Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-04-24
SSSSSSS SSSSSS
THE GREAT
GREEN WAVE
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BY GRACE puFFIELo GOODWIN


BY GRACE DuFFIELD GOODWIN
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey Company
All was hustle and hurry at the pier
rs the Annie NJ, fishing schooner from
Boston for the Banks, cleared in the
gray of dawn and took her unobtru-
stve way out to sea. Several of the
men had been two or three seasons
with the Annie NJ, but there were two
green hands and, as the boat headed
her slow way among the craft at the
harbor mouth, the captain eyed his
crew sharply. There was one man he
could not recall, who had taken the
place at the eleventh hour, of an old
reliable sailor upon whom the captain
depended. His failing the captain had
put him in an ugly humor.
A sight of his substitutes face did
not tend dissipate the captains ill
humor. McRae was a hulking, evil
browed Scotchman. His face was
against him; obstinate, ugly, SCARED.
with bristly red hair to frame its saw
ageryA At sight of MacRae, little
Irish Mike crossed himself devoutly.
He'll not suffer from being hidden
in a fog" said he, dryly. MacRae
was to bunk with Sam. the other
green hand, a pleasant-looking young
man from down east. Good-natured.
pbliging, clever Of fingers and tongue.
Sam was soon the life of the Annie M.
He could haul sheet or spin a yarn,
and MacRae alone held himself sullen-
ly aloof, doing his work in dogged
silence, unmindful of jeers or abuse.
"He looks like the divil in gale O.
wind" was Mikes comment as they
watched MacRae holding his own at
the wheel; Its murder he's got in hts
eye; kape yer own council, Sammy, or
yell be found dead in yer bunk" Mac
Rae turned with an oath, but sank
again into black silence, the trembling
of his coarse freckled hand alone be-
traying his agitation.
The time passed quickly on board.
Being answerable to no one, the cap
tain put in at various ports along the
way, doing odd bits Of business of
fairly remunerative nature, even to the
sending ashore on foggy nights of GER
tain suspicious-looking casks and jugs.
MacRae had twice executed this diff
cult task, slipping away from the side
at midnight alone in an unmarked
boat. The third time he refused point
blank
1--WE had my turn" he said.
you're to CO." sa'd the captain with
unusual precision Of speech. You're
to go-do you hear?"
Then MacRae turned to the captain
desperately.
"I'll not co." he said "By the Lord.
captain" and the perspiration stood in
beads on his brow I'm wanted, tell
ye, Pm wanted"
Sam jerked Mikes arm.
Captain, I'll go. I dunno as any
body wants me-" And Sam went.
| These dangerous but lucrative expe-
ditions being successfully accom-
plished, the Annie M. headed for the
Banks for fish and fogs for days and
nights of toll and chill. and uncertain
rewards. The Annie M. having, as 1t
were, dipped into sin, set herself re-
solutely to divert suspicion by an equal
indulgence in virtue.
We'll anchor tomorrow" said the
captain, his practiced eye gaging the
farther waters.
Suddenly the Annie M. stopped short
quivering in every plank like hurt
thing and hung, motionless, bereft of
all power of response, although the
wind buffeted her about, and Mike,
smitten cold with strange fear of some
thing unknown, unguessed, but full Of
horror, dragged at the wheel. Not one
farther inch would she go. Her eager
flight was arrested, and she foated
on the water like dead bird.
AS in a nightmare, the men strove
to set her free from the unseen but
mighty grip that held her held her
as no power of anchor could bind
steady against wind and tide and the
great, lurching waves that smashed
across her deck as she rocked in the
trough the seas. The captain
grasped the wheel. but his lips refused
to speak, though he struggled hard to
address his men.
An overwhelming horror had laid
hold upon every man. The boat rose
and sank. but moved neither forward