St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-03-26
a-fre fore and aft. There wasn't ehos,

worked till the pitch dubbed out Ct the
deck. The old man swore we were
towards when We said we had had
enough, and wanted to get the boats out
Said he would shoot the first man who.
Get away. you yellow-headed Dutch
man! If you come aft I'll maui the dad
slamed head off you with a stretcher,
you hog-backed mully-grubber!"
He ripped out foot-rest, staggered to
his feet, fell over athwart, and lay with
his face staring at the white sun over
head. A grin came over the silent one in
the bow, and his hand stole around to
the sheath knife at his hip. His eyes
glowed with the dull-red like tt csc of
hungry wolf, while the lips drew back
from the yellow fangs as he crawled to-
wards the PROSTATE man in the stern.
He paused ere he reached him, and his
breath came in hot gasps, while tho
neck and forehead. Then the red went
out Of his eyes, and he shuddered anc
looked away. With dry choking sob
he hurled the knife far into the sea, and
crept back to his place in the bow.
Hours passed and the sun stole down
towards the west, while the fins of the
sharks, like the black sails of death.
glided silently round and round the lit
tie boat, their gaunt shadows showing
beneath the oily smoothness OF the sea.
The mate stirred and dragged himself
up, and sat with his back against the
gunwale.
Hello! I must have been asleep!
What station was that we just passed?
Hayle. was it! We're nearly there now,
only two more stops! What surprise
for Polly! l wonder if the kiddy has
grown. It's long time since l saw
them, and they don't know I'm coming.
I've got some nice things for them. too.
Let me see! There's that piece of China
silk for the missus, and an ostrich s egg,
and some Of them little shells the mig
gers use for money away down in the
islands. There's a monkey and a parrot
for the little one along with those lit
tie ships l made on the way out-nice
little ships-ships with their holds full
of -sharks-dead men-and-and.
Oh, yes! it's that greasy steward again
the dago-he's late with my tea. lean
tell you there's going to be lot OF
changes in this ship when We get in.
to go anyhow. Before we 60 to sen again
am going to have her decks Clipped,
and the sidelights put forward. don't
believe In carrying them aft; she fines
away to much, you can't see them If you
have your courses down. wish they
would quit pounding for awhile. the
old man always seems to start them
pounding when it's my watch below.
That's the worst of iron ships. you cont
get quite so much grooming ard creaking
perhaps; but then you have to make up
for it when they start knocking the rust
off her How unsociable everyone is!
Say, you over there! Come, drink up
and we'll have another all round. it's
my shout! Phew. how hot it is. hot
enough to drink up the ocean! Why
don't they shut off some of this sun:
What Godforsaken place it is anyhow!
don't believe there is God-if there
is-if there is he owes me something to
drink, curse! What? Who spoke?
What? Oh. yes. it's that Dutchman in
the bow, of course. No; it couldn' have
been him. See how black he's gone
he's dead-dead, and I'll be the next
Look at his tongue-I'd better pitch him
over-he's pretty to look at. Guess I'll
canvas him up and wait till sunset and
do the thing ship-shape 1t won't be
long now, the sun is getting quite low.
and red; We'll have wind to-mor-
row. Look at those little clouds
up there. a sure sign OF wind
little yellow wind clouds all round
the sun-how curious they look!
They seem to form a golden cross be-
hind the sun. wonder if it is the sun!
/ can't seem to see quite so well as
did awhile back. It looks to me like
a face-and-it's coming nearer can
see 1t now. it's face with a crown of
scarlet thorns. What's all that got to
do with me? Hang it all. how my
throat hurts! Why the flaming --
don't some ship come along and get
me out of this? If only the wind comes
tonight I'll cheat those beastly sharks
out of feed-I'll cheat EMIL cheat
the devil-lll cheat God! That voice
again! What row my ears are max
ing, can't hear anything. That voice!
What did it say? I have suffered
Suffered! yes, of course. I've suffered
suffered with thirst-and with Dutch
men-and with sun-and-and- o.
God, help me- to pray! Help me to
pray for the dear ones at home-for
the dear ones at home who are wait
ing! God guide and watch over them
tonight. for to-morrow-for to-mor-
row DISQUALIFICATION the
world! Good-by, Polly. l shan't be
long. and this will be my last voyage,
l promise. Goodby sonny. dad-dad-
dy - will = be - back - soon -
back - soon -"
The sun cleaned a moment, then
sank behind the rim Of the western
ocean.
Extract from the Log of the r. M. s.
"Tonbridge Castle" January 2Sth. 1891.
Lat. degrees l s. Long. z degrees W
Sea rough Strong S w Trade. a. M
Passed ships long boat, bottom up.l
Black and White.
cTTuEp ANN Uyn1YNnc