The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-02


fore. written from ntiniuta personal know.-
edge. 95175
For the reader who looks first and fore.
nest for tho story. .Tolcrs of the Sea-" ts
NJ. attempting. md. on the whole. I. diff
cult book. The author continually wanders
Sa . away. into the ells OF science. pseudo.
anecdote and philosophy. 1t teens almost
as II Hugo had tired go completely OF the
tHlo that lie seized on every possible cxcuse
10 talk about something else.
Morris the book much moro satisfactory
TO the reader. whose greatest pleasure Is
found In literary style. for In "Toilers OF the
tent tho Latin Iovo for "crect" Judged as
prrc literature his style In almost atroclots
~ spots; but II IL the sin OF genius and never
'.1.oers OF the Sea- are like tho dust and
debris whired In tho arms of the tempest.
Behind them is The thrill OF tho mighty
Giiliatt's battle with the devilish. which
- tho episode OF the story that has made
among al, Glasses Of people. epitamizes tho
faults and tho genius OF tho work. 1t Inns
become one OF Tho impcrisliabIe stones or
literature. II IS reprinted in almost every
book of selections from school readers to
Hnthologics. and n liz quoted wholly or III
part In almost every reference 10 the giant
comes about that tens of thousands all over
tho world know "ToIiers Of the Sea" by
,stle style. without over having read the
book itself.
Wien Mess I.ethierrr. Of Saint sanlp-
son. in the island Of Guernsey. had
rivered one day that he could no long
or lift his great three hundred-pound
anvil with ono hand. and thus WAS
brought face 10 face with the sudden
knowledge that he was no longer
young.
with the same swift determination
eide OF wrecked ships through spout.
ing seas like a lion with foaning
name. the old seaman get to work at
much for himself. az for his bewitch-
Ing. beautiful. entirely delightful niece.
Deruchette.
On Deruchelte old Lethierry would
lave staked his life, his soul and his
future throughout eternity without
Hesitation. For her sake he staked his
whole fortune, all his painfully gather
ed hoard. and in addition Ill that he
could borrow. on venture that for
those days was almost diabolic.
II was Just at the time when people
tegantto talk with sage shakes of the
head and with superstitious shrill Of a
new kind of ship that was moved, not
by sails. but by strange power that
came from boiling water. Lethierry
heard. considered and investigated.
Soon he began erecting strange hull
on great covered stocks. He exhausted
all his skill as shipwright in this con-
struction. As his vessel grew. his love
for her grew, until when her wonder
IL, engines at last arrived from France
and had been. installed. his pride and
JOY In Durande. the ship, were barely
second to his worship of Deruchctte
the girl.
One day when Mess Lethierry had
spent his last franc the frightened
PEOPLE of Guernsey. crossing themselves
as they stood grouped on the rocky
a
puffed and blew, horrid machine
which roared like Wild beast and
smoked ike volcano, az 1t rushed
cut to sea with a frightful beating Of
It's fins and throat belching forth
flame. From that day the impious con-
triyarce was known throughout the
Guernsey Islands as the devil boat.
the devil has foul trick Of making
himself impressively useful. not to say
necessary: thus the Durande. being
able to carry four times as much cargo
as the biggest sailing vessel. and in
became a great success. Therefore
( though many honest people declared
that they could distinctly see the horns
OF the evil fiend himself sticking UP
sermons We're preached In village
churches to prove that the vessel vas
q work of black sin, because God had
divorced fire and water at the crea-,
2 y
off his loans.
Mess Lethierry commanded his bs-
laved Durande till rheumatism had him
by the heels Then he turned the com.
,nand over to Sieur Clubin. Sieur Clu-
bin looked like a notary. but was g
wonderful sailor; he was a renowned
swimmer and as taciturn as the chan
mel rocks: and he had impressed his
strict quiet, painful honesty on men so
long that they often said las honest
as Sieur Ciubin."
Nevertheless. sleur clubin's enviabie
reputation, which he had earned by
ters Of sous and francs. was only the
stake that he had laid on life's gam
ing table. He but bided his time for.
making one; and only one, great stroke
leaving trusting fools behind to cape
and wonder. One day when he brought
the Durande as usual into ST. Malo.
he saw the game shape his way.
bargained with a. vagabond for GER
tain ingenious new contrivance which
that gentleman had brought from
America: It was that important. II not
with this novel means for making ones
self irresistible Sieur Clubin made his
way next day to a great cliff near St.
NIalo where the rocks rise sheer as the
monstrously deep.
On the very edge Of this dizzy pla-
teau, there stood q coast guard on this
day, looking fixedly at a vessel that
was layin go IT. the shore, Soon he
vigorously toward the cliff.
At this moment a man of huge sta-
tura stepped from the concealment Of
rock where no had laid hidden. His
foot fell as silently as a cats. He
moved swiftly, yet with infinite pres
caution, toward the unsuspecting
watcher. Suddenly his two fists flew
forth and struck the coast guard
straight between the shoulders, With-
out a cry tho guard fell hcadtirst into
the sea-. $50. .Eg -s$ii 9
The large mar, stepped ealny to the
few circles widening out and vanish-
ing In the darkening water He saw q
dark spot that began to dlffuse itself
through the green sea. Nothing else
appeared. e ISL 81
'.'You have Just killed a. man. RAN
taine." said a. soft voice. He wheeled.
There stood Sieur Clubin. with that in-
Renious American revolver In his hand.
65 Rantine advance n step
STAY Where YOU are, y said fSleurs Clu-
hin. u have six shots here They
will either Sill YOU or bring the near