The Springdale news., 1909-03-19

There was, as you remember. the matter of Handy Solomon's steel claw He showed Thrackles a kind of Ian yard knot that deep sea person had never used. He taught Captain Sel over how to make soft soap out of one species of seaweed. Me he initiated in the art of fishing with a white bone lure Our camp itself he reconstruct ed on scientific lines so that we en- joyed less aromatic smoke and more palatable dinner And all of 1t he did amusedly, as though his ideas were al most too obvious to need eemmunica- tion.
 We became in manner intimate with him. He guyed the men in his indolent fashion. playing on their ere dulity, their good nature. even their forbearanee. They alternately gfinned and scowled. He left always q con fused impression, so that no ore really knew whether he cherished rancor against Percy Darrow CT kindly feel. ing.
 The nigger was Darrow's especial prey. The assistant had early discoy- cred that the cook was given to signs, omens and superstitions.
 From curious scholars lore he drew fantastics with which to torment his victim. We heard of all the witch es, warlocks, incubi, succubae, harpies, devils, imps and haunters of Ayitchi. from all the teachings of history. sa- E1yntian Greek, mediaeval. Swedenborg, Rosi- crucian, theoSophy theology. with ev- cry last ounce of horror, mystery. shiv CTS and ereeps squeezed out Of them They were gorgeous ghost stories, for they were told by d man fully inform ed as to all the legendary and grew some details. At first 1 used 10 think he might have communicated 1t more effectively. Then l saw that the cool, drawing manner. the level voice, were in reality the highest art.
 He told his stories In half amused, detached manner, which imposed con, fidenee more readily than any amount of earnest asseveration The mere fact of his own belief In what he said came to matter little He was the vehicle by which WIS brought ac curate knowledge He had read all these things and now reported them as he had read. Each man could de eide for himself as To their eredlbility.
 At last the donkey engine was clear ed and reinstalled atop the cliff. The nigger built under her a fire of black walnut, Captain Selover handed out grog all around, and we started her up with cheer just to see the wheels re- volye.
 Next we half buried some long hatches. end up. to serve as bitts for the lines, hitehed our cables to them and joyfully commenced the task of pulling the Golden Horn piece by piece up the side of the cliff
 The stores were badly damaged by the wet, and there was no liquor, for which I was sincerely grateful We broke into the boxes and arrayed our selves in various garments-which speedily fell to pieces-and appropri ated gimcracks of all sorts There were some arms, but the ammunition had gone bad. Perdosa out of forty or fifty misfires got one feeble sputter and tremendous bang which blew up his piece, leaving only the stock in his hand. A few timed goods were edible, but all the rest was destroyed A lot of hard woods a thousand feet of chain cable and a fairly good an- chor might be considered as prizes As for the rest. 1t was foolishness, but we hauled 1t up just the same until nothing at all remained. Then we shut off the donkey engine and put on dry clothes. We had been quite hap py for the eight months.
 It was now well along toward spring The winter had been like summer. and with the exception of a few rains of week or so we had enjoyed heauti- fu skies. The seals had thinned out considerably, but were now returning in vast numbers ready for their an- nual domestic arrangements l Our Sundays we had mostly spent in resting or in fishing. There were | many deep sea fish to be had. of great palatability, but small gameness. They came like so many leaden weights. A few of Us had climbed some of the hills in half hearted curiosity. but from their summits saw nothing to l tempt weariness. Practically we knew nothing beyond the mile or so of beach on which we lived.
 1 Captain Seloyer had made habit of 1 coming ashore at least once during the l day He had contented himself with standing aloof. but took pains to seem to confer with him, so that the men might suppose that I, as mate. was engaged In carrying out his d. rections. The dread of him was my most potent influence over them. During the last few days of our wreeking Captain Selover had omitted his daily visit. The fact made me un- easy, so that at my first opportunity sculled myself out to the schooner found him, moist eyed as usual. lean | ing against the mainmast doing noth- l ing
 We've finished. sir" said I.
 He looked at me.
 twill you come ashore and have q look, sir?' I inquired
 T ain't going ashore again." he nut tered thickly.
 "Whatr' l cried.
 'I ain't going ashore again. he re peated obstfnately. land that's all there Is to 1t. It's too much of strain on any man. Suit yourself. You run them. l shipped as captain of . yes sel. I'm no dock wallopsr. won't do it-for no many'
 l gasped with dismay at the mans