The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-11
BEFORE THE WIND.

am land lubber of the first water, if
may be allowed the simile. My famili-
arity with yachting is equal to my per-
sonal acquaintance with prehistoric man
and the more / endeavor to master the
subject the more hopelessly involved I
become. But that does not detract in the
least from the pleasure I enjoy while be-
ing upon yacht-nor does my ignorance
embarrass me. I have stood npon the
sail-halyards and wondered why the sail
didn't come down. ] have sought to hoist
the ensign to the peak and left the rope
(halyard, should say } so slack that in a
few minutes the flag was dropped to half
mast, and every captain in the har-
Dor has called to express his regret
at the sad occurrence. | always throw
cigar ashes and such things over the
wrong rail and received the words of the
skipper regarding the matter with Chris
tian-like humility that well becomes me-
In fact, have the true love of yachting
at heart, and iightness of spirit that
rises superior to the difficulties with
which lubber has to contend, and the
sarcasm that is freely poured out to him.
This explanation is necessary, because the
yachtsmen who read this story will laugh
at the easy way in which / get things
wrong; but write not for the yacht race,
for yachts and races are subordinate to
the little romance in which l took q
hand
Our fleet--that is, the fleet of the Deep
Bay Yacht Club-was on its annual cruise
up Long Island sound. Twas guest upon
the sloop Dawn, and had the captain and
owner not been great friend of mine, l
fear that l might have been put ashore
early in the cruise and left to get home as
best l could. A race straightaway across
the sound was arranged for the second
day. and the boats all lay at anchor in
Blackfish harbor, off the little town of
Nutmeg, same state. There were but two
forty-footers in the fleet--the Dawn was
one and the Foam the other-and be-
tween the two captains strong
friendship and an intense rivalry
existed. Until late in the night we
were discussing the race between our
two boats. and heavy odds were laid
on each. There was q good breeze, blow
ing early on the day of the race, and we
all tumbled upon deck about o'clock in
the morning. l may be allowed to state
just here that the crews of the boats were
all amateurs. and as l wassuperIative in
that degree / did land duty whenever it
L
went ashore to rep!enish the water barrel.
The skipper rowed with me over to the
landing place, where he was Joined soon
after by the captain of the Foam, while I
took man in tow to gather the water.
While working thus, In very ordinary
clothes. a horse and buggy came fying
down the road, and when the driver saw
me he mistook me for a boatman Il have
since pardoned the mistake--it was balm
after being so long assailed as a lubberl
II say, he cried, pulling up his horse.
Long Island right away" and az he spoke
he glanced nervously up the road
We'll. no" answered, al am aboard
ayacht."
''Do you see him ?" interrupted a sweet
voice from beneath the hood of the buggy.
and for the first time l noticed q girl
within.
"No-no," the man replied soothinsly,
and then he turned To me.
''Can you not aid me? 2" he asked; 81 am
er--er--"
saw it in moment-the pair had
eloped and papa was probably close be.
hind. A thought flashed through my
mind, and first ventured to ask-"Do
you want minister?''
Yes" the man answered, ''but / must
get into Long Island first-the old man is
too near for fun"
ooh, Henry" called the girl, and hear
ing her voice again decided me.
Come" said. this way" and in a
moment the pair mad left the buggy and
were following me to the dock Charley,
our skipper, stared as l came up, but |
motioned the two in the boat. and in a
moment had told him of the case. 1t was
just as | knew, and lie tumbied in after
me, leaving the captain of the Foam to