New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-09


podfather his fishing companion, who told
him to make ready for setting sail.
He had slept little that night. At IL he
was still chatting with Rufna, his poor
wife who tossed restlessly about the bed
speaking Of their affairs. Things could not
he worse Such a summer! The previous
season the tunnies had overrun the Medlter-
ranean in endles shoals. At least two to
three hundred drrobas Can arroba is equiv
alent to about 25 pounds) Of them had
been killed daily; money circulated like
blessing from God, and those who, like An
tonic, attended to business and laid aside
a bit. had been able to rise from the posi-
ton of simple sailor, purchase boat and
20 fishing on their own account.
The little harbor was filled. A veritable
feet anchored in it every night, leaving
scarcely enough room in which to move
about; but with the increase in boats had
come dearth of fish
The nets brought up only seaweed or
little fish, small fry that was mt only for
the pan. The tunnies, this year, had taken
another route, and nobody had yet succeeded
in landing one.
Rufina was terrified by the situation.
There was no money in the house; they
owed the baker and the shopkeeper; Senior
Tomas, q retired shipowner who controlled
the village through his loans at eXorbitant
rates. threatened them continually if they
did not pay something of the fifty duros
with interest,) that he had loaned them
for the completion of that trim, swift-sail-
ing craft which had consumed all OF An
tonio's savings.
bo
son. little shipboy of nine, who accom-
panied him on all his trips and performed
the work of man.
Lets hope you'll have better luck to-
day." murmured the woman from her place
en- the bed an the kitchen you'll find the
lunch basket. They refused to trust me
yesterday at the grocers. All, Lord! And
such dogs lfe!"
"Silence. woman! The sea is bad, but
God will provide Only yesterday some
one spied funny swimming all alone; an
old fellow that they reckon must weigh
more than thirty arrobas. Imagine if we
should catch him, He'd bring at least
20 dtros" a silver coin equivalent to about
dollar.
And as the fisherman completed his prep
arations he thought of that huge fish, alone
and separated from its shoal, which from
force of habit had returned to the same
waters as the previous year.
The feet moved off in the darkness with
its undulating stockade of masts On the
decks scurried the black silhouettes of the
crews; the silence was rent by the noise OF
falling masts, the creaking of pulleys and
ropes the sails spread out in the obscurity
Ike enormous sheets.
The straight streets of the village ex
tended almost to the waters edge; they
were lined by white cottages where for
the season summer boarders we're lodged;
all the families that came from the interior
IN quest of the sea. Hard by the wharf a
large, ugly structure shone, with windows
as bright as glowing furnaces, sending fur
rows of light the restless waters
1t was the Casino Antonio cast a
glance of hatred at the building How those
folks remained awake all night They
must be gambling now. If only they had
TO get up early in the morning to earn their
living,
Hoist the sail. Hoist. They're all leav-
ing behind"
The godfather and Antonio pulled at the
ropes and slowly the lateen sail rose quiz
ering as the wind filled 1t.
At first the boat sped gently over the
calm surface of the bay; then the waves
began to roll and the vessel commenced to
lurch. They were beyond the limits on the
open sea.
Before them, the obscure infinite, in
which twinkled the stars; all around them,
upon the dark sea, vessels and still more
vessels, which vanished into the distance
like pointed spectres gliding over the
waters.
The godfather looked at the horizon
Antonio, the winds shifting"
Il notice that"
We're due for heavy sea"
Il know But forward Let's outdistance
the other vessels that crowd the sea-
And the boat, instead OF following the
craft that Rugged the coast, continued with
its prov pointed to the high seas
Dawn came. The sun, red and notched
like huge sealing wafer, traced fiery
triangle over the sea, and the waters seethed
as IL rejecting a confagration-
Antonio seized the helm, his companion
was at the mast, and the little boy stood
at She PROV exploring the sea. From the
stern and the gunwales hung a profusion
Of lines that dragged tho bait through the
water. From time TO time pull, and up
came fish, which wriggled and gittered
like animated tin. But II was all small fry
~-nothing.
And fhus the hours passed; the vessel
tailed straight ahead, nov carcening as IL
with a jump, even showing It's red belly.
II was warm and Antonio slipped of
through the hatchway to take drink from
ths cask Of water that stood in the narrow
hold.