Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-09

the American bark Amanda b. Chap
pell and the hazy blue hills of the
Fiji Islands, when Drippy Williams,
able seaman and one.time boatswain.
awoke. He opened his eyes to look
up at the top Of his own familiar bunk
and he lay quiet for few minutes to
take account Of himself. That he had
stolen shore leave at Anva the day be-
fore and that he had spent the time
somewhat strenuously in that quiet
port was tolerably clear to him. That
he was now on board the ship and
that the ship was under sail we're
equally manifest facts. But between
the two was a period of time that
blurred dismally when he sought to
peer into it.
81 dunno how err when" he finally
admitted to himself, Il got back t tn
boat. don't"
The recollection of certain incidents
Of the day as they slowly developed in
his murky mind. began to prick him,
too and he moved uneasily.
" disremember comm back" he
said, but | mind now, cleaned out
tn ship fore left. Tn shippers coat
an tn cooks likker-an' tn Lord
knows what"
He tumbled his legs over the side of
his bunk and sat up. discovering, in so
doing that one foot was fully clothed
in a wooden stocking and heavy.soled
shoe. while the other was bare. He
looked at the bare one and wriggled
his toes as a sensation of utter folorn.
ness attacked him in the pit of his
stomach and a throb Jared his TEN.
pies.
Gee" he said. 81 feel bad
The sun. which had been shining
brilliantly through the open fo'c'sle
door. was suddenly shut out and Mr..
Williams looked up. In the opening
stood frowsy.haired youth, who gaz-
ed distractedly. but not without inter.
est at the occupant of the bunk.
Coin t git up?" he inquired brief.
ly.
I'm goin' t die, replied Mr.. vii.
liams. What time is it,"
Gone six bells"
This was not exactly definite enough
to satisfy the inquirer, but he did not
press the matter. Presently he looked
up again.
Billy" he said, "wuz you here when
| cum aboard?"
II was here when you were fetched
aboard" corrected the youth.
"Who-who fetched me?"
9TH skipper"
"All alone?"
Yep"
Mr.. Williams pondered again. Final.
ly he said:
81 must r ben purity bad"
The youth looked at the able sea.
mans disheveled person and grinned
amiably. but made no comment. The
ship was rising and falling with the
waves, driven forward by steady
breeze. Occasionally a football sound.
ed overhead
"Th' skipper s'pose he's aft?"
Billy nodded
Then. son. want you t do some
thin for me. It's tn las request o.
dyin' man. D. ye see yon dipper?"
Billy saw 1t.
Take 1t t tn skipper. Say Drippy
sends his compliments, an wishes fer
his las minutes t be easy. Say it,
son, an hand him tn dipper."
Billy reached out his hand some
whit reluctantly for the battered tin
cup.
18th old man1l chuck me over.
board" he said.
mo he won't, Billy. Him n me hev
been mates twenty year now, an he
amt goin' t see me pass away like
this. | know he amt. An hurry,
Billy"
The youth went away and returned
almost Immediately with the cup hold.
ing nearly half pint of whisky. Mr..
Williams took 1t with trembling fin.
gers, drank 1t to the last drop, and
then followed with. long drink OF
water. He sighed.
II needed that, Billy. An | knowed
I'd get 1t. How's tn old man feeling"
Il dunno. He's got that kind O.
plite way with him, an he seq: Tell
Drippy,' he saz, T. cum L my cabin
wen he gifts up"
"P'lite, Ell? know what you mean
An he's a-layin' fer me?"
Looks So
Mr.. Williams threw some covers of
the bunk in a search for his other
stocking, drew 1t on. looked for his
shoe, found 1t. and said:
I'm gettin' better. When did we
null outP"