Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02


the wharf shortly before the boat cast off
and with curiously mixed feelings watched
Ethel and her mamma half buried under
gay flowers, trip across the gang plank,
followed by Jones bearing large bunch OF
bananas.
A lump arose in his throat as he realized
there was a sharp line drawn between them
now that would effectually end all further
intercourse. and he dreaded the hour when
they must meet He found himself specu-
lating how his former jolly comrade would
act when she encountered him at work
scrubbins the deck or engaged In some like
mental labor. Struggling his shoulders he
rejected it was only part of his experiences
and his native philosophy again came to his
aid.
Paul was assigned to duty with the port
watch and by the time he had served a
week before the mast he was thoroughly
imbued with tie deep religious convictions
Dana experienced when he sailed around the
Horn. The same sentiment peryaded the
City of Sydney. 1t was:
Six days shalt thou labor and do all thou
art able,
And on the seventh-holystone the main
deck and scrape the cable.
Paul's Efforts at "sailoring'' were con-
hned Chiefly to scrubbing the deck clean
ing palntwork. polishing brass Ornamental
tlen, ana shifting cargo in the hold, ali of
~hlch was pretty hard manual labor to the
tenderly-reared youth.
But he never shirked his duty nor shrank
Ircm IT, no matter how dista steful the
work He had one solacing thought hat
kept nm ever cheerful. He knew the dis
comforts were but temporary, and was pre-
pared Tor stoical endurance until the shin
reached sydney harbor.
Inc hardest task to which the embryo
sailor was assigned was In handling cargo
IN the shlps hold on hot afternoons when
tne thermometer registered anywhere from
10 TO ITO degrees. The youngest and tender
est or any in his watch, he was expected to
WCrk alongside the toughest old stagers
ana stiil make as good a showing as they
stripped to the waist and perspirinz at
every pore he would yet manage to Conn
press his lips into a grim smile and try to
thlnk that In another month the agony
would be over and he would be Laughing
in real earnest.
Sometimes his back ached so friphtf,,l,v
and his tongue was SO dry and parched
that ne felt he must drop in his tracks be-
lore the hour of relief arrived. But he was
100 proud to complain and by grittlng IT
rough service.
When resting in his bunk, after such
spells, he decided that the lad who is lis
SATISFIED with his home and yearns TO be-
come sailor has only to ship aboard an
ocean steamer for voyage to the South
Paclnc to have the nonsense knocked out
OF him. One trip, he thought, would be
sufficient unless the lad We're made of extra
stern stuff.
Perhaps Paurs severest test came when
ne was first sent aloft. 1t was the second
night out from Honolulu. Going on deck
at eisht bells, midnight. he was ordered up
with the rest OF the watch to furl the sails
"hlch strong head winds rendered useless
A small sized gale was blowing above
and the glance Paul threw upward sent his
heart into his boots. He looked around for
a hiding place and found it behind a coil of
rope, which hung from a behaving pin Just
as he was disappearing in the gloom the
second mates voice rang out:
1ou young scamp. come out o. that or
I'll skin We alive. Hump yourself, now"
The culprit meekly crawled forth.
Now, then, jump into them shrouds un-
less We want the toe O. my boot along yer
spine. No skulking here. Pile up there In a
hurry!'
Paul stole a glance at the mate--the lit
tie bulldog the sailors had dubbed him
noted his heavy sea boots and concluded to
follow the rest of the port watch. With
his heart in his mouth he sprang into the
rigging and slowly and cautiously made his
way into the maintop.
Here the sailors lay along the yard Ia king
In canvas. and when they saw the green
hcrn creeping along the footrope they gave
him characteristic reception.
Hang on with your eyebrows, johnny
Bet he's glued to the ropes,"
somebody throw him fishline.
Put half hitch round him.
1t was good-natured banter II q little
| meantime the wind was whistling about his
ears and singing a tune in them that might
as well have been a dirge. for Paul never
expected to get back alive. However he
kept his teeth tightly shut and doggedly
took UP a position on the precarious foot
| rope which seemed like pack thread to
his excited ina gination.
! Over the boom he bent, and with one
hand grasping the jackstay employed his
! right in scooping in sail. Still higher up
was another portion of the crew taking in
I the main-top-gallant-sail, but for a first at
tempt Paul concluded he had done enough,
and he had no ambition to Join them.
| Waiting until all the sails We're neatly
furled. he crawled out to the end of the
yard and began the descent
AS he had scorned to take advantage of
the lubber's hole in ascending he gave IL as
wide berth going down and bravely swung
himself into the futtock shrouds until his
body assumed the shape OF an overturnc ed
| triangle. For a moment he hung in SPA ce
then his feet caught the ratlines and his
hair began to resume it's normal condition
With his heart beating like trip-hammer
he reached the lower shrouds, and Jumped
to the deck, where he leaned heavily
against the bulwarks to steady himself.
! But the bulldog" was laying for him.
Hello? Skulkin' again, chr exclaimed
the mate, catching sight OF Paul's trem.
bling figure. Blast my buttons IL I don,