The Opelousas courier., 1903-07-04

IN tuC ulhI uuu Gtuuy 1SSCoSCo VI
the fo'c's'le of the Beluga a. silent,
sullen company of men Of all shades
Of color sat at their 4.30 a. N.
breakfast. Some munched stolidly at
blocks Of fat pork and fiinty biscuit
others just drank alleged coffee and
smoked. And they were the majority,
for few there are who, after a night OF
sleep, especially In such an atmosphere,
can rise and begin the morning meal
land such a meaD in five minutes. But
those who did not eat concealed their
portions about their persons, usually
In the breasts Of Jumpers" for there
was never more than enough to go
round.
Suddenly, with a voice like that Of a
frantic bull. came the expected COM
mand, "Now, way boats, there" It
was Immediately followed by q stam-
pede, each man struggling to be first
up the narrow ladder, each man dread
ing the sur and painful position Of the
last. Reaching the deck, the rushing
band divided itself in four, part to
each boat, where 1t hung cleaning
spectrally against the violet sky. None
cast a glimpse upward or around, for
lone had time or thought to spare. Yet
the scene was entirely worthy Of mans
best notice. The daily miracle Of dawn
always is-but hero! The ship lay mo-
t~ionless, anchored apparently upon a
lake Of transparent ink, in whose still
depths strange gleamings occasionally
heightened Its mystery of utter dark
ness. Around rose the solemn tree-clad
hills of Hapai, now In deepest shadow.
Away to the south, southeast and east
the way out to the broad bosom OF the
Pacific lay clearly open between the
several islands, and although from the
two former quarters there was as yet
no tightening Of the deep Velvety pur-
pie of the night, there was a something
remotely like the opening Of a door
leading from q dark hall into the clear
air; a little draught Of freshness seemed
stealing in from thence. But from the
east there came through that gap a
quivering throb OF %opal-tinted light,
just ripping along the horizon and
touching the still waters that lay be-
tween 1t and us with the suggestion Of
glory to come, the first heart beat Of
that sweet day before which the mod
est stars paled and vanished. And
overhead the returning legion of flying
foxes, fresh from their long nights
raid among the fruit trees. passed like
squadrons Of dark spirits Fastening
back to their native gloom at the adj
vent Of light, and occasionally from
their midst came a wall Wringing the
heart like q sudden terror.
To most of US all this was but sug.
gested, hardly realized; vet we moved
with utmost quiet, unconsciously fall
ing in with our environment. And
when the rattle of a block, the sharp
click Of nm oar on q gunwale, or a
loarse oath broke the sacred peace of
the moment, an involuntary "Hush!w
rose to the lips. Ten minutes after u
appearance On deck we We're all In u
places and, with the steady, splashless
stroke OF trained whaling oarsmen,
were silently gliding toward the por-
tails of the day. As the oars rose and
fell they lifted ~overfowing chalices of
emeralds, and as the sweet dark crept
away great lakes of ever changing
color, OF infinite and indescribable va
riety, stole over the placid surface OF
the quiet sea. A cool breath crept from
the dawn point to meet us; it kissed
heated necks, put fresh vigor into
our strokes, freshened, strengthened.
until at q ringing shout Of command
we dung orr oars with one accord and
prepared to make sail. Is 1t OF any
use. I wonder. trying to describe the
scene that greeted MS as we did so? /
fear not, where 50 many master hands
have failed. so let mo say simply that
the pass ahead. leading seward vas
aiood with molten ruby. amethyst and
opal, with a background of flaming
gold. before which the shrinking eyes
closed. sAnd tie glory of the Lord
was revealed" Eta, hal how raptur-
ousIy the blood. so sluggish before.
courses through cur veins as the boats,
birdlike. skim owe The sparkling waves
on the iIghtsome way to windward.
But the business OF the day needs re-
Numbering. We IRE ont after whales
and unto him who cum first report the
presence Of one. afterward caught.
shall be given SO. So d keen lookout
III kept for d while, until the wonderful
beauty OF the scene obtains the sway
over u minds again, and the boats
glide swiftly along the steep shores Of
the etternost island.
"Ahrnl0w-wSwsW-WIm almost iii d
whisper aud several hands are pointed
y WheEe, against the dark green of the