The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-04
The VaIuc
OF Experience


Gently lost his wife. resolved 10 take
their only child, a daughter barely
seventeen years old, with him in his
ship Harpoon. Irene Tarr was a love
~ 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. d
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
be was the only officer aboard the
Harpoon that had had any considera.
bic experience in the Pacific ocean.
There is love that comes from long
association and love that comes with
q single glance Of eyes. The latter was
the case with Frank Bristol and Irene
Iarr. She saw young fellow In sail
or trousers and pea jacket, with light
step, head OF curly hair, a fearless
blue eye, and succumbed. He saw
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 or 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 oblivlous to the fact that
sailor without cent and with only
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
ward, touching at the Marquesas, from
which she bent her course eastward.
Captain Tarr was thus far well pleas
ed with his voyage. He had on board
goodly supply Of whale oil, and one
feature he had somewhat dreaded-his
inexperience as TO wind and weather
In the Pacific had not troubled him at
all.
Talk about winds In particular wa
tiers" be said after being out 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 senses?
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 Rris-
toll with all the frmness of an admi-
raj Of the navy.
is this mutinyf" roared the captain.
"You young rascal, I'll teach you that
| haven't been 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 90 the
braces. or, rather, they were about to ,
do 50 when Bristol cried out defiantIy.
Don't a man Of you drop a rope for
an instant as You value your Iivesr,
He had scarcely spoken the words !
when there was a sudden drop In the ,
wind. The sails hung listless, only y
Mapping as the vessel rolled. At the
moment Irene came on deck. Her com.
ing was fortunate, for her father was
clustered with the insubordinatlon Of
bis mate and puzzled at the dropping
Of the wind. n
Haul Haul taut! Every man :
hauIr cried Bristol.
The yards swung round to meet wind !
that must come out Of the opposite i
quarter to the one from which it had /
been blowing They wereno sooner inpo- (
Eition than the water darkened, the dis. \
turbance coming with lightning speed, q
and mighty wind struck the shin. !
The Harpoon shuddered, bent over 10
the Ieeward till the tip ends OF the
yards almost touched the water. then
with bound Ieaped forward.
Irene Tarr was blown into her "a
TIERS arms, and be took her down into
the cabin. When he returned the
worst was over, and the ship was scud-
ding along safe and sound. The cap +
tain stood ON the quarter deck and e
called for Bristol to come aft. The 6
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 s
with evident satisfaction and graft q
Eude. This was what was said: ii
Young man. II that wind had strnck +