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

iei u,e ~ ny al do the right thlng. NO,
not them. Why should them fellers treat
me like dorg? Because 1 hit that other
feller too hard? No; because l was down.
1t was that fer 1 didn't mean no wrong.
Theres only one way out'of it, an that's to
take TO the sea Then 3youse don't leave
There was a moments pause, and Billy
began again in lower tone full OF
strange sadness.
There's my. people. all respectable an
goin to church, an sayfn' how much BET
ter other people they are. an lot o
trash like that. Then they comes nome
an says how bad | am, an fer me brother
Jim not to go wild me too much. Then
yes, then, all the decent girls are warned
agin meme, Teller what hit a Teller too
hard In fair fight. My gal tries to see
me oncet. an I'm hustled away as not
bein' fit to see her They all keeps away
from me an I'm set down as bad man
an then the father says care fer likker-
Cord, is it any wonder? Likker does assoc
now-an' yet. Johnny, mo, our chanst Is
right here Wen take this ship am
sudden lurch of the little vessel cut or
further hearing on the part Of the captain.
Then the man at the wheel bawled out Tor
all hands.
The captain heard the singing wind In the
rigging deepen It's note and felt the lurch
Then ne came bounding on deck In time TO
see the whitening ocean to the northWaru
whrling its spume through the night as If
followed with the gale. There was squirt
of spray as 1t struck the vessel and the
water flew in his face. He sprang blindiy
to the wheel and rolled 1t up while she paid
off under the close-reefed mainsall and bon
neted jib. The wind had come at last and
with it the great northeast sea which had
told of its magnitude when 1t sent the
heaving swell before.
With her mainsail straning away and the
foam surging white under her forefoot, she
tore her way into the night before the gale
All about her the phosphorus hared ana
Ha cd n OH ltrrEt oy,1 "a
flew like snow. Her sail was too much for
her, even reefed as it was, and 1t took all
hands over an hour to secure the mainsall.
Then the mainboom took charge of the deck
and they fought to get the guy ropes upon
it, while all the time the droning snore
overhead increased and deepened and the
little ship drove along, rolling her rails
under at each throw of the increasing sea.
1t was a wild night for all hands, and the
dawn broke upon salt-whitened faces lined
and strained from the struggle. 1t was
only by continued eXertion and desperate
endeavor they could make the vessel run
fast enough before it to clear the living
hill that followed
All that night and the following day the
flying vessel held her course, and as the
sea and the gale wore down the over
strained crew saw ahead Of them the tall,
white tower of Morris Island light. But
there was now no stopping. over the par
they went with the sea lifting high In the
tearing the discolored waters into Whlte
path. On and on until they were abreast
of the wharves of Charleston. Here along
side of a revenue cutter the nook was
dropped and all hands staggered below, ex-
hausted for few hours rest.
a fairly good run, Billy said the cap
tain the following morning, as that young
man appeared in the galley.
II s'pose 1t was" answered the stout EEL
low, but If youse don't mind L like to go
nc take bout wild some
local guy De exercise has got me in GOOD
shape, an I reckon | kin knock out rev.
Youse won't mind putin a ten spot on me,
hey? I'll be back early, sure
"Of course" said the captain.
AN I'd like to take me clothes to de
Chinaman's to clean" said John. i be
back, sur, in wun hour
You may go by all means said the
captain.
That evening they went, taking the sol
emn fowl along with them. He was badly
ruffied, they explained, by the pitchlnS OF
the vessel, but would get well by little
time ashore. The captain watched them
being rowed to the wharf by the black fell
low who was to remain aboard and bring
the boat back. While he looked a hand
stole into his and he felt the arm OF his
wife around
why is it," he said to her, people will
ship men without discharges or recommen-
datiOns?'
II don't know" she answered, but I do
liked him and think people are wrong.
They should have given him chance. 1t
seems terrible to let him go to certain
end like that
The woman hesitated, She understood
what ii meant.
Yes" she said.
the vanishing boat. He was thinking deep
ly and struggling with his duty. He too,
knew what he should do If the sacrifice
was not too great. Then he spoke :,
Billy was hardened and dangerous
said he there is sometimes thing as suf
fering too much But will call him back"
He reached for his megaphone and raised
it to his lips. Then a hoarse voice croaked
ont suddenly Whats the matter with
Billy?"
meeaphone dropped from his hands Then
he looked at the forward deck and beheld
slowly and painfully across toward the
scuttie. Whether he had escaped from
John and returned unobserved. or they had
decided not to take MIN T1, WIN th e5 the
megaphone again the boat was out of sight
behind the wharf.
mo In from the gulf stream. The glass was
faiI,ne fast, and the scud were flying.
There was every indication of the approach
of the great storm that swept the coast
at that time. Harbor was ahead. and every
thing that could move was getting in. Far
away two large schooners were coming
along before the. rising gale their masts
crowded with twice as much canvas as
thev should carry. An hour more and they
would be safe If the cloth held. The land
was in plain view to the westward
The captain was on the deck of the 'Taut-
line" watching his racing craft He was
running for the home harbor with all he
dared to carry and would get in with his
southern cargo before it was too late. The
foam reared to leeward pushing up to a
white comber that flowed over the lee an
Choir stock and along over the top of the rail
and deck. He watched it and then turned
seward where the dull blue haze with the
white scud beneath told Of what was COM
ing There. with her head pointing sea-
ward. was a small schooner. Her mainsail
was cIose-reefed and two men struggled
with the bit of iib that would balance her
while riding out the blow. He seized his
glasses to note the hardihood of the men
who would put to sea when the chances
were so heavy against them and a harbor
fair under their lee. While he gazed he
saw one of them stop in his work and wave
his hand Then he recognized Billy. The
next instant they passed on into the drift
ahead and disappeared 81
He made his home port and learned that
a schooner was missing from the fishing
fleet. She was never heard Of afterward.
The raven he concluded was too fine a fowl