The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-08-11
AFTER THE STORM.
BY K. M. GUTHRIE.

The storm had lulled. The sea,
churned up the night before into a
seething, heavy caldron of pitch-black
waters, had subsidized now into a rest
less, uneasy swell, rising and falling
like woman's bosom after a storm of
sobs.
The fishing boats had been out all
night in the storm and stress, and now
they were struggling back into harbor,
blowing over the bar in the wake OF
laboring steam tugs, or confident in
their knowledge of things nautical,
making their slow way in unaided. Not
a few bore marks of battle; here torn
sail, there rent cordage, or a spar
snapped off, or bit of the bulwarks
torn away. A little crowd stood on the
Dierhead watching them.
Foremost of all was group of women,
fish graters from the denes on the other
side of the river, where's their work was
to clean herring all day at long, low,
fish-filled troughs. They could not work
that morning, however, anxiety gnawed
too cruelty at their heartstrings, for
their men were at sea, and there was no
knowing whether they had come safe
and sound out of last nights hell of
wind driven rain squalls, of foam, and
spray and raging, turbulent waters. So,
leaving the troNghs, the women tied
their shawls tight over their heads, and
in their working dress Of rough serge,
water boots and briny oilskin aprons,
came to the harbor's mouth to watch
and wait and perhaps to welcome home
their men. =
That's hard work a-waitin'," MUIR
INJURED one of them, slight, delicate
looking girl, to her neighbor, who was
doing her best to shelter her from the
keen wind.
Don't you worrit, gal Liz" said the
other, consolingly; "the Waliantnll be
in afore you knows where ye are; see If
she amt"
Liz shook her head and the tears
welled up into plaintive gray eyes. Il
wish wor like you, Marthy," she said,
"brave an heartsome; alhs fare so
timid when Jem's at sea, an to-day I'm
wuss'n ever. Did We hear the wind in
the night?" she went on, her voice low
and terrorful, that Jared ter grip hold
o. the house an worry it like a cat wi
mouse; I right shook in my bed, did,
athinkin' o. Jem out in it all, an at last
] couldn't stan it no longer. just
slipped out, to, and walked up an down
the beach, so as to be bit higher to him.
I wish there warn't no sea-" she said,
shivering, "ter part people an scare
them wot's ashore"
Meanwhile the slow procession Of
fishing boats struggled by, andthe crowd
watched them.
"The Perry ha''got her work cut out
this time," someone said.
The smacks came into full view round
the bend.
"Hallo. what's up VII that there.hind-
ermost one, han't she got her fagshalf-
mast?"
A score of eager, incredulous faces
craned and peered. 1t was true; there
hung the tell-tale flag, pregnant signal
of death and disaster. The faces fell.
Must ha' lost hand last night"
A woman pressed forward to the very
edge of the pier, pale and agonized.
Whats wrong WI Liz" cried some
one.
"Hold yer noise" with an angry
nudge, that there boats the Wsliant.
wot her man Jem Wacey's aboard on. .
Every heart went out to Liz in her
anxiety; every eye scanned tho Vail
ants deck where the crew were-gath-
cred, eager to recognize Jem. An omin-
Gus silence fell. Two men were missing
-Jem and the smack's master. The rest
Of them stood there, detected, crest
fallen little group.
A cry of agony broke from Liz lips:
where's Jem?" she cried. Il don't see
my Jem!"
Down the rickety landing stage they
went, into the old boat, and over the
steely, wind-blown river.
The Perry had cast her little feet
adrift now in midraver, and one by one
they were joining that senried ranks
at the quayhead. The Valiant was there
already chaos Of fish and men, and
tarry barrels and ropes and spsrs and
shfmmering. iridescent fish scales. An
eager crowd pressed on board keen to
learn the news of the night and the
boats loss. A few steps more and Liz