Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-18

thc i.ain yardarms. so that in case the
Su.-,S parted the sal should not blow
away. Ii this had happened intend
ed 90 set the fore topsail and run her
tiE thc storm lost some It's force Mean
Whilr We got another foresai up from
the SailroOm. ready 10 bend and set
in thc first lull tlat came
"Luckly orr main topmast held on
right bravcly. and the stanch shin nev
before the bowling blast into the
pitchy darkness ahead. rolling and Ia
boring heavily. IL is true. bur making
better weather than even the most san
guine Of us hoped for. But il was n
night OF anxiety and grave peril that
/ shall always remember. Only good
seaEauShip on the part OF all hands
saved the ship. II our spars and rig
ging had not been of the best. our
ship must have succumbed in that ter.
rible hurricane.
The pressure OF the wind decreased
next day. Forty-right hours after we
were dying main topgahant sail over
the single rcvfcd topSail. Finally we
made splendid passage 10 Penang
IL was the mos; lucrative voyage
ever made. hut il wasn't until my re-
turn To Salem. some TWO years later.
that felt the slightest compunction
for killing the two foreigners.
1t came about i'm curious way.
always made IL q rlctice ~ hen in Sa-
lem 10 attend the old stone meeting
house yonder on the hill" continued
the skipper pointing TO storm beaten
building N the distance. "and one Sun.
day a strange clergyman from Boston
occupied the pUlpit and preached a
strong sermon on the text. Vengeance
is mine. saith the Lord II electrified
me. II made me realize the extent of
nay oNenSc against heaven. Instead of
numbering my brothers as | did and
making false entry in the log that
they lad been washed overheard |
should have let the law take its course.
| am not sure thai there was any law
that they had broken. as they acted
under the impulse Of terror. and Ia was
the first hurricane in the south Atlantic
they ever had encountered Anyway.
have been much pcrturhed In spirit
ever since | heard that sermon.
feel rs though the curse Of Cain had
bhghted my being and thai the vence-
aAce Of heaven Will fall on me eventu-
ally What think YOU. Shpmate? You
are the first man 10 hear my story. and
II seems thar. now have unhoSomed
myself 20 YOU | feel relieved. DO Won
think shall be forgiven? am 10y no
means superSttiouS. but am much
troubled on this score"
There We're tears in the old sailors
eyes rs he ended Evidently IL was my
business to administer consolation.
slapped him cheerily on the back.
shock him heartily 10y the hand pour
ed him out another jorum of punch.
and then | hailed him thus:
Don't let the matter Of those two
cowardly ours trouble YOU for another
moment You acted perfectly right
and the law would have backed you UP.
An officer of regiment shoots down
towards without the slightest twinge
of conscience. Ii Is part OF his mill
tary training The potroOns YOU
speak of lmperiled the safety of all
hands. They deserved to die. but
drowning was too good for them. They
ought 10 have been hanged You as
captain were entitled 10 look upon
them as mutiueerS and as such guilty
OF capital crime. Had you not kill
ell them you would have been up-
worthy of tue respect OF a brother tar"
There seems to he good sound sense
in what you say. shipmate," was the
captains grave reply. but / am near
er my grave than you may be to yours.
and naturally l feel anxious. What
you have said. however. has given me
much encouragement. but-but still |
always shall regret sending those da-
goes To their death prematurely.
New York Press.