The Penn's Grove record., 1888-06-23
cynical explanation of the pretty quad

rooms preference for the latter.
Though it was quite evident that
they were not on the best of terms,
c%uriously enough, Pepper and Pepper,
as far AS such things are possible on
shipboard, were inseparable. They
slept in Il of the double berths, were
always the first in the rigging, and side
by side on the footropes in shortening
sail; or, in heavy weather, il Pepper
was steering and another hand was
wanted, Pepper was generally sent to
the lee wheel.
What the poor, half clad fellows for
ard must have suffered on that passage,
when we of the afterguard. with an
abundance of warm clothing, could not
begin to keep comfortable, can hardly
be put into words.
Doctor Maddox, Mr.. Andrews and
myself sent every rag we could spare
to the f%orecastle, but many a night I
have seen Smith, who was worse off
than any of the rest, standing at the
wheel In a piercing nor'wester in his
water-soaked suit of broadcloth, the
long, dOuble-breasted frOck coat but
toned tightly about him, its folds
actually frozen stiff, while the crown
of his tall hat, from which the brim
had long since departed, was pulled
dOwned yer his ears like an extin-
guisher.
Like most winter passages, gale sue
ceeded gale, with sleet and snow, iced
up rigging, stlffened sails and slippery
i~eck-load, forming a combination of
misery in the shape of hardship and
suffering which the mind of the ordi.
nary landsman can conceive.
1t was not until two or three days
betore sighting Cape Clear that the
weather moderated to a marked de-
gree, and even then we could carry
nothing above topsails.
Pepper and Pepper had not spoken
together for some days. The men
had heard them quarreling together In
an undertone while lying in their berth
in the watch below, and a moment or
two later Pepper was pitched uncere
moniously to the floor, his head strik-
ing the corner Of a sea-chest in the
fall, making an ugly cut on the fore
head.
At the sight Of the blood, Peppers
anger cooled in a moment, and IN
every way possible he tried to atone for
his sudden ebullition of passion, but
without avail.
Pepper sullenly refused every at
tempt at reconciliation, selected an
other berth, and in various ways made
1t PLAIN that his former friendship had
changed to enmlty.
AS Is customary on shipboard, in reef
ing or slowing the heavy mainsail or
f~oresail, the strongest and most active
men are stationed in the quarter of the
yard on either side of the second mate,
who Is in the sings of the yard, in
order to more readily pick up the
''brunt" or heaviest part of the sail.
We had hauled the bark's head up
for the cape. which we were hoping to
sight on the following day, when the
wind suddenly shifted to the eastward,
and began to blow as only it can in the
chops of the channel.
Well, we could do nothing but lay
to till the gale abated or the wind
changed; 20 another shortening sail
job was in order. The courses we're
hauled up, malnsall slowed, and all
hands were on the foreyard battling
with the Stating foresail, which was as
oeiIi VIII lCc 10 q pIt vi udll-iuCu
board.
Pepper was next to Mr.. Andrews
and Pepper was beside him. After
nearly half an hours hard fighting, the
icy canvas was secured. the ''brunt''
bundled up, and Pepper. standing on
one arm of the yard-truss, with his
knees pressed against the sail, was
hauling the gasket tight with both
hands, when 1t suddenly parted, and
he fell backward to the deck below,
striking in such a way that his neck
was broken instantly.
The body was carried into the car
psnter's shop and laid on the floor, and
by midnight the bark. under lower top
sails and fore-staysail, was hove to in
as ugly a sea as can be imagined.
l had sent the watch below, and was
on the point of kicking off my boots
and laying down IN the cabin lounge
for an hours doze, when some n
tapped at the outer door.
''COme inl" l shouted, Grossly.
And in obedience to the summons.
Jerry Pepper entered, his one available
eye steadfastly refusing to meet my
own.
swell, what is 1t, Jerry?" 1 asked,
impatiently, as he stood twisting his
soaked sou'wester hat between his fin
gers, his gaze directed on the floor.
"Cap'n," said he, in a duh, monoto-
nous voice, occasionally moistening his
dry lips with his tongue In a furtive
way. 'Jlm Pepper, what met with the
accident, was a chum o. mine this last
three year. A couple o. days or so
ago, we had sons words. l don't
mind tellin' you it began about a girl
down to Nassau that we both took a
likin' to. But that amt neither here
nor there. I'd give the whole world,
il | had 1t, to bling Jim to life ag'in,
and have him say he forgive me-"
Here Jerry stopped, with a face as
pale as ashes. and gave a quick, nerv-
Gus glance over his shoulder. Then
drawing a long breath, he bent his
eyes on the floor, and went IN:
maybe 1t sounds kind o. fool talk,
but I'd like for to do what little there
is left to do for Jim rather'n any of
the others should. He was like a own
brother to me, sir"-and Jerry's ve'
was hard and husky-"and Id
as a big favor if you'd 81"
vas and lemme me sew up
ready for launchin' oY I'D to NOR
rer."
Well, there was no particular reason
why l should refuse the request. The
mate and myself had seen at a glance
that the sailors neck was broken, and
death had ensued simultaneously; aud
as some one had to perform the last
services, it might a well be Jerry as
any other Of the sailors.
So. calling Mr.. Andrews, 1 told him
to hunt out sufficient sail-cloth and
give 1t to Pepper, who, after receiving
it, took his palm, needle, Irvine and
lantern into the carpenters shop, pulled
to the door. and began his unpleasant
duty.
Toward daybreak the gale abated,
and the wind backed into the north
and west again.
At eight bells we rugged the grating,
and committed Peppers body to the
deep in the usual manner
n,t IN hia hurry or AGITATION his