The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-24
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sstand it.. he shouted langrily. Tor bless you, there ain't wind nun In the sea. to best the Hope and Glory. She'll stand ity and I and my mate'll stand 1t. was thinlxfn' of you. sir.
 "Keep at t." cried Tankeriane. rn go below"
 asPiease tell young Playle 10 come on deck. sir. can't have him suikin' down below there,
 Tankeriane crawled down the hatch way into the warm and cosy cabin. A coke fire glowed in the stove, and the general lfappearance of warmth and dry < ness formed a pleasing contrast to the wet and wind swept deck outside.
 As he reached the foot of the ladder, young Joe Playie came hurriedly from the other end of the cabin. The whole place snelt strongly of alcohol, but Tankerlane was far too i'll to notice details of this sort
 You're wanted on deck, he mutter- cd, and then collapsed on the floor, as . sudden gust of wind sent tho lee rail of the smack under water.
 The young giant picked him up and laid him on one of the hunks.
 "A drop of sperrits'd do you good, rir."s he said thickiy.
 turning his face to the wall of the. cab
 with water. sir?"
 No. neat. Hurry up. that's a good .hap"
 Tn his misery Tankeriane had for gotten Yardley's warning, and for the same reason he did not notice that the man found the whiskey without any inquiries about its hiding place, nor lid he see that one of the bottles was already half empty.
 Thanks he said gratefully, as he Trained half tumbler of the neat )pifit. Have drop yourself.
 The man helped himself literally, frank 1t at one gulp, and then went )n deck with a cigarette in his mouth.
 What be doin' down thereg" asked < hers face. This ain't weather for ,dlins ' He could see that Piayle had been drinking. but he had no wish to provoke a quarrel by saying anything Ahnut it. The young fellow was nasty sustomer to tackle in a brawf, and his temper was none of the sweetest when he had drop of liquor inside him.
 AJust take in that jib.t said Yardley, sand put up the smallest one we've got. And when you're done that, braii up the nainsail We've bit more canvas than we shall be able to carry down this channel"
 "Tis wet forsard.v said Playle. look ing doubtfuliy at a wave, which had flooded the fore part of the boat with a foot and half of green sea.
 teTwiil be wetter. if you ain't sharp 7
 Piayle spat out forcible oath, and made his way to the jib halliard He performed his task with a dexterity that was truly remarkable under the circumstances In spite of the fact that he had swallowed nearly half bot tie of whiskey, and that the boat was ulunging her nose every minute into a heavy sea, he never slipped nor hesitat- cd. More than once he was up to his knees in water, and landsman would have been swept overheard. But sthe young sailor seemed as. steady as Q rock. YardIey watched him closely. and grunted approval. He had sent him there to test his sobriety. and he was satisfied.
 aHave a turn at the tilIer." he said grufay. T want to get warm"
 Half a minute mate. l be wet right to the middle. I'll take my turn when I've had e change. You amt bin sea- bathin' like I have"
 He went down into the cabin, chang ed his clothes, consumed two more stifl whiskies, and returned on deck
 Then Yardley handed him over the tilier, and. under pretence of coiling q rope. watched him narrowly. But the young mans hand was steady enough, and his head was apparently clear. He handled the boat like yachtsman rac- ing in smooth water, and dodged the waves with the skill of an old sailor.
 ~rm goin' below" said TardIey, land you gimme hail when you're goin to put her round. I'll look arter the Jib sheet for you. And you be sure to give Black Spit Island a wide berth. There ain't much water within fifty yards of her now. The channels silted up bit on that side since last year. member