Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-06-02

ing the ends q two spars, and then
elevating them In the air like an In
verted .'v." could get point above
the deck to which to make fast my
hosting tackle. To this hosting
tackle could. II necessary. attach q
second hosting tackle. And then there
was the windlass!
Maud saw that I had achieved q
solution and her eyes warmed sympa-
taetically.
What are you going to DOR abe
asked. 80
Clear that raffie." answered.
pointing to the tangled wreckage over
side.
An. the decisiveness. the very
sound of the words. was good IN my
ears. "Clear that rafne!" Imagine 90
salty a phrase on the lips of the Hum
phrey Van Weyden of a few months
gone!
There must have been a touch OF
the melodramatic in my pose and
voice. for Maud smiled. Her sense of
humor was really the artists instinct
for proportion.
I'm sure I've heard 1t before. some
where. in books" she murmured glee-
fully.
had an instinct for proportion my
self. and l collapsed forthwith. de-
scending from the dominant pose Of q
master of matter to q state of hum
BILE confusion which was. to say the
least, very miserable.
Her hand leaped out at once to
mine.
I'm so sorry" she said.
mo need to be-" l gulped. 1T does
me good. There's too much Of the
schoolboy in me. All of which is
neither here nor there. What we've
got to do is actually and literally to
clear that rattle. II you'll come with
me in the boat. well get to work and
straighten things out"
when the topmen clear the rattle
with their claspknives in their
teeth" she quoted at me; and for
the rest of the afternoon we made
merry over our labor.
Her task was to hold the boat in po-
sition while / worked at the tangle.
And such a tangle- sheets,
guys. downhauls. shrouds. stays. all
washed about and back and forth and
through. and twined and knotted by
the sea. l cut no more than was nee
essary, and what with passing the
long ropes under and around the
booms and masts, Of unreeving the
halyards and sheets, or coiling down
in the boat and uncoiling in order to
pass through another knot in the
blight, was soon wet to the skin.
The sails did require some cutting.
and the canvas. heavy with water.
tried my strength severely; but sue
ceeded before nightfall In getting 1t
all spread out on the beach to dry. We
were both very tired when we
knocked OF for supper. and we had
done good work. too. though to the eye
it appeared Insignificant.
Next morning, with Maud as able
assistant. l went into the hold Of the
Ghost to clear the steps Of the mast
butts. We had no more than begun
work when the sound of my knocking
and hammering brought Wolf Larsen.
Hello below!" he cried down the
open hatch.
The sound of his voice made Maud
quickly draw close to me. as for pro-
lection. and she rested one hand on
my arm while we parleyed.
Hello on deck" replied. Good
morning to you"
What are you doing down there?"
he demanded. Trying to scuttle my
ship for met"
quite the opposite; I'm repairing
her." was my answer.
But what in thunder are you re-
pairing?" There was puzzlement In
his voice.
why. I'm getting everything ready
for restepping the masts." I replied
easily, as though 1t were the simplest
project imaginable.
1T seems as though you're standing
on your own legs at last. Hump" we
heard him say; and then for some
time he was silent.
But I say. Hump" he called down.
you can't do It,"
"Oh. yes cam" retorted. I'm do
ing 1t now"
But this is my vessel, my particu-
lar. property. What II I forbid your"
You forget" replied. You are no
longer the biggest bit of the ferment.
You were, once. and able to eat me,
as you were pleased to phrase It; but
there has been a diminishing. and I
am now able to eat you. The yeast
has grown STALE"
He gave a short. disagreeable
laugh. II see you're working my phi
losophy back on me for all 1t is worth.
But don't make the mistake of under
estimating me. For your own good I
warn YOU"
Since when have you become q
philanthropist? queried. Confess,
now, in warning me for my own good.
that you are very inconsistent"
He ignored my sarcasm. saying.
Suppose l clap the hatch on. now?
You won't fool me as you did in the
lazaretto." -
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Varieties Of Siamese Rice.
More than forty varieties of rice