Milford chronicle., 1905-01-20

NO sabe, no saoe, ne az Tered
shaking his head and fr8wning
Throughout the whole of that strang,
meal these were the only words spo
ken.
When Wilbur came on deck again
he noted that the Bertha MiIIner had
already left the whistling buoy astern.
on to the east, her sails just showing
above the waves, was a pilot boat with
the number on her mainsail. The
evening was closing in, the Farallones
were in plain sight dead ahead. Far
behind, in mass of shadow just bluer
than the sky, he could make out a few
twinkling lights-SaA Francisco.
Half an hour later Kitchell came on
deck from his supper in cabin aft. He
glanced in the direction of the main
land, now almost out of sight, then
took the wheel from one Of the China
men and commanded, Ease of y'r
fore an main sheets" The hands
eased away, and the schooner played
off before the wind.
The staysail was set. The Bertha
Millner headed to southwest, bowing
easily ahead Of a good eight knot
breeze.
Next came the order, "An hands
aft" and Wilbur and his mates betook
themselves to the quarter deck. Char
lie took the wheel, and he and Kitch-
ell began to choose the men for their |
watches, just as Wilbur remembered |
to have chosen sides for baseball dur
ing his school days.
Sonny, I'll choose you. You're on |
my watch" said the captain to VII
bur, "and will assoom the ree-spon-
sibility Of your nautical eddoocatiOn."
Il may as well tell you at once" be-
gan Wilbur, that I'm no sailor"
But you will be sOon," answered the
captain, at once soothing and threaten
ing. You will be, Mister Lilee of the
Vallee. You kin lay to it as how you
will be one of the best sailor men along
the front, as our dear friend Jim says.
Before l git thoO with you you'll be a
Iailor man or shark bait can prom
Sc you. You're on my watch. Step
'ver here, SON."
The watches were divided, Charlie
md three other Cinnamon on the port.
Wilbur and two Cinnamon on
he starbOard. The men trooped for
ward again.
The tiny world Of the schooner had
apsed to quiet. The Bertha AIillner
Tas now clear of the land, that lay like
blur of faintest purple smoke, ever
rowing fainter, low in the east. The
'arallOnes showed but their shoulders
bove the horizon. The schooner was
landing well out from shore, even be-
ond the track of the coasters and pas
enger steamers, to catch the trades c
'om the northwest. The sun was set
ng royalty, and the floor of the ocean
limmered like mosaic. The sea had
one down and the fury of the bar
as a thing forgotten. 1t was per Fl,
,ptibly warmer. m
On board, the two watches mingled fC
rward, smoking opium and playing a hi
Ime that looked like checkers. Three ~
them were washing down the decks
ith kaiar brooms. For the first time bl
nee he had come on board Wilbur II
ard the sound of their voices. "
The evening was magnificent. Never fo
Wilbur's eyes had the Pacific ap- ii,
ared so vast, so radiant. so divinely A
autiful. A star or two burned slowly Of Of
rough that part Of the sky where the
lk began to fade into the blue Pl
arlie went forward and set the side Sa
on the port rigging, green pa
the 'starboard. AS he passed VIII r. r,
r, who was leaning over the rail and Co
itching the phosphorus flashing just an
der the surface, he said: Ar
Hey, you go talkee-talk one piecey H.
is, savvy bOss-chin chin" All
Wilbur went aft and came up on the Pa
,p, where Kitchell stood at the Ita
eel, smoking an inverted clay pipe. M, oU
Now, son." began Kitchell, Il match Col
love you so that I'm gOin' to do An
q reel favor, do you twig? I'm Col
n to allow you to berth aft in the 3.I p,a,
in, long O. me an Charlie, an, be- Cor
IS, you can make free of my quarter Cor
K. Mebbee you amt used to the va
IS of sailor men just yet, but you and a1llI
lay it to that those two are reel Pin
savvy? l amt a mush Am
j, like NEE dear friend Jim. You leal
no water front swine; l can guess flsi, fes
with one hand tied behind me. Eco
re a swell, that's What you are, UtH
your lines has been laid for swells. Zee
ut askin' you no questions, but you nam, nam
brains an l figger on gettin' more Am,
you by lettin' you have y'r head can
T Rut mind now Won ,a+ ,,or cato
D., sonny, or try to flimfam me. or ico.i ioi
ct that I'm the boss of the bath pany
an, strike me blind, I'll cut you Agri
, an you can lay to that, son. Pah ieah
then, here's the game: You work Com Com
boat long with the coolies an take Alas
riders an walk chalk, an I'll teach Elev
navigation an make this cruise as pany
as howdO-you-do. You don't an Re.
you till y'r bones come min