American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-06-19

49, @E 49,
love you"
the four long voyages; the brutality of
the officers until he had learned his
work; their consideration and rough
kindness when he had become useful
and valuable; the curious, i%ncOngruOus
feeling Of self respect that non but
able seamen feel: the growth in him
Of an aggressive physical courage; the
triumphant satisfaction with which he
finally knew himself as a complete
man, clean in morals and mind. able
to look men in the face. And then
came the momen when, mastering at
the capstan with the new crew of her
fathers ship. he had met her surprised
eyes with a steady glance and received
no recognition.
And so he pleaded his cause dumbly,
by the life that he lived. Asking moth
ing by word or look, he proved himself
under her e~yes-drst on deck. first in
the rigging. the best man at a weather
caring, the best at the wheel. quick,
obedient. intelligent and respectful.
winning the admiration Of his mates.
the Jealous IN will of the officers, but
no sign Of interest or approval from
her until tonight. the ninety-second
day of the passage. She had surren-
dered. He had reached her level, only
to die, and he thought this strange.
Facing downward, head inboard now,
and nearly horizontal. be was passing
the crOssjack yard. Below him was
the sea. black and crisp. motionless as
though carved in ebony. Neither was
there movement Of the ship and its
rigging. the hanging bights Of ropes
were rigid. while a breaking sea just
abaft the main chains remained poised.
turled. its white crest a frozen pillow
Of foam. The rapidity Of thought. -
be unused %dreamily. but I'm falling
fast euou-h-fast enough to kill me
when | strike
He could not move an eyelid now,
nor was he conscious that he breathed;
but. being nearly upright, facing aft
and inboard. the quarter deck aud its
fittings were before his eyes. and he
saw what brought him out Of eternity
to a moment of finite time and emo
ton. The helmsman stood at the mo
tionless wheel with his right hand
poised six inches above a spoke. as
though some sudden paralysis gripped
him. and his face. illumined by the
pinnacle light. turned aloft inquiring.
ly. But it was not this. Standing at
/. the %taffrail. one hand on a life buoy.
was a girl in yellow looking at him
unspeakable horror in the look. and
around her waist the arm Of the mate
on whose rather handsome face was
an evil grin.
A pang of earthly rage and Jealousy
shot through him. and be wished e
, live. BY a supreme effort Of will be
|, brought his legs close together and his
arms straight above his head. Their
the picture before him shot upward
and he was immersed in cold salt wa
ter. with blackness all about him
. how long he remained under be coulC
not guess. He had struck feet frs
and suffered no harm, but had gon'
( down like a deep sea lead. He Eel
2 the aching sensation in his lungs com
? ing from suppressed breathing an'
2 swan Dllnuly III the uaAhHeSS' hO
: knowing in which direction was tn
q surface. until he felt the ~marlinespike
e still fastened to his neck, extending OF
to the right. Sure that It must han
( downward. he turned the other wa,
n and, keeping it parallel with his body
S swan with bursting lungs until h
: felt air upon his face and knew tina
$ be could breathe. In choking sobs an
o gasps his breath anne and went, Will
be padded with his hands and fee
t glad Of his reprieve. and when hi
e lungs worked normally he struck GU
for a white. circular lifebuOy not 81
e" feet away. Bless her for this b
prayed as he slipped it under his armi
His oilskin trousers were cumbersome
u and with a little trouble he shed then
u He was alive. and his world wa
g again in motion. Seas lifted and droI
IS ped him, occasionally breaking owe
rr.