Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-04-26
|: THE COWARD
4.A.A.u.&.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.4

ship as seaman aboard the Warrior
as she lay in the harbor. A fine
two masted schooner was the vessel
and Captain Scudder was properly
proud of her as she lay alongside
the wharf receiving cargo and pas.
sengers. She was to sail with TWEEN.
ty souls upon her-seventeen men
two women and lady's maid. Al
the last moment the captain decid.
ed to augment his crew by one man
more. Ere he made move to en-.
gage one he heard mans voice say.
ing:
''Please tell me where the captain
is"
He turned and faced the speaker
who was tall, gaunt fellow of thir'
ty years or thereabout, with such
difidence of manner as required
some courage in him to look the
captain squarely in the face when
the latter gruff1y said:
''1'm the captain"
eff you please, may I work my
passage out %
The captain studied the appli-
cant's appearance in detail. A
homely fellow he was, with an I'M
healthy brown hue to his skin, a
forehead into which some lines OF
sorrow had been wrought, rowing
eyes that met ones glance with a
slightly startled look, a haggard face
without whiskers, a receding chin,
bent shoulders and a graceless way
of wearing his faded and frayed at
tire. Red hands and long wrists pro-
truded from the two short sleeves
of his wornout blouse.
''What do you know about sail
ing" asked the captain in tone of
ridicule.
''Not much, sir. I've worked with
fishermen, and I know little about
handling a smack"
II reckon we don't need you.
Ever been on a schooner before at
all?
"Often as passenger, sir. I know
I'm not seaman, but I'll do any
thing. I want to get back to my
people,"
'<You look strong enough. But
why do you hang your head like
that? One would think you were a
coward"
II am" said the man in a low
voice.
"What! And you admit it?''
eyes. Why not? I've fought hard
against it, but I can't help it. I
make up my mind to be brave
enough, but when the time comes
for it I'm afraid"
The captain had never met such
a character as this before, snd he
was interested. A few other loung-
ers OH the wharf stopped to over
hear the conversation, their atten.
ton first being attracted by the
great height of the man.
afraid of what ?" asked the cap
tain. -:.'-'1-H'"*s~.
81 don't know-of death, I sup
pose. This is how it is: I came from
home with a comrade; I 60 back
alone. One day when we were out
in little sloop storm came up,
and in a sudden lurch Of the boat
my partner was knocked overheard
by the boom. In half a minute the
boat was several fathoms away from
him. He couldn't swim"
|'Why didn't you throw him
inew asked a bystander.
because I was afraid for my own
towards life! I didn't dare to let
go the tiller for moment. I stood
there stupid with fear, afraid to
leave the tiller for an instant, afraid
of death. I felt like a man para
lyzed. As the boat rose and fell on
the waves I watched my friend strug-
gle in the sea. I saw him throw up
his arms. | saw his face white with
terror. I heard him cry out, Save
mel! and then he must have read |
what was in my scared face, for he
shouted, |Coward!' and sent me a
look of hate as the waters covered |
him up. I don't know how I made
land, but I got in safe after six
hours of tossing, when the gale fell.
I'd give my life, if only could, to
know that I wasn't a coward, but
when the time comes to show it I
haven't the power. You don't know
the shame of it, sir, but you would
# you could see that look on my
face, and if his last cry
rang in your ears day and night.
Cowardice is upon me like curse.
It's the blight of my life, sir"
Such evident shame and grief
we're upon the mans face that all
Who heard, including the captain,
we're moved to some pity Of his state,