Evening journal., 1904-04-29
THE EVENING JOURNAL, FRIDAY, APRIL 20 1909


there's stun in. I guess I'm more OF n
beachcomber by nature than anything
else. If she's abandoned she belongs
to us. To blazes with this cody game.
Wen go beachcombin, you an /.
Wen board that bark an work her
into the nearest port-san Diego. |
guess-an' get the salvage on her II
we have TO swim in her. Are you with
meT He held out his hand. The man
was positively trembling from head to
heel 1t was impossible 70 resist the
excitement Of the situation. its novelty
the high crows nest OF the schooner.
the keen salt air. the Cinnamon group
ed far below, the indigo Of the warm
ocean. and out yonder the forsaken
derelict, rolling her light hull till the
cardboard streak flashed in the sun.
"Well. Of course I'm with you. cap"
exclaimed Wilbur, gripping Kitchell's
hand. when there's thirty thousand
to be had for the asking l guess I'm q
na'chel bawn' beachcomber myself"
"Now, nothing about this to the
coolies"
"But how will you make out with
your owners? Aren't you bound to
bring the Bertha imp
Rot my ownersw exclaimed Kitch-
ell. Il amt skipper Of no oil boat
any longer. I'm a beachcomber." He
Fixed the wnllowing bark with gllsten-
ing eyes. Strike me-" he murmured,
"ain't she a daisy? It's q little Klon-
dixie. Come on, SON.
The two went down the ratlines. and
Kitchell ordered q couple Of the hands
into the dory that had been rowing
astern. He aud Wilbur followed. Char.
lie was left on board. with direction TO
lay the schooner to. The dory flew
over the water, Wilbur setting the
stroke. In a few moments she was
we'll up with the bark Though a lar
ger boat than the Bertha Millner, she
was rolling In lamentable fashion, and
every iaboring heaye showed her bot
tom incrusted with barnacles and sea
weed
Her fore and main tops'ls and to'gal
lants'ls were set, as also were her low
er staysls and royals. But the braces
seemed to have parted, and the yards
were swinging back and forth in their
ties. The spanker was brailed up, and
the spanker boom thrashed idly over
the poop as the bark rolled and rolled
and rolled. The mainmast was work
ing in its Shoe The rigging and back
stays sagged. An air Of abandonment,
of unspeakable loneliness, OF abomina-
ton, hung about her, Never had VIII
bur seen anything more utterly alone.
Within three lengths the captain rose
in his place and shouted:
Bark ahoyw There was no answer.
Thrice he repeated the call, and thrice
the dismal thrashing Of the spankei
boom and the tapping Of the sails were
the only answers Kitchell turned 70
Wilbur in triumph. Il guess she's
ours" he whispered. They were now
close enough to make out the bark s
name upon her counter, Lady Lefty
and Wilbur was in the act Of reading
it aloud when a huge brown dorsal fin
like the triangular sail Of a lugger, cut
the water between the dory and the
bark.
shark! said IIitehell. "And there's
another he exclaimed in the next in,
stant. "And another! Strike me, the
waters alive with 'eml There's a stin
on the bark, you can lay to that" And
at that. acting on some strange i'm
pulse, he called agair- Bark ahoyg
There was no response.
The dory was now well up to tho
derelict and pretty soon n prolonged
and vibratory kissing noise, strident
insistent smote upon their ears.
whats thatT exclaimed Wilbur
perplexed. The captain shook his head
and Just then, as the bark rolled almos
to her scuppers in their direction, 8
| glimpse Of the deck was presented tS
their view. 1t was only a glimpse
gone on the instant, as the bark ROLLED
back TO port. but it was time enough
for Wilbur and the captain to note tn,
parted and open seams and the decl
bulging and in one corner blown NJ
and spllntered.
The captain smote a thigh.
/ AOhls ne tlltns AuAnlANlAN NNAl
The coal he't up and generated gas, o
course-no fire, y understand; just ga
gas blew up the decll-no way o
stopping combustion. Naturally the!
had to cut for It, Smell the gas, can
you? No wonder she's hlssing-no won
der she rolled-cargo goes of in gas
and what's to weigh her DOWN. / wa
wondering what could "a wrecked he
in this weather But it's as plain a
A B c."
The dory was alongside. Kitehel
watched his chance and as the bar
rolled down caught the mainyard brac
hanging in a blight over the rail ant
swung himself to the deck. "Lool
sharp he called as Wilbur followed
1T won't do for you to fall anon
them shark. son! just look at the hun
dreds OF 'em. There's a stff on board
sure"
Wilbur steadied himself on the sway
ing broken deck, choking against IN
reek of coal gas that hissed upward o
every hand. The heat was almost lik
a furnace. Everything metal was fl
tolerable to the touch.
"She's abandoned. sure" muttere
the captain. Look" And he pointe
to the empty chocks on the house an
the severed lashings. "Oh, it's a hau
son-ifs a haul, an you can lay I
that Now, then. cabin first" And b
started aft
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