The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-05-05
"A APT. ELISHA HOPEwELL> of
Il ( the brig Mary Ann, Of Salem,


had been sailing for over thirty year
Although he had owned and con
manded tho Mary Ann for ten year
she Yves BY no means new crsi
when he got her. In making repair
be had found many signs OF veal
aess, and a. he finished his days wor
and started for home his knees wer
utin and his back ached-
He reached his house to md hi
wife, Nancy, and supper waiting 70
him, and ~ he took his seat at tn
table he looked at her critically ant
for the first time noticed that Their
were gray hairs among the brown
On her head.
Elisha, have you lost your Jack
knife or heard that your brother was
deadT quietly asked Nancy after
awhile
NO" he answered. and followed the
word with q sigh
"Mebbe ye are comm down with
measles. Your mother says We never
had 'em as q boy"
'Mebbe 1 am" he gioomily replied
Nancy waited for three minutes TO
see If he had an explanation. but -
none came she briskly said:
Now look here, Elisha, l know all
about 1t, and I've been sort O. spectin
this thing would happen any time.
You've been overhaulin' the Mary Ann
and you've found she's growing old
You've found out the same thing OF
yourself, and you've suddenly seen 1t
In me. 1t has struck you all In a
heap. and you feel glum over il"
Then. by Josh. you've hit itr' ex-
claimed the captain, glad to have an
opportunity to talk 1t over"
@Yall, there amt no call to cry over
Hrfbhs continued Ever since you
got this charter. I've made up my
mind that it would be our. last voy-
age"
But how can it be, Nancy"
1T won't be 80 hard We are purity
well of fur common folks, Elisha.
That is. we've got enough money to
start you In ship chandlery. and we
own our own house and lot No fear
but what wen come out all right.
We must give up the sea to younger
folks"
They talked 1t over for couple Of
hours, and it was fully decided that
when the Mary Ann returned to Salem
her last voyage under Captain Hope
well would be ended. Perhaps an
astrologer might have warned them
that there would be no Homecoming
for the brig which had borne them
safely over so many leagues OF ocean,
but there was no reader of the future
at hand
1t got to be known over Salem that
Captain Hopewell was making his last
voyage, and when the Mary Ann cast
on from the wharf there was a big
crowd at hand to cheer her departure
and wish her safe return She head /
ed out into the Atlantic on a sum-
ner's afternoon, and as the Massa-
shores faded behind them,
Captain Elisha said to Nancy:
BY Josh. then. Nancy. but it seems
as If piece Of that beef we had |
fur breakfast had got stuck in my
throat"
ITS a sort O. weakness of our feel |
ms. Elisha" she replied as she turned
away to wipe her eyes, but 1 guess
we've decided for the best"
For a thousand miles, headed to
ward the rising sun. the Mary Ann
was driven as she had never been
driven before. There was a piping
breeze. and it scarcely varied point,
md third Of the run had been mark
ID on when there fell fat calm.
1t was noon when the wind died
mi, and the man sent aloft reported
he ocean clear Of sail. AS shutdown
anne the sea was like glass, and it
vas the same state of affairs at mid
light when the watch was changed.
The mate went OF and the captain
anne on and he had been only on deck
laf an hour when Nancy appeared. She
declared it to be too hot below to
leep.
In a calm midocean at night there
re strange and uncanny sounds from '
be hold Of ship as she lazily heaves
p on the ground swell. Boxes and l
arrels down in the hold rub each L
Their, bulkheads creak and timbers
roam, and now and then there are
brill squeaks from the fighting rats. ,
len who sleep during clam breathe o
and sigh and groan now n
nd then. and the wakeful ones move
bout uneasily and cast apprehensive q
Iances over the sea.
Nancy walked aimlessly about for 4 v
lille and then rested her arms on the v
Ill and gazed OF into the darkness f
i'd let her thoughts wander back
,me. She had been silent for a quar- e
r Of an hour when she gave a sud- b
IN start and bent her ear to listen. a
aptain Elisha happened to note her Il
titude and he crossed over to her
Dc and asked: 81
wall. Nancy. dye think anybody Il
Iii steal the woodpile while we're "
ne on this trip" tc
I'm listenin', Elisha" she replied, a
she laid hand on his arm. Cant bl
u catch the sound OF oar locks OF II
re- to the north :"
IT'S some noise In the hold" he al
swered. after listening a minute. at
No, it's not. There-there-don't al
u catch it," N
BY Josh. do! Yes. 1t sounds like 81
. at work. but how on earth can as
,oat be out thereY by
/ dunno, but there Is one Now tn
git the sounds palmer. It's boat, pr
ell you. and she's pulling at least W.
r oars. She must be from wreck, be
you'd better light lantern and as
It In the riggin' to guide EN-"