The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-22

OF the Hoe and driving SOU west Win
the gale. The light increased; it dis
closed the faces of men to men--froZ-
Ell cheeks, streaming mouths boards
weighted with icicles, eyes ftaring in
dark pits. 1t disclosed the decks,
where a litter of gaffs and clubs and
ropes ends lay frozen in the blood
and fat of slain seal, the grimy deck
house and gallery, the wrecked bow
spirit the abandoned wheel, the rig
ging and spars all sheathed with ice;
and, beyond, as it pushed it's way into
the uttermost shadows, the solid shape
of Deadly Rock and the BlueNack
Shoal lying in the path of the wind.
Does you see un, men," said the
skipper.
They were seven old hands who had
gathered with the skipper by the
windIass to wait for the morning and
they had been on the watch the night
longing, thick-chested fellows. heavy
with muscles and bohes-most with
forbidding, leathery faces, which were
not unused, however, at other times,
to the play of a fine simplicity-men
of knotty oak, with that look of
strength, from the ground up, which
some gnarled old tree has; and they
were all clothed in skin boots and
caps, and some coarse, home made
stuff, the last in a way so thick and
bulky that it made giants of them
Does you see un--the Blueblack-
dead ahead?" the skipper bawled, for
the confusion of ice and wind had
overwhelmed bis voice.
They followed the direction of his
arm, from the tip of his frozen mitt
to the nearing shoal, dead ahead,
where the sea was grinding the ice
to slush. Death confronted them. but
they said nothing. Yet they were not
callous-every man loved his life; each
1o1 I'D fS.,. Il, ,,,l
delights. But the schooner was in
the grip of the pack, which the wind,
not their will, controlled. There was
nothing to be done-no call upon
strength or understanding. Why
talk? So they waited to see what the
wind would do with the pack.
We'll, men, the skipper drawled at
last, shell wreck. Seems that way
TO met do"
The shoal lay dead ahead in the
path of the schooners drift. In every
4 part of it waves shook themselves
free of ice and leaped high into the
wind-all white and frothy against the
sky. which was of the dear color of
lead. Its tons were lifted and cast
mashed-crunched; great
pans were turned to finest fragments
With crashing and groaning and hiss
ing. The rocks stuck out of the sea
ike iron teeth. They were as nothing
before the momentum of the path
! 10 hindrance to it's slow, heavy onrush.
rhe ice scraped over and between
hem, and, with the help of the waves,
hey ground it up in the passage. The
hoal was like some gigantic machine.
/ t was fed by the wind, which drove
he pack; it was big as the wind is
zig. Massive chunks came through in
lush.
Sure, men, said the skipper, '"tis
=,
)arb'rous hard t lose her" he bawl-
ID, with glance about and e. shake of
he head.
He looked her over from stem to
tern--along her shapely rail, and
loft. over the detail of her rigging.
lis glance fingered here and there
fingered wistfully She was his life's
chievement; he had builded her.
'Iss, skipper, sir--sure it's said
aul Nash. He lurehed to the skip
er's side and put {. hand on his
boulder.
"'Twere a good wage, skipper" Oh
sill Anderson said, lifting his voice
bove the noise of the pack.
g 'Twere a gran haul off the Grey
slands-now, 'twere," said the skip
er.
's'Twere so good as ever l knowed
rom a schooner" said Anderson
81 hates t lose them pelts," said
he skipper 81 do hate t lose them
elts."
"Never yet were I wrecked with
loody decks" said Anderson, that l
idn't say twas a pity t lose the car
o. Never, by-never! | says every
me, says /, twas pity t lose the
4 eltS."
Just then Saurs young brother,
Il ohm, approached the group and stood
II listen. He was a slight, brown
il we'd boy. having the flush of health
.ue. and a conspicuous grace, but
II ark eyes instead of blue ones, and
II nall measure of The bone and hard
Fl flesh of his mates. Saul moved I'M
81 er the foremost shrouds and beckon-
/ him over.
"John, by the man said, in ten
CT whisper, leaning over, keep
longside O. me hen-when-Come,"
ursting into forced heartiness
there's a good lad now; keep along
de o me-"
John caught his breath. "Iss Saul,
81 e whispered. Then he had to moisten
4 is lips. "Iss, WILL he added, quite
eadily.
"John," in a low, inspiring cry.
saul"
The swift upward glance-the quiv-
ing glance, darling from the depths.
hich touched Sauls bold blue eyes
,r a flash and shifted TO the dull sky
betrayed the boy again. He was
nc of those poor, dreamful folk who
ar the sea. 1t may be that Saul low
him for that--for that strange
ference.
"Close alongside, John, by" Saul
.umbled, touching the lad on the
BOULDER, but not daring to look in
IS face "Close-close alongside o.
e."
''Iss, Saul"
Tt began to STOW; not In feathery
tkes, silent and soft, but the whizzing
Ist of the flakes, which eddied and
IN with the wind in blasts that stung
ost of the crew went below to get
arm while there was yet time-that
ley might be warm, warm and sup
Q in the crisis. Also they ate their
of pork and biscuit and drank their
/ of water; being wise in the ways
ice, each stuffed his stomach, which
icy call in such times, with grim
lmor, the long pocket Some took
their jackets to give their arms
eer play in the coming fight; some
ghtened their belts; some filled their