The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-22

~ which the slzy's weight OF way
ing black cloud had baked for
an hour-the schooner was still fast in
the grip of the foe and driving sou'-
west with the gale. The light in
creased; it disclosed the faces Of men
to men - frozen cheeks, steaming
mouths, boards weighted with ieycles,
eyes faring in dark pits. 1t disclosed
the decks, where litter of gaffs and
clubs and ropes ends lay frozen in the
blood and fat Of slain seal, the grimy
deck house and galley, the wrecked
bowsprit, the abandoned wheel, the
rigging 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 Blue
black 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 wind
lass to wait for the morning, and they
had been on the watch the night long
Dig, thick-chested fellows, heavy with
muscles and bones-most with forbid
ding, leathery faces, which were not
unused, however, at other times, to the
play of fine simplicity-men Of knot
ty 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,
homemade stuff, the last in a way so
thick and bulky that 1t made giants Of
them.
Does you see un-the Blueblack-
dead ahead?" the skipper bawled, for
the confusion of ice and wind had over
Whelmed his voice
They followed the direction of his
arm, from the tip of his frozen nitt TO
the nearing shoal, dead ahead. where
the sea was grinding the ice to sIush.
Death confronted them, but they said
nothing. Yet they were not caIIous-
every man loved his life; each had a
line regard for its duties and delights
But the schooner was in the grin of
the pack, which the wind, not their
VIII, controlled. There was nothing to
De done-no call upon strength or un-
derstanding. Why talk? So they
waited to see what the wind would do
with the pack.
We'll. men," the skipper drawIed at
last shell wreck. Seems that way t.
met do"
The shoal lay dead ahead in the path
or the schoOner's drift. In everv mart
Oh 1t waves shook themselves free of
Ice and leaped high into the wind-alI
White and frothy against the sky.
winch was of the drear color OF lead.
It's tons were lifted and cast down
snashed-crunched; great pans were
turned to finest fragments with crash
ing and grOaning and kissing. The
rocks stuck out of the sea like iron
teeLh. tsIhey We're as nothing before
the momentum of the pack-no him
drance to its low, heavy onrush. The
Ice scraped over and between them,
and, with the help of the waves. thev
ground it up in the passage. The shoaI
was like some gigantic machine. 1t
was fed by the wind, which drove the
pack; 1t was big as the wind is big.
Massive chunks came through in slush.
sure, men," said the skipper, otis
barb rous hard t lose the schooner
barb'rous hard t lose her." he bawIed,
with a glance about and a shake of the
head. VIZ
He looked her over from stem to
stern-along her shapely rail, and aloft,
over the detail of her rigging. His
glance fingered here and there-lin-
8ered Wlstfuly. She was his life's
achievement; he had builded her.
AA705 oHAlpPN1s SURE LIS, SAID saul
Nash. He lurched to the skippers side
and put hand on his shoulder.
IWere a good wage, skipper" OF
Bill Anderson said, lifting his voice
above the noise of the pack
Twere gran haul off the Grey
lslands-noW, 'twere," said Anderson.
L hates t. lose them pelts." said the
skipper. 1 do hate t. lose them pelts"
Never yet were l wrecked with
bloody decks said Anderson, that 1
didn't say twas pity t. lose the cargo.
Never, by-neVer! l says every time
says l. twas a pity t. lose the pelts."
Just then SauPs young brother, John,
approached the group and stood to lis
ten. He was slight, browne eyed bow,
having the flush of health. true. and a
conspicuous grace, but dark eyes in
stead of blue ones, and small measure
of the bone and hard flesh of his
mates. Saul moved under the foremast
shrouds and beckOned him over.
John, by" the man said, in tender
Whisper, leaning over, keep alongside
O me when-when-Com bursting
into forced heartiness, there's a good
lad, now; keep alongside O. me-"
John caught his breath. Tss Saul"
he whispered. Then he had to moisten
his lips "Iss, l WILL" he added, quite
steadily.
'John!" in a low, inspiring cry.
SAUL"
The swift upward glance-the quiv-
ering glance, darting from the depths,
which touched SauTs bold blue eyes for
flash and shifted to the dull sky
betrayed the boy again. He was one
OF those poor, dreamfuI folk who fear
the sea. 1t may be that Saul loved
him for that-for that strange differ
enCe.
Close alongside, John, by" Saul
mumbled, touching the lad on the
shoulder, but not daring to look in his