The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-04-23
MET HALF WAY.

He was the man who came last to
ship as seaman aboard the Warrior, as
she lay i'll the harbor. A fine two mast
ed schooner was the vessel, and Captain
Scudder was properly proud of her as
she lay alongside the wharf receiving
cargo and passengers. She was to sail
with twenty souls upon her-seventeen
men, two women and lady's maid. At
the last moment the captain decided to
augment his crew by one man more.
Ere he made a move to engage one, he
heard mans voice saying:
please tell me where the captain
is?'
He turned and faced the speaker, who
was tall, gaunt fellow of thirty years
or thereabout. with such diffidence of
manner as required some courage in
him to look the captain squarely in the
face, when the latter gruffiy said:
''Im the captain
The man stood still in an awkward
attitude under the captains stern gaze
as if unable to find speech before so
fierce glance. He dropped his dull gray
eyes to the deck and doffed his now
shapeless hat, and spoke, after gulp,
in low voice that slightly trembled:
''If you please, may work my passage
out?''
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 holnely fellow he was, with an
| unhealthy brown hue to his skin. fore
head into which some lines of sorrow
had been wrought, rowing eyes that met
ones glance with a 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 tone of ridieule.
Mot much, sir. I've worked with
fishermen, and | know little about
handling smack"
Il reckon we don't need you. Eyel
been on schooner before at ALL"
/ ''Often as a passenger, sir. | know
i I'm not seaman, but I'll do anything
want to get back to my people"
"You look strong enough: but why dc
you hang your head like that? One
would think you We're coward"
Il am,' said the man, in low voice.
What. and you admit it,
..Yes. Why not? I've fought hare
against it, but can't help it. | make
up my mind to be brave enough, bu
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 converse
ton, their attention first being attracted
by the great height of the man.
Afraid of what" asked the captain
Il 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 q
storm came up, and in a sudden lurch o1
the boat my partner was knocked over
the boat was several fathoms away from
him. He couldn't swim"
''Why didn't you throw him line?'
asked bystander.
Because | was afraid for my OWL
towards life, | didn't dare to let &c
the tiller for moment. | stood there
stupid with fear. afraid to leave the tillel
for an instant. afraid of death. I felt
like man paralyzed. As the boat rose
and fell ON the waves | watched my
friend struggle in the sea. saw hiir
throw up his arms: saw his face white
with terror: heard him cry out Save
me. and then he must have read what
was in my scared face, for he shouted
Coward. and sent me look of hate a:
the waters covered him up don't
know how Imade land but got in SAT-
after six hours of tossing, when the gale
fell. Id give my life. if only could. K