The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-07-13

They shook their heads. and some
one made q %jocular remark which !
did not catch. but which raised a gen.
eral laugh.
The captain shrugged his shoulders.
Then we'll drop him over without any
palavering. unless our clerical.looking
castaway has the burial service at sea
by heart"
BY this time he had swung around
and was facing me.
You're a preacher. aren't your" he
asked.
Tho hunters-there were six OF
them-to q man. turned and regarded
me. ] was painfully aware Of my like
ness to a scarecrow. A laugh went up
at my appearance-a laugh that was
not lessened or softened by the dead
nan stretched and grinning on the
deck before us; a laugh that was
as rough and harsh and frank as the
sea Itself. that arose out of coarse
feelings and blunted sensibilities. from
natures that knew neither courtesy
nor gentleness.
Wolf Larsen did not laugh. though
his gray eyes lighted with n light CLINT
OF amusement; and In that moment,
having stepped forward quite close to
him. ! received my first impression OF
the man himself. The face, the Jaw,
the chin. the brow, rising to n goodly
height and swelling heavily above the
cycs-these. while strong In them.
selves, unusually strong. seemed to
speak an immense yigor or y%irility OF
spirit that lay behind and beyond and
out OF sight.
The eyes. wide apart as the true
artists arc wide. sheltcring under n
heavy brow and archcd over by thick.
black eyebrows, we're OF battling. pro.
team gray which wac never twice the
same; they were eyes that masked
the soul with a thousand guisos.
But TO return. | told him that, un.
happily for the burial service, | was
not a preacher, when he sharply de-
mandcd:
What DO you do for n liylng?"
| confess | had never had such a
question asked me before, nor had
ever canvasscd II. was quite taken
| aback. and before | could ind myself
had sillily stammcrcd. II am a gen
| tleman.'
His lip CurlCd IN n swift sheer.
p have worked. ! DO work" | cricd
lmpctuously, az though lac were my
| Judge and | required vindication. and
At the same time very much aware OF
| my'arrnnt idiocy In discussing the sub.
jcCt a. all.
For your living?"
There was something go imperative
and mas,erful about him that I was
quite beside myself-"rattlcd," az Flu
ruscth would have termed Il. like a
quaking child before n stern school
masteE.
who feeds YOU" vas his next
question.
II have an income" I answered
stoutly. and could have bitten my
tongue the next instant. "All OF which.
you viii pardon my observing. has
nothing whatsoever to do with what |
wish to see you about"
But he disregarded my protest.
who earned II? Eli? | thought so.
Your father. You stand on deadmcn's
legs. You've never had any OF your
own. You couldn't walk alone be.
tween two sunrises and hustle the
meat for your belly for three meals.
Let me see your hand"
His tremendous, dormant strength
must have stirred. swiftly and accu
ratcly, or | must have slept a moment,
for before | knew II he had stepped
two PAGES forward. gripped my right
hand in his, and held II up for inspec.
ton. tried to withdraw II. bot his
fingers frightened. without visible ef.
fort. til | thought mine would be
crushed when he dropped II with q
dirt OF disdain.
Dead mems hands have kept II soft.
Good for little else than dish.washing
and scullion work"
II wish TO be put ashore" said
firmly, for now had myself In control.
II shall pay you whatever you Judge
your delay and trouble 10 be worth"
He looked at me c~urIously. Mock.
cry shone In his eyes.
Il have a counter.proposition TO
make, and for the good OF your soul.
My mates gone. and there1l be q lot
OF promotion. A sailor comes aft TO
take mates place, cabin.boy goes for
ard to take sailors place, and you
take the cabin.boy's place, sign the ar.
ticles for the cruise. twenty dollars
per month and found. Now what do
you say? And. mind you. It's for your
own souls sake. II will be the max.
ing OF you. You might learn In time
TO stand on your " legs and perhaps
to toddle along a Bit"
But ! took no notice. The sails OF
the vessel ! had seen on TO the south,
west had grown larger and palmer
They were OF the same schooner rig
as the Ghost, though the hull itself,
! could see. was smaller.
That vessel will soon be passing
u.s." ! said, after a moments pause.
AS she is going In the opposite dl