Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-09-19


age, and Fife, that's my wife, kind OF
came down on me for my hard luck; and
so, though I'm a sick man yet, Ishipped
to-day. I don't feel encouraged-I feel
as if there was worse ahead of me-"
"Perhaps there is" said Dick to him
self, feeling q feudish delight in the
thought that he would have Elites hus-
band in his power on the high seas, with
only plank between him and death.
He had not sought him out, he had
come to him. There was fate in it.
As he bent over rope he was splic-
ing, pretending to be very busy with it.
Effiie and her husband were not happy
together. So much revenge he had al
ready! The thought cooled him more
than any other could have done.
Later in the day he found himself say
ing thata man might we'll leave one who
had wronged him to the justice of Heaven.
That sooner or later he would find him
self satisfied.
Among other things Ralph had said
that:
Trouble aud worry and short victuals
had altered his wife from pretty girl to
a mighty plain woman"
The words clung to Dicks mind--he
could not forget them. He wondered if
it were so. After this he saw very little
of Ralph. 1t was in his power, being
much the stronger of the two, to take
advantage of any watch that they might
keep together to throw him overheard,
1.
taking. The once prosperous young
fellow was sick, hopeless, and forlorn;
and one night, as Ralph painted over
hard task, to which he was not equal,
Dick, yielding to some queer influence
that came upon him, asked the Captain
to let him take his place, change with
him.
''My work is easier done bya man
short of breath, he said.
''Do as you please" the Captain re-
Piled, gruff1y. "That's stupid lubber,
ANYHOW. Sick fellows should stay a.
shore"
Dick said: THANK ye." And per-
formed Ralph's task.
The poor fellow was grateful, and told
the story of Dicks kind deed to every
one.
"When that asthma comes on me Pm
no good" he said. ''He saved my life
that night"
"Im foolp' Dick said to himself, but
he continued to be one. Instead of max
ing the poor, sick fellows lot harder, he
helped him in thousand ways and the
example being set, it got to be the fash
ion to spare Ralph, to speak of him as
''That poor chap!' and favor him in
every way.
"Here's fool for you," said Dick, as
he looked in his queer little round glass
The voyage was not a lucky one. The
Captains ventures were not successful.
He solaced himself with drink, and lay
tipsy in his berth on the night when
storm, such as few live to tell of, broke
over them.
For two awful days the wind and
water did what they choose with the
Betsy Belle. Then, in the worst of the
tempest, they took to the boats. As
Dick, having helped to drag the tipsy
Captain into one, was about to take his
own place, forlorn figure stretched out
its arms to him. In dumb show, for
words coula not be heard, it indicated it
had hurt itself, and needed hslp to gain
the boat.
"Dont leave me-" its hollow eyes said;
''give me chance"
The miserable thing was Ralph Hollo-
way, covered with blood, faint with pain
and horror.
Revenge, why, here it was offered to
Dick. He could cast away those cling
ing hands, jump into the boat, and leave
the man who had stolen his sweetheart
to his wretched death. He could look
back as he left the ship, and see him in
his misery stretching out imploring hands
toward him. Yes, he could. What he
did was to take the miserable being on
his back, and risk his life to tumble him
into the boat.
''She's too full already" yelled oae
man-"too full by a hanged sight!'
''It's the sick one, mates!" roared
Dick. And when there was calm enough
he tore his own garments to bind Hollo-
ways wounds.
Storms do not last forever, but when
the gale subsidized and the scorching sun
shone down, and they tossed about,
knowing that the time must come when
biscuit-bag and water-keg and brandy
flask must be empty-then came the
worst horror of all. They doled the bis
cult out by crumbs, the water by drops,
but even so it would not last forever.
stDlck. good friend" said Ralph one