New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1894-03-21
OVERHEARD.

run any longer, because the big seas,
running faster than she did, caught he1
and tried hard to swamp her.
They would have done it, too, only he1
skipper brought her to tho wind 300
miles to the southland Of the Horn. She
lay hove to like q duck, and after the
first big smother, when the helm was put
up, as dry as 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
tho canvas from tts gaskets, and failing
miserably swooped down with wild
roar on to the tarpaulin stretched in the
mizzen rigging, which it fattened till
the ratlfnes showed through it like the
ribs of skeleton.
It was blowing as it only can blow
down there-6ve or six gales dashed to-
gether with round sennit.
One watch, sea booted, oil skinned and
mittened, was hanging about for'ard and
under 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.
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 tafrail for minute and
then, as the ship rose, rolled away with
deep, hoarse below of disappointment.
To leeward, over the white, soapy
swirl Of the breaking combers, swooped,
duttered 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, ave." came back from the group
for'ard as man lurched aft.
''Theres an Irish pennant on the star
board fore t'gallant brace, johnson" said
the second mate. "Up you go an get it
off. Look slippy, .now!'
The man, a tall, rawboned, powerful
'bluenose,' 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 q man on a boys er-
rand"
''None O yer lipr 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 yer!"
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, 'sPd
come over an kick yer head of. But
when I 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
bis walk, and the other his long. unnec-
essary journey.
And all hands for'ard, having nothing
else to do, watched the yellow figure like
some great lizard blown fiat into the
shrouds and crawling up them ratline
at time. -.
'.Ughr' exclaimed one. '1ts q sneezer
up there! Wonder how Mr.. Greaser
hissef nd fancy it? Regular hazer, q 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 top
hanks off q Greenlandman's jib amt got
the feelin's of cannibal savidger' re-
marked another, IAN all for the sake O. q
bit O. parcelin as wouldn't tie up q sore
finger"
''Never mind" put in q third sooth-
ingly as he shivered. Another week OF
two, an we'll be doin the tof around
Lime-us, dressed up to the knocker an
a-smokin Of our seegars, 'orty an hinde.
pendent, dom -care-a-damn. An no more
sea for this chicken. I'll go a-costerin,
with barrer an big lump O. hockey
pokey an bushel O rotten fruit fust."
my vortv said stout little Dutch.
man. 1T is plowin as the duyvel oop
sides. Janshun hat took his oilskin off
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 huttering rag was
just out of reach.
Drawing his sheathknife, he once
more stretched out. At that moment
the second mate, also watching, went
over, ana 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
itseH to four times its natural size, sailed
gently of to leeward. SIS
! 80 SSNHo,, I,ryer1,rnn~S7t9