The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

He really didn't swear by the Flying
Dutchman's figurehead: it was some
thing decidedly more expressive than
that.
The captain recovered-no drowned
man could swear like that, no living
man could swear like that but Trfg
Olafsen, In flesh and blood.
The skipper and the mate approach
ed each other, but what they said the
watchman could not hear. Finally
both went below into the cabin.
None Of the mates watch came
aboard that night. The men Of the
other watch came struggling aboard
toward dusk. They had no guilty con-
sciences to keep them away. The
others made for the hills up by the
Pail and were captured by the police
next day and brought aboard in irons.
The mate himself conducted the hunt,
but lodged no complaint against them
--he only wanted them with him on
the passage to Frisco.
OF course he left Honolulu on the
Aloha as mate. The record of that
passage is lost to authentic history.
but occasionally you meet a sailor who
will tell you that there really is a hell.
watch of the Aloha reached Frisco
alive that passage, but they were car
ried ashore on stretchers aboard the
marine hospital launch. Nor was Trig
Olafsen ever heard to complain of hav-
ing gone unavenged. He always refers
to that passage with big complaisant
smile that sends his two-lip whiskers
up like bull horns.
Now to his story. He only tells 1t
when he is drunk. He weeps and
laughs by turns, but you do neither
you listen, spell-bound. And after he
has finished you know why the Vik-
ings of old ruled the sea.
He begins by swearing at the spank
er sheet block. Never trust a spanker
sheet block when 1t jams. You can't
depend on it: it's treacherous. he says.
Tt usually takes five beers to bring him
through a treatise on it's proper man
agement. About then he will plunge
into his story, as he plunged into the
tropical sea that dark morning.
When he rose he saw the Aloha's
stern fading into the darkness.
Haul in on your fore braces" he
roared. expecting to hear the shouts
of the watch and the rattle Of blocks
and cordage. But he heard only the
tapping of the still seething wake
about him, and then suddenly he re-
allied the truth. The stern light
dwindled and at last danced far away,
a mere speck.
I can see him yet as he described
that moment. The dark pupils of his
pale-blue eyes spread. and those big
mustaches stood straight out as
though he had a stick between his
clenched teeth.
de hounds" he ,grinds, "dey Will
leave me-fannen brannda mfg-dey
will leave me. Not even a lifebelt dey
trow me-but I kan swim-by God
I kan swinl-and Will not sink-by
God. Hey, you lubbers!" Here he
roars as he did in the water. You
hear me. you damned dogsl I kan
swim, and 1 swim clear to hell before
/ gives up! I will swim to Honolulu.
and If I can't tow my blasted carcass
dat far-I swim in spirit. I will haunt
you-on de night vatches-I will haunt
you till you yoump overboard"
He doesn't say so, but you know
that he peeled of his clothes and
struck out after the ship. His power
full jaw is set. and the muscles under
his ears are like huge walnuts. When
he sees the bark. by the light Of the
breaking dawn, miles ahead, and they
have hove her to. AS he mounts the
crest Of wave he sees a boat put OF.
Here he usually laughs
by gum-it vas funny. You know
dat damn skipper-he tfnk he fnd
me. Dey hunt all overland vas six
miles astern-ha. ha, ha. halt vas
funny. I don't even shout. vat's dc
use? I 1oost larfs and larfs-vay out
dere In de water"
And he goes of into another spasm
Of merriment. Here he pauses, nor
does he resume until he has disposed
of two more beers His mustache
droops again. the fierce glare returns
into those sea-gray eyes.
Den dey brace up de foreyards again
and go on. You see. dey goes on. vile
swims after, six-seven-eight niles
astern. You tink / will drownY Not
much. I kan swim-clear to Honolulu
-or hell. doesn't care vitch-only I
gets to dose fellers. wants to meet