New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-29


ScloUS Captain gently lifted over the side Reel
ing and swaying the noble wounded ship went
down 10 doom, making maelStrom with suck
ing spiralS and clashing waves that met above
her decks and licked the sails ere they sank
INTO the depths. Four boats rocked mourn
fully on the sea. Close by drifted the sinister
shape of the derelict; her fallen mast freed
from the sunken ship, hung slanting in the dark
water. Frightened birds, disturbed 10y the
crash, Clrcled screaming IN the air.
FEAR and CHASTITY wonder possessed the men.
They rowed toward the floating monster.
Beneath AS ragged raIment Of Jungle foliage
they dIsCerned the familiar hull of a ship. They
clambered aboard. Their dark shapes and low
voices broke the seals Of the night and caused
this sulen hull of destruction this rank garden
OF silence, 20 TEEN with human life.
The awestruck sailors bore their Captain To
an open space near the stern where they laid
HIM, crushed and helpless with ships lantern
beside him. One of his legs had been broken
by the falling mast
Where am u" he asked. his eyes bent on
the branches Of the tamarisk above his head.
On the derelict we struck sir" the first
mate replied She's covered with earth and
trees-most wonderful
And where's my ship"
sunk sir. murmured ihe mate mourn
fully, with lowered head.
The Captain feebly closed his eyes The Ian
ternlight beat on his pain bianched face
framed IN gray beard and long iron-hued hair
One Of the men thrustng aside the light
bracken, held a lantern over the stern and
spelled out the furnished letters of gold
"S-e-r-a-p-i-s. Scraps ne said
The first mate started violently The stunned
master caught the word through all the treaoh-
cry Of ms senses.
M. Monroe, he whispered TO the officer
dbl he say the Scraps ,"
Aye sir, the Scraps, our old ship
Painfully the Captain raised himself 10 a sit
ting position. His eyes were open with
mighty wonder. They were fixed upon the con
stellation Of the Southern Gross which seemed
10 rise and sink in a gap between the tree.
The Isandula sunk The Scraps still afoat
And It's five years since saw her, burning like
a torch. SAIL off through the night Lord Cod
The soul 81 James Vance IA its extremity Was
once more confronted by the vision that would
not vanish He covered ms face with ms hands
Then Mr. Monroe h. sand family and the
mate bent down. somehow ! feel that She
Mary-is still here. here IN the ashes that were
her dear body. And If YOU think I'm done Tor.
don't YOU nor the men wait for me. For i-u :
II m that lie down here beside her sd, that
was my good wife here on the old ship that
was our wedding couch our babes cradle and
her coffin
Al once there Wa heard weird shrl
scream which wrung sudden Cncs Of alarm
from the men. This was followed by The sharp
velping barks 81 animals and the violent Gao kic
Il birds. The startled men 81 the sea turned
and saw. emerging from the ground as d from
a grave the enaciatcd figure 81 a woman with
bare arms and long gray HAIR, almost hiding her
feature her body drapcd m rude garment
shaped from weafheTbc4t,n sal,oluth Her feet
were bare and before h.r orou,hei four sn4rl-
ing iac kals with Pickering cves barred tangs. and
bTistling crcsts. y long tailed. white and vel
low cockatoo perched upon each shoulder
Slowly and frarsonely She advanced "a wild.
vague hight burning IN her eye. Then She
stood still and surveyed the group Of astouudct
men By the shine Of the lantern they saw her
expression change and a slow beam Of lntclll-
gence begin TO dawn IN her eyes.
Mary" cred James Vance IN q voice that
broke with huge, inarticulate fear.
Al this She gave cry and sprang forward
and flung herself on her knee beside the IN
iured Captain 4 fierce. wild JOY TRANSPORTED
her Jamie Jamie She cried. It, Jamie,
my Jamie. praise 10 Cod And V DO still
ken your Mary. nav puir good lad, Your Mary
that lived 10 hold YOU IN her arms once more,
that's lived past the dole and terror O the
vears as we've lived 10 make all night again
She bent over the rugged bearded man N
whom inhu1nan terror had now given WAY %
human tears and as he sobbcd softly. with has
arms about her. the hips of husband and wife
met IN the kiss that heals and makes happy and