New-York tribune., 1921-05-01
r H E
B K u r E


6Coxtaswsd from page four)
sent aloft on tho mizxen to do something came
ssawn on the poop deck-thump-r in
front OF me. He was not much older than
myself. We had been grinning at each other
only q. few minutes before. I heard his
startled cry-Oh!-in high treble as he felt
himself going, and looked up in time to see
him 60 limp all over as he fell Ough!
This might have utterly spoiled chaps
nerve for going aloft, you know-utterly. He
fell within two feet Of me, cracking his head
on mooring-bitt. Never moved. Stone dead.
Nice looking little fellow he was. I had just
been thinking we would be great chums.
However, that wasn't yet the worst that brute
of q ship could do. I served in her three years
Of my time, and then got transferred to the
Lucy Apse for year. The sailmaker we had
in the Apse Family turned up there, too, and
remembered him saying to me one evening,
after we had been q week at sea: Isn't she
meek little ship?' No wonder we thought the
Lucy Apsc a dear, meek, little ship after get
ting clear Of that big, rampaging, savage
brute.
"Weh, finished my last year of appren-
ticeship in that jolly little ship and passed;
and then got at breakfast letter asking me
the earliest day could be ready to join the
Apse Family as third mate. I gave my plate
. shove that shQt it into the middle Of the
table. and went out bareheaded Into our bit
Of garden, where I walked round and round
for IN hour.
when I came In again mother was out Of
the dining room and dad had shifted berth into
his big armchair. The letter was lying ON the
1nantelpiece.
It's very creditable to you to get the offer
and very kind Of them to make it., he said.
And see also that Charles has been appointed
chief mate Of that ship for one voyage
"There was over-leaf p. s. to chat effect
in Mr.. Apse's own handwriting, which / had
overlooked. Charley was my big brother.
"The firm, and believe the whole family,
had grown desperately touchy about that &C.
cursed ships character. This was the case for
answering Ready now from your very death
bed IL you wished to die in their good graces.
And that's precisely what did answer-by
wire, to have it over and done with at once
1.-THE prospect Of being shipmates with my
big brother cheered me up considerably, though
it made me bit anxious, too. Ever since re-
membered myself as q little chap he had
been very good to me, and / looked upon him as
the finest fellow in the world. And so he was.
No better officer ever walked the deck Of q
merchant ship. He was a fine, strong, up
standing, sun-tanned young fellow, with his
brown hair curling little and an eye like a
hawk Though he had been in England three
weeks already he hadn't showed up at home
yet, but had spent his spare time in Surrey
somewhere, making up to Maggie Colchester,
old Captain Colchesters niece
"He received me with great shout Of laugh
ter. He seemed to think my joining as an Of
ficer the greatest joke in the world. There
was difference Of ten years between us, and
suppose he remembered me best in pinafores
was a kid of four when he first went to sea,
It surprised me to find how boisterous he
could be.
"tNow we shall see what you are made off,
he cried. And he held me OFF by the shoulders
and punched my ribs and hustled me into his
berth. sit down, Ned. / am glad Of the
chance OF having you with me. I'll put the
finishing touch to you, my young officer,
And, first Of all, get it we'll into your head that
we are not going to let this brute kill anybody
on this voyage. Well stop her racket
ri perceived he was in dead earnest about it.
"He gave me q regular lecture on special
seamanship for the use Of the Apse Family,
tAACAs1 Cu&ueAH& u4o VOAA0s ITO OSSou 70 td1h ~
large rattling off the widest, funniest non
sense, till my sides ached with laughing
could see very well he was bit above himself
with high spirits It couldn't be because Of my
coming. But, Of course, I wouldn't have
dreamed Of asking what was the matter. But
it was all made plain enough day or two
afterward, when heard that Miss Maggie Col
chester was coming for the voyage. Uncle
Was giving her sea trip for the benefit Of
her health.
II don't know what could have been wrong
with her health. She had beautiful color
and deuce Of lot Of fair hair. She didn't
care rap for wind, or rain, or spray, or sun,
or green seas. or anything. She was blue
eyed, jolly girl Of the very best sort. Ono day,
in the mems dinner hour, Charley sticks his
head into my cabin. was stretched out On
my back on the settee, smoking in peace.
"'Come ashore with me, Ned he says in
his curt way.
II jumped up, Of course, and away after
him down the gangway and up George Street.
He strobe along like giant, and / at his
elbow, painting. It was confoundeGly hot.