Evening star., 1911-05-28

"Rope him. Hazard raSped out. I've
got your lives in my hand, and you re going
back to work. Tie up this dog!'
Obviously the three other unruly members
of the crew had no thought OF resistance.
Before Skipper Bunker, staring wide eyed
from the poop, had got his breath, the big
mutineer, still unconscious, was tied hand
and foot and rolled under the bulwark; two
hands were pumping ship as though their
lives depended on it; and the third was aft
with Hazard smuggling down the remnants
of the nlainsail and clearing away wreckage.
The crew had found their master, and
Hazard, "beachcomber" as he was, thrilled
with the glory of command.
Before darkness fell, the Nancy Lee was
bearing up into the heavy seas, with head
sails set, foresail reefed and snuggled in, and
a patched up rag of mainsail that held the
schooner's head well up to the wind: The
ensign was hauled down and set right side up.
At the pumps the late mutineers did penance.
BEST do what young skipper tell you! He
no man, he berry debil-lick Tiger Toni" the
negroes whispered forward, and at Hazards
order they bundled the giant Jamaican into
the galley like a sack of flour. Even pig
headed old Captain Bunker, halt dellrlous
with the pain of an ankle the size OF hat,
allowed himself to be carried below, to the
care of the women.
my YOUTH" the old schooner master said.
"I'll not forgit ye!"
Hazard shrugged his shoulders. The grip
of old Skipper Bunker's fat hand was almost
the first friendly touch he had known in his
life. Now that the hot blood of battle was
cooled, black dependency was creeping on
him like cloud. As he stood stralnlng at
the wheel, soft voice came from the cabin,
tremulous and low, Molly singing to Cascos
boy. The never ceasing pumps clanked;
gnomelike figures fitted the deck, casting
power swelled in him. After all, life was be-
fore him-he was proved a master OF men!
As for the future
ALL night long Hazard stood at the kick
"A ing wheel, while the Nancy Lee bored
farther and farther into the north, lost in the
inkv blackness of the Atlantic. Once he
passed across the bow of big steamer; but
almost as soon as he made out her lights the
, racing schooner fitted past and LETT her far
astern. After midnight the wind veered, and
he figured from the few vagrant stars that
he was running only a few points off the
coastline.
1t was bitter, killing work; but all through
the latter part of the night he held his post,
keeping one eye on the shadowy, menaclng
deck as he secured the ocean for sign of light
house or lightship, seeking something to guide
him in the pail that enveloped the ocean.
But when dawn broke the Nancy Lee was
alone on the tossing sea, her decks awash,
and three black forms lying like dead men
on the fore hatch. During lull in the west
erlv gale he swept the horizon carefully
with the glasses. Far ahead he made out a
windblown pencil mark of smoke; on each
quarter lay an endless waste of salty water,
stretching away without break. But when
he slowly swung round and brought the
glasses to bear over the stern, Hazard gave
a cry of surprise strangely mingled with dis
appointment.
less than a mile away big white motor
boat danced on the bosom of the ocean,
overhauling him hand over fist. She was
filled with men, and one in the bow waved
a handkerchief on boathook.
"That's Sandy Hooks big motorboat, and
that's Big lem Casco in the bow. They must
have been following my lights. They got
picked up, just like thought. Most likely
landed at Sandy Hook, and hiked out to
sea. Bet they didn't expect to get us this
side O. Europe-or Davy Jones! We must
be way up near Long Island"
He lowered the glasses, still watching the
oncoming lifeboat. In the cabin he heard
the women stirring and the chatter of Cas-