The herald., 1894-03-29
OVERHEARD.


and tried hard to swamp her.
They would have done it, too, only her
skipper brought her to the wipi 500
miles to the southland Of the Hou'4 She
lay hove to like duck, aud { n the
first big smother, when the helm was put
up, as dry. as a cork.
1t is not every ship that will do this.
But the Assyrian was one of them.
She rode gently up one big watery
slope and down the next yawning val
ley--down, till her white t'gallant cross
trees looked black in the shadow cast by
the green hill, then up again into the
cold southern ocean sunlight.
The wind howled and shrilled through
the rigging, bare and stiff, and swept
along the yards in vain attempts to tear
the canvas from it's gaskets, and failing
miserabIy swooped down with wild
roar on to the tarpaulin stretched in the
lslizzen rigging, which it f1attened till
the ratlines showed through it like the
ribs of skeleton.
1t was blowing as it only can blow
down there--fve or six gales lashed to-
gether with round sennit.
One watch, sea booted, oil skinned and
mittened, was hanging about for'ard and
wnder the break of the foc'sle.
The other one had turned in, all stand
ing and ready for call. In such weather
no man knows from minute to minute
what may happen.
1t was bitterly cold. The skipper and
the chief were below. The second mate
stamped the poop, squirting doubtfIAly
every time he turned aft at the great sea
mountains which curled bullying up,
overhung the taffrail for minute and
then, as the ship rose, rolled away with
q deep, hoarse below Of disappointment.
To leeward, over the white, soapy
swirl Of the breaking comberS, swooped,
fluttered and screamed flock Of molly
hawks and cape pigeons, while few al
batrosses sailed majestically around.
Presently the second mate, coming to
the poop rail, sang out, "Johnson"
"Aye, aye" came back from the group
for'ard as man lurched aft.
"There's an Irish pennant on the star
board fore t'gallant brace, johnson, said
the second mate. Cup you4go an get it
off. Look slippy, nowr'
The man, tall, rawboned, powerful
''bluenoso," got onto the rail, and stand
ing there, with his hand ON the shear
pole, said disgustedly: "Another work
up job! HAHN agen, is you, you greaser
hound, a-sendin a man on a boys er-
rand"
"None O. yer hpl'' exclaimed the sec
to- ora1xr fr,- hn sr1n
temper, the steward having stopped his
grog. "None O. yer lip, or I'll log yery
"If 'twasn't that I don't want bad
discharge out of her." retorted the other,
slowly beginning to climb under the gale
which pinned him to the rigging, "Td
come over an kick yer head of. But
when get ashore I'll hang for your
This in such tone of deep conviction
as allowed of no doubt whatever. And
SO the ''greaser" appeared to think, for,
without arguing the point, he resumed
his walk, and the other his long, unnec-
essary journey.
And all hands or'ard, having nothing
else to do, watched the yellow figure like
some great lizard blown fat into the
shrouds and crawling up them ratline
at time.
"Ughr' exclaimed one. cts sneezer
up therel Wonder how Mr.. Greaser
hisself I'D fancy it, Reg'lar hazer, e isl
An 'es allus 'ad down on Dan"
"a man as nd send another up there
when it's a-freezin fit to cut the top
hanks off a Greenlandman's jib amt got
the feelin's of cannibal savidge!' re-
marked another, ''an all for the sake O
bit O parcelin as wouldn't tie up sore
finger"
"Never mind" put in a third sooth-
ingly as he shiyered. "Another week or
two, an we'll be doin the toff around
Lime-us, dressed up to the knocker an
a-smolxin of our seegars, 'orty an hinde-
pendent, don't-care-a-damn. An no more
sea for this chicken. I'll go a-costerin,
with barrer an big lump O. hokey-
pokey an a bushel O. rotten fruit fust"
''My vortr' said stout little Dutch
man. sit is plowin as the duyvel oop
sides Janshun haf took his oilskin off
mid in der top"
And then they all stood silently chew
ing and watching the spread eagle yell
low figure as it slowly assembled the top
mast rigging, then Skinned up onto the
topgallant yard, and laying out to lee
ward tried to reach and untwist the lit
tie bit of canvas blown from deck or
stay till caught around the standing part
of the brace.
Twice and thrice they saw him stretch
his full length, holding on to the lift by
one hand. But the futtering rag was
just out of reach.
Drawing his sheathknife, he once
more stretched out. AT that moment
the second mate, also watching, went
over, and without word of warning
let go the brace ON deck.
The yard swung round, and the yellow
bundle crouching at its farthest extrem-
ity darted down for 20 feet with amaz-
ing swiftness; then, seeming to expand
itself to four times its natural size, sailed
gently off to leeward.
'DIan overboardr'
"Oh, you murderin villainw shouted q
couple as they all rushed aft
II thought as how he'd "a hung on an
pulled 1t INTO him." quavereo The second
mate as with trembling fingers he cut a
life buoy adrift.
For moment it looked as if he was to
follow Dan, as the men, with black
scowls and loud curses, crowded around
him