The times., 1897-09-12

ing on the break Of the poop, pointed t.
the westward. Breeze coming, he said,
"square the yards, Look alive, men!'
.'Whas did | tell you mumbled old
Sullivan, Ringing down coil after coil
with nasty energy. Il knowed it-hes
gone. and here it comes.
1t came with the sound Of lofty and
powerful sigh The sails filled, the ship
gathered way. and tine waking sea began
to n,urtnur sleepily of home to the ears OF
men.
That night, while the ship rushed foam
in. To the northward before freshenng
gale the boatswain urDosomed himself
To ere petty officers berth: THE chap
was nothing but trouble,'' he said, from
the n.afaent he came aboard dye re.
member that night in bombay? Been
bullying all that softly crowd checked
the old Eian-we had to go fooling all
over half. drowned ship to save him.
Well nigh a mutiny all for him and now
the mate abused me like piekpocket for
forgetting to dab lump OF grease on
them pianks So | did, but you ought TO
have known better, too, than to leave 4
nail sticking up-hey, Chips?"
And you ought to have known better
than to chuck all my tools overheard for
i'm, like skeary rreenhorn," retorted the
moody carpenter.
A week afterward the Narcissus entered
the chops o the Channel.
Under White wings she SKINNED low
over the blue sea like n great tired bird
speeding 10 it's nest. The clouds raced
with her Tnastlieads; they rose astern
enormous and white, scared to the Ze.
NTH, fiew past, and falling down the
vide curve Of the sky, seemed TO dash
nea,llong Into the sea the clouds swift
er than the ship, more free, but with
out u hume. The coast to welcome her
stepped cut OF space into the sunshine.
The lofty headlands trod masterfully into
the sea; the wide bays smiled in the light;
the shadows OF homeless clouds ran along
the sunny plains, leaped over valleys with
out a check, darted up hills, rolled down
the slopes, and the sunshine pursued therr
with pHtcehs Of running brightness. on
dark cliffs wbite lighthouses shone like
pillars Of light. The Channel elittered Ike
a blue mantle shot with gold and starred
by the silver ofthe capping seas. The Mar
cissus rushed past the headlands and the
bays. OHtward-bound vessels crossed her
track, lying over, asd their maSts stripped
for sluggingfight with the hard sou wester
Andinshorea string OF Sun oking steam boat,
waddled, hugg!rg the coast, Ike migrating
and arnphibious monsters, distrustful Of
the open waters.
The Narcissus, heeIing over to off
shore gusts, rounded the south Foreland.
passed through the Downs. and in tow.
entered the river. A low cloud hung he-
/, ,r.rr-
cloud, that seemed TO rise from the steam
ing brow Of millions Of men. Long drifts
of smoky vapcrs soiled IT with hvid trails:
It throhbed 10 the beat OF millions OF hearts,
and from ii came an immense and lament
able runner the ruRiaF OF millions of lips
praying, 1Trsiug, aEbfnE, jeering the IN.
dying rumor OF folty3 regret and hope ex-
hailed by the crowds OF the anxious cartb
The Narciysus entered the cloud; the
shadows deepened. on all sides there was
the clang or lron,, the sound OF mighty
blows 5, shrielrs, yells-, Black barges drift-
ed stealEhily on the murky stream. A
mad juulhle OF begriIaetl walls loomed UP
vaguely III the smoke, bewildering and
mournful, like vision OF disaster. The
tugs. paating fur;o3isly, hacked and filled
in the stream, TO hold the ship steady at
the cock gates; from, her bows two lines
went through the air whistlinl, and struck
at tic land yciously, luxe a pair OF snakes,
bridge broke in two before her as IL
| iJS enchantnent, big hydraulic capstans
began To turn all by themselves, as though
/ anirts.ted by q mysterious and uRholy spell.
She ncved through narrow lane OF water
between two low walls OF granite, and
niea with check ropes in their hands
kept pace with her, walking on the broad
| flagstones- A group waited impatienuy
on each side Of the vanished bridge. rough
| heavy mcn in caps, saiIow Faced men in
| high hats, tTu hare headed women. ragged
| children, fascInatnated and with wide
! eyes. a cart coming at a ierky trot
pdlled Up sharply. One OF the women
| screamed at the silent ship, Halo. Jacki'
| without looking at anyone in particular,
and all hands looked al her from the fore
castle hcad. stand clearl Stand clear
OF that ropei" cried the dockneIi, ben ding
over stone posts. The crowd muruured
stamped where they stood Let go yonr
| quarter checks. Let got" sang out a
| raddy-faced old man on the qaav Thc
ropes splashed heavily falling in tie water,
and the Narcissus entered the dock
| The shadows of souIless walls fell upon
! her, the dust Of all the continents leaped
/ Upon her deck, and a swarm Of strange men.
! Clamberng up her sides, took possession of
! her in the name OF the sordid earth. She
| had ceased to live.
| A tuff in black coat and high hat
scrambled with agility, came up TO the sec
ond mate, shook hands. and said: Halo
| Herbert" It was his brother. LADY
/ appeared suddenly. A real lady,in blae
| dress, with paraSOl. She looked extreme.
| ly elegantin the midst of US, and as strange
| asif she had fallen there from the sky. Mr..
Baker touched his cap to her. It was the
master 5 wife. And very soon the captain
dressed very smartly and in a white shirt
went with her over the side. We ditlu tree
ognize hiEl at all, till, turning on the quay,
he ecaHed to Mr.. Baker, Remember to wind
up the cironometerst tomorrow morning.
An underhand lot of seedy looking chaps
| with shifty eyes wandered in and out
of The orecastle-Iooking for a job. the )
| said. More likely for something TO steal, y
comnenteC Knowles, ,cheerfulIy. Poor beg
gars! WHO cared? weren'twe home? Bot
| M. Baker went for one of them who had
given him some cheek and we We're delight
cd. Everything WIS delightful I've fin
| ished aft SIR" called ont Mr.. Creighton
NO water in the we'll, sir" reported for
rhe last time the carpenter. sounding rod
in hand Mr.. Baker glanced along the
decks at the expeetant groups of men.
glanced aloft at the yards. '.ough!
That willflo, men" he egrunted. The group
broke up. The voyage WAS ended.