Evening star., 1924-09-10
Continued from Yesterdays Starr


Very jealous of his crafts reputa-
tion was Jacky's George; a hint Of
defiance from another boat and he
was after the challenger instanter,
even though it took him out of
his course. Many good spin
did Ortho get coming In from the
earn Base Wolf and other outer fishing
grounds. backed against the weather
side with the Baragwanath boys.
living ballast, while the gig, trem-
bling from end to end, went leaping
and swooping over the blue hillocks
-. the trail of an ambitious PEN
berth or Porgwarra man. Sheets
and weather stays humming in the
blast, taut and vibrant as guitar
strings: sails rigid as though carved
from wood. lee gunnel all but dipping
under: dollops of spray bursting
aboard over the weather bow-tense
work, eliminating in eXultation az
they Crept up on the chase, drew to
her quarter. came broad abeam and
with derisive cheers-passed her. Speed
was u mania with the cock robin, he
was in perpetual danger of sailing
the Game Cock under: on one occa-
sion he very nearly did.
They were tearing cloSe-ha I'd
through the Runnelstone Passage,
after an impudent Mouseholeman,
when a cross sea suddenly rose out
of nowhere and popped aboard over
the lee gunnel. In second the
boat was full Of water: only her gum
nels and thwarts were visible. 1t
seemed to Ortho that he was stand
ing up to his knees in the sea
'1.uff!" shouted George.
His eldest son jammed the helm
hard down. but the boat wouldn't
answer. The way was off her: she
lay as dead as log.
"Leggo sheets" shouted the father.
aft all hands"
Ortho tumbled aft with the Barag-
wanath boys and watched Jacky's
George in a stupor of fright. The
little man could not be said to move;
he fiickered. grabbed up an oar,
wrenched the boats head round
broke the crest of an oncoming wave
by launching the oar blade at it and
took the remainder in his back.
'Heave the ballast out an bail" he
yelled gleefully, sitting in the bows,
forming a living bulwark against
the waves. Bale till your backs
break. my Jollies.
They bailed like furres. baled with
the first things to hand, line tubs.
caps, boots. anything. in the mean
while drifting rapidly toward the
towering cliffs of Tol-pedn- Penwith.
The crash of the breakers on the
lodges struck terror through Ortho.
They sounded like host of ravenous
great beasts roaring for their prey
him. If the boat did not settle under
them they would be dashed to pieces
on those rocks: death was inevitable
one way or the other. He remem-
bered the Portuguese seamen washed
in from the Twlve Apostles without
heads. He would be like that in a
few minutes-no head-ugh.
Jacky's George, jockeying the bows,
improvising d weather cloth from
spare jib. was singing. Hey, boys.
up we co. This levity in the jaws
of destruction enraged Ortho. The
prospect of imminent death might
amuse Jackys George, who had eaten
a rich slice of life. but Ortho had
not and was terrified He felt he was
too young to die; it was unfair to
snatch a mere boy like himself
Moreover, it was far too sudden: no
warning at all. At one moment
they were bowling along in the sun
shine, laughing and happy, and at
the next up to their waists in water,
to all intents dead. cold, headless.
eaten by crabs-ugh! He thought of
Eli up the valley, flintlock in hand,
dry happy, safe for years and years
of fun: thought of the Owls House
bathed in the noon glow, the old dog
asleep in the sun, pigeons strutting
on the thatch, copper pans shining in
the kitchen-thought of his home.
symbol of all things comfortable and
secure, and promised God that if he
got out of the mess he would never
set foot in a boat again.
The roar of the breakers grew
louder and he felt cold and sick with
fear but nevertheless baled with the
best, baled for dear life, realizing
for the first time how inexpressibly
precious life may be. Jacky's George
whistled, cracked jokes and sang
such a din as to drown the noise of
the surf. The British Tar had
brave words and good rousing
chorus. The boys Joined in as they
baled presently Ortho found him
self singing, too.
Six lads toiling might and main
can shift quantity of water. The
gig began to brisk in her movements
to ride easier. Fifty yards off the
foam draped Hella Rock, Jacky's
George laid her to her course again
but the Mouseholeman was out Of
sight.
No Dundee harpooner. home from
five years cruise, had a more NOV
ing story of perils on the deep to
tell than did Ortho that night. He
staggered about the kitchen, affect
ing sea roll, spat over his shoulder
and told and retold the tale till his
mother boxed his ears and drove him
up to bed. Even then he kept Eli
awake for two hours, baling that
boat out over and over again: he had
enjoyed every moment of it, he said
Nevertheless he did not go fishing
for month, but the Baragwanath
family were lodging off ST Clements
Isle before sun up next day, waiting
for that Mousehold boat to come out
of port. When she did they led her
down to the fishing grounds and then
led her home again. tow rope trail
ing derisively over Game Cocks
stern. They were an indomitable
breed.
Ortho recovered from his experience
off Tol-Pedn and, despite his promise
to his Maker, went to sea occasion
ally, but that phase of his education
was nearing its close Winter and it's
gales were approa ching. and even the
fearless cock robin seldom ventured
out. When he did go he took only
his four eldest boys, departed with
out ostentation, was gone a week or
even two, and returned quietly in the
dead of night.
"Scilly-to visit his sister," was
given by Mrs Baragwanath as his
hut