Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-04
ESkNxA~A~exk1Ske~e~e<D
! The Crew of Yawl Three :
= By W. Bert Foster. 4
SA1n4aS@sAST%NA&ASASe,aS
THRoUGH the fog which lay dead

Of q great SAIL grew SLOWLY. Inc log Il
made It loom into fairly gigantic pro-
portions, for there was little wind stir |
ring. and 1t crept up in ghostly fashion.
Suddenly the blocks ratified, the boom |
creal<ed and groaned as It swung about |
Tor moment the craft hung in the |
winds eye. There was a clatter Of feets |
yawl towing astsrn was pulled up
under the rai1, and three men in yellow
oilsl1inn and vanished sea boots tum-
bled into her.
''Good day to ye, ladsl Drop down
with the tide tonight and Wen pick
ye up OF the hook. r thereabouts."
Mitchell, the pilot in charge of the
yawl. sat squarely in the sternsheets, a
tiller rope IN each hand. Give way,
you fellows" he said, ''if you want to
get TO Gurnett time enough TO have a
yarn with that girl"
''How in blazes can we know where
Gurnett is in this fog2" growled one of
them. bending his back to the ash.
The bow oar laughed. "Terry's sui
Ky" he said. keeping stroke while he
talked. Nina didn't care mooch to see
himlast time he was there-eh, Terry7"
That's he," declared stroke. rough
~. "She was just as glad to see me as
YOU"
''Shut up, CarlI Don't tease the fell
low" admonished Mitchell. "And you
needn't be so touchy, Terry"
you'd be toucby, Mitchell" declared
stroke. swelling with his wrongs. Those
itwo-he and Mina-jabber away in their
own COMPOUNDED lingo. and can't I'M
derstaDd half they say. And I knew her
long before he ever came nosin' round"
he added, ruefully.
Carl from the bow seat chuckled, and
showed r broad, laughing face to the
pilot. shell be mooch obliged for
that" he said ''Then she not have to-
what you call-ship you herself, eh?"
The others eyes blazed with passion,
and he dropped his oar, and, with an
oath, swung about to get at the Swede;
but the steersman's voice recalled him.
What dye mean-you swabi" he
shouted. ''Want TO swamp the yawl?
Grab that oar-quiclxl"
With a shamed face the recreant
stroke plunged his oar again deeply.
1t must have been by the sense of
smell that Mitchell found the long pier
at Gurnett. BE steered the yawl almost
directly in to the steps. although they
snow we haven't more than an hour
TO waste here" said Mitchell, settling
his hat more firmly upon his head. IF
you go to see that girl, Terry, don't We
forget. BE back here in an hour. I'll
go along up street and buy the pro-
visions we was sent for"
Terry turned into one of the little
shops where big Swede stood behind
thecounter. After greetings had passed
between them, Terry looked around as
though he missed something or some
body out of the shop.
"You loolxin' for Nina, eh?" said the
Swede. ''She vas joost gone to de
kitchen. She back will be in a min.
ute"
Nina did not come. The sailor paced
the floor with anxious strides, his
thoughts growing the more bitter as he
waited. She knew he was there and
yet did not come; his hours leave was
fast slipping away. Finally the shop
keepers wife stuck her head into tn,
shop and saw him.
"Ven, yelli" she exclaimed, with
laugh, "iss it your Wy didn't you SAL
so2 Go ridt into de kitchen if you van
20 see Nina"
The sailor followed her directions, bu
as he approached the kitchen door hi
heart failed him. He conld hear voice.
within-Mina's and a mans. They wer
talking in the girls own tongue. an,
Terry's suspicious were Instant,
aroused.
lie strobe forward and threw open tn
door. Nina, her face full of laughter
sat upon bench beside and her ham
was held by-Carl Jansen!
For a single instant Terry stood with
out motion OF speech, then he turne
swiftly and was out of the house be
fore either Carl or Nina regained thei
breath.
When Mitchell came down to the pie
TO which yawl No. of the Halcyon, o.
ficially known as pilot boat s, was tieC
he found Terry there before him. Th
sailor stood like a statue on the string
piece OF the wharf, looking off int
the fog. Mitchell had to speak to hin
twice before he could arouse him.
Then the provisions came down on
truck, they put them aboard, distril
uting them so that the yawl rode ever
ly, and then Carl appeared. Terry too
his oar with a set, white face and wal
ed for the pilots word to give way.
'We've got a nasty job before u.s. sal
Mitchell, gloomily casting off. II hes
there's a lot of loose ice coming dow
the bay. Tend right to business, boy
and don't have any such sl1ylarlzing
you did coming over. Are you ready
The tide had turned and was runnin
out fiercely. Occasionally the yaN
crunched through little ice drift.
Look alive, boys" said Mitchell. 81
ready to back water on the instant
tell you. Some of these cakes we pa
might smash yawl like an eggsht
If we gave 'em the chance"
But as he spoke change had tax,
place. The wind began to whip cloI