The herald., 1897-09-12

his lean, short figure: they talked over
his head; they were dismayed, sur
priseu, aiIu aiisiy, wIAiie t.t..SSl. a. IN.
the little quiet man seemed to have
found his tactiturn serenity in the pro-
found depths of a large experience.
Lights were burning in the forecastle;
now and then loud gust of babbling
chatter came from forward, swept over
the decks, and became faint, as If the
unconscious ship, slipping gently
through the great peace of the sea, had
left behind and for ever the foolish
noise of turbulent mankind. But it was
renewed again and again. Gesticulat-
ing arms, profiles of heads with open
mouths appeared for a moment in the
Illuminated squares of doorways; black
fists darted-withdrew
"Yes. 1t was most damnable to have
such an unprovoked row sprung on
one," assented the master. He didn't
think there would be any further trou-
BILE just then. A bell was struck aft, an
other, forward. answered in a deeper
tone, and clamor of ringing metal
spread round the ship in circle of
wide vibrations that ebbed away into
the immeasurable night of an empty
sea. Didn't he know them! Didn't he!
In past years. Better men, too. Real
men to stand by one in a tight place.
Worse than devils. too, sometimes
downright, horned devils. Pah! This
nothing. A miss as good as mile.
The wheel was being relieved in the
usual way. Full and BY" said, very
loud, the man going off. Full and by"
repeated the other, catching hold of the
| spokes
This head wind Is my trouble" ex-
claimed the master, stamping his foot
in sudden anger. Head wind! all the
rest is nothing" He was calm again in
a moment. keep them on the move to-
night, gentlemen; just to let them feel
we've got hold all the time-quietly,
you know. Mind you keep your hands
off them, Creighton. Tomorrow I will
talk to them like Dutch Uncle. A
crazy crowd of tinkers! Yes, tinkers
I could count the real sailors amongst
them on the fingers of one hand Moth
ing will do but row-if-you please"
He went down three steps, and chang
ing his tone, spoke with his head near
the deck: II shan't turn in tonight, in
case of anything; just call out if Did
you see the eyes of that sick niger,
Mr.. Baker? I fancied he begged me for
something. What? Past all help. One
lone black beggar amongst the lot of us,
and he seemed to look through me into
the very hell. Well, let him die in
peace. He might have been half a man
once. Keep good lookout" He dis
appeared down below. leaving his mates
facing one another, and more impressed
than if they had seen stone image
shed miraculous tear Of compassion
over the incertitudes of life and death.
In the blue mist spreading from twist
ed threads that stood upright in the
bowls of pipes, the forecastle appeared
as vast as hall. Between the beams a
heavy cloud stagnated; and the lamps
surrounded by halos burned each at the
core Of purple glow in two lifeless
flames without rays. Wreaths drifted
in denser wisps. Men sprawled about
on the deck, sat in negligent poses, or,
bending a knee. dropped with one shoul-
der against bulkhead. Lips moved,
eyes flashed, waving arms made sud-
den eddies in the smoke.
"Stick together, boys" roared Da-
vies. Belfast tried to make himself
heard. Knowles grinned in a slow,
dazed way. A short fellow with a thick
clipped beard kept on yelling period
ically: who's afeard? Who's afeard?"
Another one jumped up, excited, with
blazing eyes; sent out a string of unat-
tached curses and sat down quietly.
Two men discussed familiarly, striking
one another's breast in turn, to clinch
arguments. Three others, with their
heads in a bunch, spoke all together
with a confidential air, and at the top Of
their voices.
One could hear: I'm the last ship
Who cares? Try it on any one of us
if. Knock under? Not a hands turn.
He says he Is all right always
thought-Never mind"
Belfast cried once more with uplifted
arms, "The man is dying 1 tell ye!"
then sat down suddenly on the hatch
and took his head between his hands.
All looked at Sullivan, gazing up
ward from the deck, staring out Of dark
corners, or turning their heads with
curious glances. They were expectant
and appeared as If that old man, who
| looked at no one, had possessed the
secret Of their uneasy indignations and
desires, a sharper vision, a clearer
knowledge. And, indeed, standing there
amongst them, he had the uninterested
appearance of one who had seen multi
tudes of ships, had listened many times
to voices such as theirs, had already
seen all that could happen on the wide
seas. They heard his voice rumble in
his broad chest as though the words