Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-03-22
OVERHEARD.

run any longer, because tne Dig seas,
running faster than she did, caught her
and tried hard to swamp her.
They would have done it, too, only her
skipper brought her to the wind 800
miles to the southland of the Horn. She
lay hove to like duck, and after the
first big smother, when the helm was put
up, as dry as a cork.
It 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 its gaskets, and failing
miserably swooped down with q wild
roar ON to the tarpaulin stretched in the
mizzen rigging, which it fattened till
the ratlines showed through it like the
ribs of skeleton.
1t was blowing as it only can blow
down there-five or six gales lashed to-
gether with round sennit
One watch, sea booted, oil skinned and
mittned, was hanging about for ard and
under the break of the Soc'sle.
The other one had turned in, all stand
ingand ready for call. In such weather
noman knows from minute to minute
what may happen.
It was bitterly cold. The skipper and
the chief were below. The second mate
stamped the poop, squirting doubtfully
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
deep, hoarse bsllow of disappointment.
To leeward, over the white, soapy
swirl of the breaking combers, swooped,
fiuttersd and screamed flock of molly
hawks and caps pigeons, while a 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. "Up you 60 an get it
off. Look slippy, now"
The man, tall, rawboned, powerful
'sbluenose,r got onto the rail, and stand
ing there. with his hand on the shear
pole, said disgustedly: Another work
up jobi HAHN agen, is you, you greaser
hound, a-sendin man on boys er-
rand"
"None q yer lipT" exclaimed the Sec
ond mate savagely, for he was in an evil
temper, the steward having stopped his
grog. "None O. yer lip, or I'll log yerw
eff 'twasn't that I don't want bad
dischargeout of her." retorted the other,
slowly beginning to climb under the gale
which pinned him to the rigging, "rd
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 "sreaser" appeared to think, for,
without arguing the point, he resumed
his walk, and the other his long, unnec.
essarF journey.
And all hands for'ard, having nothing
else to d0, watched the yellow figure like
some great lizard blown fat into the
shrouds and crawling up them q ratline
at time.
"UghF' exclaimed one. "It's sneezeH
up therei Wonder how Mr.. Greasel
hisself nd fancy it? Regular hazer, % is
An 'e's allus ad down on DAN"
"a man as nd send another up there
when it's a-freezin fit to cut the tor
hanks off Greenlandman's jib amt got
the feelin's of cannibal savidgel" re
marked another, "an all for the sake O. 6
bit o parcelin as wouldn't tie up sort
finger"
'Never mind" put in third sooth
ingly as he shivered. Another week OF
two, an we'll be doin the toff around
Lime-us, dressed up to the knocker ar
a~smokincDf our seegars, 'orty an hinde
pendent, don't-care-a-damn. An no more
sea for this chicken. I'll go a-costerin
with a barrier an big lump O. hokey
pokey an bushel O. rotten fruit fust."
my WORTH said stout little Dutch
man. "It is plowin as the duyvel ool
sides. Janshun haf took his oilskin of
mid in der top"
And then they all stood silently chew
ing and watching the spread eagle vel
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 OF
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 ont. At that moment
the second mate, also watching, wen
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 90 feet with amaz
ing swiftness; then, seeming to expand
itself to four times its natural size, sailed
gently off to leeward.
MAN overboardl'
"Oh, you murderinl villain!" shouted 9
couple as they all rushed aft
II thought as how he'd a. hung on Oh
pulled it into him." quavered the second
mate as with trembling fingers he cut |
life buoy adrift.
For moment it looked as IL he was {,
follow Dan, as the men, with blacl
scowls and loud curses, crowded arount
him.
But the skipper and the mate rushet
mp and between, hearing thewhile man.
words hot and bitter.
The watch below, too, came padding
aft with naked feet and sleepy eyes.
q K tl