The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-03-17
CHAPTER vl-coutInu.d.


A cruel thing happened Just before
supper, indicative of the callousness
and brutishness OF these men. There
Is one green hand in the crew, Harri-
son by name. a clumsy.looking country
BOY, mastered, imagine, by the spirit
OF adventure. and making his first voy-
age. In some way, when Harrison was
aloft, the sheet jammed In the block
through which 1t runs at the end OF
the gan. AS understood It. there
were two ways of getting 1t cleared
nrst, by lowering the foresail, which
was comparatively easy and without
danger; and, second, by climbing out
the peak'halyards to the end of the
gan itself, an exceedingly hazardous
performance.
Johansen called out to Harrison to
go out the halyards. The Ghost was
rolling emptily in a long sea. and with
each roll the halyards Stacked and
jerked taut. They were capable of
swapping a man OF like fly from a
whiplash.
Harrison heard the order and hest
fated. 1t was probably the flrst time
ne had been aloft In his life. Johan-
sen burst out with volley of abuse
and curses.
"That'll do. Johansen." Wolf Larsen
said brusquely. 'I1l have you know
that do the swearing on this ship
II l need your assistance. I'll call you
In"
Yes. sir" the mate acknowledged
submissively.
In the meantime Harrison had
started out on the halyards. It was
slight uphill climb, for the foresail
peaked high. When he was half way
out. the Ghost took a long roll TO
windward and back again into the hol-
low between two seas, 1t was the
snap OF the whip. His clutch was
broken. His body pitched out and
down, but in some way he managed
TO save himself with his legs, hanging
head downward A quick effort brought
hts hands up to the halyards again;
but he was long time regaining his
former position, where he hung,
pitiable object
'I'll bet he has no appetite for sup
per-" | heard Wolf Larsen's voice,
which came to me around the corner
of the galley
Its shame" heard Johnson
growing in painfully slow and correct
English. He was standing by the main
rigging. few feet away from me.
"The boy is willing enough. He viii
learn II he has a chance. But this
is--" He paused awhile. for the word
murder" was his final judgment.
.T1ist. will vel" Louis whispered to
him. For the love " your mother
hold your mouth"
II took Harrison fully ten minutes
20 get started again A little later he
made the end OF the gan, where,
astride the spar itself. he cleared the
sheet. and was free to return. But he
had lost his nerve. Johansen called
vainly for him to come down. At any
moment he was liable to be snapped
on the gan. but he was helpless with
fright. Wolf Larsen, walking up and
down with Smoke and IN conversation.
took no more notice of him. though he
cried sharply once to the man at the
wheel:
you're on your course. my man!
BE careful. unless you're looking for
troubled"
cay, ay, sir" the helmsman respond
ed, putting q couple Of spokes down.
He had been guilty Of running the
Ghost severa. points on her course in
order that what little wind there was
should ill the foresail and hold Il
STEADY. He had striven to help the
unfortunate Harrison at the risk of
incurring Wolf Larsen's anger.
Fully half an hour went by. and
then | saw Johnson and Louis in some
sort OF alteration. 1t ended with
johnson finging OF Louis OBTAINING
arm and starting forward He crossed
the deck. sprang into the fore rigging.
and began TO climb. But the quick
eye of Welt Larsen caught him.
Here, you. what are you up TOT" he
cried.
Johnsons ascent was arrested. He
looked his captain In the eyes and
replied slowly:
Il am going to get that boy down.
You'll get down out of that rigging.
and damn lively about itl Dye hearl
Get down."
Johnson hesitated. but the long
years Of obedience to the masters Of
ships overpowered him. and he dropped
sullenly to the deck and went on for
@ard