El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-01
Sailor Jim'S Bible.
BY j. q. Curwood.


even before the waT. and ever since then
he had faithfully worn n little leather
bound Testament inside his shirt. He
told the story one bowling night when
most Of the other sailors were drinking
or asleep
"Say." said he. tipping his glass TO an
old man who sat on the other side of the
rough board table. and whose only repu-
tation in the River street place was that
his lucky stars had destined him TO be
born upon the sea, dye r'member tn
hold United States. an 'ow tn bloody tub
done f'r six on 'er crew off tn rocks of
G'org'in bay in 1877
The man who wgas born in the salt
spray of the banks and who was already
booked for the Zapotec of Marine City
for the coming season. hadn't heard, for
that was before rheumatic legs and bad
kidneys had encouraged him to wander
a little bit inland He would like to
know. however, why Sailor Jim so incon-
venienced himself as always to wear the
worn, little Testament inside his grimy
shirt
Il heard she was a right pesky craft"
ventured an overgrown, unnautical lad.
who had sailed n season or two and in
one way or another had managed to pick
up little history.
that was Us name, picked 'er up after
Cleveland parties, who used L run 'er
twice a week L Detroit, 'ad dumped 'er
has owing good rot f'r tn fish. Il
didn't want 'er FIR cargo, did Jason. hand
there was somethin mysterious about our
trip I tn bay. but tn secret died with tn
cap'n, lads. we'en e went down with tn
other five"
The unnautical youth. who was trying
to get his bearing and act ut ease in
good company, awkwardly motioned tn
the man behind the bar.
WET yer whistles. gentsT'
"Sailor Jim WINGED as he listened to
the whistling of the wind and the beat
ing of the sleet against the window out
side. The River Place is n gloomy place
at night. and he shuffied a pack of cards
uneasily.
lows jes' like tn night 1 saw 'er
a-comin over tn rocks" he shuddered.
Listen, Don't she wall like a blizzard
'mong tn ropes?'
1t was late, and most of those who
hadn't gone above were sleeping in their
chairs or half reclining over the tables.
Only Sailor jim" the Zapotec hand.
and the unnautical youth were awake.
"'Twas cold wen we left an colder still
wen we got there" said Sailor Jim"
"A dell o a note did tn cap'n ave in tn
bay. but e paid us like 'alf howners, hev-
axed- Then weather stuck us like
an 'owitzer, an fr almost a week we
bucked an twisted right up ag'in III
rocks. Hit all 'appened one black night
wen tn wind was a-'owlin like creased
fear. tn caP'u e came L me IN seq,
sez e, Jim. m wife is dying"
lis face was mos awful white in tn
gale, an e looked at me so queerlike
that ! tremblcd an stepped back as il a
was an aunt.
lyon will 'elp bout on deck. Jim
sez e L me. kinder 'usky, an then turned
went below
at grew blacker an blacker. lads. an
tn sea was worse than twistin tn 'Orn
in gale. Thar warn't no rain, an tn
sleet died away in tn middle hof tn
night We men 'uddled in tn lee o tn
bul'arll an shouted L one another now
an then L see was we all right. an lis
tened L wat we fancied was tn breakin
an thunder o surf ON tn rocks All at
once one o. tn men up an SEE, SEE e:
My God. we're goini'
'Then e cursed, FIR it jes' come out
O. i'm sudden like. wi no cause, but hit
made us all feel like somethin was up, an |
we 'ugged closer.
"'Barrin tn rocks SEE I. t strengthen |
'em. thar amt much danger
But she was rotten like punk. tn hold |
craft. an they knew it.
ag'in. Twas black has pitch, an e
stood alone in tn bow. but I could ear
tn strange in is vice wen he spoke.
Jim SEE e. she's goin.'
"'E left ag'in, an I knew e meant is /
wife.
Five minutes later I saw her, lads, |
comm straight hover tn sea from tn /
rocks. hits eyes a-gleamin an hits cad /
in tn center of a bar o hame?'
Sailor Jim was excited. He jumped /
from his chair and seated himself on the i
edge OF the rough table.
TWAS an hangel, lads. as God ear /
me, an hangel with air o. fire gold an i
eyes that shot straight at me like daz-
xlin points o. flame. From straight |
hover tn rocks she came. nearer-nearer
-nearer-nn as she foated past on tn |
wings o. tn gale. she seemed Z smile.
lads: smile hat mel
"Sez !, She's dead an Jung Z broken /
'alyard.
'.Then tn lurch come-sounded like
a pumpkin wen We throw hit on n rock.
Hover we went. an
Sailor Jim paused The unnautical
youth was feverish, the Zapotec hand |
interested.
Wen tn wave went over, somethin |
struck my foot an settled thar. Twas
this. my lads. this ere"
Sailor Jim put his hand in his bosom
and drew ont the little Testament He
touched it reverently.
II was tn only one on deck who was |
saved" he said. 81 amt superstitious.
but thar warn no name in hit, an that
seems queer. Hit mout ave been drop
ped
by tn angel" said the unnauticaI
youth.
Sailor Jim nodded