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

her nose into the short sea from ahead. AS
the swell had a live run to 1t, and the glass
was falling fast, there was installing
its meaning in spite of the beautiful sunset
The mainsail was double-reefed after
dark while the skipper went below for an
hours rest. The uneasy sea- however kept
him awake, and he lay with his head
against the bulkhead listening for sounds
on deck.
In the forecastle Billy moved about
among the chests and dunnage, muttering
| now and then as though thinking hard upon
| some problem. John came below at last
| leaving Anderson a the wheel. Then began
| a conversation which soon dwindled to a
low drone. Suddenly the captain started up
| The hoarse croak of the raven sounded loud
! above the complaining timbers of the little
| ship.
| What's the matter with Billy? He's all
| right" came the uncanny cry.
| The captain listened for a moment. Then
! he heard a smothered oath. There was a
| fiuttering of wings and the voice called
| forth.
| Poor old Jim, poor old Jim
"Youse killed him. came the complaining
| voice of John.
An serve him bloomin' right" snarled
| Billy, but listen to me- We kin lest as
well take the boat tonight as any time. 1t
| amt goin to blow any worse because I'm
| here to take charge"
There was some animated muttering and
protesting on the part Of John, but Billy
soon broke in again, his voice now raised
| into hoarse whisper and vibrating with
passion.
| Now, youse see here, Johnny, I don't
want no objectin' I've been In lingo too
says, an this boat fust be ours If we wants
to go clear You know me. Why. hang it.,
| am l to be talked to by sech as you an
| that niger, hey? Look a-here, Johnny.
now listen to me. I've been through enough
to turn any man against anything Just
| look at me. Johnny. My God man, youse
| know something, don't youse? You kin
understa nd?"
The little vessel gave a heavy lurch.
| There was rattle of pans from the galley;
a pause; then a droning overhead as a wind
came through the rigging, during which
! the vessel swung heavily to leeward on the
| northeast swell. Billy began again in a
hoarse voice.
understand plain langwidge Youse know
we must get clear of everything behind us
| If we wants anything in this life. There's
no use talkin Of goin' back or servin' time
or anything like that. We must start out
fresh in a new country, with a clear record
see? Jest look how the thing was with me-
an youse kin tell 1t Is no use any other
way.
There I was brought up to have most
things an taught mighty little. Anything
were good enough fer mo as far as learnin'
goes An when had that little fracas wild
de feller-that accident which 1 was to serve
fer-a mighty small thing, which could
have been STAYED Off by friends-if I'd had
any. Why, what happens? No one knows
me. Not soul knows me on the street
No, sir, not one. OF all the fellers done
favors fer, not one says the time O. day,
an here I am not dom a thing more'n
any one else would a done wild de same
way O. happenin'. comes home an lays
low fer time, tryin' to live 1t down. It
was only fracas the other Teller got the
worst of, but Johnny, 1 never knowed
Christian people was so cruel. The more
religious thew are the more low-down an
mean they be to Teller who's done some
thin an gets down. Why, them fellers
what prays the most an breaches about
the forgiveness O. sins an the resurrection
O the body are the worst Of all. They
looks at me like 1 was a plague. They