Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-04-25
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!: THE COWARD +;

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He was the man who came last to
snip as seaman aboard the Warrior
!. rs she lay in the hSrbor. A fine
two masted schooner was the vessel.
and Captain Scudder was properly
proud of her as she lay alongside
the wharf receiving cargo and pas
sengers. She was to sail with TWEEN
ty souls upon her-seventeen men.
two women and lady's maid. At
the last moment the captain decid-
ed to augment his crew by one man
more. Ere he made a move to en-
gage one he heard mans voice say
ing:
please tell me where the captain
is"
He turned and faced the speaker,
who was tall, gaunt fellow Of thir-
ty years or thereabout, with such
difiidence of manner as required
some courage in him to look the
captain squarely in the face when
the latter gruffiy said.
''1'm the captain"
eff you please, may 1 work my
passage out"
The captain studied the appli-
cants appearance in detail. a
homely fe.oa he was, with an I'M
healthy brown hue to his skin, a
forehead into which some lines of
sorrow had been wrought, rowing
eyes that me; ones glance with a
slightly start ID look, haggard face
without VIII '.ers, receding chin.
bent shoulder and graceless way
of wearing hi faded and frayed at
tire. Red hants and long wrists pro-
truded from the two short sleeves
of his wornout 'i0use.
"What do you know about sail
ing? asked the c.ptain in tone of
ridicule.
"Notmuch, sir. Pya worked with
fishermen, and 1 know a little about
handling a smack"
81 reckon we don't need YOU.
Ever been on a schooner before at
alp" 81
"Often as a passenger, sir. know
I'm not a seaman, but I'll do any
thing. ] want to get back to my
people"
-''You look strong enough. But
why do you hang your head like
that? One would think you were a
coward"
81 am" said the man in low
voice.
"Whatl And you admit 1T"
eyes. Why not? I've fought hard
against it, but / can't help it. i
make up my mind to be brave
enough, but when the time comes
for it Pm afraid"
The captain had never met such
a character as this before, and he
was interested. A few other loung-
ers on the wharf stopped to over
hear the conversation, their atten-
ton first being attracted by the
great height of the man.
Afraid of what?" asked the cap
tain.
Il don't know-of death, l sup
pose. This is hoy it is: came from
home with comrade; / go back
alone. One day when we were out
in a little sloop a storm came up.
and in a sudden lurch of the boat
my partner was knocked overheard
by the boom. In half minute the
boat was several fathoms away from
him. He couldn't swim"
"Why didn't you throw him a
liner" asked bystander.
Because l was afraid for nv own
towards lifel l didn't dare to let
go the tiller for moment. l stood
there stupid with fear, afraid to
leave the tiller for an instant, afraid
of death. l felt like a man para
lyzed. AS the boat rose and fell on
the waves / watched my friend strug-
gle in the sea. l saw him throw up
his arms. saw his face white with
terror. l heard him cry out, Save
meP and then he must have read
what was IN my scared face, for he
shouted, 'Cowardp and sent me a
look of hate as the waters covered
him up. j don't know how / made
land, but / got in safe after six
hours of tossing, when the gale fell.
I'd give m life, if l only could, to
know that / wasn't coward, bui
when the time comes to show it
haven't the power. You don't know
the shame of it. sip, but you would
If you could see that look on my
comrades face, and if his last cry
rang In your ears day and night.
Cowardice is upon me like a curse.
It's the bill hit of my life, sir"
Such evident shame and grief
were upon the mans face that all
who heard, including the captain.
were moved to some pity of his state,
and so much curiosity had he excit-
ed in the captains mind that he was