The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-03-26
NO CEREMONY IS WASTED.
Buria1S at Sea Are Not Marked h. =,
ExcaEa aT pa-a---.,I.-,- -

SUr1alS at Sea Are Not Marked bv an
Excess of Reverence,
had always conceived q h11rial ~
sea to be very solemn and aye-in-
spring event, but was quickly dis
1llusloned, by this burial at any rate.
one OF the hunters, little dark-eyed
man whom his mates called "Smoke."
was telling stories, literally inter-
spHlnkled with oath and obscenities.
ana every minute or so the group Of
hunters gave mouth to laughter that
sounded to me like chorus of wolves.
The sailors trooped noisily aft, some
Oh the watch below rubbing their eyes,
and talked in low tones together. There
was an ominous and worried express
sion on their faces. 1t was evident
that they did not like the outlook of q
voyage under such a captain and be-
gun so inauspiciously. From time to
time they stole glances at Wolf Larsen,
and could see that they were appre-
hensiVe Of the man.
He stepped up to the hatch cover
and all hats came off. I ran my ewes
over them twenty men all told,
twenty-five including the man at the
wheel and myself l was pardonably
curious in my survey, for it appeared
my fate to be pent up with them on
this miniature floating world for knew
not how many weeks or months. The
sailors In the main were English or
Scandinavian and their faces seemed Of
the heavy, stolid order. The hunters,
on the other hand, had stronger and
more diversified faces, with hard lines
and the marks Of the free play Of pas
sions. Strange to say, and l noted it
at once, Wolf Larsen's features show
ed no such evil stamp. There seemed
nothing vicious in them. True, there
were lines, but they were the lines of
decision and frmness 1t seemed rath-
er frank and open countenance, which
frankness or Openness was enhanced by
the fact that he was smooth shaven.
At this moment as he opened his
mouth to speak, puff after puff struck
the schooner and pressed her side
under. The wind shrieked wild song
through the rigging. Some Of the hunt,
ers glanced anXiously aloft. The whole
lee rail, where the dead man lay, was
| buried in the sea, and as the schooner
lifted and righted the water swept
across the deck, wetting us above oul
shoetOps. A shower Of rain drove
down upon us, each singing like q
hailstone. AS it passed Wolf Larsen
began to speak, the bareheaded mel
swaying in unison to the heaye anG
lunge of the deck.
Il only remember one part of the
service" he said, and that is and the
body shall be cast into the sea- 81
cast it In" He ceased speaking. The
men holding the hatch cover seemed
perplexed, puzzled no doubt, by the
briefness Of the ceremony. He burs
upon them in fury.
Lift up that end there! What the
IS the matter with your"
They elevated the end Of the hatcl
cover with pitiful haste, and, like {
dog flung oversize, the dead man slid
feet first into the sea. The coal at hi
feet dragged him down. He was gone
"Johansen," Wolf Larsen said brisk
ly to the new mate, " keep all hands
on deck now they're here. Get in thu
top sails and outer jibs. We're in for 1
sou'easter. Reef the jib and the main
sail, too, while you're about it."-"Th
Sea Wolff