The San Francisco call., 1908-08-30

Come on, there" cried the captain
from below
The second mate took a place for
ward to see that none was already
creeping aft, put his pistol briskly
into his pocket and scrambled down
into the boat.
We'll. Chips, are you asleep?" bel
lowed the captain.
The carpenter looked down on them,
where the little boat plunged under the
rail. Their faces were appraised to him
as they Tended her off with their hands
when she swung in toward the ship
the captains unshaven, fiush irate;
the mates heavy with angry gloom; !;
the stewards fat and loose and vile. He
saw them with a sudden new under
standing, and his vague blue eyes
clouded with a quick new horror for
what had become apparent to them. He
drew back the leg he had thrust over
the taffrail.
The captain cursed him at large.
SAY, amt you comin'?' he shouted.
mo- said the carpenter thoughtfully,
and his face cleared. mo-; i amt got
no use for you
You rotten Dutchman" roared the
captain. Shove her off, there, bo'sun."
The carpenter watched them founder
clear of the ship. their inexpert oars
splashing raggedly. The captain stood
in the stern. shaking a red fist at him,
till a plunge of the boat knocked his
fro i'm ho hSid dad
into the stern sheets Soon after they
hoisted their lug sail, and with three
reefs down, went heeling to westward
and out of sight.
He had no idea that he had done a
praiseworthy thing. He had followed
his instinct to be honest and that was
all. He turned from the rail slowly
and went down to the main deck. The
men had ceased to pump and were ly-
ing about on deck
We'll, boys" said the carpenter
gravely, looking down at them. who's
for de shore? Time we was Knoclxin' a
raft togedder, amt it?"
Some of them were already asleep,
but the eldest of them stirred and
raised his white head from the wet
planks. His face was blue and white
with cold and fatigue; the brine stood
on his eyebrows in a crust. But the
heavy eyes had still their fash of
humor.
"Raft be blowed," croaked the old
sailor. "All she wants is a plug"
"Plug?" repeated the carpenter.
Bolt worked out in the forepeak,"
said the other. "All hands has knowed
of 1t for two days. Only-we wanted
them swines to quit"
His blue lips shaped themselves to
the curve of a smile as he laid his
head down again, conquered but not
daunted
Marked men-quitters; that's what
they are" he murmured. AN now you
go an plug-that-ho1e.'
On the heels of the last word his
eyes closed his attitude relaxed He
slept on the sea washed deck like a
child in it's bed, and round him.
stretched and sprawiing, his shipmates
slumbered with him in the sleep of
men who have achieved their end.
Again, for the space of moments, hor-
ror and fear clouded the carpenters
blue eyes; then he walked forward for
his tools.
The verandas of the. hotel at Rio
were pleasant resting places for the
shipwrecked men who duly arrived in
that port, and in the American consul
late courtesy and interest in their adj
ventures combined to support them
under the burden of their misfortunes.
Only one thing disquieted the captain
at times-and that was the slow satir-
ical eye of the consul. He was one of
those deliberate men witL an instinct
for Inconsistencies. and the welb con-
certed tale which the survivors of the
Croquill had to tell was subjected to
an unawaited test.
$50 you were the last to leave the
ship. captain?" he remarked to that
officer. Yes, that's the way it should
be. But you'll have to talk to that
bo'sun of yours; he says the second
mate came last"