The Springdale news., 1909-03-16

c1Se of the beach. There we sat at esse and smoked our pipes in silence, ta9 tired to talk. Even Handy Solo mons song was still Outside the cir. ele of light were mysterious things strange uavings of white hands beEd. ia15 of figures. eallingS of voices rus ting of feet We knew them for the l saef and the wind in the grasses. but they were not the less mysterious for that
 Logically Captain SeIoyer and l should have passed most of our even ings together As Il matter of fact We so spent very few. Early in the dusk the captain invariably rowed himself put to his beloved schooner. What he iid there I do not know. We could See his light now in one part of her. now in the other. The men claimed he was scrubbing her teeth. old Scrubs they called him to his back never Captain Seloyer.
 He has to clean up after his own feet. he's so dirty" sagely proffered Handy Solomon And this was true.
 The seaman's prophecy held good. Seven weeks held us at that internal job-seyen weeks of solid, grinding work The worst of it was that we were kept at it so breathlessls. as though our very existence were to de pend on the headlong rush of our la- Dor. And then we had fully half the stores to put away again and the oth- CT half to transport painfully over the neck of land from the cove 10 the beach.
 So accustomed had become to the routine in which we were involved, so habituated to anticipating the coming day as exactly like the day that had gone, that the completion of our job caught ne quite by surprise. l had thrown myself down by the fire pre- pared for the same old half hour of drowsy nicotine, to be followed by the accustomed heavy sleep and the usual early rising to toll. The evening was warm half closed my eyes.
 Handy Solomon was coming in last. Instead of dropping to his place he stradded the fire. stretching his arms over his head He let them fall with q sharp exhalation:
 "Lay aloft lay aloft, the jolly bo's'n
 cried
 Blow high. blow low, what care Wei Look ahead. look astern, look a=wind-
 ward look a-lee.
 Down on the coast of the high Bar
 bare-e-e."
 The effect was electrical. We all sprang to our feet and fell 10 talking at once.
 By God we're through" cried Palz, "I'd clean forgot itp'
 The nigger piled on more wood. We drew closer about the fire All the interests in life, so long held in the back ground leaped forward, eager for recognition We spoke of triviaities almost for the first time since our land ing. fused into I temporary but com plete good fellowship by the relief
 "Wonder how the old doctor is get ting on?" ventured Thrackles after awhile
 .The devils preacher! l wonderY cried Handy Solomon.
 Lets make 'em cali,s suggested Pulz
 Don't believe they'd appreciate the compliment" laughed Better let them make first call They're the longer established" This was lost on them. of course But We all felt kindly to one another that evening
 carried the glow of 1t with me over until the next morning and was there fore somewhat dashed to meet Captain Selover with clouded brows and an un- certain manner. He quite ignored my greeting
 "Eagen.n he saueaked, 'can you think of anything more to bOdone&9
 strengthened my back and laughed
 Haven't you worked us hard enough9H inquired Unless you gild the cabins I don't see what else there can he to do.'
 Captain Selover stared me over.
 And you a naval man." he marvel ed Don't you see that the only thing that keeps this crew from get tin restless is keeping them busy? I've sweat more with my brain than things to do can't see anything ahead, and then we'll have trouble. Oh, they're q sweet lot l whistled and my crest fell Here was new point of view and also q new Captain Ezra. Where Was the confidence in the might of his two hands:
 He seemed 10 read my thoughts and went on
 T don't feel sure here on this euss- cd land It ain,t like deck where man has some show. They can scat ter They can hide It aiu't right to put man ashore alone with such a crew. I'm doing my best but it amt goin' to be good enough. l wish We were safe in Frisco harbor"- He would have maundered on, but seized his arm and led hlm out of possible hearing of the men.
 Here buck upi' l said to him stern ly. There's nothing to be scared of. If it comes 10 d row. there's three of us. and we've got guns. We could even sail the schooner at pinch and leave them here You've stood them off before.
 Not ashore" protested Captain Sel over weakly.
 "Well, they don't know that Don't let them see you've lost your nerve this way" He did not even vince at the accusation. Put up front" He shook his head. The sand had completely run out of him. Yet I am