Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-02
WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT, TUESDAY, APRIL 1907

attempted any more drastic treatment of her upper seams would probably have produced disaster; they had been too much scorched and drawn by the sun to stand anything beyond 2 little tinkering.
 From the grid the Aphrodite went back to her old lay-by and was once more securely moored with her nose pointing towards the surging waters of the Firth; and Jerry whiled his idle hours away in whistlings for breeze from the land-something with just touch of east in it.
 It was long time in coming. but with the advent of December the wind suddenly swept round and the master mariner laid little note upon his sit ting room table, so that, should his venture cost him his life, there should be no mystery about his end, no taint left clinging to his name, and went aboard the brig.
 This was early in the afternoon, and it was not until long past mid night, when the tide had turned and all suggestion of life had vanished from the quays, that he stealthily climbed the foremast shrouds. Then the cables were slipped, and as the Aphrodite, at liberty once more. bobbed and curtsied to the breeze, he sprang to the tiller and jammed it hard down. finding, to his delight. that the vessel answered her helm as readily as in her days of active serv- ice.
 Once more he was upon the sea, the sea that he loved as good man loves his home, the sea that might even yet be his winding-sheet; and though his ship was no better than a derelict, and he stood alone upon her deck, his back stiffened out, his chest expand ed, the old fire flashed in his eyes, and he was no longer old Jerry, the cast-off skipper, but Captain Jerry, master mariner.
 More than once during the next day he decided that the moment for his final stroke had arrived, but the spirit of the sea was calling him, the witch cry of the waters held him in thrall, and he frightened his grip upon the tiller and kept his ship steadily on his course.
 Just for laal bit longer" he nut tered; a laal bit longer; it's for the last time!"
 Soon after the sun had dipped be: meath the horizon, the wind began to come in sharp, snarling puffs; into the voice of the sea there entered a new and angrier note, and the ship rose and fell with quicker stride. Then Jerry's hesitation vanished. and after an anxious glance to windward he disappeared down the cuddy.
 For long the Aphrodite bored her way through the hissing waters, with no hand to guide her, no eye to see for her; and when Jerry returned to her deck, night had spread her pail over sea and land. Jerry's face was very white now, his features more tightly drawn: in one hand he grasped a cleaning tool, and away deep be- meath the vessels waterline there were two gaping wounds, through which the sea steadily spouted.
 Thank God it's over!" he nut tered, wiping the clammy moisture from his brow. It's been like mur' der. Now I'll stay as long as dare, an then be off
 Inch by inch the water rose in the Aphrodite's hold, inch by inch mount ed her hull, and with strident cry the wind tore through her cordage. and far astern and in front, away to port and to starboard. the myriad voices of the sea mingled in their everlast ing anthem.
 Lower and still lower. until her decks were almost awash. and then Jerry reused himself to action. Re leasing the tiller, he seized the tow line looped over the stern, pulled his dinghy under the counter, and with a choking cry of "Guid-bye. old ship yuid.bye!" he cast himself over the side and pushed off. A cables length and then he drew his oars across the thwarts and with throbbing heart and burning eyes watched the working oi the last scene. He had not long tc wait.
 Suddenly the light dipped and rose and dipped again: the masts quiveret convulsiyely: then a maddened whir of waters. and both light and spars plunged from sight.
 stolidly. dumbly the spell of fear full fascination gripping him. Jerr, stepped his tiny mast and hoisted his sail and. like some frightened thing the frail craft darted from the spot Rut even now the storm winds had hroLen from their leash ana were 1T bot nursuit. and fast though the littl, boat fed through the night they tray e,ad faster still. and ere the dawnint tbev had swept through the cleft where the currents ever clash 1T watery warfare. and bounced upor their prey.
 Ere daybreak the storm winds has winged their way to their secret lair and when the sun shot up in luriC magnifcence from the back of th' distant crags. and threw an inquirini glance upon the waiting world, ther' was little of tragedy in the thing unon which he looked. Only firing. of spindrift white alorg the line O the rock-strevn coast; only restless terrified heaving of the sea; only ;