The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-04-01
A Life Preseryer

svrian BLACK Star clipper) till she
eould not run any longer, because
the big seas, running faster than
che did, caught her and tried hard
to swamp her.
They would have done it, too,
only her skipper brought her to the
wind 800 miles to th southland of
the Horn. She lay hove to like a
duck, and after the hrst big smoth-
or. when the helm was put up, as
dry as a cork.
It is not every chip that will Go
this. But the Assyrian was one of
She rode gently up one big wa
terry slope and down the next yawn-
ing valley-down till her white
faallant crosstrees looked black in
the shadow cast by the green hill,
then up again into the cold southern
ocean sunlight.
The wind how1ed and shrieked
through the rigging, bare and stiff,
and swept along the yards in vain
attempts to tear the canvas from
its gaskets and, failing miser. bly,,
swoopcd down with a wild roar on
to the tarpaulin stretched in the
mizzen rigging,which it fattened till
the ratlines showed through it like
the ribs Of a skeleton
1t was blowing as it only can blow
down there-fve or sig gales lashed
together with round sennit.
One watch, sea booted, oil skin
ned and mittened, was hanging
about for'ard and under the break
Of the foc'sle.
The other one had turned in. all
standing and ready for a call. In
such weather no man knows from
minute to minute what may happen.
1t was bitterly cold. The skipper
and the chief were below. Fhe sec
ond mate stamped the poop, squint-
Ing doubtfullyy every time BE turned
aft at the great sea mountains which
curled bullying up, overhung the
taffrail for a minute and then, as
the ship rise, rolled away with q
deep, hoarse below Of disappoint-
ment.
To leeward, over the white, soapy
swirl of the breaking combers,
swooped, futtered and screamed q
flock of mollyhawks and cape pi-
geohs, while a few albatrosses sailed
majestically around.
Presently the second mate, COM
ing to the poop rail, sang out,
"Aye, aye" came back from the
group for'ard as q man lurched aft.
There's an Irish pennant on the
starboard fore t'gallant brace, John
son." said the second mate. Cup
ye go an get it off. Look slippy,
now"
The man, a, tall, rawboned, pow
erful ~"bluenose," got on to the rail
and, standing there, with his hand
on the shear pole, said disgustedly:
Another work up job! HAHN
agen, is you, you greaser hound,
a-sendin' q man on-a boys GRAND"
"None O. yer lipl" exclaimed the
second mate sayagely, for he was in
an evil temper, the steward having
stopped his grog. "None O. yer lip,
or I'll log YEP
IF 'twasn't that I don't want O
bad discharge out of her." retorted
the other, slowly beginning to climb
under the gale which pinned him to
the rigging, "I'd come over an kick
yer head off! But when I get ashore
I'll hang for you'll"
This in such a tone Of deep con-
viction as allowed Of no doubt what
ever. And SO the "greaser" appear
ed to think, for, without arguing the
point, he resumed his walk, and the
other his long unnecessary journey.
And all hands for'ard, having
nothing else to do, watched the yell.
How figure like some great lizard
blown fiat into the shrouds and
crawling up them a ratline at a
time.
'Ughw exclaimed one. sIts a
sfneezer up there! Wonder how Mr..
ssGreaser hisself I'D fancy it? Reg
llar h%azer, e isl An 'e's allus 'ad
q down on DAN"
4 "a man as nd send another up
There when it's a-freezin' fit to cut
sfhe top hanks of a Greenland mans
|lb amt got the feelin's Of q canni-
Pal savidgep remarked another,
ram all for the sake O. a bit O par+
fein' as wouldn't tie up a sore fin
GER" :.
Never mird," put in a third
~}oothingly as l,c shiyered. "Anoth-
week or twl, an well be DOM
lehe toff around Lime-us, dressed up
|Ap the knocker an a-smokin' of our
lsegars, 'orty an shindependent,
FONT care a button. An no more
3ea for this chicken. FL. go a-cos-
ERIN, with q barrer an q big lump
hockey pokey an Q bushelo' rotten
L[na E-NI - LH-