Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-06-10
ON THE LOOKOUT.

Captain William Barton of the ship King
fisher had but one great fault-a violent
temper. His young wife Mabel. who had
accompanied him for voyage to Java,
often begged him to control himself, de-
claring that such temper would yet lead
him to the preparation of some deed he
would bitterly repent Of
Not that he was ever otherwise than kind
and gentle to her 1t was against his men
that he sometimes became enraged. They
all liked him Notwithstanding for, except
when they made some blunder, he treated
them like brothers. They all liked and re-
spected his good wife, beautiful brunette
of 20. The health Of this young woman
was perfect, and she was as strong and
active as deer Having been brought up
near the water, she could handle an oar
with surprising skill, and her husband had
been heard to say that she was an expert
swimmer. He was a sturdy, broad shout
dered fellow, with an arm like black
smiths, a ruddy cheek and clear eye.
His wife loved him deeply, and whenever
she saw him angry with his men she would
hover about him, endeavoring to soothe
him>
Her own brother. Jack Wilton, a youth
Of IL, was cabin boy. His relation to Ma
bel, however, did not prevent his sometimes
being the object Of the captains wrath.
One evening, on an occasion when Jack
was slightly i'll. he stumbled against
bucketful of tar, splitting the latter all over
the deck
"Confound you, youngsterl" roared the
skipper I'm make you stand on the look
out four hours tonight for your awkward
ness"
Mrs. Barton pleaded with him She had
sat up nearly all the previousness night
nursing her brother and she was sure he
had not slept 10 minutes during that time
1t would therefore be cruel to make the
poor boy, who was not yet quite well, re-
main awake 50 long
But, although susceptible TO his wife's
influence, there were times when she could
not move him. lie had now resisted all her
appeals, and at dark made little Jack get
into the long boat and there seat himself to
keep a lookout.
"And mind that you keep a good onel"
said he Don't let me catch you dozingp
"Have you put Jack on the lookoutp In
Quired his wife when he joined her in the
cabin.
"Yes"
. "Cruel" she cried, pouting, the tears
shining in her eyes.
"Whatl You are not angry with me'" he
said.
He put his arm around her little waist,
drew her TO him and kissed her.
"Bluebeardp said she. II ought to pull
your hair"
She nestled in his arms, coaxed him and
pleaded with him about Jack, but in vain.
Then she became very still and thoughtful.
All at once a singular expression flashed
into her dark eyes. She half started, rolled
around in his arms like ball. but said not
aword.
A few minutes later the captain retired
tohis apartment, adj Joining that Of his wife.
He soon fell asleep but awoke three hours
later and went on deck. 1t was a dark
night, and the wind was blowing almost
gale The captain looked leeward, but
through the gloom he could see nothing of
an island the ship had been approaching
when he went below. On making inquiries
Of the officer of the deck, however, he
learned that the island, one of the Feejee
group, bore about mile of the lee quarter.
He now walked toward the long boat, In
which he had stationed Jack Wilton to
keep a lookout.
"If find him vigilant and wakeful, |
will let him have his watch below" he
muttered gently, the dark, pleading eyes of
his wife haunting his mind. "Halloal He
is asleepi" added the skipper as he ap-
preached the form seated in the boat.
In fact, the head of the lookout" was
bowed, and the deep breathing that saluted
the captain was indicative of profound
slumber.
Barton's quick temper was at once
10 ri ha "
vealed form in the boat, climbed into the
vessel and rushed at the sleeper, intending
10 seize him by the shoulder and give him
a merciless shaking, but at that moment
the ship plunged heavily, and In his haste
the captain caught his foot against the
boatmast, rolling it half out of the craft
and falling almost PROSTATE in the boat.
As he fell his outstretched hand struck vio-
lently against the back of the slumberer
who, thus pushed over the gunwale, struck
against the mast, which at once dropped
into the sea- The young lookout went with
IL. pitching head foremost into the dark wa
tera.
Il MAN overboardp shrieked the captain
Nm dismay as he staggered to his feet.
S"Lively there. Back the main yard and
down with the boatp he added, leaping to
the deck.
But Just then a loud, buzzing noise was
heard. Struck by sudden, terrific gale,
the ship went over on her beam ends and
tore through the waters, with the spray
sweeping her fore and aft. An attempt
was made to lower the boat, but It was
dashed to fragments against the ships side.
The wind blew great guns. 1t shrieked
like hyena in the quivering shrouds, and