The state herald., 1914-01-23

SAn guess { says mOtHer.
'T'm the old man." he giggles. she's
the old woman" Then he reached out
his paw. Put her there. son!" says
he; whats yer name. boy?"
He'd a hand like bear trap
Smith" I squealed. Smith"
Fast" says he. Fiji yourself
goblet Of that ere sherry wine. with
some sugar. Drink. you cub, to Cap
tain and Mrs. Smith. Now off with
ye. and pass the bottle forrard"
Next day. or next week, or maybe
the Monday following. the ships got
headache, with the sky sitting down
on the mastheads. the sea like oil. the
sheets slapping the shadows on the
deck. where the tar boils, and our feet
is like overdone toast.
The skys like copper edged with
sheet lightning. then there's scud in
hurry overhead, the horizon folding
in. and a funnel.shaped cloud to the
southard wrapping up the sky. There's
no air, and ! noticed the pinnacle
alight, SO 1t must have been nigh dark
under that funnel cloud. Just as 1t
aboard" and heard the mate yell.
You mean, all overheard"
Couldn't see much at first, as was
busy getting mother out OF the
drowned cabin. When I'D passed
halyard round her and the stump OF
the mizzen. I'D Just breathing time.
The sea was fiattened. 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 ofiicio just to keep us warm. Work
in's 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 n drink of
water
Well. now. we been three days re-
freshing our parched mouths with beer
along smelling salvage. Happens he's
one OF them felucca.rigged dago swine
out of lnyicta, Texas. His charges
was quite moderate. too, for n breaker
OF water and some fancy grub-until
we seen the bill.
never knew I'LL then that our old
man was owner. or 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
10 mother. she come aboard the fe-
luccy. ships cat In her arms. and n
sort OF cold. dumb. going to be.good.
nnd.itskillin'm sort OF smile. She
bore up brave until she struck the
numberone smell In the dago's cabin.
Its too much.' she says. handing me
the cat. too much. I'm going hack
to drown clean"
But ] was TO stay with our sailors
aboard the dago. TO fetch Invicta quick.
and bring n tug. Dad trusted me
even TO play the coward and quit him.
| dread TO think back on the passage
OF four days TO the port OF Invic;a
considered homely. The mouth got
would be large for dog. smile-six
and thrce.quarters. Thar ashore at
lnyicta. I'd still look sort OF cheerful.
70 all them tug shippers took me for
joke. II was four days and three
nights since I'D slept. so I 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 back ON me.
No,hin' doing Saturday nights at
the ONCE, tug crews all ashore, but
the port viii get move on Monday.
Trust grown men to know more n
mere boy. The glass IN down the gulin
In fiying inland. thar's weather brew.
ing. ! seen In my mind the sprays
lash over the wreck.
II was dark when | went to the
wharyes with Captain McGaw TO see
the Pluribus unum He'd show the =
tug cheap at ten thousand cash
stores all complete. steam up. engineer
on III. premises. though he'd stepped
ashore for n drink. Cute cabin he'd
got on the bridge. cunning little glory
hole forrard. Why. everything was
real handy. no that I only had TO bat
him behind the car with u Delaying.
pin. and he dropped right down the
fore hatch, All wanted now vas
navisatin. offieer ! could trust
which brings me TO Mr. Mcmillan.
our own second mate. buying dozen
fried oysters In card boz With u wire
handle. all for twenty-five cents.
though the Girl seemed expecting u
kiss.
Hello. Frankie" says I. shaping
him on the back A for.naat hand
can make his oiiicer act roai diguined
with less Say Maoi Dye know
what Greed donof- grabbed bis
oysters. Greed, he choke puppy"
says I. and IN my mind seen tho
rulls wheel around the wreck. where
80.