Ensign Merrill — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

' See 6 Beka a a rae are . cd * ¥ 4 - mf eu ‘ff a . ‘ 2 eae wed oe eye, aad he was tee on. the nine of enrolling them, when, chancing to glance up, he noticed a tall man with bushy whiskers in the group. Like a flash the mysterious stranger of Patrick’s story came into his mind. Could it have been true, after all? And wasitthis the man who had caused the explosion? At the thought, Mark half-rose from his chair, but the absurdity of the thing caused him to smile at his fancy, and he proceeded with the ceremony of enlistment, slightly ashamed. He could not resist following the man with his eyes, however, as he left the bridge, but the fellow, who had shipped under the sanguinary name of ‘‘John Blood,’’ proceeded about his business, apparently unaware of the attention he had created. In the worry and bustle of the next few days, the ensign forgot the incident, but it was destined to be recalled in a most startling manner later on. Twenty-one of the men were added to the crew, and the balance returned to the bund. Later in the same day enough seamen to completé the roster were re- eeived, and Merrill closed the books with a sigh of — relief, satisfied that he had a fighting crew. Little by little the various details of preparation were com- pleted, the engines placed in thorough repair, provis- ions and coal taken on board, an extra supply of the latter being placed on the berth-deck, the crew drilled — sufficiently for present needs, and at last one morning, just four weeks after the eventful meeting in the office of the firm, the good ship Badger lay with steam up and anchor apeak ready for her adventurous voyage among the pirate-cursed islands of the Yellow Sea. Grouped on the bridge were the five members of the © Secret Company, and the two young officers. The latter were clad in undress naval uniforms, and wore — da 4 : Oe Se Oe . . V - y a Re Site ys Cues = Weick a a ra . Wy ; CBs > ee ‘ “ft } : ; ~ swords perepped to their waists in regulation bod e. REomicbooks €o