The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-01-12
The Value
Of Experience

ceutiy lost his wife, resolved to take
their only child. a daughter barely
seventeen years old. with him in his
ship Harpoon. Irene Tarr was love-
ly girl in face, figure and disposition,
and her father adored her. He had
not yet begun to trouble himself lest
any young man should take her away
from him.
Captain Tarr had spent all his sailor
life whaling on the Atlantic ocean, but
now that the stock of whales was run
ming low there he was obliged to turn
his attention to field with which he
was not familiar. In looking about
for man who had had experience
there he hit upon Frank Bristol,
young fellow who had gone out before
the mast six years before and made
two voyages on the Pacific Since he
was but twenty, the captain gave him
no higher berth than third mate, but
he was the only officer aboard the
Harpoon that had had any considera-
Bile experience in the Pacific ocean.
There is love that comes from long
association and love that comes with
single glance Of eyes The latter was
the case with Frank Bristol and Irene
Tarr. She saw young fellow in sail
or trousers and pea Jacket, with light
step, head of curly hair, fearless
blue eye, and succumbed. He saw a
girl with that shade Of auburn hair
that is called Titan, or golden, with
contrasting dark brown eyes, and he
bent the knee. During the voyage the
two met occasionally, but Bristol saw
no more Of her than did his brother
officers. Nevertheless the sputtering
fame that had been kindied grew to
consuming fire.
Meanwhile Captain Tarr walked the
quarter deck oblivious to the fact that
sailor without cent and with only a
common school education had won his
daughter, on whom every advantage
had been lavished and who would in
herit 100000 he had accumulated in
whale grease.
The Harpoon had sailed as far as the
Hawaiian Islands, then turned south
which she bent her course eastward.
Captain Tarr was thus far well pleas
ed with his voyage. He had on board
a goodly supply of whale oil, and one
feature lie had somewhat dreaded his
inexperience as to wind and weather
in the Pacifc-had not troubled him at
ALL
Talk about winds in particular wa
ters.' he said after being out a couple
Of months. "My opinion is that a man
who has learned to sail ship in one
ocean should know how to sail her in
any ocean. | find no difficulty here"
That same evening Frank Bristol
had the watch while Captain Tarr was
pacing the deck Suddenly the cap
tain was surprised to hear Bristol give
the order:
Man the weather Braces
what do you mean by giving such
an order as that, Mr. Bristol? Have
you lost your sensesg'
Wind coming" was the laconic re
ply.
The captain walked to leeward and
leaning over the rail. scanned the sea
and the sky from east to west.
There's no change coming that can
see. Drop the braces, men,,
Hold the braces, | say" said Bris-
tol, with all the firmness of an admit
raj of the navy
is this mutiny?" roared the captain.
"1ou young rascal, I'll teach you that
| haven't been a sailor for twenty
years for nothing, and command this
ship. Men, drop the braces"
The men, overawed by the superior
authority of the captain, let go the
braces, Or. rather, they We're about to
do SO when Bristol cried out defiantly:
Don't a man of you drop rope for
an instant as you value your livesr'
He had scarcely spoken the words
when there YVES a sudden drop in the
wind. The sails hung listless, only
tapping as the vessel rolled. At the
moment Irene came on deck. Her COM
ing was fortunate. for her father was
flustered with the insubordination Of
his mate and puzzled at the dropping
VI Tic " ill.,
Haul! Haul taut! Every man
haulv" cried Bristol
The yards swung round to meet wind
that must come out Of the opposite
quarter to the one from which it had
been blowing. They wereno sooner inpo-
sition than the water darkened, the dis
turbance coming with lightning speed,
and mighty wind struck the ship.
The Harpoon shuddered, bent over to
the leeward till the tip ends of the
yards almost touched the water, then
with bound leaped forward.
Irene Tarr was blown into her fa-
theirs arms, and he took her down into
the cabin. When lie returned the
worst was over, and the ship was scud-
ding along safe and sound The cap
tain stood on the quarter deck and
called for Bristol to come aft The
men watched the mate, wondering
what reception he would receive. They
could not hear what was said, but they
saw the captain grasp the mates hand
with evident satisfaction and graft
tude This was what was said:
young man. if that wind had struck