Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1912-09-12
SENTIMENT OF THE SEA.

James b. Connolly In Harpers Magazine.
IL was IL good breeze of wind. We
picked up other proof OF it next day.
Bin johnson had slapped sail to his
Fannie and gone to the eastward. and
Newport. and So we we've on our way.
The middle OF the morning il Was, y
fine day. and as we were still hoping
for fish the lookouts were aloft Ezra
called out something and pointed. and
we all looked 1t WAS part of a drift
ing mast. the lower part broken off
raggedly from a foot or two above the
saddle to the step.
And then We saw dorv. bottom up.
"A yellow dory.' somebody said. "A
yellow dory" somebody else said. and
twas a white painted saddle to that
mast while ago" Everybody repeated
that and then suddenly nobody seemed
u be saving amy more about IT,
The skipper also put Off to get the.
dory. II was some little trouble to right
the capsaed dory from our dory gum
wae but we did it after n while y
through her bottom. which happens
often and meant nothing, hut there
was the name on her bow Nokomis
We took the dory aboard our vessel
and went on.
A flpry. too. could be washed off the
deck OF n fishing vessel SO that didn't
prove anything. blit the lower end of
the mast and the oil barrel with the
hole in the head altogether 1t didn't
look good. And then we picked mp part
OF a BOBBY hatch and close by two
hatch COVERS And then Bill identified
them rs from off the Nokomis.
Shes broke up Goodby. Nokomis,''
ii .,s.,I r-,.t,
on to tell about John Pettipaw "T.asv
goin'. nothu' worrit Him. The finest
kind of q chap. said Bill. "Mebbe ne
didn't worry enough
And then We picked up the water
melon Everybody knew that PETIT
paws cook. lsll said. was a great fell
low to ship a few ~atermelons and all
ways kept a couple To cat on The pass
age home. And rIeM don't throw wa
termelnns OVERLOOKED This one must
have floated out Of her hold. which
meant she had broken M; the mast.
the BOBBY hatch, the match covers and
now the melon 1t WAS John who
spied The melon from aloft but we
would have missed Il only for Ezra
He made flying leap into the ,lory
towing astern, and leaning far enough
ont to lay the dory ON her side he
spread wide his hands and the melon
just naturally loated right over the
tsnhwale and INTO mis- arms and Ezra
Rugged 1t to his bosom.
Kin took the melon when 1t was
passed up over tho rail and tested l.
for sonndness. Only one little soft
SPOT. he announced. and without any
foolish delay got his dressing knife. and
cut ii up. Poor old Nokomis won
der whore We be row observed Blu.
and cautiously tasted the melon Not
u touch q salt" he declared, and cut
into 1t more deeply. Poor old Noko-
mis-. I'm sorry for yer" and handed
himself n fat slice. Three melancholy
bites of that and he threw the rind
oyer the side; and he had another slice
and studied that rind. too. as it slowly
sank under orr quarter. We'll. his old
shipmat"s were gone. that WAS sure.
With his tongue he worked the juicy
shrcds from the far corners of hSs
mouth. He WAS staring nutboard WHY
be downcast? He faced nhoard. and
east Il side look at the Watermelon He
contemplated what WAS left of that by
now n hollow shell. At last he spoke:
Poor Nokomls, Bat a damn good
tastin' melon, warn't She"