The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-09-05
aboardl" and heard the mate yefi,

you mean, all overboardl"
Couldn't see much at first, as | was
busy getting mother out of the
drowned cabin. When I'd passed a
halyard round her and the stump of
the mizzen, I'd just breathing time.
The sea was flattened, white under
black sky, and what was left of us
was mostly blowing about.
Dad was just taking command again
Of what remained. No use shouting
either, SO he hung on and beckoned.
The masts oversize were battering
holes in us, until we cut adrift. Then
to the pumps, but that was sort Of
ex oficio just to keep US warm. Work
in'e warmer than waiting.
Being timberladen we couldn't sink,
which was convenient But, as mother
said, there wasn't any grub on the
roof. and we couldn't go downstairs.
For instance, we wanted q drink of
water.
Well now, we been three days re-
freshing our parched mouths with beer
stories, when a fishing vessel comes
along smelling salvage. Happens he's
one Of them felucca-rigged dago swine
out of lnvicta, Texas. His charges
was quite moderate, too, for a breaker
of water and some fancy grub-until
we seen the bill.
never knew till then that our old
man was owner. OF course that's all
right, only he'd run astern with his
insurance. That's why he'd stay with
the ship. so it's no good talking. As
TO mother, she come aboard the fe-
luocy, ships cat in her arms, and a
sort of cold, dumb, going-to-be-good-
andit's-kllin!me sort of smile. She
bore up brave until she struck the
numbeTeone smell in the dago's cabin.
TITS too much" she says, handing me
| the cat, Nttoo much. I'm going back
to drown clean" ---~,
But was to stay with our sailors
aboard the dago. to fetch Invicta quick,
and bring a tug. Dad trusted me,
even to play the coward and quit him.
dread e think back 21 the passage
Of four days to the port of tnvfcta.
Now In them days l was fifteen, and
considered homely. The mouth 1 got
would be large for a dog. smfle-eix
and three-quarters. Thar ashore at
Invicta, I'd still look sort Of cheerful,
SO all them tug shippers took me for
a joke. 1t was four days and three
nights since I'd slept, so suppose I'd
/ look funny wanting to hire tug.
| showed power of attorney, wrote
IN indelible pencil on dads old dicky
cravat, but the tugs expected cash,
and the agents went bach on me-
Nothtn' doing Saturday nights at
the office, tug crews all ashore, but
the port will get move ON Monday.
Trust grown men to know more'n a
mere boy. The glass is down the gulls
is flying inland. thar's weather brew
ing I seen IN my mind the sprays
lash over the wreck.
II was dark when / went to the
wharves with Captain McGaw to see
the P1ur1bus Unum. He'd show me a
tug cheap at ten thousand cash
stores all complete, steam up, engineer
on the premises, though he'd stepped
ashore for a drink. Cute cabin he'd
got on the bridge, cunning little glory
hole forrard. Why, everything was
real handy, SO that only had to bat
him behind the ear with Delaying
PIN, and he dropped right down the
fore hatch. All wanted now was a
navigating officer could trust.
Which brings me to Mr.. Mcmillan,
our own second mate, buying a dozen
fried o?7to?s in card box with wire
| 1nn Co 49, A. -
though the girl seemed expecting q
kiss.
"Hello, Frankie" says /, slapping
him on the back A foremast hand
can make his officer act real dignified
with less. "Say, Macl Dye know
what Greed done2" I grabbed his
oysters. Greed. he choke puppy"
says I, and in my mind I seen the
gulls wheel around the wreck, where
something's lying huddled. Come on,
puppy!" says I, waving frankie down
the street with them oysters, so ali
the traffic pauses to admire, and our
second officer Is running good. More
things / said, escorting him maybe q
mile aboard Of the Plurfbus Unum.
And there I ate them oysters while
he was being coarse and rude, but all
the time seen the wreck heave sick
and sodden on the swell of the gulf,
the ctrcling gulls, and how they drove
down, pecking at a huddle OF torn
clothes beside the wheel
Up thar on the tugs masthead was
owning to being in the wrong. while
Frankie Mac WAS DI,nl11ieJnO O. PoftbF,1l
to tear nay hide off over my ears WIEN
I'm caught.
Please, sir" says I, ''ft amt so
npSn the oysters worries me- It's
this yer Cap'n McGaw done EN-.
bezzled. Cayn't can 1t kidnapped cause
he's over sixty, but / stunned him
illegal with belaytng-pfn, and !
hears him groaning-times when you
stops to pant"
| Il..k m