The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-03

splotched by inky smears Of vapor.
Still. as have said, it was fine night,
and so warm that all hands fingered
on deck, loath 10 turn into the sitting
hunks below. The moon. too, low on
the seaward horizon, seemed undecided
about retiring into a vague black
cloudbank on the outward edge. A
long streak of black crossed the satel-
lite's red face like a fantastic mustache.
Its quivering reflection seemed like a
path, along which marched columns Of
fiery helmeted troops. jostling and
struggling IL eager hurry.
It's a blasted fine night" said the
second mate, hopping his bare fore
head with a bandana handkerchief,
but ye can't always tell whatll turn
up before morning in these regions
The mate was hanging limp over the
poop rail, like a wet towel
You'd kick anyhow" he growled.
What you want is to sail under a glass
case"
The second mate and 1 were severely
testing with our combined weight the
strength of a canvas hammock slung
between two stanchions. The ease ne
was enjoying caused him to overlook
the mate s cauStlc remark.
Now. the ordinary lubber," he con-
tinued, would think as how it couldn't
blow about here, but I've sailed the In
dian Ocean quite some. and I amt so
easy TO fool"
NO" broke in the mate, "it takes an
extraordinary lubber like you to put the
barometer out of business Blessed if L
see why we need a barometer aboard
with you here. You're as good as a
nautical instrument shop. blessed if you
amt! Reckon you could take a sight
and figure out days work with an
old soup bone!"
The second mate seemed meditating
for while, as though striving to COM
pose fitting sarcastic retort, but evil
IDENTIFY gave IT up as hopeless, venting
his full scorn in the brief remark:
"Aw, tell with yei"
The air was sultry. a low mist crept
out from the shore, bringing a smell of
damp earth, suggestive of florists
dollhouse. A few lights from the town
twinkled through. The beacon on Skip
pers Island glared at regular intervals,
then dwindled TO mere red speck, like
a sleepy owl winding at us. We who
were aft could hear the men ford con-
versing at lazy intervals in sleepy,
drawing sentences.
Finally the moon seemed to have
made I'D her mind to dip into the haze
on the black line Of the horizon, the
thick atmosphere distorting her blood
red roundness into all sorts of un-
moonly shapes. AS she began slowly
10 be absorbed light tropical shower
drifted overhead. sending down big
soft balls of teoid water that struck
our faces like hot tears.
With low. drawing curses the off,
GERS arose and stumbled down the
companionway. The forecastle door
ratified as the men crawled in. Finally
/, too, aroused enough energy to abap-
don the deck, leaving it to the drowsy
vigil OF the night Waterman in the
donkey-room midships
I turned IN and almost instantly
dropped off into black, dreamless
sleep. 1t seemed but a minute, al
though it must really have been sew
eral hours. before / suddenly awoke.
A strange. heavy sensation over nv
chest sent a chill of fear through me.
From overhead, on deck, came a low
soughing roar, the ship trembled. the
beams creaked and some invisible
power lifted me slightly and pressed
me heavily against the bunk board.
The dimly lighted cabin outside my
door seemed sinking-sinking. From
the pantry came a crash Of falling
dishes. Another CULVER. a lurch and
felt myself lifted bodily out of my
bunk, hurled helplessly across my
stateroom through the open door into
the cabin, where the table, fast to the
floor, caught nae. The cabin lamp,
burning and smoking, swung wildly
to and fro, beating against the beams.
All around arose a deafening uproar
crashing timbers, rolling casks,
spIintered glass ard, above all, wild
unearthly howls, like chorus of