Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18

listening but she was really bordering over
a problem of dress and warm weather. By
some trick of fate the problem and argu-
ment came to the same conclusion stimuli
taI@0usIy. That is, according to madame
who had heard little, if any, of her hus-
bands talk-it would be better to put up
with the uncOuth crew than cold weather.
Having made up her mind on this point,
she smiled pleasantly at the old man and
assured him that his argument was con-
NiHCing, and that she was sure he was
right. 1t would be- after all, too hard to
forego the pleasure of his company for SO
long time. Whereupon the skipper patted
her affectionately upon the cheek and made
a mental note of some of his best epigrams
developed during the discussion. Then he
went into the pantry to drink his own
health and congratulate himself on his
logical mind.
In few days the Tautline was ready to
sail. She dropped down the harbor, hoist
ing her newly bent mainsail upon a new
mast with steel rigging well set up for
going to sea. AS she was but small
craft, it took but short time to get her
under canvas, and she was soon headed
away to the southwark.
In a few days she was abreast of the
Carolina coast.
During these few days Billy had done
wonders in the ships galley. Puddings
and pies he made by the score, and roasts
and ragouts from the stale beef aboard.
The skipper began to look to his mess bills,
but his wife cared for these not at all.
Really she found Billy SO essential to the
general comfort that she began to show a
very friendly interest in the fellow. Her
prejudice was rapidly disappearing. Sfe
gave him many little things from the cabin
mess that he seemed to appreciate, and in
less than a week he apparently worshiped
her. But the hard lines in his face had not
come there suddenly They were the prod
uct of much suffering, and deep down in
Blilys heart there was a hardness begot-
ten by years of fierce and relentless strife
He had suffered too much to forget.
The weather on the Carolina coast in
winter is bad. The capes jutting off shore
Tor miles, with their endless shoals running
almost out into the gulf stream, make navi-
cation dangerous and uncomfortable for the
coaster who has to hug the shore to escape
the current. The hurricanes of the gulf
ana West Indies seem to follow the trend
OF the stream, and at this point strike with
uncommon force
For the first three days the little vessel
headed down the beach, with light airs so
that she made but small progress to the
southward Billy spent his time over the
galley nre or upon the forward deck max
ing wonderful things out Of the ships hard
fare. He appeared TO talk much with John
and the colored man who with the two
Dutchmen, made up the entire crew. He
was earnestly engaged in conversation
while he worked, but the skipper never
came near enough 10 hear what was said,
for he disliked trespassing upon the private
affairs of the crew. Once r twice he heard
Billy remark that ''if times got dull he
could take on bout, an make couple o.
hundred Youse won't mind putin few
on me, reckon"
This willingness to fight pleased the
skipper. for among sailors 1t is understood
that man who will fight will work. It