique, 
 but with a most ungovernable temper, 
 had accused Paul several times of carry 
 ing cigarettes over to the horse tent to 
 give to one of the hostlers, a half-breed 
 Maori, to whom the lad had taken a 
 great fancy. This was true, but when 
 ' ' Texas, " as the boss hostler was nick 
 named, swore the boy smoked them 
 around the hay and abetted the Maori
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND 175 
 
 in breaking the rules, the youngster 
 hotly resented the charge, and called 
 on the half-breed to prove that he never 
 smoked either in or out of the tent. 
 
 "Oh, he's just as big a liar as you 
 are," snarled" Texas. 
 
 "You wouldn't say that twice if I 
 were a man," retorted Paul savagely. 
 
 ' ' Bah ! You're a kid, and the nigger's 
 a fool. After this just keep out of my 
 quarters, or it'll be the worse for you, " 
 and the surly brute strode off. 
 
 Furious, but powerless, Paul turned 
 to "Pete," the half-breed, whose coal- 
 black eyes shone with suppressed rage. 
 
 ' ' I kill that devil some day, " he 
 hissed, "if he no let me be; I hate 
 him." 
 
 Soothing the Maori with a few well- 
 chosen words, the boy quitted the tent 
 and returned to the dressing room to 
 get ready for the evening performance 
 his last appearance. 
 
 Two hours later, his act over, he 
 heard Texas blackguarding his hostlers 
 for some fancied slight in adjusting 
 the pads on the riding horses, and 
 just as he was slipping into his street 
 clothes another wave of profanity floated
 
 I7 6 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 across the intervening space, the inten 
 sity of which proved that Texas was 
 in a towering passion. 
 
 Fearful that the Maori was getting 
 into trouble, and with a vague notion 
 of averting some possible calamity, 
 Paul hastily drew on his coat, wrapped 
 a piece of spare canvas about his head 
 and shoulders as a partial protection 
 from the pouring rain, and darted out 
 side the dressing room across to the 
 horse tent. 
 
 He arrived just in time to see Texas 
 pick up an empty bucket and bring 
 it down with all his might on Pete's 
 head. The wicked blow shattered the 
 pail but did not break the Maori's 
 skull. Howling with rage and pain 
 the half-breed seized a heavy, iron- 
 bound stakepin that lay at his feet 
 and before anyone could divine his 
 intentions or stay his hand the mur 
 derous billet descended with terrific 
 force on the circus man's right temple, 
 and Texas dropped like a log. Not 
 contented with this the Maori repeated 
 the blows again and again, and before 
 assistance arrived the position of boss 
 hostler in the great American consoli-
 
 CIRCUS LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND 1 77 
 
 dated arenas stood temporarily vacant. 
 
 Without an instant's delay the crazed 
 half-breed jumped across the body of 
 his victim, darted into a vacant stall, 
 lifted the flap of the tent, and disap 
 peared in the black, pelting storm. 
 
 But Paul had no heart for the circus 
 after that. He had been an accidental 
 witness of the fearful tragedy, power 
 less to prevent it, too horrified to speak 
 or move a step, and yet he accused 
 himself of participating in the crime 
 because he had lacked presence of mind 
 to cry out to the Maori to desist. 
 He did not realize, poor lad, that it 
 was a demon, not a human, which 
 possessed the half-breed in those brief 
 moments, and that he might just as 
 well have tried to stop the howling of 
 the north wind. For two days longer 
 he stayed with the troupe, and then 
 went to the red wagon, drew what 
 little salary was due him, bade good 
 bye to his friends and left the circus 
 forever.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN. 
 
 THE city of Christchurch is seven 
 miles inland from the port of Lyttle- 
 ton, and for a good part of that dis 
 tance a railroad is tunnelled through 
 solid rock, an engineering feat of which 
 the Canterbury provincials have good 
 reason to be proud. It was a gloomy 
 journey for Paul, whose spirits were 
 not of the brightest, but a sniff of the 
 fresh, salt sea after his stuffy ride had 
 a cheering effect, and he soon forgot 
 his troubles in the effort to get a berth. 
 
 It was his intention to ship from 
 Lyttleton aboard one of the passenger 
 steamers plying between New Zealand 
 and Australian ports Melbourne pre 
 ferred which city he was eager to 
 visit. But he was not more fortunate 
 in obtaining a billet here than at San 
 Francisco, and after meeting a dozen 
 rebuffs he gave up the attempt and 
 secured passage on a small coaster to 
 178
 
 ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN 179 
 
 Dunedin, one of the principal cities of 
 New Zealand. 
 
 At Dunedin, a bustling, busy city 
 of fifty thousand inhabitants, settled 
 mainly by the thrifty Scotch, Paul 
 stayed three weeks, vainly endeavor 
 ing to secure a position in any capac 
 ity on one of the many steamers touch 
 ing at that port. His small savings, 
 although carefully handled, slowly 
 melted away during this period of 
 idleness, and by the end of the third 
 week he had dispensed with one or 
 two articles of his wardrobe which he 
 began to regard as unnecessary luxuries. 
 
 The outlook was blue, and the boy 
 several times thought regretfully of 
 the circus and his three meals a day, 
 and wondered if he hadn't been too 
 hasty in burning his ships. One bright 
 afternoon, while sitting on a mooring 
 block at the wharf, watching the 
 steamer for Melbourne and Sydney 
 make fast, and mentally wishing he 
 were aboard her, he spied a familiar 
 figure trot across the gangway that 
 had just been lowered from the vessel's 
 side. In a minute he was off his
 
 l8o PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 perch, yelling, "Davy, O Davy!" at 
 the top of his voice. 
 
 The cause of this sudden outburst 
 was a slim lad about Paul's own age, 
 who, hearing his name called, halted 
 irresolutely, until, tracing the sound, 
 he gave a shout of recognition and 
 came up the dock on a run. 
 
 4 ' Hello, Paul !" he exclaimed. ' 'What 
 in the world are you doing here? 
 Thought you was with the circus ! " 
 
 "So I was up to a month ago, when 
 I tired of the job and quit. But say, 
 what are you doing on the Koturah?" 
 
 "Working, faith. Shipped as brass 
 trimmer and lamp cleaner at Auckland 
 trip before this and like the billet first 
 rate. 'Nough sight better than the 
 hotel, I can tell you." 
 
 Davy Marston had been a sort of 
 boy-of-all-work at the hotel in Auck 
 land where Paul and the circus hands 
 boarded while the show was in that 
 city and the two lads had become 
 quite intimate. Davy was a slender, 
 dreamy kind of a chap, whose parents 
 were both dead, so that he had been 
 compelled to shift for himself at an 
 early age. Bright, cheerful and oblig-
 
 ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN l8l 
 
 ing, he was a most companionable 
 little fellow, toward whom Paul had 
 been greatly attracted. When the 
 troupe left town Davy caught the fever 
 for travel and decided to go away, 
 too, and through the good offices of 
 the local agent of the steamship com 
 pany he obtained a berth on the Ko- 
 turah, with which ship he had made 
 the round trip to Australia and was 
 now on his second voyage. He de 
 clared money couldn't hire him to work 
 on shore again. 
 
 Paul sighed. "Wish I could strike 
 a piece of luck like that," he dolefully 
 exclaimed. "Do you suppose there's 
 any show for me on board, Davy ? " 
 
 The boy puckered his forehead and 
 thought a minute. ' ' Seems to me I 
 heard the pantryman say they were 
 shorthanded in the galley. Tell you 
 what I'll do: Wait here while I skip 
 back and see if I can't put in a few good 
 licks for you. Don't count on me too 
 much, but I'll do the very best I can." 
 
 Away sped the good-hearted young 
 colonial, leaving Paul intently praying 
 for the success of his mission. In
 
 1 82 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 twenty minutes the lad returned, his 
 honest face wreathed in smiles. 
 
 "Did it up brown," he gasped, be 
 tween breaths. ' ' You're to get your 
 kit and come aboard right away. Cook 
 says he'll find a place for you in the 
 galley helping him." 
 
 Barely stopping to express his grati 
 tude, off Paul started for his board 
 ing house, where he settled his bill 
 with the last shilling he possessed, 
 hastily threw his belongings in his 
 valise and rushed back to the vessel, 
 where Davy was on hand waiting to 
 receive him. 
 
 Half an hour later Paul might have 
 been seen in the ship's galley, seated 
 on an inverted bucket, his coat off, 
 and his sleeves rolled back to his el 
 bows, peeling "spuds" as if he had 
 served a life apprenticeship at the 
 task. And Davy chancing by the open 
 doorway chuckled audibly at the sight, 
 a significant wink from Paul helping 
 him to' a keener appreciation of the 
 joke. 
 
 The days which ensued were full of 
 interest to the young Chicagoan, who 
 was too happy planning for the fu-
 
 ON SHIPBOARD 1 AGAIN 183 
 
 ture to feel at all humiliated by the 
 drudgery of his work. Leaving Port 
 Chalmers behind, the Koturah's next 
 stop was at the Bluff, and then the 
 boat headed direct for Melbourne, 
 reaching Port Philip after a delightful 
 run. It had been Paul's idea all along 
 to quit the vessel at Melbourne, to 
 which point he intended having his 
 mail forwarded from Sydney, but his 
 relations on board had been so pleas 
 ant that when Davy urged him to go 
 on as far as Sydney he was easily 
 persuaded. 
 
 Before Port Jackson Heads were 
 sighted one of the understewards was 
 taken seriously ill, and when the Ko- 
 turah steamed alongside her dock at 
 the circular quay his condition was so 
 alarming that the ship's doctor advised 
 his removal to the city hospital, where 
 he could have better care. This made 
 a vacancy on the saloon staff, which 
 the chief steward was disposed to fill 
 by offering Paul the position. 
 
 The temptation to stay a while longer 
 in such pleasant quarters was so strong 
 that after a short mental struggle Paul 
 yielded and gracefully accepted the
 
 184 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 proffered advancement. But before 
 the boat cast loose on her return trip 
 to Auckland he obtained leave to go 
 up town to inquire for his mail, a goodly 
 budget of which he fully expected to 
 find awaiting him at the postofrke. 
 
 Nor was he disappointed. Big, fat 
 letters in the dear, well-known hand 
 writing were given him bearing the 
 old, familiar Chicago postmark, half 
 blurred, it is true, as usual, but still 
 decipherable. He strolled over into 
 Cook Park for an undisturbed reading, 
 and, sitting on a bench near the colos 
 sal statue of the great circumnavigator 
 in whose honor the park is named, 
 greedily devoured the thrice welcome 
 epistles. 
 
 Letters from home. Only those who 
 have journeyed thousands of miles from 
 all they hold dear, and who have been 
 deprived of all news regarding them 
 for endless weeks, can appreciate with 
 what trembling anxiety Paul tore open 
 his first letter. He laughed and cried 
 by turns as he read the closely written 
 pages from his mother which told of 
 Madge's clever sayings, of Edith's long 
 ings for her comrade brother, of his
 
 ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN 185 
 
 father's latest fit of ludicrous forget- 
 fulness and of the hundred and one 
 petty details of home life, every item 
 of which was of intensest interest to 
 the wanderer. 
 
 Now that her boy was fairly launched 
 on his long tramp, the gentle mother 
 had ceased grieving on account of his 
 absence, but on every page her mes 
 sages of caution predominated. As 
 Paul absorbed the loving admonitions 
 his eyes became blurred and the tears 
 stole swiftly down his cheeks, to be 
 stemmed a moment later as he read 
 some particularly bright bit of absurd 
 ity credited to his light-hearted, mirth- 
 loving sister, Madge. All the letters 
 were penned in a cheerful spirit, as if 
 the writers were determined to leave 
 the recipient in a pleasant frame of 
 mind following their perusal. After 
 an hour spent in reading and re-reading 
 the precious missives the lad stowed 
 them carefully away in an inside pocket 
 and strolled back to the ship, pensive 
 but happy. 
 
 Paul had heard much about the 
 beauties of Sydney harbor since his 
 advent in southern waters, but the
 
 1 86 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 realization of them far exceeded his 
 expectations. As the stately Koturah 
 steamed down the bay on her way to 
 Port Jackson Heads, in the full glare 
 of the noonday sun, a panorama of 
 entrancing loveliness was unfolded that 
 held the lad spellbound. All this he 
 had missed on the up-trip, owing to 
 the lateness of the hour in entering 
 the harbor, so that he now for the 
 first time saw the bay in all its match 
 less splendor. 
 
 The waters were dotted with big 
 and little craft of every description. 
 The gently sloping banks on either 
 side were crowned with luxuriant foli 
 age, amid which the eye caught 
 glimpses of charming white villas with 
 wide, cool-looking verandas and green- 
 jalousied blinds, which lent a semi- 
 tropical and wholly delightful aspect 
 to the harmonious picture. That its 
 natural beauties and excellent anchor 
 age entitled the bay of Sydney to be 
 accounted one of the finest harbors in 
 the world Paul did not question, and 
 he reluctantly turned away from the 
 enchanting vision to answer a per-
 
 ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN 187 
 
 emptory call from below, where his 
 services were needed. 
 
 Outside Port Jackson Heads, into 
 the Pacific ocean, the Koturah plowed 
 her way with the fairest weather 
 abreast her keel that heart could de 
 sire. It was not surprising that, stirred 
 by the sight of the broad, silvery 
 moon, the pondlike stillness of the 
 water, and the soft, balmy breezes 
 sighing through the shrouds, the 
 younger people on board should be 
 eager to take advantage of a situation 
 so delightful. The consent of the cap 
 tain being gained, a deck concert and 
 dance was planned, the proceeds aris 
 ing from which it was proposed to 
 donate to the Shipwrecked Mariners' 
 Society of New South Wales. 
 
 As everybody was expected to con 
 tribute in some way to the success of 
 the entertainment, the understewards 
 were on their mettle. One was a good 
 banjo-player, another a capital mimic, 
 and a third was clever at sleight-of- 
 hand tricks. Paul was urged by his 
 new comrades to give a Yankee recita 
 tion, and readily agreed to do his 
 share. The second night out from
 
 1 88 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 Sydney Captain Barrett had the after- 
 deck canopied with flags and bunting, 
 the piano was brought up from |he 
 saloon, benches were improvised for 
 the audience, and the passengers re 
 sponded gallantly to the invitation to 
 fill the seats. Interspersed among 
 them were the sailors, arrayed in their 
 best outfits, their blue jerseys and 
 white hats producing a very pleasing 
 effect in the soft light shed by the 
 Chinese lanterns. 
 
 Overhead shone the brilliant South 
 ern Cross, the sharp outlines of which 
 could be traced through the thin fabric 
 of the Union Jacks which formed a 
 partial protection from the night dews. 
 The water was like glass; a generous 
 moon trailed her silvery sheen in the 
 vessel's wake, and as the musical notes 
 of the sweet soprano soloist drifted 
 away from the ship it required no 
 great stretch of imagination to believe 
 that every tiny wavelet rippling in the 
 molten beams was the head of a mer 
 maid enticed to the surface by the 
 wonderful charms of the human voice. 
 
 Vocal and instrumental music in 
 solos, duets and quartets followed in
 
 ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN 189 
 
 delightful succession, alternating with 
 readings and recitations by the com 
 bined ship's talent. Pauls modest 
 rendition of Will Carleton's ' ' Betsy 
 and I Are Out," with its homely 
 pathos, seemed to strike a popular 
 chord in the breasts of the audience, 
 and the "young Yankee" was vigor 
 ously applauded, an encore being de 
 manded. He responded with John 
 Hay's ' ' Little Breeches, " the delivery 
 of which completely captured the col 
 onists and evoked a lot of pleasant 
 compliments that were not entirely 
 undeserved. 
 
 The concert ended, the benches 
 were carried away, the deck was cleared 
 for action, and with piano and fiddle 
 for music, the younger passengers en 
 joyed the novelty of a dance in mid- 
 ocean. Promptly at midnight the cap 
 tain gave the signal for "Home, Sweet 
 Home," the tune changing quickly to 
 "God Save the Queen, "which brought 
 all the loyal colonials to their feet, 
 and closed the evening's unique enter 
 tainment. 
 
 At Auckland the Koturah landed 
 the majority of her Australian passen-
 
 1 90 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 gers, but a new batch was shipped in 
 their stead. At Wellington and Lyttle- 
 ton their numbers were greatly aug 
 mented by a delegation of ministers 
 and their families who were on their 
 way to South Australia to attend an 
 annual conference, so that by the time 
 Dunedin was reached every inch of 
 cabin space on the ship was taken. 
 
 The Koturah was not one of the 
 best boats in the service, but she was 
 a good, stout vessel, and, having been 
 recently overhauled and thoroughly 
 repaired, was considered perfectly safe. 
 Her skipper, Captain Barrett, although a 
 young man, was extremely popular, as 
 much on account of his amiable disposi 
 tion as for his excellent seamanship, so 
 that the Koturah usually carried a fine 
 passenger list. 
 
 On this occasion she was taxed to 
 her capacity, due to the fact that, 
 instead of proceeding direct to Mel 
 bourne from the Bluff, she was adver 
 tised to go first to Adelaide, in order 
 to accommodate the number of people 
 desirous of attending conference in the 
 South Australian colony. The beauti 
 ful weather which had prevailed so
 
 ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN igi 
 
 long attracted a much larger number 
 of excursionists than was expected, 
 and when the boat left Dunedin she 
 had seventy people in the first and 
 second cabins and about eighty steer 
 age passengers. 
 
 Naturally the work of attending to 
 the wants of so many people gave 
 Paul very few leisure moments, so 
 that he and Davy had little time to 
 visit or gossip. Late in the evening, 
 after leaving Dunedin, the two boys 
 met in the steward's room for a short 
 chat, when Paul was dismayed to find 
 his chum looking unusually serious and 
 depressed. 
 
 "Why, what ails you to-night, 
 Davy?" he asked. "You're as glum 
 as a hired mourner." 
 
 "I know it, Paul, and the worst of 
 it is I can't get over the feeling. It's 
 all on account of a dream I had last 
 night. I thought I was lying on the 
 bottom of the ocean with my eyes 
 wide open, watching a procession of 
 drowned persons dropping down, down, 
 down, from the surface, directly before 
 me, and each face bore such a sor 
 rowful expression that I was terrified,
 
 1 92 PAUL TR AVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 and I know that I must have cried 
 out in my sleep. The picture was so 
 vivid that I couldn't forget it when I 
 woke up, and do you know, Paul," 
 here the lad lowered his voice to a 
 whisper, "I have been seeing those 
 same faces all day and they've taken 
 on the features of our new passengers. 
 It scares me; I feel as if something 
 awful was going to happen, and I can't 
 get rid of the notion to save my life. 
 You may laugh, perhaps, and say it's 
 all nonsense maybe it is but the 
 thing sticks. Ugh! it's a horrible sen 
 sation," and the boy shuddered. 
 
 Paul didn't laugh. Davy had told 
 his dream so simply, yet so earnestly, 
 that he felt impressed in spite of his 
 inclination to look upon the whole 
 matter as an ordinary nightmare aris 
 ing from overwork and a nervous 
 physical condition. He saw Davy was 
 greatly disturbed, so wisely refrained 
 from treating the story too lightly. 
 "Oh, well, old fellow," he exclaimed, 
 in his cheeriest tones, ' ' I wouldn't fret 
 about it; you know that won't do any 
 good. If I were you I'd turn in right
 
 ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN 1 93 
 
 away and get a good sleep. You'll 
 feel better in the morning." 
 
 Davy slowly shook his head, and, 
 placing his hand over his heart, brokenly 
 observed: "It's here I feel it. There's 
 such a leaden weight that it seems as 
 if something must give way. Say, 
 do you believe in omens?" he abruptly 
 inquired. 
 
 Paul hesitated before answering. "I 
 don't know; I have read of some very 
 queer manifestations," he presently ad 
 mitted, "but I never had any personal 
 experiences. Why?" 
 
 ' ' Because, " said Davy, very solemnly 
 and impressively, "I am certain that 
 dream of mine is coming true. Some 
 thing tells me I shall never get off 
 this boat alive. I can't describe my 
 sensations; nothing like the feeling 
 ever took hold of me before, but I 
 believe I am am doomed, " and, drop 
 ping his face between his hands, the 
 sensitive, overwrought boy burst into 
 a paroxysm of tears. 
 
 His companion was greatly shocked 
 and more powerfully moved than he 
 cared to admit even to himself. "Oh, 
 come, come, Davy, you mustn't go on
 
 194 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 like this or you'll be ill. Let me go 
 to the doctor and get a prescription 
 to quiet your nerves and put you to 
 sleep. You've been working too hard, 
 that's what's the trouble. Brace up, 
 old fellow, and don't get frightened 
 by a mere dream. You'll have for 
 gotten it by this time to-morrow." 
 
 He passed his arm caressingly around 
 the neck of the perturbed boy and 
 patted his shoulder as he strove to 
 soothe and reassure him. Presently 
 the sobs ceased and Davy raised his 
 tear-swollen face. ' 'You're a good chap, 
 Paul, " he said, with an effort to keep his 
 voice steady, "and I'm so glad that I 
 was able to do you a service. I want 
 you to think well of me, no matter 
 what happens. Perhaps I'm a bit 
 foolish after all. " Then he wrung his 
 friend's hand, choked back a sob and 
 turned away. And after he was gone 
 Paul remembered with a queer thrill 
 that it was ' ' good-bye " and not ' 'good 
 night" that Davy had said. 
 
 The recollection troubled him. He 
 was altogether too sturdy and healthy 
 a lad to be in the least superstitious, 
 but as he strolled meditatively toward
 
 ON SHIPBOARD AGAIN 195 
 
 his bunk that "good-bye" rung in his 
 ears until he* was almost tempted to 
 follow Davy to his berth and ask him 
 what it meant But this, he concluded, 
 might lead to another painful scene, 
 so, shrugging his shoulders as if to 
 throw on an unpleasant load, he de 
 cided to turn in for the night 
 
 Half a dozen of the under-stewards 
 sat around the sleeping quarters in var 
 ious stages of undress as Paul entered 
 the compartment. Some of them had 
 been discussing the ship's course, and 
 one of the older boys remarked that 
 the meanest part of the trip was just 
 ahead. He explained that the passage 
 from Dunedin to the bluff, which, as 
 they well knew, is the southernmost 
 point on the island, was considered 
 very dangerous on account of the ex 
 tremely rocky coast and because the 
 course in some parts lies right between 
 ugly reefs on one side and a number 
 of half-submerged rocks shoreward. 
 Added to this was a treacherous swell, 
 requiring smart navigation to take a 
 vessel through safely, particularly in 
 muggy weather. 
 
 "Of course," he oracularly added,
 
 196 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 "there's no danger when a man like 
 Capt. Barrett's on watch, and the old 
 Koturah's been through too often to 
 get caught napping; but, just the same, 
 I'd as lief be round the point and 
 headed for Adelaide." With which 
 comforting observation he kicked off 
 his shoes and disappeared in his bunk. 
 It was a long time before Paul 
 slept. The vision of Davy's sorrowful 
 face haunted him, and then, too, the 
 yarn spun by the under-steward, now 
 blissfully snoring, aroused a vague 
 feeling of uneasiness which would not 
 be suppressed. Eight bells, midnight, 
 struck before he finally lost conscious 
 ness. His last waking thoughts were 
 centered in a strange fancy regarding 
 Davy and his dead parents. He found 
 himself wondering if they had been 
 the cause of his chum's grewsome 
 dream, and whether, after all, it was 
 not a note of warning from the other 
 world.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 WRECK OF THE KOTURAH. 
 
 HE awoke suddenly, a frightened 
 yell from one of the boys causing him 
 to spring from his bunk into the mid 
 dle of the room. As he did so a 
 horrible, grinding sound was heard, 
 which seemed to come from the heart 
 of the boat and was accompanied by 
 a series of shocks that racked the 
 vessel from stem to stern. This was 
 followed by a succession of bumps 
 which threatened to pound the timbers 
 into kindling wood. 
 
 With a sickening intuition of some 
 great disaster, Paul scrambled into 
 his clothes, disregarding the babel of 
 helpless questions hurled at each other 
 by the panic-stricken stewards. Pull 
 ing his cap on tight and buttoning his 
 coat as he ran along the passage, the 
 lad mounted the companionway two 
 steps at a jump, and in less than a 
 minute reached the deck above. 
 
 It was about 5 o'clock in the morn- 
 197
 
 198 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 ing. The stars still appeared over 
 head, but a heavy mist enveloped the 
 entire ship, rendering it impossible to 
 see twenty feet in any direction. 
 There was no need to ask foolish 
 questions. It was only too evident, 
 from the repeated concussions, that 
 the vessel had struck a reef, and like 
 a flash the gossip of the night previous 
 and, above all, poor Davy's dream 
 darted across Paul's brain. He peered 
 anxiously about for a sight of his chum, 
 but in that uncertain light, and with a 
 score or more of hysterical passengers 
 running helplessly in every direction, 
 the search was useless, and he turned 
 his attention to the half-dressed women 
 and children who crowded up from 
 below, weeping and wringing their 
 hands. 
 
 The spectacle presented by the 
 helpless, frightened women and terri 
 fied children was one long to be re 
 membered. Their shrieks and cries 
 of despair served to intensify the aw 
 ful situation, and lent additional horror 
 to the scene. The bumping continued 
 incessantly, and the ship very soon 
 began to fill with water which poured
 
 WRECK OP" THE KOTURAH 199 
 
 in through a big gash in her stern quar 
 ter. The Koturah was fast between 
 two jagged, gaping rocks, which she 
 had struck almost head on. Although 
 the engines had been stopped and re 
 versed, it was too late to be of any 
 service. Apparently the boat was 
 doomed. 
 
 It was impossible to make any move 
 ment looking to a rescue until the fog 
 lifted or daylight broke, and his utter 
 helplessness for the moment unnerved 
 the captain, who met the piteous ap 
 peals of the passengers with equally 
 depressing responses. Then, seeing 
 the bad effect this temporary weakness 
 produced, by a supreme effort the 
 skipper pulled himself together and in 
 a voice that was surprisingly steady 
 issued orders for every passenger to 
 form in a circle around the mainmast 
 until he and his officers should decide 
 what was best to be done. 
 
 In half an hour the mist cleared a 
 bit and as daylight waxed stronger 
 the seriousness of the situation was 
 revealed. The boat was ashore on a 
 very dangerous reef at the most des 
 olate, inhospitable point along the en-
 
 200 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 tire New Zealand coast. The swell 
 was so terrific that every few minutes 
 huge seas broke over the vessel, carry 
 ing off all loose fixtures in their resist 
 less rush and such of the unfortunate 
 passengers who chanced to be caught 
 in their mighty embrace. 
 
 After a hurried consultation it was 
 decided that communication with land 
 must be essayed immediately, and 
 Captain Barrett ordered one of the 
 forward boats to be cleared for lower 
 ing. As it swung ready over the side 
 a score of steerage passengers crowded 
 up with the intention of forcing their 
 way in, but the determined manner 
 in which the commander wielded a 
 stout belaying pin had the effect of 
 quelling their ardor. Scowling and 
 muttering they fell back, sulky but 
 subdued. 
 
 The boat was lowered away, but the 
 moment it struck the water it was 
 lifted clean off the tackle by which it 
 was suspended and dashed against the 
 ship's side, filling and sinking at once. 
 The pilot boat was then made ready 
 and swung over at a point where the 
 water was a little smoother. This at-
 
 WRECK OF THE KOTURAH 2OI 
 
 tempt was successful and the passen 
 gers cheered when the second officer, 
 Mr. Riley, with six sailors and a vol 
 unteer from the steerage, climbed in 
 and pulled away. 
 
 In about an hour Riley returned and 
 reported that on account of the heavy 
 surf it was impossible to get within 
 500 feet of the shore, but the passen 
 ger, a young fellow named Carey from 
 Timaru, had jumped overboard and 
 swum safely to land, as he was after 
 ward seen climbing a bluff and waving 
 his hands. 
 
 The captain looked glum when he 
 received this bit of news. He had 
 fully expected to be able to land his 
 passengers with the aid of the boats, 
 but it was evident from Riley's state 
 ment that the women and children 
 stood a poor chance of escape in that 
 direction. Even a good swimmer was 
 likely to be drowned in the treacherous 
 surf. Another hasty conference fol 
 lowed, and then it was decided to try 
 to pass a line ashore from the ship, 
 that appearing to be the only possible 
 method of effecting a landing. 
 
 Riley and his men being pretty
 
 202 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 well exhausted, the captain called for 
 volunteers those only who could swim 
 and six of the steerage passengers 
 pressing forward, he placed the boat 
 in charge of the first mate, with in 
 structions to use every endeavor to 
 get a line to the shore. 
 
 It looked then as if the vessel were 
 the safer place, which probably ac 
 counted for the few who offered to 
 leave. As soon as the volunteer crew 
 was off Captain Barrett ordered the 
 women and children moved forward 
 to the smoking room, amidships, where 
 there was more protection from the 
 seas, which now began to make fright 
 ful sweeps over the afterpart of the 
 vessel. 
 
 It was during one of these mighty 
 washes that poor Davy was carried 
 away. The lad had been sent below 
 to fish out a lantern, and just as his 
 head appeared above deck a loose 
 spar struck him and keeled him over. 
 He staggered to his feet, but at that 
 moment a terrific volume of water was 
 impelled over the vessel's side, and as 
 it rushed away to port poor Davy was 
 whirled along with it as if he had been
 
 WRECK OF THE KOTURAH 203 
 
 a cork. Paul caught one glimpse of 
 his white, despairing face as he rose 
 for an instant on the crest of the waves, 
 and then the boy was swept out of 
 sight forever. 
 
 Shocking as the accident was, Paul 
 had not a moment to spend in shedding 
 tears for his lost chum, although his 
 heart was like lead. The living mis 
 eries all around him forbade yielding 
 to any weakness, no matter how great 
 the provocation. There were women 
 weeping and children sobbing; women 
 that were half-dressed, with wild eyes 
 and disheveled hair, who held their 
 little ones close to their breasts and 
 alternately wept and prayed in their 
 hysterical anguish. To them he gave 
 his constant attention, now soothing a 
 frightened child and presently uttering 
 words of cheer to a distracted mother. 
 The lad entirely forgot his own dis 
 comforts and peril and for hours de 
 voted himself to alleviating in some 
 measure the misfortunes of the poor 
 creatures, who appeared to have lost 
 all self-control in the presence of this 
 awful catastrophe. 
 
 It was not that Paul was any braver
 
 204 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 than the rest, but his spirits seemed 
 to become more buoyant in the face 
 of danger, and a strong determination 
 to contest to the end took irresistible 
 possession of him. He could not be 
 lieve that he was doomed to drown 
 after so many escapes elsewhere on 
 that momentous journey, and the 
 thought gave him additional courage. 
 There was no philosophy in this, per 
 haps, but the idea was comforting, 
 and the lad cherished it accordingly. 
 
 Chancing to be near the captain, 
 shortly after the first officer left with 
 his volunteer crew, Paul was attracted 
 by the earnest manner in which the 
 skipper followed with his glass the re 
 ceding boat. Presently he saw him 
 make a gesture of despair and with an 
 agonized face turn to the second en 
 gineer. 
 
 "Mack! Mack!" he exclaimed, "this 
 is awful. The boat's swamped and 
 Pearson and his men are in the break 
 ers. A blind roller knocked 'em end 
 ways and I'm afraid everyone is 
 drowned. For heaven's sake keep 
 quiet about it; the passengers are scared
 
 WRECK OF THE KOTURAH 205 
 
 enough already. I must send Riley 
 out again to make another trial." 
 
 The second mate, with three sailors 
 and three volunteers, manned a second 
 boat and succeeded in getting clear 
 of the reef. Only the mate knew of 
 the disaster which had overtaken the 
 first officer. There was no need to 
 caution him about keeping a sharp look 
 out, for he realized that the fate of 
 the entire ship depended largely on 
 the success of his efforts. 
 
 It was 10 o'clock before the second 
 boat was launched, and the four hours 
 of daylight had given everyone an 
 opportunity to form some idea of the 
 desperate situation in which the ship 
 was placed. The Koturah was appar 
 ently a hopeless wreck, with her nose 
 jammed hard and fast on the ugliest 
 reef to be found anywhere along the 
 New Zealand coast. A big hole in 
 her stern quarter admitted tons of 
 water at each wash of the seas, every 
 influx of which materially weakened the 
 structure. Groaning and writhing as 
 if in mortal agony from the strain, the 
 vessel threatened to go to pieces at 
 any moment. So long as her bows
 
 206 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 remained nipped in the jaws of the reef 
 she was fairly safe, but the constant 
 shocks make this a very uncertain ten 
 ure. Captain Barrett was right in be 
 lieving it an imperative necessity to 
 either effect a landing on the coast 
 or take the remaining boats and pull 
 out to sea. Why he did not adopt 
 the latter course while the opportunity 
 lasted will never be known. 
 
 Paul was not the only person who 
 wondered why the ship chanced to be 
 so near shore when she struck. From 
 a hasty explanation he overheard 
 Captain Barrett giving the chief engi 
 neer he learned that on account of the 
 heavy fog the skipper had mistaken 
 his position, and, not making due al 
 lowance for the southerly swell, im 
 agined the Koturah lay much farther 
 out. When the ship struck the second 
 mate was in charge of the deck, the 
 captain having just retired, believing 
 all was well. The boat was running 
 about ten knots an hour a good aver 
 age speed. The lookout, thinking he 
 heard the breakers, reported to the 
 mate, who ran to call the captain in 
 stead of acting instantly himself. The
 
 WRECK OF THE KOTURAH 207 
 
 delay proved fatal. Hurrying on deck, 
 Captain Barrett scented the danger im 
 mediately and ordered the helm hard- 
 a-starboard and the engines reversed, 
 but the headway was so great that 
 before she could swing around the ves 
 sel went on the rocks. 
 
 For two long hours the half-drowned 
 passengers watched and waited for 
 Riley's return. Cold, hungry, and wet 
 to the skin, a more miserable set of 
 human beings could scarcely have been 
 found. At 12 o'clock the captain in 
 structed the chief steward to try to 
 pass some kind of food forward for 
 the passengers and crew, few of whom 
 had eaten a mouthful since the night 
 previous. For this service two volun 
 teers were called. The pantryman, a 
 bright young fellow from Geelong, and 
 Paul were the first to respond, and a 
 line being made fast to the waist of 
 each the two clasped hands and 
 watched their opportunity to dash aft 
 to the storeroom. 
 
 Almost drowned in the attempt, they 
 managed to emerge with a supply of 
 soaked crackers, some tinned meats 
 and an Edam cheese which they had
 
 208 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 hastily thrown into a canvas bag that 
 was fastened to the pantryman's belt. 
 There was not enough to go around, 
 so it was divided among the shivering 
 women and hungry, crying children. 
 A second venture was essayed and the 
 bag filled with hard biscuit, which 
 sorry food was apportioned among the 
 male passengers and crew. 
 
 Probably few on the Koturah at that 
 time fully realized their imminent 
 peril. The fog having completely 
 lifted, land was seen comparatively 
 close by and occasionally the dim out 
 lines of persons moving about on the 
 shore could be discerned. It was not 
 until Riley's absence became so pro 
 longed that hope began to pale, for, 
 the tide coming in, the sea grew 
 much rougher and poured continuously 
 through the ship, which was likely to 
 go to pieces at any minute. 
 
 During a temporary lull the second 
 mate was seen trying to make up to 
 the vessel, but on account of the heavy 
 swell he found it impossible to get 
 alongside. After repeated efforts he 
 was forced to desist, and with a de 
 spairing gesture he waved a good-by
 
 WRECK OF THE KOTURAH 209 
 
 and pulled out to the open sea, where 
 the waves were calmer and the chances 
 of being dashed on the reef more 
 remote. 
 
 This action on the part of his sub 
 ordinate decided Captain Barrett to 
 waste no more precious time in trying 
 to effect a landing on the cruel coast. 
 But before he could put his plan into 
 execution a perfect avalanche of water 
 descended on the doomed ship, carry 
 ing away the long boat, cutter and 
 dingy, and leaving him entirely help 
 less. As if in furious competition for 
 their prey this was followed by an 
 other monstrous wave, which swooped 
 down upon the helpless wreck from 
 the opposite quarter, tearing away a 
 big section of the forward bulwarks, 
 behind which nearly a score of pas 
 sengers were crouched. In a moment 
 all were precipitated in the angry 
 waters, their piteous appeals for help 
 falling on the ears of those who were 
 powerless to render the slightest as 
 sistance. 
 
 This fearful disaster, which might 
 be their own fate any moment, had a 
 most depressing effect on the surviv- 
 14
 
 210 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 ors, who were now collected in the 
 fo 'castle, which was, perhaps, the least 
 exposed part of the ship. About 
 twenty persons were left out of 200 
 souls. Some of the women were clad 
 only in their underclothing and night 
 dresses, over which a ship's blanket 
 had been hastily thrown. All were 
 soaked through with salt water and 
 suffered acutely from cold and hunger, 
 physical discomforts which, however, 
 were not to be compared with the 
 mental tortures they endured. 
 
 As the afternoon waned and the 
 dreaded night wore on the situation 
 grew more agonizing. At about 7 
 o'clock one of the sailors, lashed to the 
 foremast, shouted: "Lights! Lights! 
 A boat in sight." Paul glanced at 
 the captain, but he shook his head 
 despairingly; no vessel could possibly 
 approach near enough the treacherous 
 rocks to be of service. And so it 
 proved. After trying in vain to beat 
 up toward them, she was at length 
 compelled for her own safety to bear 
 out to sea. 
 
 Since the loss of the small boats the 
 only hope of rescue lay in assistance
 
 WRECK OF THE KOTURAH 211 
 
 from a passing vessel, and when the 
 passengers saw the ship's lights grow 
 ing dimmer and less distinct some of 
 them lost all control and fell to curs 
 ing and praying alternately, while 
 the heartrending shrieks of agonized 
 women and the repressed sobbing of 
 their more self-contained sisters added 
 to the frightful picture of desolation. 
 One old, white-haired minister from 
 Napier tried to sing "Rock of Ages," 
 but his voice trembled so that he 
 broke down completely and ended by 
 blending his tears with those of the 
 unfortunate females. 
 
 During all this long, miserable day, 
 by his many little acts of unselfish 
 ness and his devotion to the weak, 
 trembling women, whom he tried in 
 every way known to a courageous 
 heart to comfort and cheer, Paul had 
 greatly endeared himself to the cap 
 tain, and the latter several times 
 thanked the quiet-spoken American 
 lad for his thoughtful and timely 
 services. 
 
 As they crouched together in the 
 fo'castle, waiting for the vessel's dis 
 solution and what seemed to be cer-
 
 212 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 tain death, Captain Barrett suddenly 
 bent down to Paul, who was support 
 ing the limp figure of a little girl, 
 whose parents had been swept away. 
 
 "Travers, " he hoarsely whispered. 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "If by any chance you get to shore 
 alive I want you to see the owners 
 and tell them that if I made a mis 
 take I did what I believed was for 
 the best. Will you do this for me?" 
 
 "Gladly, sir, if I get the chance." 
 
 "That's all, Travers. You've been 
 a great help to me, a great comfort, 
 lad, and may may God bless and 
 preserve you." Then he wrung the 
 boy's hand in token of farewell, stifled 
 a groan that was half a sob and 
 turned to speak a word of cheer to 
 the second engineer, who, with a 
 crushed leg, was propped up against 
 the foremast. 
 
 Poor Paul's sympathy for the broken 
 hearted commander caused his tears 
 to flow unchecked on the damp locks 
 of his little charge, who had cried 
 herself to sleep on his breast. Grow 
 ing calmer he breathed an inward 
 prayer for his own deliverance and
 
 WRECK OF THE KOTURAH 213 
 
 fervently entreated the Almighty that 
 the brave captain might be included 
 among the saved. 
 
 From 8 o'clock until midnight the 
 only change in the tense situation was 
 a last move of the survivors from the 
 fo'castle to the rigging, made neces 
 sary as the wreck settled lower and 
 lower in the water. It was not 
 accomplished without incredible exer 
 tions, due to the limp and exhausted 
 condition of the women, who were 
 more than half dead from fright and 
 the terrible exposure. By supporting 
 the maimed engineer between them 
 Paul and the captain helped the brave 
 fellow to a position beyond the reach 
 of the waves, although he begged 
 them to leave him to his fate. It 
 was just prior to this change of base 
 that the good old minister pronounced 
 a touching prayer invoking the bless 
 ing of the Almighty upon those who 
 were now apparently beyond all earthly 
 assistance. 
 
 To Paul, young, vigorous and with 
 the love of life strong within him, 
 these last hours in the rigging were 
 peculiarly trying ones. Isolated for
 
 214 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 the first time that day, each one 
 lashed in place to prevent a surprise 
 by the angry waves, he was left to 
 his own thoughts, which were any 
 thing but inspiring. To come so far 
 in safety and then to die like this! 
 It seemed too cruel, too unreal! He 
 could not believe it possible and his 
 soul in anguish rebelled against his 
 impending fate. He closed his eyes 
 tight to shut out the horrible, ghostly 
 figures, lashed all around him, and 
 his thoughts flew to that far-away 
 home on the shores of Lake Michigan. 
 Before his mental vision rose those 
 dear faces, now, perhaps, lost to him 
 forever! It could not, must not be! 
 He would fight for his life to the last! 
 If all else were drowned he must be 
 saved! He was too young too die! 
 There was so much that he had 
 planned to do! Surely he was not to 
 be cut off so soon. And then there 
 was his mother! "Ah, God!" he 
 prayed, "let me live to see my dear 
 mother once more!" 
 
 A despairing cry from one of the 
 unfortunate creatures near him recalled 
 Paul to the awful scenes in which he
 
 WRECK OF THE KOTURAH 215 
 
 was a participant. He opened his 
 eyes in time to -see a young woman 
 she was a bride of two days when she 
 left Wellington, but her husband had 
 been drowned early in the day drop 
 from her fastenings, and, striking the 
 lower shrouds, rebound thence into 
 the dark waters. The boy was past 
 weeping; a lump rose in his throat as 
 he thought of the poor girl and the 
 sweet picture she made when, leaning 
 on her husband's arm, she proudly 
 tripped across the gangway at Well 
 ington. But there were no tears to 
 shed; he was beyond that. He could 
 only groan as he felt his heartstrings 
 vibrate, and he dumbly wondered if 
 they would snap under the strain. 
 
 Then he turned his eyes shoreward, 
 where the sparse watchers had built 
 huge bonfires, whose bright flames 
 could be plainly seen from the rig 
 ging. Occasionally a weird figure 
 might be discerned flitting across the 
 beach or piling more wood on the 
 blaze. That the wreck was visible to 
 those on land Paul did not doubt, for 
 the glare from the fires flashed across 
 the ship whenever fresh fuel was added.
 
 21 6 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 But it would have been madness to 
 venture out; a boat had no chance 
 for existence in the heavy seas that 
 were running, even if it escaped the 
 treacherous surf. Then, too, there 
 were the rocks, those gaping, jagged 
 reefs on which the Koturah had re 
 ceived her mortal wound. No, there 
 was nothing to do but to wait for 
 death or the morning. If the ship 
 held together until daylight there was 
 still a hope for rescue in case the 
 seas went down. But the chances 
 were slim. The boat was settling 
 fast, and as the waves mounted 
 higher and still higher toward the 
 wretched survivors the weaker ones 
 gradually lost all power of resistance, 
 and parting their lashings dropped 
 into the watery grave which greedily 
 engulfed them.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS. 
 
 ANOTHER painful hour passed, dur 
 ing which scarcely a word was spoken 
 by the few miserable beings that re 
 mained alive. The wreck, meantime, 
 had been gradually settling until the 
 deck was entirely under water and the 
 waves repeatedly dashed over the 
 helpless creatures in the rigging. 
 Suddenly the boat gave a frightful 
 lurch which lowered her fully five feet 
 and told the half dozen forlorn souls 
 hanging on for their lives that the 
 end was very near. 
 
 Paul knew it was now only a ques 
 tion of minutes when the entire ship 
 would be submerged. Slipping his 
 lashings and tightening the cork belt 
 which was fastened under his armpits, 
 he began to prepare for the final 
 struggle. He realized there was little 
 hope in such a sea and among those 
 death-dealing rocks, but he was not 
 217
 
 2l8 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 going to give up without a determined 
 fight for his life. 
 
 Just as he was about to climb still 
 higher to avoid the drenching seas 
 an immense wave struck him with 
 terrific force, loosening his grip and 
 knocking him clean off his perch into 
 the foaming billows. Down, down he 
 went, meantime holding his breath 
 and striving hard to retain his senses. 
 When at length he rose to the surface 
 he kicked out vigorously, but had not 
 taken a dozen strokes when his head 
 bumped against a hard substance, and 
 for a moment the boy thought he 
 was on the dreaded rocks. 
 
 But instead of that it was a life 
 saver with which he had come in 
 contact, in the shape of a cumbrous 
 but apparently watertight sea chest, 
 which was tossing idly on the water, 
 now rising to the crest of a billow 
 and the next minute lost to sight in 
 the trough of the sea. A rope was 
 knotted about its center, which the 
 "half-drowned lad gripped with the 
 strength of despair; and although the 
 waves carried him up and down, 
 down and up, as if he were so much
 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS 21Q 
 
 driftwood, they did not loosen his 
 hold. 
 
 Blinded by the spray, nearly choked 
 by the brine, and numbed by the cold 
 and exposure of that terrible day and 
 night, Paul yet refused to be shaken 
 off, and the first streak of dawn dis 
 covered him very weak and almost 
 exhausted, but still clinging to his 
 strange life preserver. 
 
 As soon as it was light enough to 
 distinguish objects, he peered eagerly 
 around for a glimpse of the Koturah. 
 But the wreck was nowhere to be 
 seen and even the coastline was only 
 a thin, hazy streak in the distance. 
 When Paul was knocked off the rig 
 ging he fell on that side of the ship 
 facing seaward, so instead of being 
 presently dashed on the rocks he was 
 carried out to sea. The farther he 
 drifted the calmer became the waves, 
 which were now so quiet that he had 
 no difficulty in retaining his perch on 
 the empty chest. But his strength 
 was almost gone, and unless help ar 
 rived very soon the plucky lad felt 
 he could never survive the exposure 
 of another night.
 
 220 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 Again and again his weary eyes 
 anxiously scanned the ocean for the 
 welcome sight of a sail. Drifting into 
 a comparatively smooth stretch of 
 water, Paul cautiously stood erect on 
 the chest and from the higher eleva 
 tion renewed his eager search. Afar 
 off on the horizon a white speck 
 caught his eye. Kneeling on his queer 
 craft for better security he watched 
 the speck for fifteen minutes and saw 
 it gradually but surely enlarge on his 
 vision. Then he knew it was a ship, 
 and by the progress she was making 
 he felt certain her course lay directly 
 toward him. 
 
 For two hours he kept his eyes 
 fixed on that white spot, which grew 
 larger and larger as the vessel bowled 
 along under a favorable breeze. And 
 yet how slowly she seemed to travel 
 to the anxious watcher! At times he 
 could barely restrain himself from 
 quitting his faithful chest and plung 
 ing headlong to meet her. Supposing 
 she should miss him after all! Oh, 
 how his heart sunk at the thought. 
 Then his old spirit revived. Tearing 
 off his singlet he waved it aloft and
 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS 221 
 
 shouted again and again until his 
 worn-out vocal chords rebelled and 
 utterly refused to do further duty. 
 
 But what matter! The lookout on 
 the ship had spied him and in a de 
 lirium of joy Paul realized he was 
 saved. With wild, staring eyes he 
 watched the schooner set back her 
 sails, and in a few minutes a boat 
 was lowered manned by four stout 
 sailors. How they pulled! The boy 
 shrieked with delight as they flew 
 across the water to where he knelt 
 awaiting their approach. 
 
 Then everything became blurred. 
 He felt a strong hand grasp him and 
 lift him into the boat and rough but 
 kindly voices ply him with questions. 
 But he was past all answers. His 
 physical powers, so long taxed beyond 
 endurance, suddenly collapsed, and it 
 was a dead weight which the sailors 
 raised to the deck of the Southern 
 Cross, a small trading schooner bound 
 for Melbourne with a cargo of sun 
 dries. 
 
 For over a week Paul lay in the 
 bunk where they had tenderly carried 
 him, his brain on fire, his mind dwell-
 
 222 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 ing constantly on the horrors of the 
 shipwreck. Meantime Captain Wilson, 
 the kind-hearted skipper, gave the 
 lad the very best attention in his 
 power, a rude knowledge of medicine 
 proving of no slight advantage in 
 effecting a double rescue, for there 
 were times when it seemed to be just 
 a toss-up for his life. The day Port 
 Philip Heads were sighted Paul re 
 gained consciousness and learned for 
 the first time the name of the vessel 
 that had picked him up and her des 
 tination. He had just strength enough 
 to thank the captain for his kindness, 
 and then he fell into a sound sleep, 
 which lasted twenty-four hours. When 
 he awoke the Southern Cross was fast 
 to the wharf in Sandridge harbor. 
 
 All that Paul had on when he was 
 rescued was a pair of blue serge 
 trousers and a gray undershirt, but 
 the thoughtful kindness of the skipper 
 had forestalled the lad's necessities, 
 so that, when he felt strong enough 
 to go ashore, a neat suit of clothes 
 brought down from Melbourne lay on 
 a chair awaiting his occupation. Be 
 yond telling the captain his name and
 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS 223 
 
 that he was a survivor of the Koturah, 
 Paul had not been very communica 
 tive, his weak condition being ample 
 reason for withholding details. He 
 had neither the ambition nor the heart 
 in his enfeebled state to dilate upon 
 the sad particulars, yet he felt it his 
 duty to tell Captain Wilson all he knew, 
 and this he promised to do in the 
 presence of the company's agents at 
 Melbourne. 
 
 Before quitting the ship, however, 
 he outlined the story of the wreck to 
 his new friend, dwelling particularly 
 on Captain Barrett's message to the 
 owners, which he was so anxious 
 should be delivered. "Poor Barrett! 
 Poor Barrett!" sighed the skipper 
 when he heard of the dead man's 
 last request. "He meant well and 
 he stuck to his ship like a true sailor, 
 even if he did make a big blunder. 
 Oh, what a pity he fooled away those 
 precious hours in trying to make the 
 shore. " 
 
 Paul was too weak to go up town 
 that day, but on the following morn 
 ing he thought he was well enough 
 to try it. A small sum of money
 
 224 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 had been raised for him by the gen 
 erous sailors and as he was anxious 
 to make a few purchases he parted 
 from the captain near the steamship 
 office after promising to be back inside 
 of an hour. There were queer pains 
 in his head and back and as he passed 
 slowly along Bourke street he almost 
 wished he had asked the captain to 
 accompany him on his shopping ex 
 pedition. Whether he had overtaxed 
 his strength or the fever, only par 
 tially checked, suddenly reappeared, 
 Paul never knew, but presently his 
 head grew dizzy, the buildings began 
 to assume strange and startling shapes 
 and he became possessed of the no 
 tion that they were just awaiting a 
 chance to topple over and crush him. 
 To escape from this impending 
 danger was his chief desire and out 
 toward the open highway he hurried, 
 staggering along as fast as his weak 
 limbs would carry him. Before an 
 iron-grated door let into a stone wall 
 the fever-stricken lad finally dropped 
 unconscious, and there he lay unob 
 served for nearly an hour, with a 
 semi-tropical sun beating down on his
 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS 225 
 
 head. At the end of that time a 
 smart trap rolled up and stopped and 
 two pleasant-featured men alighted. 
 
 "Hello, doctor?" cried the older 
 gentleman, "what's this?" 
 
 The surgeon thus addressed stooped 
 and attentively examined the prone 
 figure before the gate. 
 
 "A bad case of typhoid, I should 
 say," he presently replied in a grave 
 voice. ' 'Better take him inside, hadn't 
 we?" 
 
 "My dear fellow," retorted the 
 other, "just as you say. It isn't 
 exactly in our line, but common hu 
 manity suggests that course, I should 
 think." 
 
 Then they pulled the bell sharply 
 and a servitor in livery responding he 
 was brusquely ordered to convey 
 Paul's limp figure into the hospital 
 ward and have the nurses take charge 
 of the case at once. 
 
 The doctor was quite right in his 
 diagnosis. It was a dangerous attack 
 of typhoid fever that had seized 
 Paul and only by the very best of 
 treatment was he able to pull through. 
 But it was a long, tedious illness that 
 15
 
 226 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 he experienced and when at length he 
 was able to crawl about in the sunny 
 grounds few would have recognized in 
 his pale features and emaciated figure 
 the former sturdy sailor boy of the 
 City of Sydney. 
 
 Six wearisome weeks had elapsed 
 since the good doctor had found Paul 
 unconscious at the hospital gate. At 
 least Paul supposed it was a hospital 
 so long as he remained in the sick 
 ward, but when he was convalescent 
 and able to be out doors he learned 
 the real nature of the place in which 
 he had found shelter. The good 
 Samaritan who had tended him so 
 assiduously was the house surgeon in 
 a large private hospital for the insane, 
 and it was to the gate of this asylum 
 that Paul's erratic steps had carried 
 him. The doctor explained all this to 
 the boy the day before he gave him 
 permission to stroll about the grounds. 
 
 "You will probably meet some 
 queer characters out in the garden, 
 my lad," he remarked as he stroked 
 his long, brown beard, while a quizzi 
 cal smile lit up his features, "but 
 don't mind them; they are quite
 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS 227 
 
 harmless. You see, this is a home 
 for insane people, and not a mere 
 hospital, as you supposed. Don't let 
 that disturb you, however. In two 
 weeks you will be well enough to 
 leave, and then I shall lose my only 
 sane patient." 
 
 "Yes, doctor, and he'll be sorry 
 enough to part from one who has 
 been so good to him," returned Paul 
 fervently. And to think you barely 
 know "my name," he added. 
 
 "Oh, yes I do, you are number 
 thirteen, unlucky thirteen," laughed 
 the surgeon. "As to your real name, 
 what matter? You say it is Paul 
 Travers, that you are a stranger in 
 the colonies and an American by birth. 
 All right, when I go over to your 
 country I'll look you up and then you 
 can show me how ungrateful you can 
 be, eh?" 
 
 ' ' If you'll only give me the chance, " 
 exclaimed his patient, and as the 
 doctor smiled good-naturedly and held 
 out his hand Paul took the strong, 
 white fingers in his own weak clasp. 
 The pressure, gentle though it was, 
 told the physician that the lad was
 
 228 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 by no means insensible of the great 
 debt he owed to his preserver. 
 
 One week in the beautiful garden 
 worked wonders in Paul's color and in 
 putting flesh on his bones. It also 
 brought him into close relations with 
 the poor demented creatures who 
 roamed in that earthly paradise with 
 scarcely any appreciation of the charms 
 of their surroundings. 
 
 Kings and princes, dukes, earls, 
 lords, judges, generals and other titled 
 personages innumerable met daily in 
 the vine-covered arbors or strolled 
 aimlessly along the graveled walks, 
 which were bordered with richly-hued 
 flowers and luxuriant tropical plants. 
 All were full of absurd conceits and 
 whimsical notions that would have 
 been extremely ludicrous had they 
 not been so pitiful. Paul's earliest 
 acquaintance was a benignant, white- 
 haired old gentleman whose peculiarity 
 lay in fancying himself to be the Al 
 mighty. He was ever searching for 
 his dear and only son, and his bland 
 features were the first to greet the 
 lad when he entered the garden. 
 Stepping up to Paul, in a soft-spoken
 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS 22Q 
 
 voice he inquired with the greatest 
 solicitude if his dearly beloved had at 
 last come back to his father. 
 
 "Don't enter into any argument 
 with them," had been the doctor's 
 final caution; "it only irritates the 
 poor wretches. Just smile and accede 
 to anything and everything." So 
 Paul bowed his head in acknowledg 
 ment of the imposed honor, and was 
 passing on when the old gentleman 
 whispered: "So strange that you 
 should have stayed away so long. I 
 have needed you sorely at times, my 
 son, but we can arrange matters for 
 the entire universe now." Then he 
 went over to a rustic bench and wrote 
 industriously on a paper tablet, mean 
 time keeping faithful watch of Paul's 
 movements. The lad soon grew tired 
 and made his way back to the wicket. 
 Just as he rang the bell, the old fel 
 low sidled up, and with an air of 
 great mystery slipped a folded note 
 into Paul's coat pocket, retiring quickly 
 with his finger to his lip as an at 
 tendant appeared. 
 
 While resting on a lounge in the 
 surgeon's office the lad brought to
 
 230 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 light the scrap of paper. On the 
 outside was scrawled: 
 
 "God is love. Staff Sergeant Wil 
 liam Topping, God Almighty, Mel 
 bourne." Inside was inscribed the 
 following queer jumble: 
 
 God is love and motherless. Staff Sergeant 
 William Topping, God Almighty. Two is 
 company, three is none. Dear brothers and 
 sisters, be kind, be kind to the breath of life. 
 Bless the queen and all little children. I 
 mend clocks and watches, hearts and souls 
 and breathe life into the new born babe. I 
 am God Almighty; this is my home. There 
 is no place like home, where the birds are 
 singing gaily and there is no place like home. 
 Do not fear the devil, he is my worst enemy. 
 
 Paul could not help laughing over 
 this strange hodge-podge, and yet he 
 felt a deep sympathy for the noble- 
 looking old man, who, the doctor said, 
 had been at one time a well-known 
 Melbourne merchant. Five years be 
 fore his wife and only son had been 
 wrecked almost in sight of Port 
 Philip Heads while on a voyage back 
 from England, and the blow had been 
 too severe for his brain, already over 
 burdened by business troubles. He
 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS 231 
 
 went hopelessly crazy and had been 
 confined in the asylum ever since. 
 
 It was a strange world in which to 
 struggle back to life and health, and 
 but for the cheery talks with his good 
 friend, the house surgeon, the lad 
 might have had a sorry time while con 
 valescing. But his sense of humor was 
 nicely poised and the oddity of the 
 situation helped him through. He 
 cheerfully lent himself to every new 
 freak that seized his companions and 
 then treasured his experience to recount 
 to the doctor at their next meeting. 
 
 Paul had made such progress in the 
 good graces of the resident surgeon 
 that the two became quite confidential, 
 or as much so as a lad of seventeen 
 could expect to be with a man of 
 forty. Up to this time the boy had 
 avoided all mention of the wreck; but 
 one evening, shortly before the day 
 set for his discharge, Paul told his 
 friend the story of the loss of the 
 Koturah and the part he had played 
 in that awful tragedy of the sea. 
 
 The doctor heard the lad through 
 without comment, although an intensely 
 interested listener. Then excusing
 
 232 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 himself for a few minutes he went up 
 to his private room and presently re 
 turned with a bundle of newspapers. 
 Suspecting from the doctor's manner 
 they contained a reference to the 
 wreck and possibly to himself, Paul 
 eagerly took the proffered package 
 and in a very short time had lighted 
 upon a graphic story of "The Loss 
 of the Koturah" as described to a 
 representative of the Melbourne Argus 
 by Tom Carey, who, it will be re 
 membered, swam through the surf to 
 shore after leaping from the boat sent 
 out in charge of Mr. Riley, the second 
 officer. 
 
 Carey spoke of his efforts to obtain 
 relief on the desolate coast and his 
 long tramp to the nearest settlement, 
 where he succeeded in inducing half a 
 dozen men to return with him to the 
 beach, where they were utterly power 
 less to render aid. He told of their 
 finding a half-drowned wretch who 
 had escaped from the first officer's 
 boat when the blind roller tossed the 
 crew into the treacherous surf and 
 who was the only man that managed 
 to get ashore alive. Their long vigil
 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS 233 
 
 on the beach while momentarily ex 
 pecting the vessel to go to pieces was 
 thrillingly portrayed; also the starting 
 of the bonfires and of the flashlights 
 thrown upon the survivors on the 
 wreck. 
 
 It was almost 3 o'clock in the morn 
 ing, he judged, when the Koturah 
 made her last plunge and slipped 
 backward from the reef under the 
 turbulent waves, which at daylight 
 covered every vestige of the wreck 
 except one of the topmost spars. 
 Although they patrolled the shore 
 constantly, keeping a sharp lookout 
 for possible survivors, no one managed 
 to struggle through alive, and it was 
 not until the day following that the 
 bruised and swollen bodies of the 
 victims were washed ashore. 
 
 In another column Paul read with a 
 feeling of deep thankfulness that the 
 second officer, with his crew, had 
 pulled .out to sea in safety, and was 
 picked up by the vessel whose futile 
 efforts to reach the wreck had de 
 stroyed the hopes of those left on 
 board the Koturah. The captain's 
 body was recovered, that of the sec-
 
 234 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 ond engineer, the old minister, Paul's 
 little golden-haired charge and a num 
 ber of others whose descriptions he 
 recognized, including that of his poor 
 chum, Davy. All had been removed 
 to the settlement, twenty miles inland, 
 and given decent burial. Out of a 
 total of nearly two hundred passengers 
 and crew, Carey and the survivor 
 from the first officer's boat, together 
 with Riley and his crew, were all that 
 escaped nine out of two hundred. 
 
 Paul let the papers drop to the floor 
 and buried his face between his hands, 
 too overcome to read further. Mean 
 time the doctor sat stolidly puffing 
 at his briarwood, but never taking his 
 eyes off his young friend, whose con 
 nection with the wreck he had shrewdly 
 suspected long before Paul gave him 
 his confidence. Dr. Tolman had de 
 veloped a great liking for the lad, 
 whom he had snatched from the very 
 jaws of death, and since his discovery 
 of the shocking experience through 
 which his protege had passed this 
 feeling was greatly intensified. 
 
 Waiting until Paul's fit of weeping 
 had worn itself out, the doctor broke
 
 IN GOOD SAMARITANS' HANDS 235 
 
 the rather painful silence by exclaim 
 ing: "Come, come, my boy, you 
 must chirk up a bit or I shall have 
 all my work to do over again. We 
 know there was yet another saved, 
 and now I want you to read what your 
 friend, Captain Wilson, says, whom 
 your absence has so greatly mystified. "
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS. 
 
 RAISING his head quickly the lad 
 gazed with swollen eyes at the doctor, 
 who held in his hand a folded paper 
 which Paul had not noticed before. 
 
 ' ' Good gracious, " he exclaimed, 
 "what a contemptible fellow he must 
 think I am to disappear so suddenly 
 and leave no trace when I had prom 
 ised faithfully to meet him at the 
 steamship office. And after his great 
 kindness to me, too." 
 
 "Now, don't worry about that," 
 interrupted the doctor. "I'll write to 
 him in care of his agents and explain 
 matters that will completely reinstate 
 you in his estimation. He knew you 
 were ill, and, like a sensible man, he 
 probably guessed the truth, or par 
 tially so, at least. Of course, no one 
 would think of looking for you in an 
 insane asylum. But take this and 
 read what he says." 
 236
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 237 
 
 The sheet was folded so that the 
 1 ' scare " lines heading the story caught 
 Paul's eyes directly. The marine re 
 porter evidently felt he had a choice 
 morsel, and reveled in the recounting. 
 It ran as follows: 
 
 ' ' Captain Wilson of the Southern 
 Cross, just in from New Zealand 
 ports with a cargo of sundries, is re 
 sponsible for a queer yarn which 
 might be open to some doubt were it 
 not fully corroborated by the officers 
 and crew of his vessel. He states ' 
 that a week ago last Saturday, very 
 early in the morning, while standing 
 direct for the Bluff, the lookout re 
 ported a man overboard on the star 
 board bow flying a signal of distress. 
 A boat was lowered and the unfortu 
 nate fellow brought on board in an 
 unconscious condition. He was a 
 youth probably not much over seven 
 teen, about five feet seven inches in 
 height, well built, with dark hair and 
 regular features. He was afloat on a 
 seaman's chest, which, being water 
 tight, had sustained his weight and 
 saved his life. The lad was delirious 
 for over a week and so exhausted
 
 238 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 when he became conscious that no one 
 attempted to question him. During 
 his ravings the captain gathered that 
 the boy had been in a big wreck, 
 from which few had escaped. When 
 the youth was able to talk rationally 
 he told of the loss of the Koturah 
 and of his forced exit from the vessel 
 just before she made her last plunge. 
 He was reticent about giving partic 
 ulars, and in fact his physical condi 
 tion was such that it would have been 
 cruel to compel him to talk. He 
 promised, however, to go with Captain 
 Wilson to the steamship office at 
 Melbourne and give a detailed account 
 of the wreck as soon as he was able. 
 "And now comes the queerest part 
 of the story. Captain Wilson declares 
 he brought the rescued lad whose 
 name, by the way, he gave as Paul 
 Fraser up from Sandridge to Mel 
 bourne. At Flinders street they sep 
 arated, as Paul wished to make a few 
 necessary purchases, but it was with 
 the understanding that he was to meet 
 the captain in an hour at the office of 
 the agents of the Koturah. There 
 Captain Wilson waited the better part
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 239 
 
 of the day, but the boy failed to ap 
 pear, and since then no trace of him 
 has been discovered. As he was still 
 very weak, it is feared that he may 
 have had a fresh attack of fever, and 
 in his delirious wanderings, perhaps, 
 fell into the Yarra and was drowned." 
 
 This ended the captain's statement, 
 but the Argus, commenting upon it, 
 added : 
 
 "The missing lad is undoubtedly 
 one of the crew of the ill-fated Ko- 
 turah, and, what renders Captain Wil 
 son's story doubly interesting, he is 
 certainly the only survivor of those 
 poor unfortunates who remained cling 
 ing to the rigging until the ship went 
 down. It is highly important the 
 youth should be found, not only on 
 account of the additional facts he can 
 give, which would be eagerly read by 
 the relatives of the deceased passen 
 gers, as well as the general public, 
 but also because he would prove a 
 valuable witness before the court of 
 inquiry now in session." 
 
 In another column of the same paper 
 Paul found this notice: 
 
 "A reward of 20 is offered by the
 
 240 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 proprietors of the Argus to the sur 
 vivor of the Koturah who arrived at 
 this port with Captain Wilson, on con 
 dition that he make a full and complete 
 statement of the loss of the vessel, to 
 be printed exclusively in this journal. 
 He is also earnestly requested to com 
 municate with E. O. Barrett, Ballarat, 
 Victoria, brother of the deceased cap 
 tain." 
 
 With a strange thrill at his heart 
 Paul turned to the date line on the 
 first page of the newspaper. It was 
 six weeks old. 
 
 The doctor interpreted this action 
 aright. "Yes, you are too late now, 
 Paul," he quietly observed. "The 
 court of inquiry has long since ad 
 journed, and I expect Captain Wilson 
 is cruising again in New Zealand 
 waters by this time." 
 
 "But what were the findings of the 
 court ?" eagerly inquired the lad. ' ' Was 
 the captain binned?" 
 
 "Only partially. The board, after 
 hearing all the evidence, censured the 
 second mate, who was in charge of 
 the deck when the vessel struck, for 
 neglecting to act promptly himself
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 241 
 
 when the lookout reported hearing the 
 breakers. It decided that Captain Bar 
 rett erred in trying to effect a landing 
 on the coast instead of putting out to 
 sea in the small boats while the oppor 
 tunity existed. But, owing to his pre 
 vious good record, no harsh criticism 
 was passed on his action, and the 
 board contented itself with simply 
 charging him with the error of judg 
 ment. It recommended, however, that 
 a lighthouse be built on the hidden 
 reef, which for years has menaced the 
 shipping, and I believe the authorities 
 have already made the preliminary 
 surveys for that purpose." 
 
 ' ' And how long is it since the board 
 adjourned?" 
 
 "A little over a month. Several 
 detectives were sent out to seek you, 
 but they found no clew. You see, 
 Captain Wilson got a cargo for Hobart 
 Town within a week, and nothing was 
 ever said about the mistake in your 
 name. The Argus printed it ' Eraser, ' 
 as you noticed. Perhaps Wilson for 
 got your right name, or maybe it was 
 a typographical error more likely the 
 former, since no correction was made. 
 
 16
 
 242 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 When I first read the story I sus 
 pected you right away, but a lot of 
 good you would have done before a 
 court of inquiry with your temperature 
 at 104, a pulse anywhere from 140 to 
 1 80, and a brain that was rambling of 
 Jimmy - hit - somebody - a - whack, eye 
 waters, dog watches, circus actors, ship 
 wrecks, and I don't know what all be 
 sides, for two weeks at a stretch. I 
 didn't want any court officials pottering 
 around my patients, so I kept still and 
 nobody is the wiser." 
 
 "It was just like you, doctor, and 
 I'm awfully glad that I didn't have to 
 testify. The captain's dead and gone, 
 and the findings of the court of in 
 quiry are pretty nearly correct any 
 way. But I mean to write to the 
 owners and tell them how nobly the 
 captain stuck to the vessel, and I'll 
 drop a line to his brother at Ballarat. 
 By the way, doctor, I suppose a let 
 ter to Captain Wilson in care of his 
 agents here will reach him, won't it?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, surely, and I'll enclose 
 one with yours, as I agreed, explain 
 ing your illness and consequent ina 
 bility to keep your promise."
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 243 
 
 But the letters were not written for 
 several days. With the pride which 
 every Victorian takes in the magnifi 
 cent capital of the colony, Dr. Tolman 
 was eager to show Paul the beauties 
 of Melbourne. He bore him off to 
 the pretty suburbs of Sorrento, 
 Brighton Beach and St. Kilda; walked 
 him through the botanical and zoolog 
 ical gardens, showed him the hand 
 some parliament buildings, the stately 
 postoffice, town hall, and law courts, 
 and then whirled him away to Wil- 
 liamstown to see the shipping. In 
 short, he pointed out every feature that 
 he thought would prove interesting to 
 the young American, whom he treated 
 as his honored guest. 
 
 It was at Williamstown that Dr. 
 Tolman ran across an old friend who 
 was the master and owner of a small 
 schooner engaged in the island trade. 
 Captain Viti was a half-breed Fijian, 
 whose father, an Englishman, had in 
 early times been attached to the Brit 
 ish embassy at Levuka. In a joking 
 way the skipper invited the doctor 
 and his young friend to take a 
 trip with him to Levuka and back.
 
 244 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 Of course Dr. Tolman laughingly de 
 clined, but while returning to the 
 asylum he suggested to Paul that a 
 voyage of that nature was just the 
 thing needed to complete a perfect 
 cure and he urged him to accept 
 Captain Viti's offer. 
 
 The thought of a visit to Fiji was 
 not at all distasteful to Paul just then. 
 Perhaps a notion of seeing the young 
 English miss flitted across his brain, 
 but if so he never confessed to it. 
 The more they discussed the voyage 
 the better he liked the idea, and next 
 day they made a second call on the 
 hospitable half-breed, which ended in 
 Paul's accepting the invitation without 
 reservation. 
 
 As the Polynesia was to sail in two 
 days the jaunts of the doctor and his 
 protege were abruptly concluded, for 
 the latter had to attend to his de 
 ferred correspondence besides laying 
 in a supply of light clothing for the 
 trip. These necessary articles the 
 doctor insisted on furnishing himself. 
 Paul still had the little purse raised 
 by the crew of the Southern Cross, 
 but he knew his friend would be
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 245 
 
 vexed if he declined the offer, so he 
 wisely kept still and was really grate 
 ful for the generous outfit which the 
 doctor's kindness provided. 
 
 "Now, Paul, remember," said the 
 good surgeon, as they stood on the 
 deck at Williamstown just before the 
 Polynesia cast off her mooring ropes, 
 "if you don't get back to Melbourne 
 write me whenever you feel like it, 
 for I shall always be glad to hear 
 from you. Some day, perhaps, I may 
 get to your city of Chicago over there 
 in America; but, pshaw! when you 
 are editor of that big newspaper you 
 will have forgotten all about your 
 Australian friends." 
 
 "No, doctor, never, never," pro 
 tested the lad; and then there was a 
 last squeeze of the hand, and a last 
 reiterated "good-bye" as the skipper 
 called "all aboard! "and Paul had parted 
 from another of the many good 
 friends made on that eventful trip. 
 
 Captain Viti was an intelligent, good- 
 natured half-breed, who proved a de 
 lightful companion on that almost 
 idyllic voyage to Fiji. Full of inter 
 esting legends of the islands inhabited
 
 246 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 by his mother's people, he was a 
 most entertaining talker. Hour after 
 hour he swung idly in his hammock, 
 adjoining Paul's, pouring tales of early 
 missionary days into the youngster's 
 ears that fairly made the lad's hair curl. 
 Having lived almost entirely among the 
 British residents at Levuka and Suva he 
 spoke excellent English, so there were 
 no drawbacks to the thrilling stories 
 he recited. Under an awning stretched 
 above their hammocks on the after- 
 deck the two passed most of their 
 time, for the weather was perfect and 
 the navigation of the schooner de 
 manded but little attention from its 
 captain. 
 
 A hat of native straw presented to 
 him by Viti, a high-cut jacket of 
 pongee silk, a pair of loose pajamas 
 of the same material, and light yellow 
 shoes were the chief features of Paul's 
 airy costume at this period, a style of 
 dress that was in perfect harmony 
 with the tropical climate into which 
 they were sailing. When Viti's stories 
 flagged Paul drew on the stock of 
 books given him by the doctor, and 
 in his turn contributed to the enter-
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 247 
 
 tainment by reading aloud until both 
 fell asleep in their hammocks. It was 
 the quintessence of laziness, this life 
 they led, so that by the time Levuka 
 was reached Paul's figure had regained 
 its wonted robustness, and the lad 
 was every whit as strong as before 
 his illness. 
 
 There was one disappointment in 
 store for him. Viti had explained to 
 his guest that the English embassy 
 was no longer quartered at Levuka, 
 but at Suva, on a neighboring island, 
 whither the seat of government had 
 been transferred by Sir Arthur Gor 
 don some time previous. The major 
 portion of the Polynesia's cargo was 
 intended for Levuka, where Viti 
 owned a coffee plantation, an inheri 
 tance from his father. At this port he 
 expected to make only a short stay, as 
 he was anxious to get back to Sydney 
 with a load of coffee beans which he 
 hoped to sell at the prevailing high 
 prices. He thought he would remain 
 a week on shore at his plantation, 
 and on the return trip he planned to 
 touch at Suva, where he told Paul he
 
 248 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 . 
 
 might possibly have a chance to pay 
 his respects to the little English miss. 
 
 Entering the reef-bound harbor of 
 Levuka late in the afternoon, the 
 schooner dropped her anchor close to 
 shore and within a cable's length of a 
 fringe of palms, between the openings 
 of which Paul caught a glimpse of 
 the brown roofs of the native huts, 
 nestling cozily on the sides of the 
 wooded hills which formed a bold 
 background to the settlement. It was 
 too late to go ashore that night, but 
 everybody was astir early next morn 
 ing, and after spending the forenoon 
 in giving instructions to his agents 
 regarding the disposition of his cargo, 
 Viti was ready to start for the in 
 terior. 
 
 The road to the plantation passed 
 through a wonderfully fertile valley in 
 a high state of cultivation, where 
 cocoanuts, bananas and guava fruit 
 were as plentiful as the palm trees, 
 which everywhere luxuriated. Birds 
 of gayest plumage flitted overhead 
 and eyed the travelers curiously as 
 they jogged along on a native buck-
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 249 
 
 board which Viti had borrowed from 
 an acquaintance in the village. 
 
 Everything was deliciously novel and 
 attractive to the young American, 
 whose exclamations of delight were 
 the source of much quiet amusement 
 to his companion. During the whole 
 of his stay on the plantation Paul 
 was in a chronic state of mental 
 exhilaration. Every day Viti had 
 something new and startling to show 
 the lad, who never tired of the long 
 tramps and excursions planned by 
 the energetic captain, in whose frame 
 the spirit of his English sire largely 
 prevailed. 
 
 But all good things have an end 
 ing, and so the order to return to the 
 coast came one morning, as Paul 
 knew it inevitably must. As souvenirs 
 of his visit he carried off two big 
 war clubs, several shell necklaces, two 
 or three native idols and fetiches and 
 a few other trinkets of like character, 
 which had been pressed on him by 
 the good-natured natives living on 
 Viti's plantation. Loaded with his 
 trophies, he stepped on board the 
 trim little Polynesia with a happy
 
 25<J PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 heart, and after stowing away his 
 plunder spent a pleasant evening 
 ashore with an English missionary, 
 who had sent a special invitation to 
 come and drink tea at his cottage. 
 
 Next day the schooner was ready 
 to sail away with her coffee and 
 spices, and as the stalwart natives 
 stood by with laughing eyes and 
 glistening teeth to wish them a pleas 
 ant and prosperous voyage Paul 
 could not help wondering if these jolly- 
 looking islanders ever did have an 
 undue fondness for white man broiled. 
 He preferred to think the cannibalistic 
 stories were all myths. 
 
 At Suva, to his intense chagrin, he 
 learned that Miss Edith and her 
 mamma were away in the interior on 
 a visit, which fact materially detracted 
 from the enjoyment he had expected 
 to derive during the few hours spent 
 on shore. But he soon forgot his dis 
 appointment when back on the Poly 
 nesia, for the weather continued per 
 fect, and under that blue sky it was 
 impossible to remain long in the 
 dumps. 
 
 The run back to Sydney was accom-
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 251 
 
 plished all too quickly, and when, for 
 the second time, Paul saw on either 
 side the stately heights of Port Jack 
 son Heads he almost regretted that 
 the voyage could not have been in 
 definitely prolonged. 
 
 By the urgent request of Captain Viti 
 he continued to make the Polynesia 
 his headquarters while she remained in 
 the harbor. Resisting the importuni 
 ties of the hospitable half-breed to 
 take a run over to Hobart Town, he 
 waited until the schooner had dis 
 charged her cargo and" was ready to 
 drop down the bay. Then taking a 
 final farewell of her worthy owner, he 
 stacked his belongings in a cab down 
 on the circular quay and, with the 
 audacity of a youngster having ^"5 in 
 his pocket, ordered the driver to take 
 him up to the Royal Hotel, on George 
 street. 
 
 Contrary to his expectations he found 
 no mail awaiting him this time at the 
 postoffice. The omission caused him 
 to remember that he had directed his 
 people to write in care of his uncle at 
 Adelaide, South Australia, a visit to 
 whom Paul had planned when in New
 
 252 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 Zealand, some time before he quitted 
 the circus. One of his first acts after 
 arriving in Sydney was to mail a long 
 letter to Mr. Wilder, which he had 
 written on board the Polynesia. 
 
 In this letter Paul described the 
 voyage to Levuka, his experiences 
 while on the island, and the visit to 
 Suva, the headquarters of the British 
 embassy. He told his story in a 
 chatty, colloquial style, enlivening the 
 pages with spirited sketches of native 
 characters, and ending with a vivid 
 description of war dance he had wit 
 nessed on Viti's plantation, which the 
 Fijians had given solely for his enter 
 tainment. After reading the letter 
 over very carefully the lad was mod 
 erately certain that what he had writ 
 ten deserved to be designated "good 
 stuff, " in newspaper parlance, and that 
 it would find favor in Mr. Wilder's 
 eyes he fervently prayed. 
 
 That was not the only article he 
 sent, either, for a week or two later 
 he met with some rather trying per 
 sonal experiences which he rightly 
 concluded would prove excellent ma 
 terial for an amusing Sunday story in
 
 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 253 
 
 the Mercury. And they did, too, but 
 it was many months before Paul was 
 to ascertain that fact. 
 
 Living on the fat of the land at a 
 high-priced hotel was not the wisest 
 policy for an impecunious stranger in 
 a foreign land to pursue. A week's 
 diversion brought him up with a sharp 
 turn, but before that occurred he had 
 managed to make a number of excur 
 sions to points of interest contiguous 
 to Sydney. A trip to the Heads in 
 the steamer Ly-ee-Moon was among 
 his pleasantest memories. Following 
 that his fancy led him up the Parra- 
 matta river to Pye's Grove, along a 
 stretch of water famous as the racing 
 course of all the great Australian oar 
 contests. One day his erratic steps 
 directed him to Botany Bay, once the 
 dumping ground for Britain's convicts, 
 but now a popular resort for the 
 colonials, who, on week days and 
 Sundays, enjoy open-air concerts and 
 light refreshments within a stone's 
 throw of the spot where Capt. Cook 
 landed that eventful day in April, 
 1770, as is faithfully recorded on a 
 brass tablet there affixed.
 
 254 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 In the lovely botanical gardens the 
 lad spent many enjoyable hours. The 
 magnificent specimens of flora and the 
 still rarer collection of fauna indigenous 
 to Australasia possessed powerful at 
 tractions for him, so that he never 
 tired of the green parks, beautiful 
 shade trees, glorious flowers, and in 
 teresting zoological display, which com 
 bined charms prove equally alluring to 
 thousands of colonials who, on Sundays 
 particularly, roam at will through the 
 grounds.
 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES. 
 
 ON one of these rambling days of 
 ease, Paul paid a visit to the govern 
 ment dry dock at Cockatoo Island in 
 the lower bay. Accompanied by a 
 young middy, whose acquaintance he 
 had formed, the lad pulled over to 
 the island, where the vised bit of paper 
 presented by his companion proved an 
 open sesame to the entire place. 
 
 About the first object of interest to 
 hold his attention was the hull of the 
 old Alert of arctic fame, lying high 
 and dry on the stocks, undergoing 
 repairs, preparatory to entering the 
 coast survey service. A queer sensa 
 tion crept over the boy as he gazed 
 on this historical craft, for it recalled 
 an episode of his school days that he 
 had almost forgotten. 
 
 It was the same Alert which the 
 British government afterward tendered 
 the United States for use in the 
 255
 
 256 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 Greeley relief expedition under Com 
 modore Schley, and whose, stout 
 wooden ribs had been subjected to 
 many a nip in the icepack in the Sir 
 George Nares arctic expedition in 1875. 
 There was the least tinge of excite 
 ment in the lad's voice as he pointed 
 toward her and remarked: "I was 
 once crazy to go up in the regions 
 that made her famous. I reckon my 
 tfones might have been picked clean 
 by a polar bear long ago if it hadn't 
 been for the unfortunate captain of 
 the Jeannette." 
 
 "How was that?" demanded the 
 middy. 
 
 "Well, it's a silly story, I sup 
 pose," laughed Paul, "but I was 
 fairly wild to join Captain De Long's 
 expedition to the north pole, and un 
 known to my people wrote several 
 times to the commander begging him 
 to give me a berth in the Jeannette. 
 The first three letters I sent brought 
 no replies, but the fourth fetched 
 him, and also effectually dwarfed my 
 ambition for arctic voyaging. Of 
 course there was no good reason why 
 I should encumber the expedition, and
 
 RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES 257 
 
 that is the way Captain De Long 
 viewed the matter. I remember very 
 distinctly every word in that short, 
 terse letter he sent me. It was dated 
 New York, April i, 1879, and his 
 address, I recollect, was 150 West 
 nth street. Here is what it said: 
 
 PAUL TRAVERS, ESQ. Sir: Your various 
 letters have been received. In reply I would 
 state that I have room in the Jeannette for 
 nobody but her officers and crew. These 
 must be seamen or people with some claim to 
 scientific usefulness and unless you can be 
 classed with either party I cannot possibly 
 take you. 
 
 "Was that all?" 
 
 ' ' No, it was signed, ' Very respect 
 fully, George W. De Long, lieutenant, 
 commanding arctic steamer Jeannette. 
 
 Paul's friend whistled reflectively. 
 "Pretty chilly note, that," he said. 
 "Colder than Siberia itself, I should 
 say. I suppose you have never 
 bragged much of your correspondence, 
 have you?" 
 
 ' ' No-o, not for a good while, " ad 
 mitted the lad, ruefully. "But I 
 kept the letter, though, and when 
 news came to America of the awful 
 17
 
 258 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 disaster that overtook the Jeannette 
 and her brave commander I hunted 
 it up, and without saying a word 
 gave it to my father to read. Of 
 course the whole story had to be told 
 them, and there was great rejoicing 
 among the women folks over what 
 they called my fortunate escape." 
 
 " Never thought much of those north 
 pole fanatics," exclaimed the ingenuous 
 young sailor. "My dad's a second 
 cousin or something of Sir John 
 Franklin, and he's always praising the 
 old chap up to the skies, but between 
 you and me I think Sir John was a 
 chump. It's only another form of 
 lunacy, this north pole pioneering. 
 What's to be gained if a fellow does 
 discover an open polar sea? 'Twon't 
 do commerce any good, will it? Or 
 open up any new summer resorts and 
 things like that? Bah! I've no use 
 for your would-be arctic explorers, 
 who are always fitting out expeditions 
 and then hanging on by their eye 
 brows up yonder in the frozen regions 
 waiting for a rescuing party to come 
 along and carry home their remains." 
 After which forcible but frank expres-
 
 RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES 259 
 
 sion of opinion the energetic middy 
 let his hand fall with a resounding 
 thwack on Paul's back, which brought 
 that idle dreamer up "all standing." 
 
 Two days after this experience the 
 landlord of the Royal Hotel sent Paul 
 a polite but peremptory note and a 
 bill, the size of which staggered the 
 young American. To pay it would 
 take nearly every penny he had, but, 
 as the demand was imperative, to 
 settle it and get away was the only 
 honorable course. 
 
 That night he rented a cot bed at 
 a cheap hotel in a most unfashionable 
 quarter of the town, and next morning 
 started out in earnest to "rustle for a 
 grub stake, " as he eloquently expressed 
 it. True to his philosophy, he had 
 played the elegant gentleman to a 
 finish as long as his money lasted, 
 and was now ready to try the other 
 tack for a while. 
 
 It wasn't pleasant, though, to find 
 himself with empty pockets again, and 
 the first day Paul almost repented 
 the prodigality of the preceding fort 
 night. But the sale of a pair of cuff 
 buttons and several other trinkets fur-
 
 260 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 nished him enough funds to keep the 
 wolf off for two or three days, during 
 which time he assiduously canvassed 
 the town for work. Rebuffed every 
 where, he was on his- way down Pitt 
 street the third morning when the 
 sight of the Sydney Herald building 
 suggested that he apply inside for a 
 position. 
 
 Inquiring for the managing director, 
 Paul expressed his desire for employ 
 ment on the paper. For a few mo 
 ments the lad feared the great news 
 paper man would have an apoplectic 
 fit when he finally grasped the sense 
 of this modest request. But the mag 
 nate rallied and in a pompous tone 
 informed the presumptuous youth that 
 the management of the Herald usually 
 selected its staff when it needed re- 
 enforcement and that it never opened 
 its doors to impecunious strangers. 
 He looked so shocked when he made 
 this announcement that Paul was sure 
 he had grieved the editor, and he 
 humbly apologized for the intrusion. 
 As he backed out he politely asked 
 if he might see the advertisements in 
 the morning paper. The great man
 
 RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES 261 
 
 shot a withering glance over his glasses 
 and curtly observed that the adver 
 tisements could be found posted on 
 the bulletin board down stairs. 
 
 Paul crawled out feeling very cheap 
 and insignificant and approached the 
 blackboard, before which stood a num 
 ber of fellows, who, like himself, were 
 trying to get track of work. He edged 
 in and scanned the list of ' ' wants " 
 carefully, but it didn't seem to be a 
 good morning for likely situations. 
 There were several appeals for market 
 gardeners, a healthy demand for ex 
 perienced coachmen, one or two re 
 quests for London-bred footmen of 
 fine appearance, and a solitary invita 
 tion for a "pious young Protestant 
 to make himself useful in a Christian 
 family" where two other servants were 
 kept. But none of these seemed to 
 be full of promise. The only one that 
 offered any encouraging prospect read 
 as follows: 
 
 WANTED A YOUNG MAN OF PLEASING 
 address and some business tact to solicit orders 
 for a new ink. Call at 97 Lower George street, 
 before n o'clock. 
 
 "Pleasing address," reflected Paul.
 
 262 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 "Well, I have no business to hail 
 from Chicago if I can't count that as 
 one of my accomplishments. Don't 
 know about the business tact; guess 
 I'll have to risk that." 
 
 It lacked a few minutes of u, but 
 Lower George street was not far away, 
 so Paul quickly repaired to the given 
 number. He found the ink manu 
 facturer at work in a dirty back room, 
 whence issued a most villainous smell. 
 As the lad entered the man wiped his 
 deeply stained fingers on a streaked 
 apron and with a pronounced cockney 
 accent asked what was wanted. 
 
 "I have called in answer to your 
 advertisement in the Herald for a 
 young man to solicit orders for ink." 
 
 "Ow! I si; you never sowld hink 
 before, naow, 'ave you?" 
 
 "No, sir; but I've used lots of it, 
 and can tell a good brand when I 
 see it." 
 
 "Think of that, naow! Well, 'ow 
 d'ye laike this?" And he shoved a 
 big can of vile-smelling liquid under 
 the nose of his visitor. 
 
 With rare presence of mind Paul 
 forced a smile and assured the pro-
 
 RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES 263 
 
 prietor it seemed to be the right stuff, 
 and hoped it was the ink he wanted 
 sold. This subtle flattery had its 
 effect and after some further parley 
 Paul was taken on trial, a liberal com 
 mission being promised on all sales he 
 should make. His pockets were then 
 filled with tiny sample bottles of the 
 ''Cologne Kaiser-Tinte Fluid," in ad 
 dition to which homeopathic doses he 
 was given a bundle of printed circulars 
 exploiting the commercial value of the 
 famous Kaiser-Tinte. The English 
 man next directed his new solicitor to 
 first visit all the colleges and private 
 schools in the city, where sample bot 
 tles and circulars were to be left and 
 orders taken whenever possible. 
 
 Just before receiving his final in 
 structions Paul suggested that an ad 
 vance of two shillings on his possible 
 commissions would be very acceptable, 
 owing to the state of his finances. 
 The cockney demurred and at first 
 refused point blank, but on Paul's 
 assurance that he would put in a hard 
 day's work the grimy manufacturer 
 relented and compromised on a shil 
 ling. He then followed the lad to the
 
 264 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 door and urged him to devote all his 
 energy to pushing the Kaiser-Tinte. 
 
 Paul wore the light suit of clothes 
 which Captain Wilson had bought for 
 him in Melbourne. He felt a little 
 nervous, as he walked gingerly along 
 George street, for fear of breaking the 
 sample bottles, which bulged out of 
 his pockets and flapped against his 
 hips with each step he took. The 
 day was warm and the exercise 
 unusual, so that by the time he had 
 called at a dozen schools and colleges 
 without obtaining an order his temper 
 was the least bit ruffled. The colonial 
 Australian is very like his English 
 first-cousin not particularly affable 
 toward strangers and inclined to 
 haughtiness and arrogance in the 
 treatment of his social inferiors. 
 
 Paul's feelings were severely lacer 
 ated on more than one occasion that 
 day, and it was really quite pathetic 
 to see him meekly retire when a 
 supercilious preceptor sharply requested 
 him to "go away with the nawsty 
 stuff and don't bother." 
 
 But the young solicitor followed the 
 instructions of his principal faithfully,
 
 RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES 265 
 
 and, although unsuccessful, he called 
 on all the saints in Sydney in regular 
 rotation. St. Andrew's, St. James', 
 St. Leonard's, St. Luke's, St. Mark's, 
 St. Michael's and St. Phillip's all 
 flouted him and would have none of 
 his wares. Paul was in despair; he 
 concluded that he lacked the requisite 
 "business tact" announced in the 
 advertisement, for not a single order 
 could he secure. Totally discouraged, 
 he finally introduced himself to the 
 "head master" of a college on Cas- 
 tlereagh street and, placing two or 
 three sample bottles on his desk, 
 politely handed him a circular. 
 
 The pedagogue eyed Paul suspi 
 ciously, and picking up a ruler made a 
 lunge at the lad's knuckles, fortunately 
 missing his mark. 
 
 "I pelief you vas a sneak tief!" he 
 exclaimed. "I vos pin loogin' for 
 you! Uf you dond ged righd oud I 
 gif yu in sharge uf der boliss. Here, 
 Zollomon, pud dis fellow oud!" 
 
 Solomon approached. He was evi 
 dently the servitor of the institution; 
 a dull, heavy-eyed man, with big 
 hands and large, clumsy feet. He
 
 266 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 dropped an immense paw on Paul's 
 shoulder, gave him a rough push, 
 which was feebly resented, and trotted 
 his prisoner across the graveled campus 
 toward the outer gates. The lad was 
 so angry he could have killed his 
 captor with exquisite satisfaction to 
 himself, but he was as helpless as a 
 child in the grasp of such a Cerberus. 
 As they neared the gate a scheme 
 for revenge darted through Paul's 
 brain, which ne put into execution 
 the minute he was released. Just as 
 Solomon gave him a final farewell 
 push the lad drew the cork from one 
 of his sample bottles, and let his tor 
 mentor have a dose of "Kaiser-Tinte" 
 full in the face. Then he sprinted up 
 Castlereagh street as hard as he could 
 run, with the big servitor behind 
 shouting "Stop tief" at the top of his 
 lungs. 
 
 But Solomon was not built for rapid 
 transit and he was soon distanced. 
 Slackening his speed now that he was 
 safe from pursuit, Paul was about to 
 turn off on Pitt street when his foot 
 tripped on the uneven curbing and he 
 fell heavily on the stone pavement.
 
 PEDDLING "KAISER TINTED 
 IN SYDNEY.
 
 RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES 267 
 
 Luckily, no bones were broken, but, 
 alas! about all of his sample bottles 
 were, and as the dispirited ink solic 
 itor picked himself up he felt several 
 independent streams chasing down the 
 inside of his trousers, while numerous 
 dark stains on the outside told 'the 
 harrowing truth. 
 
 His light suit of clothes was streaked 
 with dark-blue stripes, his body was 
 badly bruised, and his spirits were so 
 depressed that for a few seconds after 
 he pulled himself together it was a 
 toss-up whether he wouldn't boo-hoo 
 right out in the public street. But by 
 swallowing hard he kept the tears 
 back, and, looking like an animated 
 war map, sought the ink manufacturer 
 and resigned his commission. Then 
 came the crowning injury. The man 
 not only demanded a return of the 
 shilling he had advanced, but had the 
 temerity to want pay for the broken 
 sample bottles, and threatened to 
 hand the lad over to the police if he 
 didn't produce the money instantly. 
 
 As Paul had spent the shilling for 
 dinner this was an impossibility. "I 
 haven't a cent to my name," he
 
 268 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 exclaimed with some heat, "and if I 
 had you'd have to take it out of my 
 hide before I'd pay a nickel. The 
 bottles were broken accidentally and 
 the shilling I have earned ten times 
 over." 
 
 "Don't give me h'any of your sauce, 
 boy," retorted the cockney. "You're 
 a sharper like h'all h'other h'Ameri- 
 cans. Get h'out of 'ere!" And seiz 
 ing the lad by the shoulders he 
 roughly pushed him through the door 
 way into the corridor, whence Paul 
 found the street. 
 
 A bath in the Parramatta river re 
 moved most of the ink stains, but no 
 amount of soaking would take the 
 streaks out of his clothes. He was a 
 marked youth. 
 
 Hungry and disheartened, Paul re 
 turned to his lodgings, only to find 
 that one of the occupants of the com 
 mon room had walked off with his 
 valise. This was the climax. He 
 hadn't a penny to pay for the cot 
 privilege over night, nor any courage 
 left to ask for credit. As he hurried 
 out in the gathering gloom of the 
 streets, after a long but vain search
 
 RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES 269 
 
 for the lost satchel, a few salty tears 
 welled up, and, though he brushed 
 them hastily off, a fresh supply in 
 sistently appeared. Dark days had 
 fallen on the young traveler. 
 
 His bunk that night was on the soft 
 side of a bench in Cook park, on his 
 favorite seat under the statue of the 
 great circumnavigator. At 4 o'clock 
 the next morning he was astir to avoid 
 the appearance of the park police, 
 who had an unpleasant habit of run 
 ning in all vagrants caught napping 
 at that hour. Rinsing his face and 
 hands in the artificial lake, Paul util 
 ized his one lone handkerchief as a 
 towel and then strolled back to his 
 seat to wait for sunrise. While dis 
 consolately kicking the gravel and 
 wondering by what possible means he 
 could obtain breakfast a young fellow 
 with a week's old beard, who lounged 
 on an adjoining bench, accosted him. 
 
 "Hello, son; you don't look happy 
 this morning!" 
 
 "Not very," returned Paul, who 
 recognized one of his own country 
 men by the speaker's accent. ' ' I'm 
 broke."
 
 270 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 "Is that all?" was the half scornful 
 rejoinder. "Why, I've been broke 
 many a time; that's what proves a 
 man. It's no trick to get along when 
 you have money in your pockets; any 
 fool can spend money." 
 
 "Yes; I've discovered that. But it 
 isn't a bad thing to have when a fel 
 low's hungry. Where are you from?" 
 
 "'Frisco, last. Folks live up in 
 Michigan place called Grand Rapids; 
 mebbe you've heard of it." 
 
 "Oh, yes; that's where they make 
 furniture, isn't it?" 
 
 "You bet! Any amount of it. Used 
 to work in a chair factory myself, but 
 I hated the steady grind and took to 
 the road; been driftin' around for 
 three years, and am mighty tired of 
 it, too." 
 
 "Then why not go back?" 
 
 "I mean to, soon 's I make a stake; 
 hate to go there without a sou after 
 knockin' about for three years. Where 
 do you call home?" 
 
 "Chicago!" 
 
 "Windy City, eh? That's a burg 
 I'm stuck on. If I ever get back to 
 the states, you'll see me headed for
 
 RUSTLING IN THE COLONIES 271 
 
 that town, sure. It's a Jim Dandy 
 place for a young fellow, 'cordin' to 
 my notion. But say, let's mosey along 
 and get some breakfast. I've got just 
 a shillin' left and we'll blow it in for 
 two square meals. Come on, Chicago." 
 
 Paul's new companion answered to 
 the name of Jim. He was a cheery 
 sort of a fatalist, with a droll manner 
 of speech that was not without its 
 charms. Among other of his many 
 accomplishments he could imitate bird 
 calls very cleverly by means of a little 
 tin contrivance dubbed a bird whistle, 
 which is placed on the tip of the tongue 
 whsn in action. 
 
 Jim had a notion he could manu 
 facture these whistles in quantities so 
 they could be sold to the colonials in 
 the Saturday night market place. The 
 project did not appear at all feasible 
 to Paul when it was first broached, 
 for, as he observed, "how could 
 they get the necessary materials when 
 neither had a cent of capital?" 
 
 But Jim was* a young man of won 
 derful resources. After he had decided 
 the scheme was worth trying, he in 
 structed his companion to visit the
 
 272 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 various shoemakers and harness shops 
 in town and beg scraps of leather 
 while he made a tour of the alleys 
 collecting discarded tin cans. Both 
 were fairly successful and loaded with 
 their spoils the two adventurers met 
 at noon at the rendezvous by Capt. 
 Cook's statue, where Jim at once 
 began operations. 
 
 He was a genius. With the aid of 
 a jack-knife and the slight assistance 
 Paul could render, thirty "illigant bird 
 whistles," as Jim termed them, were 
 ready for possible customers when 
 the chimes sounded 6 o'clock. The 
 artisans were by this time both tired 
 and hungry, but their Saturday night 
 supper as well as their Sunday dinner 
 depended on their success at the 
 market. With such an incentive the 
 embryo merchants were not long in 
 reaching the inclosure where Cheap 
 Johns of every description reveled.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES. 
 
 THE Saturday night market is one 
 of the institutions of Sydney. It is 
 held in an inclosed square at the 
 lower end of Pitt street, and by pay 
 ing a small entrance fee the petty 
 merchant is entitled to exhibit and 
 sell his wares. It is the poor man's 
 paradise, where anything in the house 
 hold line may be purchased, and 
 where the good wife may do her 
 week's marketing at a minimum cost. 
 It is also a popular resort for the 
 colonial 'Arry and his best girl, who 
 flock there in great numbers to patron 
 ize the side-shows, round-abouts, 
 Aunt Sallys, quack doctors, lemonade 
 peddlers, oyster stands, and electric- 
 try-your-nerve-machines. This kalei 
 doscopic scene is thrown into high 
 relief by means of numerous oil 
 lamps, whose odor is not of the 
 pleasantest, but which, to the habitual 
 
 *73
 
 274 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 patron, is one of the charms of the 
 market. 
 
 Arrived at the gate, the entrance 
 fee of "thruppence," or six cents, was 
 obtained by a quick sale outside to a 
 willing victim, who was easily cap 
 tured by Jim's artistic exhibition of 
 the possibilities of a bird whistle. An 
 empty box had been picked up on 
 the way, and once inside the grounds 
 a good site was soon selected in the 
 vicinity of a popular quack doctor. 
 Here Jim mounted the box and by 
 his beautiful delineations quickly at 
 tracted a crowd. While he warbled 
 Paul extolled the whistles and ex 
 plained what a delightful accomplish 
 ment was within the reach of anybody 
 who had a spare ' 'thruppenny-bit" to 
 invest. Each did his part so well 
 that in an hour the stock was exhausted, 
 and after dividing the receipts the 
 partners found they could indulge in 
 two meals a day, at least, for the 
 ensuing week. 
 
 It seemed good to crawl into a 
 sure-enough bed once more, and it 
 was not until the bells were chiming 
 for church next morning that Paul
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES 275 
 
 awoke. A day of complete rest with 
 out the disturbing problem of meals 
 to worry him prepared the lad for a 
 week of steady work, every day of 
 which was devoted to the new industry 
 of manufacturing bird whistles. It is 
 hardly necessary to say that the 
 skilled labor was furnished by Jim, 
 while Paul rustled for material, in 
 which line he was highly successful. 
 
 By the Saturday following the 
 partners had finished nearly a gross 
 of whistles which they planned to 
 unload on the colonials. An ingenious 
 circular written by Paul and printed 
 on sixteenth - sheets purported to 
 explain succinctly how to imitate the 
 various bird-calls, and one of these 
 was wrapped around every whistle. 
 With the opening of the gates the 
 expectant pair marched in and quickly 
 drew a gaping crowd. Paul had 
 rehearsed a very effective lecture 
 explanatory of the various calls imi 
 tated, the pauses being filled by Jim, 
 who demonstrated the correctness of 
 his partner's statements, in an entirely 
 satisfactory manner. It was during 
 these rests, so to speak, that Paul
 
 276 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 drove a brisk trade, the lecture and 
 trilling being repeated as often as the 
 crowd changed or business waned. 
 
 By closing time every whistle was 
 sold. Intoxicated with their success, 
 and loaded with small silver, the 
 young merchants repaired to their 
 lodgings, where the receipts of the 
 evening were promptly counted and 
 divided. It was a hard grind to work 
 the second week at whistle - making. 
 Each had too much money in his 
 possession to be very industrious, so 
 that by the next market night the 
 stock on hand was rather limited. 
 To this day Paul is not certain 
 whether by the most assiduous prac 
 tice anyone could learn to blow the 
 whistles they made. True, Jim was 
 an expert, which was an argument in 
 their favor, but then Jim did many 
 things which no one else could suc 
 cessfully imitate. 
 
 It would seem that the colonials 
 who were patronizing the young 
 Americans had reached the conclusion 
 that the bird-calls were rank frauds 
 and that they had been basely im 
 posed upon. At least this is what
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES 277 
 
 the partners supposed when they 
 stopped running and could safely sum 
 up the situation. 
 
 They had been ignominiously driven 
 out of Eden. Paul had scarcely 
 started his fascinating lecture when a 
 dozen sturdy youths rushed for their 
 stand, knocking it over and pummel- 
 ing the unlucky venders in a shame 
 ful manner. It was no time to show 
 fight; the odds were too great, and, 
 quickly realizing that discretion was 
 better than valor, both lads made a 
 bee line for the nearest fence, with the 
 howling colonials in hot pursuit. It 
 was a pretty piece of sprinting, but the 
 pursued reached the boards first and 
 over the top each vaulted in beautiful 
 style, while a cry of rage issued from 
 the throats of the disappointed Brit 
 ishers, who loudly demanded their 
 ' 'thruppences" back because the ' 'beast 
 ly things wouldn't blow, ye know!" 
 
 "Blow!" remarked Jim, later on, 
 when they discussed this extraordinary 
 procedure, "of course they wouldn't. 
 It's a trick of the tongue, just as you 
 explained to 'em. But that's the in 
 gratitude of the world. Try to teach
 
 278 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 'em something new, and the people 
 turn and snarl at a fellow. Ah, well, 
 this snap couldn't last forever, I sup 
 pose," and with a philosophical shrug 
 Jim purled out the light of the tallow 
 dip and plunged into bed. 
 
 Three days after this experience the 
 reports of new gold diggings "up 
 country" inoculated the pair with the 
 mining fever, and in half an hour the 
 two had decided to pool their capital, 
 buy an outfit, and set out at once for 
 the gold fields of which all Sydney 
 was talking. 
 
 Their "prospector's kit" was not 
 very elaborate, for provisions had to 
 be included, and Jim insisted on re 
 serving a small fund of ready cash for 
 possible emergencies. A journey by 
 stage coach was not to be considered 
 on account of the extortionate fare 
 demanded, so they determined to fol 
 low the trail afoot. As both lads were 
 in prime condition, physically, this 
 was not a very arduous undertaking, 
 and until they reached the glaring, 
 sandy stretches of country 100 miles 
 north of Sydney each thoroughly en 
 joyed the novel experience of traveling
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES 279 
 
 through the bush. With one-third the 
 distance covered in less than a week 
 they felicitated themselves on their 
 progress, when an unforeseen disaster 
 occurred which upset all their plans. 
 
 Jim was stricken with the sand 
 blight. 
 
 For two days following their advent 
 into the sandy desert the older lad had 
 complained of a pain in his eyes, suc 
 ceeded by a puffing up of the inflamed 
 cuticle, which gradually increased until 
 two small slits were all that remained 
 to mark the location of his eyes. The 
 itching was intolerable, and with a 
 scant water supply the poor fellow 
 endured great torture. By the third 
 day Jim's sufferings were so severe 
 that Paul became seriously alarmed. 
 With his comrade totally blind and 
 little hope of immediate recovery, it 
 was useless to think of continuing the 
 journey; to get back to Sydney and 
 put Jim in the hospital for treatment 
 was clearly the only wise course, and 
 this Paul determined to pursue. 
 
 He was lucky enough to sell their 
 kit, at a great sacrifice, to an outgo 
 ing party that camped near by, and
 
 280 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 the sum thus obtained, added to their 
 own reserve fund, procured two seats 
 in the stage coach to Sydney, the 
 return fare being much more reason 
 able. Poor Jim suffered agonies dur 
 ing the two days and a half consumed 
 in making the trip. All that Paul 
 could do to alleviate the pain in any 
 degree was to apply cold cloths, but 
 the water he carried in a bottle soon 
 became tepid, which destroyed the 
 efficacy of the bandages, so despite 
 constant applications Jim experienced 
 little relief. 
 
 But he endured the torture like a 
 stoic, and even found courage to rally 
 Paul on his depression, telling him 
 that a true philosopher was the fellow 
 who could apply his pet theories to 
 his own misfortunes and then extract 
 consolation. "Anybody can be a phi 
 losopher," he observed, "when the 
 world treats him well, when his pockets 
 are lined with cash, his health is good 
 and three meals are coming regularly. 
 It's when a chap's down on his luck, 
 friends have deserted him, and the 
 prospects for improving his condition 
 are awfully slim that he has a good
 
 IN THE AUSTRALIAN 
 GOLD FIELDS.
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES 281 
 
 chance to show his nerve, or, if you 
 like that better, his philosophy." 
 
 "Did you ever read 'Martin Chuz- 
 zlewit,' Jim?" inquired Paul, after one 
 of these talks. 
 
 "No; Dickens wrote it, didn't he? 
 Never read much of Dickens 'cept 
 'Pickwick.' I rather cottoned to Sam 
 Weller; bright duck he was. Why?" 
 
 "Oh, nothing; you reminded me 
 of a character in the story; that's all; 
 fellow named Mark Tapley. " 
 
 "What about him?" 
 
 "Well, he was a philosopher in his 
 way, too. A cheerful sort of philoso 
 phy his was. Whenever things looked 
 darkest and the prospect was partic 
 ularly gloomy, Mark grew correspond 
 ingly jolly. The blacker the cloud, 
 the more cheerful he became; nice 
 sort of a fellow to travel with, he 
 must have been." 
 
 "And I remind you of him, do I?" 
 mused Jim, as a sharp twinge caused 
 his features to suddenly contract. 
 "Well, I reckon it's a heap sight 
 healthier to grin than to groan, and 
 I'll keep on grinning just as long as I 
 can stand the racket.'
 
 282 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 The opportunity of studying a first- 
 class case of sand blight, as the doc 
 tors called Jim's attack, was too good 
 to miss, and the sufferer was promptly 
 admitted when Paul took him to the 
 hospital for examination immediately 
 on their arrival in Sydney. As it 
 would be many weeks, they said, 
 before he could be cured, Paul was 
 obliged to part company with his 
 friend. For the first time since his 
 illness Jim displayed signs of weakness 
 when the lad came to the edge of 
 the cot to say good-bye. 
 
 "I'd made up my mind to see you 
 safe home to Chicago, young fellow," 
 groaned the invalid, "and now the 
 doctor says I'll be lucky if I get 
 away from here in three months. 
 Hopeful outlook, isn't it?" Then with 
 a return of his old spirit he added: 
 "Never mind, son; I'll be back there 
 almost as soon as you are; see if I'm 
 not. I'm not at all sure but I'll be 
 at the head of the brass band to 
 welcome you into town, so get a 
 move on yourself, boy." 
 
 The cheap hotel where Paul engaged 
 a bed was patronized pretty freely by
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES 283 
 
 the humbler followers of the Australian 
 Jockey Club, the majority of whom 
 were touters, riders and bookmakers' 
 clerks. With one of the latter a 
 decent enough young fellow Paul 
 became acquainted, and through him 
 was introduced to a bookmaker, who 
 hired the lad to keep his accounts. 
 The work was fairly easy and the 
 pay good, but in the thirty days he 
 remained out at the course the young 
 ster saw just enough of the inside 
 workings of a racing association to 
 arouse anything but a high opinion of 
 the turf. With the close of the sea 
 son at Randwick he respectfully 
 declined a proposition from his em 
 ployer to make the circuit with him, 
 and, drawing his wages, which were 
 materially increased by a handsome 
 present from the successful bookmaker, 
 Paul abruptly ended this phase of his 
 career. 
 
 A short time previous he had found 
 a hotel on Castlereagh street, kept by 
 an American, where he rented a 
 modest room. The house was quite 
 popular with theatrical people, and 
 among others with whom Paul came
 
 284 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 in contact was a dapper little French 
 man named Henri L'Estrange, an 
 aeronaut of some skill and undoubted 
 courage. L'Estrange was under con 
 tract to make a balloon ascension 
 from the public domain on the queen's 
 birthday, which is always a popular 
 holiday with the loyal colonials. His 
 acquaintance with the professor opened 
 up a new field of adventure for Paul. 
 In Colorado he had been many hun 
 dred feet underground, on shipboard 
 he had climbed as high as the top 
 mast crosstrees permitted, but a sail 
 in the air was an altogether novel ex 
 perience which he eagerly craved. 
 
 Assiduous cultivation of the little 
 Frenchman soon won from the aeronaut 
 a promise to take Paul along as his 
 assistant on the day of the fete, and 
 until that time arrived the two were 
 inseparable. Behind canvas walls, 
 on the common contiguous to the bo 
 tanical gardens, the ''Empress of 
 Night" was moored. For several days 
 prior to the ascension L'Estrange and 
 his new assistant spent many hours 
 splicing ropes, tightening valves, sew 
 ing sand bags, painting the car, and
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES 285 
 
 otherwise preparing the balloon for its 
 aerial voyage. Arrangements were 
 made to inflate the bag from the 
 nearest gas main, and on the morn 
 ing of May 24 all was in readiness to 
 make the attachment. The balloon 
 was advertised to ascend at 3 p.m., 
 and fully an hour before that time 
 the public domain and streets adjacent 
 were black with a holiday-making 
 crowd. 
 
 But the Frenchman was not happy; 
 the gas was bad, and the balloon 
 showed no disposition to soar. "Ah, 
 ciel!" exclaimed the little man in de 
 spair. "Zees gaas ees vair poor. 
 Eet ees not suffissien buoy-ant; ze 
 qualite ees execrable!" 
 
 For several hours the professor and 
 his assistant had attempted to inflate 
 the balloon to a satisfactory pitch. At 
 3 o'clock the big bag swayed in the air 
 like a drunken man, its dropsical 
 folds, which refused to fill out, remind 
 ing Paul of a huge pair of misfit 
 Turkish trousers. Driven almost crazy 
 by the demands of the mob, which, 
 unlike an American crowd, was dis 
 posed to wax wrathy at the delay,
 
 286 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 the Frenchman jumped on a box, and, 
 in his broken English, explained that 
 he was quite ready and willing 
 to fill his part of the contract, but 
 was unexpectedly confronted with so 
 inferior a quality of gas that it threat 
 ened to defeat the exhibition entirely. 
 
 An hour later the incessant chaffing 
 of the spectators so worried the 
 aeronaut that, against his better judg 
 ment, he determined to cut loose and 
 make the ascension. Motioning Paul 
 into the car, he sprung lightly over 
 the side and instructed the park attend 
 ants to slip the main cable. 
 
 The Empress of Night rose slosvly 
 to the height of about fifty feet, and 
 then, deliberately sulking in the air, 
 refused to soar an inch more. "Ah! 
 tees as I expected," murmured the 
 professor, and, pulling the escape 
 valve, the balloon descended amid 
 the jeers of the colonials, whose quips 
 at his expense nearly drove the 
 Frenchman frantic. Excited and angry, 
 he ordered Paul to jump out and in a 
 few moments had detached the car 
 from the rope network above. Then, 
 with a graceful bow to the impatient
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES 287 
 
 spectators, the daring aeronaut jumped 
 into the netting of the balloon, mo 
 tioned the men to let go and in a 
 minute had shot high above the heads 
 of the now breathless colonials. 
 
 Another minute the crowd remained 
 silent, then arose a burst of cheering 
 which was as spontaneous as it was 
 heartfelt, for everyone recognized the 
 intrepidity of the act. In response to 
 this recognition, from his perilous perch 
 above, L/Estrange was seen to wave 
 his cap three times before he passed 
 beyond the direct vision of the excited 
 watchers, who speculated freely on 
 his chances for descending in safety. 
 
 Drifting south, the balloon lost its 
 buoyancy and fell rapidly. Over Pitt 
 street the bag swayed unpleasantly 
 close to a stack of chimneys, rose 
 and dropped again in erratic plunges, 
 then took a sudden dash over George 
 street, bumping viciously against a 
 hotel building, where, -by chance, a 
 woman stood at an open window 
 holding a lighted candle. In a second 
 the escaping gas had ignited, an 
 explosion followed, and poor L'Es- 
 trange was thrown on the glass roof
 
 288 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 of the court below, where he was 
 picked up a few minutes later with a 
 broken leg and arm, several fractured 
 ribs and some severe burns as a 
 memento of his brave but foolhardy 
 experiment. As for Paul, this brief 
 experience was quite enough to dampen 
 his ardor for aeronautics, but the little 
 Frenchman only shrugged his shoulders, 
 when someone asked him if he 
 would ever make another ascension, 
 as he answered: "To-morrow, to-day, 
 eef I vas able to pull ze r-rope!" 
 
 A few days later Paul was pleased 
 to receive a letter bearing the Adelaide 
 postmark, which proved to be from 
 his mother's brother, who for thirty 
 years had been a resident of South 
 Australia. In it the merchant cordially 
 invited the nephew he had never seen 
 to visit his Australian relatives, and 
 ended by delicately hinting that if 
 Paul was short of funds he might 
 draw on him for needful supplies. 
 
 Fortunately, the lad was not obliged 
 to act on his uncle's suggestion. He 
 still had a fair sum left from his 
 earnings, and this he intended should 
 cover all the expenses of his visit.
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES 289 
 
 Thanking his uncle for the kind 
 invitation, he wrote that he would 
 follow the letter in a day or two at 
 the farthest. As soon as L'Estrange 
 was pronounced out of danger Paul 
 secured a berth on the steamer 
 Ly-ee-Moon for Melbourne, which port 
 he reached just in time to transfer 
 his baggage to the little Aldinga, 
 bound for Adelaide. Disappointed of 
 a call on Dr. Tolman, he consoled 
 himself with the thought of a visit on 
 his return, and, pleasantly musing 
 over the probable appearance of his 
 new cousins, fell asleep in his narrow 
 berth. 
 
 A bluff, jolly looking man of fifty, 
 with a heavy beard and kindly eyes, 
 and a mild, sweet little woman, with 
 a pale, intellectual face, were the two 
 hasty silhouettes Paul caught of his 
 uncle and aunt at dusk, as they wel 
 comed him to their hearts and 
 home. Two boys, about his own age, 
 and five pretty girls, ranging from 
 fourteen to twenty-four, comprised the 
 junior portion of the family, with whom 
 Paul was soon on the best of terms. 
 
 Five charming girls! All so sweet-
 
 2QO PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 tempered and affectionate, and quite 
 ready to do anything to please their 
 American cousin! What a delightful 
 prospect for the lad who for so long 
 had encountered chill looks and brusque 
 words. Cricket with the boys, croquet 
 and lawn tennis with the girls, varied 
 with parties, picnics and excursions 
 galore. A week at Glenelg, the New 
 port of South Australia, proved an 
 idyllic experience, of which bathing, 
 fishing and boating formed the princi 
 pal features. Yachting parties were 
 extemporized in the lad's honor, in 
 which his fair cousins and their friends 
 vied with one another to make each 
 occasion more enjoyable than the pre 
 ceding. 
 
 It must be confessed that among 
 so many nice people Paul discreetly 
 kept his rougher experiences in the 
 background, yet he did not attempt 
 to deny that he was traveling around 
 the world on a very slim purse. 
 What money he had he spent freely, 
 although there was little that he could 
 pay for in that generous crowd. Six 
 weeks of this existence almost spoiled 
 the young man for further campaign-
 
 EXPERIENCES IN THE ANTIPODES 2QI 
 
 ing, and it was only when his rapidly 
 diminishing stock of cash warned him 
 that he had barely enough to carry 
 him back to Sydney that he resolutely 
 broke away from his pleasant sur 
 roundings. 
 
 All seemed loath to have him go, 
 for blood ties are strong the world 
 over, and Paul was the only relative 
 that had ever visited them. There 
 were many tears shed by his fair 
 cousins, a warm grasp from his uncle 
 and the boys and a fervent good-bye 
 kiss from his aunt when Paul stepped 
 aboard the steamer City of Adelaide 
 at the port. Through moist eyes he 
 watched for the last flutter of hand 
 kerchiefs and for the final handwave 
 from the warm-hearted Australians 
 who had done so much to make his 
 visit among them supremely happy 
 and enjoyable. Then, with a big 
 lump in his throat, he went below. 
 It was time to drop the role of gen 
 tleman and resume that of a tramp 
 again.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA. 
 
 DR. TOLMAN greeted the young 
 American very cordially when, unan 
 nounced, Paul walked into the phy 
 sician's private office at the hospital. 
 
 "Why, my dear boy," he exclaimed, 
 "I had about given up all hope of 
 seeing you again. I have had just 
 one letter since you went away. Ah, 
 you youngsters are so fickle; the 
 friend of a week ago is forgotten in 
 the friend of to-day. But I'm glad 
 to see you looking so well; sit down 
 and give an account of yourself since 
 we parted." 
 
 For an hour Paul entertained the 
 doctor with the story of his trip to 
 Fiji; his days of ease and his days of 
 hardship at Sydney; the ink-peddling 
 incident, bird-whistle transactions, gold- 
 mining episode, jockey-club experience, 
 his attempt at balloon voyaging, and 
 last, but not least, his delightful visit 
 292
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA 293 
 
 among the charming South Australian 
 cousins. 
 
 The doctor was highly amused at 
 the graphic description Paul gave of 
 his efforts to introduce "Kaiser-Tinte" 
 in the collegiate circles of Sydney, 
 and he fairly roared over the manner 
 in which the lad avenged his insults 
 on Solomon the servitor. Referring 
 to the bird-whistle episode, he laugh 
 ingly declared the partners deserved 
 the drubbing administered by the 
 young colonials, whereat Paul waxed 
 indignant and protested it was an 
 honest transaction, in which the Syd- 
 neyites were worsted only because 
 they did not prove apt pupils. 
 
 "Oh, that was it," observed the 
 doctor, dryly; "well, of course, you 
 couldn't expect them to be as smart 
 as two Yankees." 
 
 The succeeding week, which Paul 
 passed with his friend, was devoted 
 to rambles through the botanical gar 
 dens and in delightful excursions to 
 the many charming suburbs for which 
 Melbourne is noted. One day, toward 
 the close of his visit, as the two sat 
 on the bench at St. Kilda idly watch-
 
 294 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 ing the bathers, the doctor suddenly 
 asked Paul if he had any definite 
 plans for getting back home. 
 
 "Yes and no," answered the lad. 
 "I have a hope of getting a berth on 
 one of the Orient steamers at Sydney 
 which will carry me through to Lon 
 don, but whether I succeed is doubt 
 ful. Judging from past experiences, 
 it isn't an easy matter, but having 
 come so far 'right side up,' I'm not 
 going to borrow trouble at this late 
 day. After I reach London, I'll trust 
 to luck to get to New York; that 
 looks simple enough compared with 
 the problem that confronts me just 
 now. " 
 
 The doctor chuckled softly. ' ' You're 
 a queer boy, Paul. Here you are, 
 twelve thousand miles from home, with 
 barely enough money to pay your fare 
 to Sydney, and yet you are as free from 
 care as my dog. I confess I am en 
 vious of so tranquil a disposition." 
 
 "Well, what's the good of fretting?" 
 returned the lad. ' ' I entered into this 
 state deliberately and of my own free 
 will and accord, as the lawyers say; I 
 should be an idiot to whine over hard-
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA 295 
 
 ships and trials for which I alone am 
 responsible. No, sir; when I get to 
 my troubled bridges I'll cross them, 
 but no worrying in advance if I can 
 help it." 
 
 "Right you are, Paul; that's good, 
 sound philosophy, and I hope you will 
 live up to it. After all, the more ex 
 periences you get the better qualified 
 you will be for the profession you are 
 ambitious to enter. Let me see, how 
 long is it since you left home?" 
 
 ' ' Ten months ten years, I had al 
 most said. So much has happened in 
 that time I can scarcely realize a year 
 has not yet parsed. I went away from 
 Chicago a boy perhaps more matured 
 than the average lad of seventeen, for 
 I had been an omnivorous reader, but 
 the one that goes back to the bustling 
 city on the shores of Lake Michigan 
 will be immeasurably older. It isn't 
 the number of years one lives," he 
 added pensively, "but the manner in 
 which one lives them that makes the 
 man. I hope I shall have nothing to 
 regret in the future when I look back 
 on this eventful tramp." 
 
 "You won't, my lad; you won't, if
 
 296 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 you keep yourself pure, mentally and 
 morally," was the doctor's earnest re 
 joinder, "and I believe you have too 
 much good sense to stray far off the 
 right track." 
 
 The older man parted from Paul 
 with genuine regret. He had taken a 
 great fancy to the sturdy American 
 lad whose acquaintance he had so 
 strangely formed. As he said his last 
 good-bye down at the dock, just as 
 the bell warned all visitors ashore, 
 there was a tremor in his voice which 
 indicated the depth of his feelings. 
 "Some day we shall meet again, my 
 boy, so I won't say 'farewell,' but 'auf 
 weidersehen, ' as the Germans so beau 
 tifully express it." Then he slipped a 
 sealed note into Paul's hand, and, has 
 tily crossing the gangway, disappeared 
 in the crowd. 
 
 In his cabin, after tea, Paul opened 
 the letter which Dr. Tolman had so 
 hurriedly given him at parting. It con 
 tained a brief message and a bank 
 note to the value of ^5. The lines 
 read: 
 
 DEAR PAUL Don't refuse the little gift I 
 enclose, as it is merely a token of my regard
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA 297 
 
 for a brave young traveler who has fully demon 
 strated his ability to get along without money. 
 But it will make me feel easier to know you 
 are not penniless when you get to Sydney, so 
 I entreat you to keep it. With deepest affec 
 tion and wishing you a safe return to Chicago, 
 I am, sincerely your friend, 
 
 HENRY BERTRAM TOLMAN. 
 
 One of the uses to which Paul put 
 the money on his arrival at Sydney 
 was to buy a watch charm of the 
 famous New Zealand greenstone, on 
 the gold mounting of which he had 
 engraved "Paul to H. B. T. Fidel- 
 iter." This he sent, with his best love, 
 to his good friend, together with a long 
 letter, expressing his deep appreciation 
 of the many kindnesses he had re 
 ceived and which he assured the doctor 
 he could never forget. 
 
 As he had divined, getting a berth 
 on a London-bound steamer was by 
 no means an easy job. For several 
 weeks Paul haunted the circular quay, 
 alongside which the colossal ocean 
 steamers unload their cargoes, but, 
 although he boarded many and assidu 
 ously cultivated the acquaintance of 
 the understewards, he could find no 
 opening. One after another he saw
 
 298 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 the big liners discharge their passen 
 gers and freight, fill up again and 
 slowly steam out into the bay, bound 
 for the port he so earnestly desired 
 to reach. 
 
 By carefully hoarding the money 
 which the doctor had so generously 
 given him, he was able to live in a 
 fairly comfortable way during this dis 
 heartening period, but as the weeks 
 slipped by his funds grew lamentably 
 smaller. It was his custom every 
 morning to scan the bulletin board 
 in front of the Herald building, in the 
 hope of finding a situation which might 
 tide him over until his prospects bright 
 ened. Running his eyes down the 
 "lost and found" column one day, 
 when he had been nearly a month in 
 Sydney, he saw an advertisement for 
 a lost key of peculiar shape, which the 
 finder 'was requested to bring to the 
 manager of the Queensland Bank and 
 receive a reward. 
 
 It suddenly occurred to Paul that 
 he had that same key in his vest 
 pocket. The night before, while stand 
 ing in front of the Royal Theater, he 
 had seen it glistening on the pave-
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA 299 
 
 ment, and, picking it up, had stowed 
 it away in his clothes after a cursory 
 glance at its curious shape. 
 
 He now took it out and compared 
 it with the description. Yes, there 
 were the numbers, 121307, stamped in 
 the steel, corresponding exactly with 
 those advertised. Clearly the key be 
 longed to the manager of the Queens 
 land Bank, and in search of that 
 official Paul at once bent his steps. 
 
 "You can't see the manager; he's 
 engaged," was the somewhat curt 
 answer which a tall young man, wear 
 ing a huge choker collar, made to 
 Paul's polite request. 
 
 "Then I'll wait till he's disengaged," 
 was the lad's cheerful response, 
 plumping down into a bench placed 
 for the convenience of bank patrons. 
 
 The owner of the collar made a 
 sneering remark, the purport of which 
 Paul did not catch, and resumed his 
 work of adding a column of figures, 
 the interruption of which had ruffled 
 his temper. 
 
 Half an hour elapsed without the 
 sign of a caller emerging from the 
 manager's room. Paul began to sus-
 
 300 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 pect the surly clerk of tampering with 
 the truth. "Are you sure the mana 
 ger's engaged?" he suddenly ventured. 
 
 "That's what I said," was the snap 
 pish reply, "and you'll have to wait." 
 
 A few minutes later one of the em 
 ployes went in to see the manager, 
 leaving the door at such an angle 
 that Paul's eyes could rove over the 
 entire room. The manager was alone, 
 save for the presence of the clerk. 
 
 The lad's ire was aroused. He was 
 justly incensed at the uncivil treatment 
 accorded him by the ill-bred clerk, 
 and he fairly ached to punch the 
 fellow's head. 
 
 Raising his voice a trifle and ad 
 dressing the unmannerly youth, he 
 exclaimed, "Excuse me, sir, but will 
 you ask the manager to give me five 
 minutes of his time? I want to see 
 him on a matter of business." 
 
 Paul noticed the gray head perk up 
 a bit in the inside room as the sound 
 seeped through, and presently a brusque 
 "Mr. Peters!" floated outward. 
 
 The proprietor of the tall collar un 
 wound his long legs from the stool
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA 30 1 
 
 and, with a black look at Paul, dis 
 appeared in the private room. 
 
 In a few minutes he emerged, still 
 wearing a scowl, and, walking over to 
 Paul, jerked out, "he'll see you now." 
 
 "Oh, thank you," returned the lad 
 with one of his blandest looks; "sorry 
 to have put you to so much trouble." 
 
 He wasted no time in stating his 
 business when he stood before the 
 manager. "I saw your advertisement 
 about a lost key," he began. "I 
 found it last night in front of the 
 Royal Theater. This is the article, I 
 believe," and he placed the key on 
 the banker's desk. 
 
 The manager picked it up, saw the 
 number was correct, and said: "This 
 is certainly the key I lost. Permit 
 me to pay you for your trouble." 
 
 "It was no trouble at all, sir, and 
 you don't owe me a cent," was the 
 respectful but emphatic reply. "I 
 found the key by the merest chance, 
 and, noticing your advertisement this 
 morning, brought it over at once, be 
 cause I had nothing else to do. I 
 am glad to have obliged you, but it 
 really isn't worth talking about."
 
 302 PAUL TKAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 The banker smiled. "You are an 
 American, aren't you?" he pleasantly 
 asked. 
 
 "Yes, sir; from Chicago." 
 
 "A great city and a great country," 
 he observed. "If you won't let me 
 pay you for the key, at least tell me 
 if there is anything I can do for you 
 while you are in Sydney." 
 
 One of his happy inspirations seized 
 Paul. "If you would be kind enough 
 to give me a letter to the agents of 
 the Orient Steamship Company I 
 would be greatly obliged," he said. 
 "I don't mind telling you that I have 
 been trying for some time to get em 
 ployment on one of their homeward- 
 bound boats, but I don't receive any 
 encouragement. A good word to the 
 agents would be a great help, I am 
 sure. " 
 
 "I'll give you the letter with pleas 
 ure. I happen to know the gentle 
 men intimately. Let me have your 
 name, please." 
 
 "Paul Travers, sir." 
 
 "Just be seated a few minutes, Mr. 
 Travers, and you shall have what 
 you want." Then he rang a bell and
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA 303 
 
 a stenographer appeared, to whom the 
 banker dictated a short letter, over 
 hearing which Paul mentally decided 
 his vexations and disappointments were 
 nearing an end. 
 
 ' ' I gather you are trying to see a 
 bit of the great world," remarked the 
 bank manager while the letter was 
 being typewritten. 
 
 "Yes, sir; for that reason I prefer 
 the roundabout way home instead of 
 returning to San Francisco. Not hav 
 ing much money, I, of course, work 
 my passage from point to point. So 
 far I have done fairly well, and with 
 good luck I expect to be back in Chi 
 cago six months from now." 
 
 "And then what? A second long 
 tramp in some other direction?" 
 
 "No, sir; I am planning to be a 
 newspaper man and hope to go to 
 work on one of the big Chicago dailies 
 when I get back." 
 
 The door opened and a clerk brought 
 in the expected letter. Taking the 
 envelope, the banker wrote in the lower 
 left-hand corner, "Introducing my 
 young friend, Paul Travers." "There," 
 he exclaimed, handing it over to Paul,
 
 304 PAUL TRAVEKS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 "if that doesn't do the business, come 
 back and let me know." Then he 
 shook hands with the youngster as if 
 he were really interested in him and 
 wished him a safe and pleasant voy 
 age back to America. 
 
 In the outer room Paul brushed by 
 the pin-headed youth on the stool. 
 ' ' Good-bye, collars, " he murmured as 
 he passed. "Try to be a little more 
 accommodating to the next stranger who 
 wants to see your manager." Without 
 waiting for a response or even turning 
 his head to note the effect of this 
 flippancy he kept serenely on through 
 the office until he reached the street. 
 
 It was the junior member of the 
 firm of steamship agents who received 
 the letter of introduction which Paul 
 brought from the banker. He told 
 the lad it was beyond his power to 
 make a position for him on any of 
 the company's boats, but he would 
 furnish him a letter of recommenda 
 tion to the captain of the incoming 
 steamer, which was due in a few days, 
 and if there chanced to be a vacancy 
 he had no doubt it would help him 
 to secure it. Thankful enough to get
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA 305 
 
 this concession Paul went away, after 
 arranging to call for the letter as soon 
 as the Chimborazo was bulletined. 
 
 The four days intervening dragged 
 heavily for the boy. With a voracious 
 appetite and an almost empty purse, 
 the problem of adjusting himself to 
 these conditions was a trying one. By 
 nice figuring, his finances would procure 
 just five meals, so he was obliged to 
 restrict himself to one a day. This 
 he planned to eat at three o'clock in 
 the afternoon, combining in it break 
 fast, dinner and supper. He avoided 
 all exercise which had a tendency to 
 increase the appetite, and to shorten 
 the time between meals as much as 
 possible he read assiduously in the 
 public library. He usually visited the 
 reading-room immediately after taking 
 his combination meal, remaining there 
 until the doors were closed at ten 
 o'clock. Then he borrowed an inter 
 esting book from an attendant, went 
 to his room and read till almost day 
 break. 
 
 An economical sleep followed, last 
 ing until two o'clock in the afternoon, 
 by which time he was hungry clear
 
 306 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 through and nearly ready to dine off 
 tenpenny nails. He found a restaurant 
 where bread was placed on the table 
 in generous quantities, and by filling 
 up freely on this staple a shilling bought 
 all he could eat in the way of meat 
 and vegetables. Once in a while he 
 managed to slip a double slice of bread 
 and butter in his pocket for a midnight 
 luncheon, but this was always a red- 
 letter occasion. 
 
 The Chimborazo had scarcely made 
 fast to her dock when Paul sought 
 the captain and presented his creden 
 tials. Glancing over the letter, the 
 skipper scribbled a few words across 
 its face, and instructed the lad to pre 
 sent it to the chief steward. The latter 
 was a keen-faced Englishman, with 
 eyes that looked out from the corners, 
 and a square, firm chin that denoted 
 a constant exercise of authority. He 
 read the letter very deliberately, mean 
 time taking mental note of Paul's per 
 sonal appearance. 
 
 "Ever do any stewarding?" he sud 
 denly asked. 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 ' ' Got your sea legs, I suppose ? "
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA 307 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 ' ' When can you come to work ? " 
 
 "In an hour." 
 
 "All right; get back here promptly 
 and report to me." 
 
 This was the extent of his cate 
 chism, and that was the way in which 
 Paul became one of the crew of the 
 steamship Chimborazo, as stanch a 
 vessel as ever breasted the waves of 
 the Indian ocean or plowed between 
 the sun-baked shores of the Suez canal. 
 
 On the ship's books he was rated 
 merely as ' 'general servant, " in which 
 classification all the understewards 
 were entered. If Paul had an easy 
 time ashore, he soon made up for it 
 by his labors aboard the Chimborazo, 
 which in the week prior to sailing he 
 found arduous enough. He was one 
 of a score of youngsters, ranging in 
 age from sixteen to twenty, whose 
 duties were confined exclusively to 
 caring for the main deck and saloon 
 when not engaged in waiting on pas 
 sengers. The chief steward and his 
 brawny first assistant saw to it that 
 no one loafed or shirked his work,
 
 308 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 their constant supervision rendering 
 any "soldiering" out of the question. 
 
 While the ship lay at her docks, 
 and before the passengers came aboard, 
 the lads were kept very busy scrub 
 bing the paintwork, cleaning the sil 
 verware, getting in stores, and holy 
 stoning the main or saloon deck, 
 which the sailors were not supposed 
 to touch. Holystoning began imme 
 diately after coaling, which latter 
 operation left the boards in inky 
 blackness. It was a job the boys 
 had to do on their hands and knees, 
 pumice-stone instead of soap being 
 the chief accessory in removing the 
 dirt. Paul's back ached for a week 
 following this assignment, while his 
 skinned knees and sore ringers bore 
 tribute to the thoroughness of his 
 work. 
 
 But, after all, this task was not to 
 be compared with his ice-packing 
 experience, a chilly operation which 
 sent the boy to his bunk with cholera 
 cramps that threatened for a whole 
 day to develop into a serious illness. 
 
 As the Chimborazo was bound for 
 London via the Indian ocean, Red
 
 FAREWELL TO AUSTRALIA 309 
 
 sea, Suez canal, and the Mediter 
 ranean, which meant five or six weeks 
 of voyaging in the hottest latitudes, a 
 goodly supply of ice was a very es 
 sential part of the commissariat, and 
 to keep well it required close packing. 
 Paul, with three others, was detailed to 
 enter the freezing room and store the 
 ice, neatly and compactly, as the huge 
 blocks were sent below by means of a 
 rope and tackle. 
 
 The compartment was long and nar 
 row and the ceiling so low that as the 
 tiers of ice uprose the boys were com 
 pelled to lie outstretched on the chilly 
 blocks, in which awkward position 
 they slid the big squares into place. 
 Armed with a pick and with only a 
 potato sack between his thin serge 
 trousers and the icy surface, for nearly 
 four hours Paul filled in the crevices 
 with broken pieces, which had to be 
 vigorously pounded home in order to 
 make the ice pack thoroughly. In 
 spite of the chilly atmosphere the lads 
 perspired freely, and when their task 
 was completed all four were in a state 
 of physical exhaustion that threatened 
 deleterious results. A double dose of
 
 310 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 brandy ordered by the doctor and a 
 recommendation to strip and crawl 
 between woolen blankets had a salu 
 tary effect, but for the succeeding 
 twenty-four hours Paul lay groaning 
 in his bunk with a severe and decid 
 edly unromantic attack of cramps in 
 his stomach. He was feeling better, 
 but still unable to leave his berth, 
 when the Chimborazo steamed out 
 from her docks and headed for the 
 Pacific ocean.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 LIFE IN THE ''GLORY HOLE." 
 
 THE sleeping apartment of the un- 
 derstewards was known as the "glory 
 hole." Who first gave it this singular 
 but striking title no one could tell, but 
 the "glory hole" it had been far back 
 in the earliest recollection of the oldest 
 hand on shipboard. 
 
 It was appropriately named in many 
 respects. Situated just forward of the 
 main saloon, on the deck below, it was 
 separated by a thin partition only from 
 the hold, where the passengers' bag 
 gage was stored. A dark and dismal 
 compartment at best, fitted up with a 
 number of wooden bunks or "pews" 
 and lighted by an oil lamp which swung 
 from the center of the room, it illy ac 
 commodated the score of understew- 
 ards, pantrymen and galley slaves who 
 made life a burden to the head saloon 
 steward. 
 
 The wit of the glory hole was a 
 
 3"
 
 312 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 genuine London cockney, nicknamed 
 "Scully," from the fact that he filled 
 the position of scullery boy in the 
 cook's kitchen, where he furbished the 
 pots, pans and copper kettles sacred 
 to that department. He could neither 
 read nor write, but was chock full of 
 native humor, and his bright sallies 
 kept his companions in a constant roar 
 whenever he was below. It was he 
 who christened Paul ' 'Yank, " and who 
 established the newcomer in his strange 
 surroundings by giving him the right 
 hand of fellowship and welcoming him 
 to the glory hole. 
 
 The name stuck to Paul throughout 
 the voyage, and so long as he remained 
 on shipboard no one ever thought of call 
 ing him anything else. Even the chief 
 steward addressed him by this title, 
 and on one occasion the pompous cap 
 tain, making his morning round of in 
 spection, inquired why ' ' Yank's " blan 
 kets were not neatly folded and in 
 their customary place at the head of 
 his bunk. 
 
 Shipped at London and serving Eng 
 lish owners, it naturally followed that 
 all Paul's messmates were Britishers.
 
 LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE" 313 
 
 Many of them, like the witty but illit 
 erate ' ' Scully, " were cockney born and 
 bred, and their sublime disregard of 
 the English language, particularly of 
 the letter ' ' h, " was an unsolved puz 
 zle over which Paul constantly mar 
 veled. Full of Whitechapel slang and 
 concert hall ditties, there was yet noth 
 ing vicious about the youngsters, whose 
 treatment of the American recruit was 
 friendly enough, with one or two not 
 able exceptions. 
 
 There were two pert cockney youths 
 who did not take kindly to Paul's ad 
 vent among them. From the outset 
 they sneered at the ' ' blawsted Yankee, " 
 whom they looked upon as an inter 
 loper and with whom they were con 
 stantly finding fault, to the great dis 
 gust of Paul's self-constituted friend, 
 "Scully." 
 
 "W'y cawn't yer leave Yank alone? " 
 he bawled from his pew the morning 
 after sailing, when Paul, aching in 
 every limb from his ice-packing expe 
 rience, lay groaning in his bunk. 'E 
 ain't a ' urtin ' you blokes, is ' e ? " 
 
 They had been making covert allu 
 sions to the lad's illness, intimating in
 
 314 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 a mean sort of way that he was too 
 fond of his bunk and that his ailment 
 was only a pretense. Too sick to make 
 a vigorous protest, Paul could only feebly 
 resent their insinuations, but he men 
 tally vowed to have it out with them 
 whenever he was well enough to stand 
 up and take his medicine. 
 
 "Let 'em alone, Scully," he mur 
 mured to his friend, who occupied the 
 adjoining pew. ' ' I'll settle with ' em 
 both just as soon as I'm able to get 
 up; see if I don't." 
 
 "D'ye 'ear that, Bricksey? D'ye 
 'ear that, Jonas?" exclaimed Scully, 
 scenting a battle royal from afar, and 
 secretly exulting in the anticipated 
 sport. ' ' ' E'll give you blokes a precious 
 wiggin ', 'e says, one o ' these days. " 
 
 Bricksey and Jonas were in the act 
 of completing their toilets preparatory 
 to waiting on the saloon table for 
 breakfast. ' ' W'enever ' e's ready, " said 
 lofty Mr. Jonas, buttoning on a cellu 
 loid collar, ' ' I shall be most 'appy to 
 meet 'im." "And as for me, "chimed 
 in Bricksey, "I'll punch 'is bloomin' 
 'ead with the greatest pleasure and 
 without charge h'any time 'e wants the
 
 LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE" 315 
 
 job done." At which flippancy both 
 laughed uproariously, and sprang up 
 the companionway to the deck above. 
 
 ' ' Two nice cups o ' tea, them ducks 
 is, now ain't they ? " observed Scully, 
 sarcastically. "S'elp me bob, I'll lick 
 'em meself, Yank, if you don't, just 
 to teach 'em good manners; they's 
 too jolly flip, they is, for this 'ere 
 glory 'ole." 
 
 At Melbourne Paul was able to crawl 
 out of his bunk and renew his duties; 
 a little shaky on his pins and still full 
 of aches and pains, but too anxious 
 to refute the insinuation that he was 
 ' ' soldiering " to occupy his pew any 
 longer. More passengers and stores 
 were taken aboard and then the Chim- 
 borazo steamed away to South Aus 
 tralia, where she was to make her last 
 call in colonial waters. Anchoring in 
 the beautiful semaphore of Port Ade 
 laide, a quantity of flour and a dozen 
 live steers were brought aboard in 
 lighters, while a small tug conveyed 
 the half dozen passengers booked from 
 this port. Paul longed to go ashore 
 to pay a farewell visit to his cousins, 
 but the ship's stay was limited to a
 
 316 PAUL TR AVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 few hours, which effectually precluded 
 a leave of absence. 
 
 From Adelaide the steamer headed 
 direct for Cape Leewin, which is at 
 the southern extremity of Western 
 Australia and the last bit of land to 
 be seen until Cape Guardafui, on the 
 eastern coast of Africa, is sighted. In 
 rounding this point vessels are pretty 
 sure to encounter a heavy blow, Cape 
 Leewin being a sort of miniature Cape 
 Horn, with a gale of wind in con 
 stant readiness to let loose on the 
 wary navigator. 
 
 The Chimborazo had to take her 
 medicine with the rest, with, perhaps, 
 a little extra dose of dirty weather by 
 way of an Australian farewell. The 
 wind blew almost a hurricane and the 
 waves that dashed over the ship were 
 so cold and came with such force that 
 several of the steers on deck died from 
 the exposure while dozens of chickens 
 were drowned in their coops. 
 
 Paul witnessed an amusing incident 
 during this blow. The gale was at 
 its height when he relieved the "sa 
 loon watch" about midnight, and his
 
 LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE" 317 
 
 instructions were to see that all the 
 portholes were kept snug, as the 
 Chimborazo was shipping considerable 
 sea. The passengers had been warned 
 before retiring to refrain from touch 
 ing them, no matter how close the 
 atmosphere became, but an obstinate 
 John Bull thought he knew more 
 than the officers and turned in, leav 
 ing the porthole in his berth partially 
 open. 
 
 He was rudely awakened from 
 sleep by a sudden rush of water 
 through the orifice, which completely 
 drenched the cabin and, pouring into 
 his berth, half drowned the occupant. 
 Scared nearly out of his wits, and al 
 most choked with salt water, he 
 leaped to the floor and darted into 
 the saloon shrieking: "We're drown 
 ing, we're drowning!" 
 
 Guessing the cause of his fright, 
 Paul ran by the excited Englishman 
 and jumped for the open port in the 
 stateroom. Taking advantage of a 
 favorable lurch of the vessel, he 
 slammed the iron frame shut and 
 turned the screw before the next 
 wave had a chance to force its way
 
 318 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 through. Meantime the rest of the 
 passengers, catching the alarm, came 
 rushing 'from their cabins, regardless 
 of their costumes. Men in pajamas 
 and women with faces as white 
 as their nightrobes pounced upon 
 Paul as he emerged from the flooded 
 stateroom, all eager to learn the 
 dire tidings. Quieting their fears by 
 assuring them there was no danger, 
 the lad hastily explained the cause of 
 the commotion. 
 
 Then the women awoke to a sense 
 of the proprieties, and, gathering their 
 flowing garments about them, fled 
 back to the privacy of their cabins. 
 One stout colonial lady, who was in a 
 particularly airy garb, grabbed the 
 red piano cover to hide her exposed 
 limbs, and whisked through the saloon 
 like a flaming meteor, her flight 
 hastened by an uncontrollable burst 
 of laughter from two irreverent young 
 sters in pajamas who were not too 
 scared to enjoy the ludicrous spectacle 
 she presented. 
 
 Paul had a hard task mopping up 
 the water in the Englishman's cabin. 
 But there was some satisfaction in
 
 LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE" 3 J 9 
 
 knowing that every stitch of clothing 
 in it was soaked with salt water and 
 completely spoiled. It was daylight 
 before the lad restored order, and he 
 felt he had fairly earned the piece of 
 gold which the passenger insisted was 
 due him for his trouble. 
 
 After this experience the English 
 man never fooled with portholes, and 
 on the hottest nights, while in the 
 Red Sea, he lay half suffocated in 
 his berth rather than take any chances 
 with open ports. 
 
 After leaving Cape Leewin the 
 weather moderated materially, but the 
 first Sunday at sea it was still too 
 rough to hold services on deck, so 
 the passengers gathered in the main 
 saloon, the captain officiating and the 
 entire crew participating. As Paul 
 was very tired, he passed the hour in 
 his pew in rest and appropriate med 
 itation, listening half dreamily to the 
 running fire of cockney small talk in 
 dulged in by his comrades of the 
 glory hole. So far he had avoided 
 any direct quarrel with either Jonas 
 or Bricksey, but every day their atti 
 tude toward him became more exas-
 
 320 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 perating and unbearable, and the lad 
 was nerving himself for the supreme 
 moment when he felt sure he would 
 be compelled to assert his manhood. 
 
 In the assignment of work among 
 the understewards, to Paul had been 
 given the task of waiting on the 
 children's table. There were about a 
 dozen little ones in the saloon, and 
 they, together with several nurses 
 who ate with them, were the lad's 
 particular charges. It really meant so 
 much extra work for him, as, their 
 meals occurring half an hour in ad 
 vance of the saloon table, he was 
 expected to get everything cleared 
 away before the regular meal times, 
 in which he also had to lend a hand. 
 There was no idling on board the 
 Chimborazo, and those who have fol 
 lowed Paul's adventures thus far may 
 judge for themselves whether the lad 
 earned his salt these days. A glance 
 at a sample day's work will better 
 inform them how his time was occu 
 pied. 
 
 At 4:45 A.M. the "deck man " clat 
 tered down the companionway into the 
 glory hole and aroused the tired occu-
 
 LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE" 321 
 
 pants of the pews with a ( ' Now, then, 
 tumble out, fellows; two bells just 
 gone. Pile up on deck lively ! " 
 
 With many a yawn and muttered 
 remonstrance the boys lazily dress and 
 seek the purer air above. Each one 
 is supplied with a bucket and scrub 
 bing brush at the beginning of the 
 voyage, for which he is held respon 
 sible. Any loss is charged to his ac 
 count and deducted from his wages 
 when the crew is paid off. Sometimes 
 a boy loses his brush and bucket 
 through carelessness, and these he tries 
 to replace by poaching on his comrades' 
 supplies, carefully erasing their private 
 marks and substituting his own instead. 
 
 Paul's initial duty after turning out 
 was to produce his bucket and brush 
 from the dark corner under his pew, 
 where they were secreted, and scrub 
 fifty feet of the main deck, the allot 
 ment being made by the first assistant 
 steward. This task generally consumed 
 an hour and a half, and the boy found 
 it a rather severe eye-opener. Fol 
 lowing that came an hour's grind in 
 the saloon, polishing the glasses in 
 the racks or cleaning the brasswork
 
 322 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 on the punkah rods. At 7:30 he went 
 below to dress for the children's break 
 fast at eight. At nine the regular 
 saloon breakfast was served, after which 
 he had thirty minutes to discuss his 
 own meal, by this time an absolute 
 necessity. His next move was to dive 
 below into the glory hole to get his 
 pew in readiness for morning inspec 
 tion, and then came more cleaning 
 in the saloon to prepare for the eagle 
 eye of the captain on his grand rounds 
 at eleven o'clock. Polishing skylights 
 or silverware lasted until twelve o'clock, 
 when the children's dinner had to be 
 served. Saloon luncheon at one o'clock 
 followed, after which, if it was not a 
 "field day," the lads were allowed a 
 short rest. 
 
 Twice a week, however, this much- 
 needed respite was denied, what was 
 known as ' ' field days " occurring, when 
 the afternoons were devoted to haul 
 ing flour, "spuds" and other supplies 
 from the storeroom forward or passing 
 up beer-cases from the lazarette, all of 
 which were backaching jobs. At five 
 o'clock, in .the midst of a delightful 
 nap, the harsh voice of the Scotchman,
 
 LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE" 323 
 
 who ranked as head saloon steward, 
 would penetrate the glory hole, and 
 Paul would be awakened by the cry 
 of "Oonder, below, Yank! Air ye 
 comin ' oop the noo ? " And out ' ' Yank " 
 would have to tumble in order to serve 
 the children's tea. 
 
 Saloon dinner at six was the event 
 of the day, a two hours' task that was 
 not completed until every bit of silver, 
 glassware and crockery had been 
 ' ' strapped up " and stowed away in 
 the pantryman's closet. Their own 
 dinner the boys ate as they could find 
 time after the last passenger had cleared 
 out and before the work of ' ' strapping 
 up " began. Right on top of this came 
 saloon tea at 8:30, a light meal, in 
 which tea and toast predominated. 
 Twice a week Paul's rest was broken 
 by a midnight watch from twelve to 
 two or from two to four, which duty, 
 however, did not excuse him from the 
 regular call at 4:45 in the morning. 
 The boy did not put on much flesh 
 during the seven weeks he served 
 aboard the Chimborazo on that voyage 
 from Sydney to London. 
 
 The second Sunday at sea was
 
 324 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 marked by a burial, the first Paul had 
 ever seen. in the ocean, unless that of 
 the performing stallion be considered. 
 The day previous a young woman in 
 the steerage had died of consumption. 
 Her brother was taking her back to 
 their native Wales to die, knowing she 
 was beyond recovery. The young man 
 was greatly affected during the im 
 pressive funeral services, and when the 
 body, sewed up in canvas and weighted 
 with iron slugs, was shot over the 
 wooden grating his sobs were quite 
 distressing. The funeral was held im 
 mediately after breakfast, all the pas 
 sengers, fore and aft, gathering with 
 uncovered heads about the captain, who 
 read from the ritual the beautiful 
 words appointed for burials at sea. 
 
 On the Wednesday following another 
 death occurred, this time in the saloon. 
 It happened during Paul's midnight 
 watch. He had just returned from 
 making the "grand rounds" in the 
 second cabin and was trimming the oil 
 lamp which swung from the rack, when 
 he heard a faint cry in one of the 
 staterooms. Knowing the doctor had 
 been attending a sick passenger, the
 
 LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE" 325 
 
 lad rightly guessed whence the sound 
 issued and went direct to the invalid's 
 cabin. The poor fellow was fighting 
 for breath and was feebly beating the 
 bedclothes when Paul opened the door. 
 He summoned the doctor at once, but 
 before the latter reached the sick man's 
 room his services were not needed. 
 The deceased had made a fortune in 
 tin mining in New South Wales, but 
 at the sacrifice of his health, his system 
 having been ruined by lead-poisoning. 
 At eight bells Thursday morning his 
 emaciated body was consigned to the 
 deep and all his effects placed in charge 
 of the purser to be turned over to the 
 relatives in England. 
 
 One morning, shortly before the ship 
 crossed the equator, Paul reached under 
 his pew for his bucket and found it 
 gone. He was positive he had placed 
 it there the day before, so he thought 
 there was little doubt one of the boys 
 had purloined it. But which one? 
 With unerring intuition he decided 
 that the thief was his arch-enemy, 
 Jonas, whose own bucket, he happened 
 to know, had been in a dilapidated 
 condition for some time. Both Jonas
 
 326 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 and Bricksey had been particularly 
 odious in their actions for several days, 
 apparently with the intention of making 
 life on the Chimborazo as uncomfor 
 table as possible for the "Yankee in 
 terloper. " 
 
 "Wat's wrong, Yank?" demanded 
 Scully, noticing Paul's distress. ' ' 'As 
 somebody been an' gone an' swiped 
 yer paile?" 
 
 "Yes, bucket and brush have both 
 disappeared." 
 
 " 'Oo took 'em d'ye suppose?" 
 
 "Well, I don't know, for sure, but 
 I think Jonas had a hand in it." 
 
 Jonas was just getting ready to climb 
 the companion ladder, when the lad's 
 challenging tones reached him. 
 
 He dropped back into the glory hole 
 and stalked across the dimly lighted 
 room to where Paul stood. 
 
 "You're a lyin' Yankee sneak!" he 
 shouted, shaking his fist in the boy's 
 face, "and for a thrupp'ny bit I'd lick 
 the whole 'ide hoffer yer!" 
 
 The crucial moment had come. Paul 
 caught a glimpse of Scully's tense 
 expression and he felt that all the 
 boys were watching him closely to see
 
 LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE" 327 
 
 if he displayed the white feather. He 
 knew he must either give this White- 
 chapel bully a good thrashing or else 
 submit to continual indignities the 
 remainder of the voyage. 
 
 The ugly face of Jonas was peering 
 into his own and the little pig eyes 
 wore so aggravating an expression that 
 in an instant prudence had vanished 
 and, shooting out his right hand, Paul 
 dealt his adversary a ringing slap on 
 the cheek. 
 
 Roaring like a bull, Jonas dashed 
 for Paul's throat, but the youngster 
 was too quick for him, and, leaping 
 aside, again administered a smart clip, 
 this time with his clenched fist. 
 
 "A ring, a ring!" yelled the boys, 
 whose inherent British desire to see fair 
 play was in the ascendant. ' ' Keep' em 
 apart, Scully, till we make a circle." 
 
 Scully had already darted in between 
 the two angry lads. Inwardly realizing 
 it would be a mistaken kindness toward 
 Paul to prevent the fight, he hurriedly 
 whispered to keep cool and ' ' smash 
 'im 'atween the heyes hevery time," 
 
 Bricksey performed the friendly offices 
 for his chum. The contestants, stripped
 
 328 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 to their waists, faced each other, and 
 waited for Scully to call " time." Paul 
 was pale, but determined, Jonas savage 
 and flushed, the fingermarks on his 
 cheek showing plainly even in that un 
 certain light. 
 
 "Don't let 'im close in on ye," was 
 Scully's parting warning; ''e's strong 
 as a 'orse on the crush." 
 
 The lad nodded and the two sparred 
 for position. With his long arms Jonas 
 had the advantage, but Paul was much 
 more active, and the boys were by to 
 see that no unfair advantage was taken. 
 
 A terrific left-hander aimed by Jonas 
 was neatly guarded, and in retaliation 
 the youngster got in a swinging over 
 hand that landed under his opponent's 
 right ear. Back and forth the blows 
 passed in rapid succession, and when 
 Scully called time both lads were pretty 
 well winded. Paul's nose bled pro 
 fusely from a tap early in the contest, 
 but his adversary's left eye was almost 
 closed and a front tooth was missing. 
 
 A brief rest and they went at it 
 again, the one savagely determined to 
 force the fighting, the other keenly 
 alert to keep out of chancery and get

 
 LIFE IN THE "GLORY HOLE" 329 
 
 in as many telling whacks whenever 
 the opportunities presented. In three 
 minutes they had given and taken sev 
 eral vicious blows, and the punishment 
 was beginning to tell. The perspira 
 tion poured down Paul's face and body in 
 streams, so that he was almost blind 
 ed, while an ugly gash on his cheek 
 added to his distress. But he had 
 the grim satisfaction of knowing that 
 Jonas was in even a worse condition, 
 and he gritted his teeth for the third 
 round. 
 
 Just as they engaged again and Paul 
 had stopped a sudden rush by a well- 
 aimed body blow the boys were electri 
 fied by hearing a well-known voice ex 
 claim : ' ' You young wretches, what do 
 you mean by this sort of deviltry? 
 Stop it this instant!" 
 
 In a second the ring had melted, and 
 seizing their buckets the lads crowded 
 up the ladder and disappeared. Jonas, 
 too, had suddenly vanished, leaving 
 Paul and Scully to confront the angry 
 chief steward.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO. 
 
 PAUL presented anything but an 
 attractive appearance. Blood was 
 streaming from the gash on his cheek, 
 his lips were puffed out to two or three 
 times their normal size, his left eye 
 was partially closed, and a number 
 of black and blue spots on his body 
 were in painful evidence. The poor 
 lad staggered back as the chief stew 
 ard confronted him, and would have 
 fallen but for Scully's assistance. 
 
 "What infernal nonsense have you 
 been up to, Yank?" demanded his 
 superior. 
 
 "Tain't 'is fault, Mr. Masters," in 
 terposed Scully. "'E were driven to 
 it, s'elp me! There's the chap as is 
 to blame for this 'ere rumpus, " and he 
 pointed toward Jonas' pew. 
 
 The steward strode over to the 
 bunk indicated and, reaching inside, 
 grabbed the skulking occupant by an 
 330
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 331 
 
 arm. ' 'Come out o' that, " he shouted 
 "and show yourself; I'll teach you 
 young savages to fight." 
 
 Groaning and mumbling, Jonas 
 dragged his half-naked body to the 
 center of the room. He wasn't a 
 pretty sight, either. One eye was 
 completely closed and the other was 
 making sympathetic strides toward a 
 like condition. His chest showed 
 marks of severe punishment, and 
 when he opened his lips to speak a 
 yawning cavity denoted the absence 
 of two front teeth. 
 
 "Now, what have you two fellows 
 to say for yourselves that I shouldn't 
 report you to the captain?" exclaimed 
 the steward, critically surveying the 
 sorry-looking couple, and striving hard 
 to control his features. "He ought 
 to masthead you both for twenty-four 
 hours and put you on hardtack and 
 water. Pretty looking objects you 
 are, I must say." 
 
 ' ' 'E called me a liar, " whined Jonas, 
 "an" then 'e 'it me." 
 
 ' ' He stole my bucket and brush, Mr. 
 Masters, " declared Paul, "and besides 
 he has been annoying and insulting me
 
 33 2 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 ever since I came aboard. I couldn't 
 stand it any longer and just had to 
 fight him." 
 
 Perhaps the chief steward had some 
 inkling of the true situation, or, it may 
 be, considered the boys had received 
 punishment enough, for he was a wise 
 man of much experience in handling 
 youngsters. Without revealing his 
 thoughts, however, he sharply ques 
 tioned Jonas. 
 
 "Did you take Yank's bucket? I 
 want the truth, sir!" 
 
 "Ye-es, " came the unwilling and 
 surly response. 
 
 "Where is it?" 
 
 ' ' Under my pew. " 
 
 "Trot it out, quick!" 
 
 The thoroughly whipped bully fum 
 bled under his bunk and presently 
 produced the, missing articles, with 
 the initials "P. T." in plain view, 
 as Paul quietly pointed out to the 
 chief. 
 
 ' ' Now, then, Jonas, " demanded the 
 steward, "what were you doing with 
 Yank's property?" 
 
 "Nothink, upon me sivvey, sir; I 
 took 'em just to make 'im wild, and
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 333 
 
 was goin' to put 'em back harfter a 
 bit." 
 
 The chief eyed him sharply, and 
 although he may have thought the 
 fellow was lying, he hadn't the heart 
 to punish him further, for Jonas pre 
 sented a most pitiable exterior. But 
 discipline must be maintained, and 
 his voice assumed its severest expres 
 sion as he continued: "Very well, 
 sir, I'll take your word for it, but 
 mark me, boy, if I hear of any fur 
 ther trouble I'll lock you up in the 
 lazarette long enough to induce a bitter 
 repentance." Then turning to Paul 
 he added: "I want no more fighting 
 aboard this ship; if you can't get along 
 without that just report to me, and 
 I'll find out the reason why. Scully, 
 I shall hold you responsible for the 
 actions of Jonas and Yank, and shall 
 expect you to keep order down here. 
 Do you understand?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "All right, then get to work lively. 
 As for you, Jonas, don't show that 
 face of yours in the saloon until those 
 eyes look half-way respectable. Yank, 
 wash off that blood and go to work,
 
 334 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 and don't let me catch you disabling 
 any more of my help or it may go 
 hard with you." Then turning hastily 
 to conceal a smile, the firm but really 
 good-hearted steward sought the deck 
 above. 
 
 And peace reigned again in the glory 
 hole. Evidently Bricksey had no de 
 sire to run foul of the ' ' American 
 privateer," as some of the boys dubbed 
 Paul after his battle, for he maintained 
 a respectful distance, and took good 
 care to keep his mouth shut. As for 
 Jonas, he was as mum as an oyster; 
 no amount of chaffing could elicit the 
 slightest response from his closed lips. 
 He had learned his lesson, and was 
 disposed to profit by it, in all of which 
 Paul secretly exulted, for he was nat 
 urally a peaceable lad, and had no 
 desire to get into further embroilments 
 with his shipmates. 
 
 So a truce was declared and the 
 wounds gradually closed, but the great 
 fight was a fruitful topic of conversa 
 tion in the glory hole for weeks after. 
 To this day the old-timers tell the 
 newly joined cockney of the pitched 
 battle they once witnessed at 5 o'clock
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 335 
 
 in the morning between a big chap 
 named Jonas and a plucky young 
 American called "Yank," and when 
 they are asked which whipped they 
 shrug their shoulders and say, ' ' Well, 
 Yank went to work that same morn 
 ing, but Jonas didn't show. up on deck 
 for three days." 
 
 The third day of July was the third 
 Sunday at sea, and as the Chimborazo 
 drew nearer the line the sun beat down 
 with intense fervor. But a good breeze 
 blew which made living just endur 
 able, and as the passengers stood bare 
 headed on the upper deck listening 
 to the service read by the captain 
 Paul thought he had never seen a 
 more attractive picture. The ocean 
 was like glass, the quarter deck as 
 spotless as successive holy-stonings 
 could make it, and the sailors, in 
 their bright blue jerseys, grouped 
 among the passengers, lent just the 
 requisite amount of color to the scene. 
 The canvas, flapping lazily overhead, 
 Paul likened to white wings of peace 
 outstretched above the worshipers as 
 if invoking a benediction. 
 
 Fourth of July the Chimborazo
 
 33 6 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 crossed the equator. For days pre 
 vious Paul had inwardly determined 
 to celebrate, and, although he was 
 the only American on board, he felt 
 that he must not let the day pass 
 without some attempt at glorification. 
 Accordingly he invested nearly all his 
 tips in lemonade, mild bottled beer, 
 pipes, tobacco and cigars, intending to 
 give a feast to his comrades. From 
 the kitchen he begged a quantity of 
 sandwiches, and the pastry cook agreed 
 to smuggle down a lot of goodies from 
 his cupboard. There were no formal 
 invitations extended. From the "copy" 
 furnished by Paul the purser's clerk 
 engrossed a handsome page of fools 
 cap in red and blue ink on white paper, 
 bearing the general invitation, which 
 the lad tacked up on the centerpost 
 in the glory hole. Its composition af 
 forded the boys considerable amuse 
 ment. Even the lofty captain deigned 
 to smile when at inspection the chief 
 steward called his attention to the odd 
 announcement. The notice was couched 
 something like this:
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 337 
 
 AT SEA. 
 
 July 4, 188 
 
 ORIENT S. S. CHIMBORAZO. 
 
 THE AMERICAN EAGLE WILL SCREAM IN THE GLORY 
 
 HOLE THIS EVENING AT TWO BELLS, UNDER 
 
 THE PERSONAL DIRECTION OF "YANK" 
 
 TRAVERS. 
 
 ALL OCCUPANTS OF PEWS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED 
 
 TO HEAR THE GREAT BIRD OF FREEDOM SHRIEK 
 
 AND TO INSPECT HER TAIL FEATHERS. 
 
 THERE WILL BE GOOD THINGS TO EAT, GOOD 
 
 THINGS TO DRINK, GOOD TOBACCO TO SMOKE 
 
 AND A HIGH OLD TIME GENERALLY. 
 
 P. S. Guests are kindly requested to refrain from 
 plucking the bird's plumage. Come early and avoid 
 the rush. 
 
 The entertainment was a huge suc 
 cess. Paul was quite a favorite with 
 the boys, and they attended his jolli 
 fication en masse, heedless of the fact 
 that they were asked to celebrate the 
 defeat of the British flag and the 
 birthday of the republic wrested from 
 the hands of their own monarchical 
 forefathers. Paul's speech, too, was 
 enthusiastically received. It was beau 
 tifully short and to the point. When 
 Scully pounded on the center post
 
 33 8 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 for order and asked permission to 
 "interduce" his "pertickler friend, 
 Yank," there was a yell of approval, 
 in the last throes of which the orator 
 of the day jumped on the table and, 
 straddling a plate of beans, waved a 
 hand for attention. 
 
 "Fellow-messmates:" he began. "In 
 my country Fourth of July is a 
 famous holiday; everybody takes a 
 day off then to hear the national 
 bird scream and to see her spread 
 her tail feathers. The eagle, as some 
 of you may know, is our emblem of 
 freedom and is held in much the 
 same regard as the British lion is by 
 all true Englishmen. This is the an 
 niversary of the day when the Amer 
 ican eagle twisted the British lion's 
 tail until he roared with pain and let 
 go his grip of the American colonies 
 forever. The eagle and the lion have 
 been good friends ever since, bar 
 one or two little spats that have long 
 since been forgiven and forgotten. The 
 real American is so closely allied to 
 the Englishman that it wouldn't sur 
 prise me at all if I could trace rela 
 tionship to half you fellows in the
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 339 
 
 glory hole. But life is short, and 
 there are things more pressing before 
 us. As an American I am glad to 
 welcome you to this humble feast, 
 and as good Englishmen I shall ex 
 pect you to sweep the board. I will 
 now propose the health of the Amer 
 ican eagle long may she scream. 
 (Ah! thank you, gentlemen, that was 
 very handsome.) And now, please, a 
 bumper in honor of the well-fed and 
 eminently respectable British lion 
 long may he roar." 
 
 The cheers were given with a will, 
 and as Paul leaped from his perch 
 the lads gave a three-times-three for 
 their host, after which they fell to on 
 the lemonade, mild beer and eatables 
 he had provided. Then the long 
 ' 'churchwardens" were brought out and 
 the pipes of peace puffed until the 
 smoke in the glory hole was thick 
 enough to cut with a knife. But the 
 big ventilator running from the deck 
 above was brought into play, and 
 when the fog lifted the boys called 
 on Paul for a song. 
 
 "Come, Yank, pipe up," they in 
 sisted.
 
 34 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 "Yes, cut loose, old fellow; give us 
 'Yankee Doodle.' ' 
 
 "No, no," laughed Paul, "not that; 
 I'll give you an air with which you 
 are all familiar. Your countrymen 
 swear we stole it from your 'God 
 Save the Queen,' but my people de 
 clare you adopted it from an old 
 Slav air, so I guess that evens it up." 
 
 Then in a clear voice, Paul began: 
 
 "My country, 'tis of thee, 
 Sweet land of liberty." 
 
 The boys listened intently to the 
 end. An encore being demanded, 
 with graceful tact he started "God 
 Save the Queen," which brought all 
 the loyal lads to their feet, and, join 
 ing in with a will, they fairly made 
 the boards creak. Paul's Fourth of 
 July celebration was voted a magnifi 
 cent success. 
 
 Cape Guardafui was sighted next 
 day the first land raised in three 
 weeks, after a run of nearly six thou 
 sand miles. The coast line is very 
 bold and rugged, and is so dangerous 
 that mariners give it a wide berth. 
 In addition, the natives are noted for
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 341 
 
 their treachery and inhospitality, few 
 castaways ever escaping from their 
 clutches. 
 
 Five days later the Chimborazo 
 passed the port of Aden on the Arabian 
 coast, the coaling station for the penin 
 sular and orient steamships, but as the 
 orient liners coal at Port Said, no stop 
 was made. Next morning the big 
 steamer entered the Red Sea through 
 Bab-el-Mandeb, or " Gates of Hell." 
 
 "Sizzling" hot better describes the 
 atmospheric condition on shipboard 
 than any other term, and if Paul had 
 previously wondered at the significance 
 of the Arabic for ' ' hell gates " he no 
 longer questioned its appropriateness. 
 Several wrecks were sighted on the way 
 to Suez, the deserted hulks standing 
 high and dry on the sand close to 
 the African shore. 
 
 Naturally enough the lad was eager 
 to get a first glimpse of the famous Suez 
 canal, that marvelous triumph of engi 
 neering skill which so endeared the 
 indomitable De Lesseps to the French 
 people, whose confidence in him not 
 even the disastrous Panama canal 
 venture could entirely shake. The
 
 34 2 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 white stone government building ad 
 joins the entrance to the great canal so 
 closely that the architectural details 
 could be seen from the deck of the 
 Chimborazo. Vessels going through 
 are restricted to a speed of five miles 
 an hour, which makes a tedious pas 
 sage, particularly as no travel is per 
 mitted after dark. 
 
 At the second station, where the 
 Chimborazo was held over night, Paul 
 and Scully took a plunge overboard, 
 swimming from the African to the 
 Arabian shore. But the current was 
 so strong that when they landed on 
 the sandy beach they found they had 
 been carried fully three hundred yards 
 below the vessel. In returning, they 
 ran along shore until the boat lay a 
 corresponding distance down stream, 
 when they took to the water, and after 
 an easy swim brought up alongside 
 and were hauled aboard. 
 
 From one station to another the ship 
 was attended by brown-skinned young 
 Arabs, who ran along the sandy shores 
 of the canal begging ' ' backsheesh, " to 
 obtain which they plunged into the 
 water whenever the pennies were flung
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 343 
 
 from the quarter deck. Boys and girls, 
 anywhere from ten to fourteen, followed 
 the vessel on a dog-trot for hours, 
 none of them wearing a scrap of cloth 
 ing. Another feature that impressed 
 Paul was the number of small, wooden 
 crosses that lined the upper banks of 
 the canal, marking the burial places 
 of hundreds of laborers whose lives 
 were forfeited during the process of 
 construction. It is said that the build 
 ing of the Suez canal cost the lives 
 of over five thousand human beings. 
 A motley crowd of natives offering 
 all kinds of barter awaited the steamer 
 at Port Said, which was reached early 
 on a Sunday morning. Almost as soon 
 as the Chimborazo dropped her anchor 
 she was surrounded by a frantic lot 
 of boatmen who yelled their wares in 
 execrable English and sold alleged 
 curios to the passengers at ten times 
 their actual value. Big lighters loaded 
 with coal soon appeared, and a gang 
 of scantily dressed fellahs, each pro 
 vided with a ' ' couffin, " or willow bas 
 ket, began trotting up the runway 
 leading to the coal bunkers, into which 
 the contents of their baskets were
 
 344 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 quickly dumped, the procession never 
 stopping for three hours, when five 
 hundred and sixty tons had been de 
 posited in the steamer's hold by the 
 indefatigable natives. Port Said and 
 Singapore are considered the two fast 
 est coaling stations in the world. 
 
 Leaving Port Said in the afternoon, 
 Paul soon had his first sight of the 
 Mediterranean Sea, through the blue 
 waters of which the Chimborazo glided 
 as if her nose already scented the white 
 cliffs of England. The lights of Alex 
 andria were discernible at dusk, but 
 to the lad's great regret no call was 
 made at this most ancient of Medi 
 terranean ports. Past the Island of 
 Crete, where Paul's sainted namesake 
 is said to have been wrecked on his 
 voyage to Rome, and on past the mas 
 sive cone of Mt. -^Etna, with its blue 
 flames dancing upward, steamed the 
 Chimborazo, until the Straits of Messina 
 were entered, Stromboli left in the 
 rear and the Bay of Naples reached 
 at last. 
 
 After a magnificent night spent in 
 the beautiful bay, with a pyrotechnic* 
 display from Vesuvius, that Paul knew
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 345 
 
 was made extra fine for his sole 
 benefit, the big liner lifted her anchor 
 and bore away for Plymouth, her 
 next port of call. The rock of Gibral 
 tar held more of interest for the 
 young traveler than any other spot in 
 the Mediterranean, and he gladly 
 arose an hour earlier than usual to 
 gaze on this historic pile. A glass 
 borrowed from the doctor the night 
 previous enabled him to take a good 
 look at the famous stronghold, about 
 which clings so many old world 
 romances. The signal station on the 
 higher of the two peaks he could see 
 quite plainly, and he fancied he caught 
 a glimpse of a redcoat on sentry duty. 
 Cape de St. Vincent was passed the 
 next morning, and at seven in the 
 evening the bo's'n, pointing to a few 
 scattered lights in the distance, told 
 Paul they marked the location of 
 Lisbon. 
 
 About midnight the Chimborazo en 
 tered the Bay of Biscay, across which 
 she had a good run to Plymouth, 
 nothing of interest occurring beyond 
 the death of a steerage passenger, 
 who was buried abreast of the Island
 
 34 6 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 of Ushant, making the third death 
 during the voyage. The new Eddy- 
 stone lighthouse was passed just before 
 dark, and at eight o'clock the anchor 
 was dropped in Plymouth Bay. Here 
 a few passengers went ashore, but 
 the majority went on up the English 
 channel to Gravesend, where a gen 
 eral exodus occurred. 
 
 Their departure was the signal for 
 an unwonted activity among Paul's 
 messmates, whose speculations for 
 days previous had been based on the 
 size of the tips they hoped to receive. 
 This was a novel experience to Paul, 
 but as he was there as a Roman 
 among Romans he thankfully accepted 
 the largesse that fell to his lot, a 
 goodly portion of which came from 
 the parents of the children whom he 
 had attended so assiduously during 
 the voyage. 
 
 Among the passengers whose ac 
 quaintance he had cultivated was the 
 manager of the Beaver line of steam 
 ers, plying between Liverpool and 
 Montreal. Shortly before Gravesend 
 was reached the gentleman gave Paul 
 his card and told the lad that when
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 347 
 
 he was ready to cross the Atlantic he 
 would help him to a berth on one of 
 his boats. Naturally this kind offer 
 was gratefully received, for the boy 
 had not forgotten the vexatious delays 
 and disappointments experienced at 
 San Francisco, Dunedin and Sydney 
 while trying to "get a ship." 
 
 The crew was paid off at the Royal 
 Albert dock in London, where the 
 lad received his wages account and 
 certificate of discharge, with its accom 
 panying "reward of merit" voucher. 
 This evidenced that Paul Travers, 
 shipped at Sydney as general servant 
 and discharged at London, was ac 
 counted "very good in whatever 
 capacity engaged," and with an estab 
 lished reputation for excellent conduct. 
 These precious documents Paul care 
 fully stowed away as souvenirs of his 
 voyage, always to be preserved. He 
 was back in the glory hole, in fact, 
 placing the papers in his valise when 
 Jonas dropped down the companion- 
 way. 
 
 "Look 'ere, Yank," said the latter, 
 holding out his hand, "I s'pose you 
 don't bear h'any malice, do you? I
 
 34 8 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 was a bit nawsty when you first came 
 aboard, but I 'ope you've forgotten 
 all that, hold chap, 'aven't you?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, long ago," returned Paul 
 heartily, giving the proffered hand a 
 good shake. "When we fought it 
 out and quit I buried the hatchet, 
 and I think you did the same. If 
 you ever get to Chicago look me up, 
 Jonas, and I shall be very glad to 
 show you around. Good-bye, old fel 
 low, remember me to Bricksey." 
 
 As Paul stepped out on the wharf 
 with his satchel in his hand he halted 
 to take a farewell look at the stout 
 vessel, now given over to the noisy 
 steam winches and shouting dock 
 laborers engaged in unloading her 
 cargo. 
 
 "She's a darlin', my boy, ain't 
 she?" sung out a well-known voice, 
 and the next minute Scully had seized 
 his bag and was hurrying him across 
 the dock to a cab he had in waiting. 
 
 "Myke 'aste, Yank," he urged; 
 "honly got 'arf a jiffy to get to the 
 Pig and W'istle, w'ere the rest of 
 the blokes is. Just a little good-bye 
 sort of a blow-hout, you know," he
 
 ABOARD THE CHIMBORAZO 349 
 
 explained, "and we want you to jine 
 us. Jump bin, old chap!" 
 
 Laughing and half protesting, Paul 
 suffered himself to be hustled into 
 the cab, and heard Scully tell the 
 driver to "clap on hall sail for the 
 Pig," at which cozy inn Paul found 
 eight or nine of his late comrades of 
 the glory hole. 
 
 It was a very jolly dinner. Good 
 English roast beef, with Yorkshire 
 pudding and a deep-dished goose 
 berry pie that would have made even 
 Carlyle grin, were the chief concomi 
 tants, with vegetables galore on the 
 side and genuine old English ale, 
 "right from the tap, ye know," as 
 the waiter assured Paul. It was al 
 most dark before the lad finally broke 
 away from the happy youngsters, 
 whose farewells wound up with the 
 ringing chorus 
 
 For he's a jolly good fellow, 
 which his friend Scully had started.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 HEADED FOR HOME. 
 
 PAUL'S desire to get away from the 
 "Pig and Whistle" was due solely to 
 his anxiety to obtain the letters which 
 he knew must be awaiting him at the 
 American Exchange in the Strand, to 
 which address he had directed his 
 people to write. It was after nine 
 o'clock when he registered at ' 'Gillig's, " 
 and on payment of a small sum was 
 accorded the privileges of the exchange 
 for one month. But better than his 
 card of admission was the budget of 
 letters which the clerk handed out all 
 bearing the Chicago postmark. There 
 was one among them that caused his 
 heart to flutter wildly, and perhaps all 
 his boy friends will sympathize with the 
 over-powering curiosity which tempted 
 him to tear that open before reading 
 the home news. 
 
 On the envelope, in bold black type, 
 350
 
 HEADED FOR HOME 35 l 
 
 was printed "The Chicago Mercury," 
 and the easy-running superscription was 
 so clearly professional that Paul knew 
 instinctively it was from Mr. Wilder. 
 He was not mistaken. The managing 
 editor of the Mercury wrote as follows : 
 
 DEAR PAUL Your two breezy letters were 
 received in due season, and were promptly 
 printed in the Mercury. I want to compli 
 ment you on the excellent story of the ship 
 wreck, and to say that it has been favorably 
 mentioned by a number of competent critics. 
 Your visit to Fiji was also well told and 
 proved an interesting feature of the Sunday 
 paper. I am convinced you have not mis 
 taken your field, and if you do not get 
 drowned crossing the Atlantic, that position 
 on the Mercury staff will be ready for you on 
 your return to Chicago. Feeling certain 
 you will need a little cash when you get to 
 London, I am inclosing you a draft for 10 
 in payment of the two articles already pub 
 lished. We have one more on hand, which 
 we shall use next Sunday, and if you send me 
 your New York address, I will remit to that 
 point. Your people are all well, but very 
 anxious to see you safe home again. With 
 warmest regards and congratulating you on 
 your plucky journey, I am, sincerely your 
 friend, 
 
 FRANC B. WILDER.
 
 35 2 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 Paul's cheeks flushed with gratified 
 pleasure. Praise from Sir Hubert 
 was praise indeed, and that the great 
 editor meant what he said was evi 
 denced by the handsome check he 
 inclosed. Oh, it was too good, too 
 delightful, to be true, and for five 
 minutes the lad could do nothing but 
 gaze at the piece of stamped paper 
 he held in his hand. What a lot of 
 presents he could buy for his father, 
 mother and the girls! And how 
 thoughtful of Mr. Wilder to forward 
 the money to London instead of 
 waiting until he reached Chicago. 
 He must write an acknowledgment at 
 once, thanking his kind friend. 
 
 But there were his other letters 
 awaiting a reading, and as Paul 
 glanced at the untouched envelopes 
 he blushed to think how nearly he 
 had forgotten them in the contempla 
 tion of Mr. Wilder's words of praise. 
 For an hour he was oblivious of Eng 
 land, of London, of Gillig's, as he 
 read the closely written pages that 
 chronicled the fortunes of the Travers 
 family on the other side of the Atlan 
 tic. And all were well, too, but, oh,
 
 HEADED FOR HOME 353 
 
 so anxious to get their truant boy 
 back after his long absence. "We 
 read your story of the shipwreck in 
 the Mercury," wrote Madge, "and 
 could hardly believe they were your 
 own experiences. Mother cried, but 
 I told her I was sure it was only a 
 yarn you were spinning just to get 
 your hand in. Own up, now, that 
 90 per cent was fiction." 
 
 "That's it," grumbled Paul, when 
 he came across this frank criticism. 
 ' ' The old story of the prophet that 
 couldn't command respect in his own 
 country. I suppose my friends will 
 believe all the fairy tales I spring and 
 think they are perfectly natural, while 
 at the genuine adventures they'll point 
 the finger of scorn and reject them 
 as rank impositions." 
 
 When Paul awoke next morning in 
 the clean little room of the lodging 
 house to which he had been directed 
 by the clerk at Gillig's, he suddenly 
 realized that it was his eighteenth 
 birthday one year and three months 
 since he started on his long tramp 
 around the world. He decided that 
 he ought to celebrate it in a way that
 
 354 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 would leave a lasting impress on his 
 mind, and, after studying a guidebook 
 at the exchange, concluded that a visit 
 to Westminster Abbey, the Tower of 
 London and the British Museum would 
 make a fitting holiday. 
 
 To the new -world youngster that 
 ramble through the aisles of the cathe 
 dral, sacred to the memory of so many 
 great men with whose names and deeds 
 Paul was more or less familiar, was 
 full of inspiring thoughts. He gave 
 a little start on finding himself facing 
 the bust of Major Andre, whom the 
 sturdy Americans had hanged as a 
 spy, but whom the British revere as a 
 hero and a martyr. 
 
 "Ah! it's the point of view, after 
 all," he mused, when he had partially 
 recovered from the shock. " Of course 
 Andre was a hero in the eyes of his 
 countrymen, just as Captain Paul Jones 
 was a hero in the estimation of all 
 good Americans, and yet the British 
 ers class Jones as a pirate of the blood- 
 thirstiest kind. There are always two 
 sides to every proposition." 
 
 When he came to the plain marble 
 slab bearing the name of Charles
 
 HEADED FOR HOME 355 
 
 Dickens, he stood pensively before it 
 and murmured: " Great master, rather 
 would I have been the creator of Syd 
 ney Carton and Barnaby Rudge than 
 be President of the United States. 
 Your fame is secure as long as the 
 English language is read or spoken." 
 
 The ' ' beef-eaters " at the tower, cos 
 tumed just as in the days of bluff 
 King Hal, he studied with curious in 
 terest. He had read, somewhere, years 
 before, that the term ' ( beef-eater " was 
 an English corruption of the French 
 word, ' ' buffetier, " or attendant, so was 
 not misled when a loquacious tourist 
 attempted to explain that the name 
 was given on account of the prodigious 
 quantity of roast beef they used to con 
 sume in olden times. However, Paul 
 thanked the Kansas City man very 
 politely and did not try to undeceive 
 him.. He visited the room where Lady 
 Jane Gray was immured and was also 
 shown her name, ' ' Jane, " scratched on 
 the wall of the chamber where her 
 husband, the unfortunate Lord Dudley, 
 was confined. 
 
 The damp dungeons below, where 
 dangerous political prisoners were in-
 
 35 6 PAUL TKAVEKS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 carcerated, had quite a fascination for 
 the lad, and as he passed through the 
 river gate, by which route so many 
 ill-starred statesmen were led to exe 
 cution, a vision arose of the courtly 
 figure of Sir Thomas More thanking 
 the governor of the tower for the kind 
 attentions bestowed during his period 
 of imprisonment. The crown jewels 
 were interesting only because of the 
 thrilling story they recalled of Colonel 
 Blood's daring attempt to carry them 
 off, but to the old captured cannon 
 lying outside the walls he gave criti 
 cal attention and spent over an hour 
 trying to decipher the curious letter 
 ing, principally in French and Spanish, 
 that was engraved on some of the 
 rusty pieces of ordnance. 
 
 The afternoon was so far gone be 
 fore he finally left the tower that his 
 visit to the British Museum had to 
 be deferred until next day, when the 
 lad fairly reveled in the antiquities 
 there contained. It would be useless to 
 attempt a recital of what most at 
 tracted him those of Paul's admirers 
 who are interested must register a vow 
 to explore this wonderful storehouse
 
 HEADED FOR HOME 357 
 
 for themselves some day but his en 
 thusiasm was so great that he had to 
 be driven out by the attendants when 
 the hour of closing arrived, and then 
 for the first time in ten hours he dis 
 covered he was hungry. 
 
 The record of the succeeding fort 
 night is one of sightseeing entirely. All 
 the famous nooks about which he had 
 read or of which he had heard were 
 visited, not forgetting the haunts of 
 his favorite Dickens, and including an 
 exploration of Petticoat Lane and the 
 famous Seven Dials. These trips, of 
 course, made some inroads on his 
 purse, but the lad soon learned to 
 travel inexpensively, and previous se 
 vere experiences had instilled a spirit 
 of economy that was highly creditable. 
 On his jaunts about London he man 
 aged to pick up a number of pretty 
 souvenirs and presents to carry home, 
 which he knew would be fully appre 
 ciated by the recipients, and these, 
 together with his Australian curios, 
 made a very respectable and interesting 
 collection. 
 
 But it was a piteous appeal from 
 his mother, written in reply to the
 
 35 8 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 letter sent on his arrival in London, 
 that put a sudden end to his ram 
 bles. It gave the lad an acute attack 
 of homesickness not to be resisted, 
 so, forswearing all further explora 
 tions, he bought a ticket to Liverpool 
 and left London that same day. 
 
 At 5 o'clock in the evening Paul 
 walked into the manager's office of 
 the Beaver Line Steamship Company 
 and presented the card that had been 
 given him aboard the Chimborazo. 
 
 "Ah, it's you, my lad, is it?" ex 
 claimed the manager, coming forward. 
 "Tired of London so soon?" 
 
 "Not tired exactly, but desperately 
 homesick," returned Paul smilingly. 
 
 "And want to get a ship, I sup 
 pose, eh?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, if you please." 
 
 "Well, you're in luck. The Win 
 nipeg was to have sailed at six 
 o'clock, but she is delayed four hours 
 on account of a slight break in her 
 machinery. I will give you a note to 
 her captain, and you can pull out and 
 present it as soon as you please." 
 
 Paul sincerely thanked the manager 
 for his interest, and in half an hour
 
 HEADED FOR HOME 359 
 
 was on the Mersey with a Liverpool 
 boatman, en route to the Winnipeg. 
 The captain was a bluff old Canadian, 
 who consigned Paul at once to the 
 steward, with instructions to put him 
 to work, and before the ship weighed 
 her anchor the lad was cleaning silver 
 in the pantry, having signed papers 
 for Montreal. 
 
 Compared with the Chimborazo, 
 Paul had a very easy time on the 
 Winnipeg. There was no loafing, but 
 with only thirty saloon passengers 
 and very few in the steerage, the de 
 mands on his services were infinitely 
 lighter, so that the trip across the 
 Atlantic was almost like a pleasure 
 trip. 
 
 The first week out the ship met 
 strong head winds and experienced 
 pretty rough and rolling weather, but 
 on the second Sunday the day was 
 perfect, and all the passengers turned 
 out on deck to enjoy the beautiful 
 prospect. The ocean was as calm 
 and peaceful as an artificial lake. As 
 the Winnipeg entered the Straits of 
 Labrador she was obliged to run at 
 half speed, owing to a very thick fog,
 
 360 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 but in a few hours it lifted and the 
 boat went ahead again. This was 
 the only fog encountered during the 
 voyage. 
 
 Early Monday morning, just nine 
 days out from Liverpool, Paul had 
 his first view of the St. Lawrence 
 River. At Father Point the pilot 
 was taken aboard and at midnight 
 the steamer anchored at Point Levi, 
 Quebec. The day following was spent 
 in discharging part of the cargo, but 
 Wednesday morning the voyage was 
 resumed and Thursday Montreal was 
 reached. Here Paul received his cer 
 tificate of discharge, together with a 
 $10 bill for his services, which, with 
 a few presents from the passengers, 
 again placed him in funds and insured 
 his passage to Chicago in case of a 
 failure to receive Mr. Wilder's remit 
 tance at New York. 
 
 But the managing editor had not 
 forgotten his promise, and at the New 
 York office of the Mercury Paul found 
 a brief note, and accompanying it 
 was a draft for $25. A letter from 
 his father inclosed a trip pass over 
 the Erie lines to Chicago, the receipt
 
 HEADED FOR HOME 361 
 
 of which greatly elated the youth, 
 for it meant that he could make good 
 his boast of getting back to Chicago 
 with more money in his pocket than 
 he had at the start. 
 
 With a view to surprising his fam 
 ily Paul purposely refrained from 
 telegraphing his prospective arrival, 
 so that not a soul was present to 
 meet him when the train rolled in at 
 the terminal station at Chicago. 
 Eager to get home, the lad threw 
 his valise into the first cab he saw 
 and told the driver to make the best 
 time he could to the corner of Hoyne 
 avenue and Adams street, where he 
 planned to alight and walk to the 
 house unobserved. 
 
 It was just dusk when Paul stole 
 up the back porch of the modest 
 cottage in which he and his two sis 
 ters were born. A gas jet was burn 
 ing in the kitchen, and through the 
 screen window he could see Madge 
 and Edith putting away the supper 
 dishes. The screen door was un 
 latched, and, pushing it gently open, 
 he suddenly dropped his valise on 
 the kitchen floor.
 
 362 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 Both girls turned quickly, and, 
 not immediately recognizing their 
 brother, gave a short scream, which 
 was abruptly checked by a cry of 
 "Oh, it's Paul, it's Paul!" and the 
 next instant his sisters were folded to 
 his heart. 
 
 Such a crying! Such a kissing! In 
 the midst of which in came their 
 mother to learn the cause of the 
 hubbub. 
 
 Well, there are some scenes that 
 are too sacred to be described, and that 
 meeting of Paul and his mother was 
 one of them. When the lad finally 
 disengaged himself to receive the 
 embraces of his father, who had 
 stood in the doorway watching this 
 joyous reunion, the tears were flowing 
 fast down his face, and the poor boy 
 could illy control his voice. That 
 was a very happy hour for the Trav- 
 ers family, however. 
 
 "But why didn't you write, you 
 naughty boy?" demanded Edith later 
 when they all sat around in hero worship 
 of the prodigal. "You had no busi 
 ness to surprise us this way. Think 
 what a ri^k you ran."
 
 HEADED FOR HOME 363 
 
 
 
 "Oh, he's used to risks," broke in 
 Madge, "besides which joy seldom 
 kills, does it, mother?" 
 
 "I never heard of it doing so, dear, 
 and, you know, 'all's well that ends well. 
 She was stroking Paul's hair as she 
 spoke, but a minute later she uttered 
 a startled cry and exclaimed: "Dear 
 me, here we have been talking two 
 hours, and no one has thought to 
 ask if Paul has had his supper. 
 Why, how thoughtless of us!" 
 
 "Now, mother, don't worry, I'm 
 not a bit hungry," insisted Paul; but 
 his mother had already flown to the 
 kitchen, followed closely by Madge 
 and Edith. 
 
 It was long after midnight before 
 they thought of retiring, and even 
 then they went upstairs and lingered 
 on the landing for half an hour longer, 
 still plying Paul with questions. 
 
 In his own room at last the lad 
 stood, and his first act was to drop 
 on his knees beside the white iron 
 bed in which he had slept since he 
 was a boy of ten. An hour later, 
 when his mother stole in to see if he 
 was really there yet, the moonlight
 
 364 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 #**v 
 
 played across his face, and as she 
 pressed a kiss on the closed eyes she 
 murmured a fervent "Thank God" 
 for giving her back her only son. 
 
 And now, having brought Paul 
 home safe and sound from his long 
 journey of 50,000 miles, all who have 
 followed his adventurous career will 
 be interested in learning how he was 
 received at the Mercury office. Be 
 fore he had been in Chicago twenty- 
 four hours he went down town to pay 
 his respects to Mr. Wilder. With a 
 curious trepidation he knocked at the 
 editor's door, and the next minute 
 was back again in the well-remembered 
 room. 
 
 It was not strange that the busy 
 newspaper man failed to identify in 
 the bronzed face of the sturdy youth 
 the rather delicate features of the 
 lad from whom he had parted sixteen 
 months before. But when Paul smiled 
 and held out his hand there came in 
 stant recognition. 
 
 "Why! Why! Why! Is it possi 
 ble that the young globe-trotter has 
 returned?" he exclaimed with a hearty 
 emphasis. "Sit down, sit down, my
 
 HEADED FOR HOME 365 
 
 son; you don't know how delighted I 
 am to see you. When did you get 
 back?" 
 
 "Last night, sir." 
 
 "Last night! Then you must have 
 surprised the folks, for I saw your 
 father yesterday morning, and he 
 hadn't heard a word since you left 
 London.'' 
 
 "Yes, I wanted to break in on 
 them without any fuss, so I didn't 
 telegraph from New York, but came 
 right through." 
 
 "Do you know, I'm proud of your 
 record, Paul, " said the editor presently, 
 after the lad had expressed his grati 
 tude for past kindnesses; "and before 
 I forget it I want to say that you 
 have well earned the right to wear a 
 Mercury star. When will you be 
 ready to begin work?" 
 
 "Next Monday, if agreeable, Mr. 
 Wilder. I want to visit this week 
 with the folks, and then I shall be 
 anxious to make a start. Will that 
 suit your convenience?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, any time. Get rested up 
 good, and then report to me. By 
 the way, Paul, how about that
 
 366 PAUL TRAVERS 1 ADVENTURES 
 
 money you were to have when you 
 reached Chicago?" 
 
 "Thanks to you, sir, I was able to 
 keep my word. As you know, I had 
 a little over fifty dollars when I left home. 
 Well, your last draft that was await 
 ing me in New York is still in my 
 pocket, together with nearly forty dollars 
 in cash, so you see I have made good 
 my boast." 
 
 Mr. Wilder laughed long and heart 
 ily. "That beats any record I ever 
 knew, " he finally declared. ' ' Left here 
 with fifty dollars in your purse, been 
 gone nearly a year and a half, trav 
 eled upward of fifty thousand miles, 
 and turn up with something over sixty 
 dollars. Why, of course we want you 
 on the Mercury staff; you're a marvel, 
 that's what you are. The Society of 
 Economic Research ought to make 
 you an honorary life member." 
 
 The editor was still chuckling when 
 Paul went away with instructions to 
 report for duty to the city editor the 
 following Monday. As the lad re 
 tired Mr. Wilder exclaimed under his 
 breath: "A dangerous experiment,
 
 HEADED FOR HOME 367 
 
 as I allowed, but it is the making of 
 
 him." 
 
 ****** 
 
 The story of Paul's first adventures 
 ends here. Of his experiences as a 
 reporter and later of his newspaper 
 and literary successes something may 
 be told at a future date. But it may 
 be said that when he first pinned on 
 his reporter's star it was with an in 
 ward resolve to be true to his ideals; 
 to allow no personal prejudices to bias 
 his writings, and to strive always to 
 tell the truth. In this he has re 
 mained steadfast, although not with 
 out many struggles and temptations 
 to secede. In Mr. Wilder he retained 
 a warm friend, who was always glad 
 to give kindly advice to the youngster 
 whom he had practically inducted into 
 journalism and over whose welfare he 
 closely watched. 
 
 With Dr. Tolman Paul maintained 
 a faithful correspondence. The doctor 
 threatens every year to visit America, 
 but so far has never made good his 
 promise, although he is still a bach 
 elor. "Jim" sticks to Australia, and 
 Grand Rapids is the loser by it, for,
 
 368 PAUL TRAVERS' ADVENTURES 
 
 having turned his mechanical genius 
 to practical inventions, he is now do 
 ing very well in Melbourne. Every 
 little while Paul sees a face on the 
 street that is strangely familiar, but 
 so far none of the many friends he 
 made on his eventful trip has come 
 to claim his attention. 
 
 A year after his return home he 
 read that Ethel's father had been 
 transferred from Fiji to a more lucra 
 tive diplomatic post near home, and 
 when Paul goes abroad again he 
 thinks he will certainly renew their 
 friendship. But the lad may lose all 
 interest long before the opportunity 
 arrives. 
 
 Someone suggested to him a few 
 months after he went to work on the 
 Mercury that an account of his tramp 
 around the world would make an in 
 teresting story for all youngsters fond 
 of adventure, and Paul promised to 
 write it out as soon as he found 
 time. But I don't suppose he ever 
 will, do you? 
 
 THE END.
 
 THIS BOOK HAS BEEN PRINTED 
 DURING AUGUST, 1897, BY THE 
 BLAKELV PRINTING COMPANY, 
 CHICAGO, FOR WAY & WILLIAMS.
 
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