Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-09

CEere not very well acquainted with Cape
Cod rains, and not knowing that 1t might
last week We sought shelter, and in doing
SO made the acquaintance of our two he
roes, about whom my wife and l had our
first difference of opinion.
We saw a house ahead of us and made
Tor 1t. Even in the driving rain there was
something queer about the looks of that
house Nearly all Cape Cod houses have
nautical look about them, but this one had
more than usual. 1t had all the appearance
of a boat that had been driven up there by
some big gale, and left high and dry by the
recedihg waters. There was fence around
the house and little garden, and the fence
was painted red, white and blue. The
house itself had a curve to its sides, like Il
boat, while Its windows were round and
looked like port holes. There was flag
staff and stove pipe on the fiat roof, and
smoke was coming out of the pipe. The
smoke encouraged us to look for door. At
first there old not seem to De any way of
getting into the place, except by the little
windows, and they were too small even for
my wife to get through, and besides they
were closed. We walked all around the
house without finding a door. The closer
We examined the house the more 1t looked
like a ship, and yet we could Sc it wasn't
ship. One end tapered some, but did not
come to a point for a bow. 1t was much
like ship. though, a house could be. and
still be a house and not ship. Finally 1
raped on one of the port holes. and as the
most appropriate thing called out, ship
ahoy.' / was not much of a sailor, but
knew that anybody who lived in that house
would hear Ship ahoy" much more east
ly than plain Hello There was a stir
inside at once, and pretty soon We heard
voice somewhere up above us saying WHO
hailed?" We moved back little. and then
could see a man on the roof, leaning over
a railing, and looking down at u.s. DO you
want to come aboard?' he said. Because
If you do. you have to come up the ladder
My partner uses the door and I don't
q tn OF yxyifh fb, Cav
your lady climb a ladder, because If she
can't there amt no use of my lettin' it
down"
i told the man we were only hooking for
shelter from the storm.
storm ne said, looking I'D at the
clouds, which were heavy enough, although
II was not raining very hard Just then.
Thls amt no storm It's only little rain.
Taere won't be wind enough to wet
sheet: but here comes my mate, and If you
want to come in he'll show you where he's
spoilt this craft by putin in a door"
With this he disappeared, and looking
Ground; we found another man close by us.
He had short oilskin coat on and hat
DO match. and stumped along on a wooden
leg. On one arm he carried basket. He
was bronzed. pleasant-lookine fellow of
about nifty years. and he took in our situa-
ton at gance. Want to git in out the
wety he began. "All right but you'd bet
ter be gettin' along home. It's set in for a
Few days drippin' strikes me. Howsomever
Wen hI you up with coats as will keep out
the moisture; those little footy rubber
things amt worth wearing" We agreed
with him regarding our mackfntoshes and
ne stumped around to what would ha Ge
reen the stern of the boat had it been a
boat and not a house. and put a key IN a
keyhole- We could see then that there was
Q door there, although 1t was almost I'm
possible to fird the Jennings. We also saw
that higher up was painted in gold letters
the words: 1.-The Emma, Boston. Mass.
U. s. A"
Our host opered the door and ushered us
INTO the cabin OF the dry land vessel 1t
was hard to tall which 1t resembled most
Q room or a cabin. There was q stove for
one thing. which was against nautical
ethics; but then there were rockers hang
Ing brackets and lamps a swinging table,
seagoing-looking charts, and a veritable
companionway going upward. There SEEM
and wide seats Tan around the room. The
little round windows, covered with mist
added TO the ship appearance, and very
little imagination was necessary to feel the
heaye OF the vessel just as We entered.
the little door. at the top of the companion
way or staircase, opened, and the man
who had talked with US from the roof
came down. He had both an arm and n
leg missing. He did not have a wooden leg
strapped on, but one was lying on the
floors He came down the steps hopping on
one foot and hanging to the rail- with his
one hand. He was older than the man who
had let us IN, and had possibly seen sixty
years. although he looked hale and hearty
grizzIed. and tough as an old hickory The
ssa was written all over him IN plain print
written in his clothes and In his resolute
lined face, with its touch Of humor and
candor.
This Is my partner, Cap'n Cyrus Bun
ker," said the man who had let US In, IAN
my name Ii Bunks. Martin Van Buren,
Bunks. We are the nrm OF Bunker q
Bunks Cap'n Bunker 10 . sailor. always