Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-22
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
Thursday morning, day and a half be-
fore the hour set for the wedding, they
lay at a dock in Milwaukee river. ready
to sail. The sky was heavy and a roaring
wind blew from the lake. II Half a dozen
steamers and two schooners had made
the harbor since daybreak, and each had
story of hard struggling with wind and
sea, stories which spread rapidly along the
docks. causing more than one outbound
captain to shake his head and resolve to
wait few hours or day longer
Hunch had gone out to the Hfe-saving
station at the pier and now at o'clock
he stood looking at the tumbiing white
rollers that came on squarely between the
fore they were spent On the horizon a
row of schooners, barges and freighters
were holding their noses against the sea,
until it should be safe to run for the har-
Dor. A little nearer big whaleback was
tossing and rolling badly. One Of the crew
men watched her through glass. A few
tugs hung about inside the basin, looking
for stray job at advanced rates.
Hunch after looking 1t all over, char
tered tug. then returned to the schoon-
er, where Bruce and Billy were waiting.
He and Bruce had not been laxative of
late
Get everything tight. Bruce" he said,
jumping down upon the deck. Were
going out in half an hour"
How about 1t, Hunch? Can we make
Hunch did not trouble to reply. and
Bruce, as he worked along the deck, watch
ed him nervously.
Before the tug appeared Hunch went
| ashore and crossed the dock to 1.-The
Sailors Friend saloon on the corner.
He returned with jug. which he put in
his bunk, where the bedding would pro-
He always drank whisky to steady his
nerves when fighting heavy sea. In
few minutes the tug came alongside.
"Everything fast, Bruce"
Bruce grunted and Billy lifted the lines
off the snubbin' posts and followed them
aboard.
They went out in tow, on a long hawser
and under bare poles. When they were
half mile out. wrenching and slapping
through the sea and shipping deckload
from every second wave, Bruce came CROP
ing back to Hunch, who had the wheel.
How much farther are they going to
take us. Hunch?" He had to shout to get
his voice over the wind. They'll be stick
ing US for pig bill"
, Hunch.
I'D like to know why not We're 60
Ing back on my account
shut up! I'm paying for this tow Go
up forward where you belong Send Billy
back"
When Billy appeared, working along the
rail and bracing his feet when a wave
came over, he said: Bring up that jug in
my bunk" Billy brought it up and dashed
it to the rail within Hunch's reach Hunch
began to drink.
After time he shouted to Bruce, who,
with Billy's help, set to work on the sails.
Both were cold from the duckings. and
Bruce was. in addition, too excited to be of
much use. Between them they bungled I'M
! til Hunch lost his patience, and, yelling to
Bruce to take the wheel. he ran up the
the haylards. raised the sail single handed
Billy timidly watched him. expecting that
he would reef heavily, but when he saw
everything but the topsail go up fiat he
looked around at the tug, which was hold
ing them up In the wind. then at Hunch.
who was making fast the mainsail peak,
and then Billy. who was lucky enough on
occasion, swallowed lump in his throat
and, turning forward. crossed himself hur-
riedly as he stood clingtng to the weather
stays.
They cut loose from the tug and swung
on few points. the schooner shivering
and straining as she caught the wind, then
heeling over with rush. Hunch went
storming back to the wheel Bruce was WHIP
wheel with one knee. The cork was out
Of the jug, and little whisky stopped out
at each furch Of the schooner. Hunch
stood for moment without support. sway
Ing. then sprang on Bruce and threw him
against the closed gangway. where he lay
clutching at the cabin roof
"Yo:4-you-" Hunch was for once too
said finally after he had steadied the
schooner on her course. Get below quick!'
Bruce without looking around fumbled
with the gangway slide, ducked down be-
tween two waves. and pulled It shut after
him. After he had disappeared and the
schooner was running more easily on the
long northwest tack that was to take her
to the Manistogee harbor, Hunch slowly
got his bearings. and for long time he
stood pouring out food OF profanity.
This outburst came too late for Bruce's
ears. but not too late to act as safety