The Washington herald., 1906-11-25

4 IL days at sea look alike to the
~ wanderer in the South Pacific,
- fioundering along In the soft
- - trade winds More than a month
had passed since that classic tub, the
Luly Alice, had pushed her nose into the
brine that lay between San Francisco
and Samboa. The mild blue eye-baIls Of
Mr.. Bloke, tourist. fairly ached for a
sight of land. A flower pot with a dead
rubber plant in it would have looked good
to him.
Seated on the trunk in his stateroorn,
Willie took sectional views Of himself in
a hand mirror and summed up.
''Whiskers like a cOcoanut and pimple
for each hair. Serves me right Ny neg
ative needs retouching, but not until this
cruel corned-beaf hash campaign is over.
Oh, what a life on the rolling deep!
Thirty days on a lumber raft-ninety
doses Of hash and not lemon in sight
Next time III spend my vacation in the
hOuss Of correction. need guardian
Roll up here, shipmate. there's some
thing in sight" said the voice of Mr.
Barnacle. chief mate, breaking IN on the
reveries of the passenger.
Three jumps carried Willie, all aglow
with whiskers and pimDles. to the deck.
rs 1t land2" he cried In joyful accents.
Not yit,'' said Bill We're all Of COO
miles from Samboa- Look dead ahead.
Half a mile away. drifting across the
bows Of the Lucy Alice, a long black OBJ
ject rose and fell on the modest waves
That's nothing but a log" said the
disappointed Bloke. Another OF your
maritime Jokes" he went on. scowling
al Bill. "Tve seen enough lumber 20 last
a lifetime"
Keep your hair on and likewise he'll
met TetOTted tHe mate. The skipper
has the glass. He says it's a Samboan
canoe"
There is life on board" said Jute, who
had his telescope trained through the
mizzen shrouds Il saw a hand above
the gunwale. Stand by 70 pick up the
heathens-and feed them," he added de-
jectedly.
The course Of the bark was altered q
bit to bring the canoe alongside, and she
was soon fast 20 a grapple the sailors
tossed in the the bow. Even the stony
hearted Jute was moved at the sight in
the frail craft. In the bottom lay five
shTunken brown bodies, only one of
which showed signs of life. Empty water
gourds and sun-baked banana stems,
partly eaten. told mute tale OF thirst
and starvation. Quickly hosting the
live one on deck. the crew capsized the
floating dead house and turned it adrift
10 please the sharks.
Capt. Jute soon rallied from the tenn
porary emotion caused by the advent Of
the canoe. lie looked at the projecting
ribs of the starved brown man and
grunted
'Itl take a lot Of grub to fatten that
mummy, and then what good is hep"
"Oh. yeu champion brute-you tight
wadv' said Willie, ready to weep with
rage. Don't you see he's a human be-
ing like ourselves. dying of hunger and
thirst. The poor fellow may have my
share Of the corned-beef hash and well
come"
"AH right" said the skipper. with an
ugly grin. When he comes to and you
learn his name. introduce me to your
friend"
Bill and the tourist dragged the cast
away to the awning shelter While the
mate fixed prop for his head Willie
went fOraging in the cabin. He boldly
hung up the Jap steward for a can Of
condensed milk and got away with it
right under the nose of Jute- Rushing
back 70 his patient he diluted the milk
in water. and. with a soft handkerchief,
swabbed the blackened lips and tongue.
Soon the eyes opened-big. brown. trust