The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-06-14
MET HALF WAY.

snip - Srs1A--21l Elso2I4 LGS " amor, IS
she lay IL the harbo-. = fine two mast
ed schooner was the vessel, and Captain
Sender was properly proud OF her as
she lsy alongside the wharf receiving
cargo and passengers She was 70 sail
with twenty souls upon ber-seveataen
men, TWO women and q la6y's maid 81
The last moment 1hs captain decided ID
augment his crew by one man more.
Ere be made q move 10 engage one. he
heard 2 man's voice saying:
Please tel ne where the captain
isy
He turned and faced the speaker, who
was tall. gaun1 fellow OF thirty years
or thereabout, with such difndence Of
manner as required some courage IN
him 10 look the captain sq1a-ely in the
face, when the latter grufHy said:
I'm the captain.
The man stood sill IN an awkward
attitude under the captains stern gazs
as II unable 10 find speech before SO
fierce glance. He dropped his dull gray
eyes 10 the deck and dotted his now
shspsless hat, and spoke, after a gulp,
in low voice that slightly trenbled:
IF you please, may work my passage
out
The captain was moved by this speech
20 faint facial demonstration Of amuse-
menf- A pretty sailor this BIG, shame
faced man would make! The captain
studied the applicants appearance II de-
tail a ho1nely fellow he was, with an
unhealthy brown hue 10 his skin, fore
head into which some lines OF SORROW
had been wrought, rowing eyes that met
ones glance with . slightly startled look,
3 haggard face without whiskers. a re-
ceding chin, bent shoulders and grace
less way Of wearing his faded and fray
cd attire Red hands and long wrists
Pro-aded from the two short sleeves OF
his vermont blouse.
What do you know about sailing?=
asked the captain IN tone Of ridicule.
Not much, sir. I've worked with
fishermen, and know a little about
handling a smack
81 reckon we don't need you Ever
been on q schooner before al al"
"Of1en asa passenger, sir. / know
I'm not q seaman, but I'll do anything.
Iwant 70 get back 10 my people"
You look strong enough; but why do
you hang your head like that One
would think you were q coward
II am" said the man, II low voice.
What. and you admit it,
'EYs. Why not? I've fought hard
against II, but can't help II l make
I'D NV mind 70 be brave enough, but
when the time comes for II I'm afraid.
The captain had never met such g
- and he s-a-
terested A few other loungers On the
wharf stopped to overhear the converse
ton, their attention first being attracted
10y the great height Of the man
AFRAID Of what asked the captain.
81 don't know. OF death, / suppose.
This Is how II Is: came from home
with oomrsde; go back alone. One
day when we were ont in little sloop a
storm came up, and n a sudden lurch Of
the boat my partner was knocked over
board BY the boom In half a minute
the boat was several fa1hOms away fr0n
him. He couldn't swim"
why didn't Won throw him lineF
asked bystandeY.
Because ] was afraid for my OWL
towards life! / didn't dare 10 let q
the tiIler for a moment. l stood there
stupid with fear, afraid 10 leave the tlller
for an instant, afraid OF death I fel;
ike q man paralyzed As the boat rose
and fell On the waves I watched NY
friend struggle II the sea / saw hin
throw I'D his arms; / saw his face white
with terror: I heard him CRY out Save
1reg and then he must have read what
was in NV scared face. for he shouted
-Cowardg and sent NE look q hate z;
the waters covered him ND. / don't
know how made land, but got Ii safe
after SIX hours Of tossing, when the gale
fen. I'd give my life, If only could, u
know that wasn't a coward but whsI
the time CONES 10 show II haven't ths
power. You don't know the shame O.
II, sir, bat You would Il you could ses
that look On my comrades face, and 1
his last CRY rang II Your ears day and
night Cowa-5ice Is upon ne ike I
curse. Its the blight q ny life, sLr.
Such evident shame and grief we-'
UPON the mans face that al who heard
including the captain, were moved z
some pity OF his state. and 50 much cuT7
osity had be excited IN the captain
mind that he was employed fCr the voy
age.
When the Warrior iaOisted sail AZ hd1
later she had tTyeuty-ons souls aboard
The captain classified them thus: Seven
teen men, two ladies, q maid and COW
ard
The Warrior had good winds al n
starT Of her voyage But one night {
wind rose and al daylight there was
heavy gale. Whitecaps danced Wild,
upon the waters Of the sound The per
turbation OF the sea was becoming fright
ful. The vessel was driving straight O
10 a rocky coast TIE passengers, pal
with dread Of the coming catastrophe
dashed themselves 10 the dark CT clz-i
10 the Rigging. Captain Sc1ddsr EhCuts
the warning CT The doom Of TIE Warrr
above the Sound Of the sea-
Nothing under heaven can chang
her c0urse!7
Yet be and his crew Et-OTs nsvsyfh
less 10 the last Every che On boaz
knew that the vessel was drifting rapii
n, that SOON she must strike and I
dashed 10 pieces
The sea swept her deck and bro1
over her magts. Seven men hung 70 II
rigging for life. They looked asher
Only $50 yards away stood q group {
ISLANDERS. As hslDless 70 succr Those