The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-13
The Globes Daily Short Story

yachtsmen saw. In spite of the CLAN
nlshnesS of the Scotchmen, there was
only admiration manifested for the
splendid manner in which these two
American boats worked for the advan-
tage. When the Ethel crossed the
starting line a length ahead of the
Maud the footing Of whistles had a;
much to do with causing Mr.. Stuyves-
ant Joy as the sight itself
The Ethel looked the wind in the eve
and her crew was jubilant. Harriet
Stuyvesant, crouching down to leeward
Of the little companionway, never took
her eyes from the face of the skipper,
who stood at the wheel as though he
was nodded to 1t. He appeared to
gave him his course. AS the sloop
plunged along the wind increased, and,
ease her as he would, there were Of
tentimes terrible sweeps skyward of
the big boom, and lungeS into the air
Of the smaller gait.
The wind came in stronger puffs thar
ever, and the enormous strain on spars
and rigging became greater as the
heavy surgeS kept pace with the wind
at their crested backs. The tension
was apparently all that the sloop could
bear, and the skipper watched the
buoy ahead with anxiety. Along the
deck, like so many hammocks snugged
up IN their nettingS, was the white
packed crew, lying low and clear of the
WIND. W1deawake and ready for call
they had their nerves tried as thu
stanch craft heeled to the blasts, and
ran ner Ice rail through the water now
and then like the fin of shark.
Suddenly the shippers heart seemed
to cease beating. He was as sensitive to
little things on the part Of the craft as
the needle OF the compass was to the
swing of her head. The weather law
Of the gaff was breaking away from old
| associations. and the galvnized IRON
bail was pulling hard on the last bolt in
the Jaw. II it gave way entirely, dis
aster was certain. The jumps of tho
yacht in the lumpy water. the swins
in rnidair OF the gait as the peak of
the big sail went high into space with
every plunge Of the craft, were vicious
In their intensity. Something must be
done and quickly.
A whistle to attract the attention of
the man nearest him from out the hui
man hammock roll brought to the skip
per young man whose eyes only
| asked questions. The skipper pointed
alo1t ana calculated hoarsely: "The
| jaw of the gaff is going; it must he
| liked or we are out Of it. Do your best.
my man, and take a helper with you.
You'll find piece of ratline stuff and
| some tar in the companionway."
The necessary stuff was secured in
| a moment, but not without causing
aston1shment and anxious looks on the
part of the girl now shivering under
the lee OF the companionway.
1t required but moment for the
| Two men to get where they could work
to advantage on the jaw and, after
1t had been plentifully daubed with
tar, process of hand serving with
the ratl1ne stuff was a means to the
end Of making the jaw secure in its
place. With every turn Of the ratline
stuff the lump in the shippers throat
! decreased, and the little girl crouching
in the lee saw by his face that all was
going we'll.
Then the unlooked-for came, and, as
| usual, in a hurry.
A more vicious lunge Of the gaff III
the air. terrible sweep of the sail
and the two men were flung to leewarC
as If they had been no bigger thar
the ends of reef points. They STRUCK
the bellying sail, and slid easily, bu1
swiftly, into the seething water which
| Tapped the sloop's rail and then disap-
| peared for the moment.
The ratline stuff was swinging In the
air, hooking the man at the wheel ant
savagely whipping against the sail a
times as though to emphasize the ap.
parent hopelessness Of the situation
| and that it was over so far as tn,
chances of the Ethel winning the race
! were concerned.
A swift glance over the taffrai
showed the skipper that the two mel
were being picked up by a friendl!
tugboat. That incident was closed.
The skipper looked about; the de-
spair of hunted animal was in hi.
eyes. The little girl in the lee hat