The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-28
By HENRY WALLACE PHILLIPS
Author Of the Famou, RED SAUNDERS Tale,


ocean as one geographically could.
the simple interests, the directness.
and democracy of the sea showed in
strong contrast to my experience with
the conventions and complexities of a
cattle-ranch. AS these thoughts idied
through my head the Able-Bodied
cast glance at his empty glass.
My, but we was thusty arter we
got ahoatp said he.
My remiSsness smote me.
Barkeeper, to the rescued | cried.
Two trusty schooners of beer sue
cesstully navigated the passage'across
the bar. With the foam on his lips.
my friend resumed:
fus, we foated about in that ships
ooat-well, | dunno how long: but il
seemed like months and months.
Every mornin, whilst Blue-nose held
HIM, fed the skipper a spoonful OF
dry cocoa. My soul! How he hol-
Tered! How he said he'd do for me
some tune! But a prummis is a
prummis. We wouldn't give him no
more'n a teaspoonful of water. arter
the cocoa, even at the fust, KNOWN
water WIS goin' to become a scarcity
with us slattin' aroun' in the ocean.
An, Blue-nose, he kicked some ON
that, but l got him to see reason. An
then the water give out altogether.
an the skipper had to take his cocoa
dry. He got to prayin' again, but YOU
don't ketch no Yankee seaman twicet
on the same hook. Pray or no pray.
cuss or no cuss, beg or no beg-lct
MN holler, rave, roar, ramp, or riot
like he was minded to, he had to take
his cocoa. Tord the last his mouth
was that dry he couldn't swaller none,
but anyhow he had it there 10 swallcr.
| done my july.
Well, sir, you wouldn't brieve how
provokin' the little rain SQUALLS was.
Time arter time we see them here an
yon all aroun' us. We'd row fur 'em,
an they'd just slip away. an it looked
like when a gent is chasin' his hat
ashore. You know how it JUS rolls
along from under his hngcr-tips, an
stops when he stops and starts when
he starts? Well, blast me fgger-hcad
Ii we didn't chase the edge O. one o.
them squalls hour, with the skipper
a rowIn 10 bust hissclf and Blue-nose
stretchin' as lar over the bows as Ns
long arms an his long legs would let
hIm-mc scttin' on his fcet-an' il
just rained on the edge OF the hat he
held. That's all.
Pull like we would, and stretch
like an annycOndy snake, we couldn't
more'n wet the edge o that hat.
Whites two foot furdcr away it was
pOurin' scuppcrsful-an' we with our
tongues as dry as rope yarn an
stickin' out foot"
Again he paused. I distinctly heard
a rattling in his throat. How potent
d thing is memory Why. even to ME
there came a time of three DAYS in
the Bad Lands with a hammering
sun, and my throat shriveled to an
aridity so great the barkeeper could
scarcely hear my cry but that his ears
were OF uncommon acuteness.
"Thankee kindly, STRIP exclaimed
the Able-Bodicd, as again we Tipped
the foam.
yes, stree" he continued-I
thought I saw a change in his face
the past danger suddenly realized.
His speech grew hasty, as taut nerves
are wont to serve.
We sailed an we sailed, dcspairin'
won't be no gor watch for me- I
q
locker with no number on it One
night a mist come on the ocean. 1t
covered all. an that was the lonesom-
est, wuss thing YOU ever did see! You
talk about bcin' all alone! Why,
there wasn't nothin' at ALL Even
Bluc-nose an the skipper didn't seem
like they was real.
Am l dead" thinks l. Am I a
rowin' through purgatory"
when. all of a student. there come
4 flash OF read light, a bump, an 4
lad sings out dead ahead, What's the
matter OF you fellers? Don't YOU
know a dock when you see onc3
Drunk agin, or what now"
AN there we was, sir, right back
agin to that same. identical dock we
started from. We'd rowcd 4 straight
course to it, through thousand mile
O ocean!
Next thing l knows the shippers
wife was whisperin' in my ear: Did
he take his cocoa"
livery mornin', ma'am, regular
"Oh. VERY good! So VERY goodr
says she. Take this and she shoves
the watch into my hands. Good
by"
The transition was so sharp I sat
moment stunned. The Able-Bodicd
was gone. | could not tell whether
the last words were addressed to me
or whether they formed part OF the
narrative.
The barkccper volunteered.
Seen his wife comin-had to
skip" said he.
Remarkable story, that" I answer
ed. to gain time.
The barkeeper grabbed at his counter
for support,
| told him
Oh said he. that accounts tor It.
wondered who was stringin' who
you don't believe that story"
There is a tone that renders words
needless.
Prentice boys OH hookerp snort
ed the barkeeper. My Mary Ami
Captain drinkin' cocoal Glory be-
Who is the old Gus, anyhow" I
cried in wrath.
Him" said the barieeper. "Old
Tom? Second deck-hand on a garbage
scow all the days OF his life. Fished
I'D out Of the drink with boat-hook
oncc, and the kids old man gave him
hat watch Come around another day
and he'll tell you another story about
t. Have a drink"
I walked to the door and gazed upon