Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-02-05
MET HALF WAY.


ed schooner was the vessel, and Captain
Scudder was properly proud Of her as
she lay alongside tho wharf receiving
cargo aud passengers. She was 10 sail
with twenty souls upon hor--seyenteen
men. two women and lady's maid. At
the last moment the captain decided 20
augment his crew by ono man more.
Ere he made move TO engage one, he
heard = mans voice saying;
"Please tell mo where the captain
isS"
He turned and faced tho speaker who
was a tall, gaunt fellow Of thirty years
or thereabout, with such diiidence of
manner as required somo courage in
him 10 look the captain squarely in the
face. when the latter gruilly said:
"Tm the captain"
The man stood still in an awkward
attitude under the captains stern gazo
as If unable to find speech before SO
fierce glance. He dropped his dull gray
eyes TO the deck and doaed his now
shapeless hat, and spoke, after a gulp.
in a low voice:hat slightly trembled:
IF you please, may work my passage
outY"
The captain was moved by this speech
to faint facial demonstration of amuse-
ment. A pretty sailor this big, shame
faced man would make! The captain
studied the applicants appearance in de-
tail. A homely fellow he was, with an
unhealthy brown hue 10 his skin. a fore
head into wSich some lines of sorrow
had been wrought, rowing eyes that met
ones glance with slightly startled look,
haggard face without whiskers. re-
ceding chin. bent shoulders and a grace
less way of wearing his faded and fray
ed attire. Red hands and long wrists
protruded from the two short sleeves of
his wornout blouse.
"What do you know about sailingY'
asked the captain in a tone of ridicule.
mot much, sir. I've worked with
fishermen. and | know u little about
handling u smack"
II reckon we don't need you. Ever
been on schooner before at ALL"
"Often as a passenger, sir | know
I'm not seaman. but III do anything.
/ want to get back TO my people"
"You look strong enough; but why do
you hang your head like that? One
would think you were a coward"
81 am" said the man. in low voice.
What and you admit itf"
"Yes Why not? rvo fought hard
against it, but can't help Il. make
up my mind to DO brave enough, but
when the time comes for it I'm afraid"
The captain had never met such
character as this before, and he was in
terested. A few other loungers on the
wharf stopped TO overhear the conversa-
ton, their attention first being attracted
by the great height of the man.
Afraid of whaty asked the captain.
81 don't know. Of death. | suppose.
This is how it is: came from home
with comrade: go back alone. One
day when we were out in little sloop a
storm came up, and in n sudden lurch Of
the boat my partner was knocked over
board by the boom. In half a minute
the boat was several fathoms away from
him. He couldn't swim"
"Why didn't you throw him liner"
asked bystander.
because | was afraid for my own
towards lifel | didn't dare 10 let 20
the tiller for moment. stood there
stupid with fear, afraid 10 leave the tiiler
for an instant, afraid of death. felt
like man paralyzed. As the boat rose
and fell ON the waves | watched my
friend struggle in tho sea. saw him
throw up his arms: | saw his face white
with terror; heard him cry out Save
met and then he must have read what
was in my scared face, for he shouted
Coward and sent inc look Of hate as
tho waters covered him up. don't
know how made land, but got In safe
after six hours of tossing, when the gale
fell. I'd give my life. If only could, TO
know that wasn't Il coward, but when
the time comes to show it haven't the
power. You don't know the shame Of
1t, sir. but You would If you could SEQ
that look on my comrades face, and If
his last cry rang in your ears day aud
night. Cowardice is upon me like n
curse. It's the blight of my life, SIR"
Such evident shame and grief were
upon the mans face that all who heard,
including tho captain, were moved to
some pity of his state, and so much curl
osity had he excited in the captains
mind that he was employed for the voy-
age.
When the Warrior hoisted sail al hour
later she had twenty-one souls aboard.
The captain classified them thus: Seven
teen men. two ladies, maid and cow
ard.
The Warrior had good winds at the
start of her voyage. But one night
wind rose and at daylight there was
heavy gale. Whitecaps danced wildly
upon the waters of the sound. The per-
turbation of the sea was becoming fright
ful. The vessel was driving straight on
to q rocky coast. The passengers, pale
with dread of the coming catastrophe,
iashed themselves to the deck or clung
to the rigging Captain ScuddeT shouted
the warning of tho doom of tho Warrior
above the sound of the sea.
Nothing under heaven can change
Ger courser
Yet he and his crew strove neverthe-
less to the last Every ono ON board
knew that the vessel was drifting rapid
ly, that soon she must strike and DO
dashed to pieces.
The sea swept her deck aud broke
over he- masts Seven men hung 10 the
rigging for life They looked ashore.