Evening star., 1924-06-15

tlon ol IL Sne nad drifted back
To the same hateful traffic. until
driven by stress of weather or Brit
ish cruisers to try the west coast
where she took refuge among the
mangroye swamps of the Guayas So
the legend ran. 1t was certain that
she was very old. and had served
many unsavory masters Her last
owner was a Babahoyo planter, who
drank himself to death in her cabin
one night and left her to rot at his
rotting wharf. Since that she had
been stunned. for ships are like folks;
their i'll repute grows sinister with
age.
Early one rainy season occurred
the famous gold discovery on the
western shoulders of Chimborazo,
where a sheep herder lost his flock
and found riches in the sudden spate
of mountain stream. 1t drew to
Ecuador some scores of those rovers
on the outskirts that seek, hungrily,
the fat chance and the easy profit.
Early in April a first consignment
of gold dust was ready for transport
from the diggings to the coast. The
gold came down through the foothills
navigation was transported to a little
stern-wheel river steamer under
guard for the run to Guayaquil. 1t
never reached Guayaquil, and the
river steamer was never seen again,
nor any of the crew, nor the guard.
But four of the passengers, men who
had passed that way as prospectors
a month before, and were then re-
turning empty handed, continued
their journey down the Babahoyo to
the Guayas. And the gold dust went
with them.
At twilight a small canoe might
have been observed to thread the
passage toward the old wharf. Those
aboard it had to bail as they pad
died. At the bend they came in sud-
den sight of the little schooner.
did | lie or didn't I?-tell me that"
demanded a voice of hoarse triumph.
An active figure leapt from the bow
of the canoe into the channels of the
Jorguina, and held a hand to steady
the next below.
Yes: but will she fioat?' mumbled
the other. she sets like dead log"
third man, tall, scrambled past
them both. and bounced aboard like
a thing on wires.
"An serene, Brewer. my SON. he
hiccuped. "A ship-with a deck.
Faith, it's whole and dry at least"
"'Oh, life on the ocean wave,
home on the rolling deep--
He danced a step.
Merry" he sang, and collapsed
against the rail.
The second began to complain in
husky evaporation.
another fool tha's no sort O. use!
Say, you think I'm goin' to hoist all
d swag alone? An d. canoe, she be
sunk in minute~ The little craft
span and ducked under his clumsy
feet
Easy all, Chrispim," said the first,
more quietly. TIL give you lift"
Between them they emptied the
canoe, shifting sacks and bundles to
the schooner's deck, until the dusk
overlook them there.
where's that blame lanternT de-
manded Brewer suddenly. And
where's Georgec" he added.
George" they bawled in chorus,
and the jungle gave them back the
word until an illuminating sentence
foated up, Drunk, an asleep down
there''
Let i'm sink" advised Chrispim
bitterly, but Brewer climbed down
again and rescued a limp and dripping
form.
Let him sink" it muttered. Let
me sink. Id-Td rather sink. 1 shot
two of 'em swimming away, and they
made bubbles-red bubbles in the
water"
You sit down and shake yourself
together" growied Brewer. "One
drink, mind-no more"
CHRISPIM struck a light and the
~ lantern drew them into ring.
They were a scraggy lot, types all
more or less recognizable OF the
tramp. Their flushed faces and wide
gestures betrayed the kind of heart
ening they had had for a job beyond
their natural compass.
Only Brewer, their leader. came
nearest the tough breed of buccaneer
times. Ruddy skin and strong white
teeth, an open and bold expression,
gave him an appearance of GENIAL
force until it was seen that his eyes
were too full and too far apart his
features thickened by the stamp OF
abnormality. Straightway he had
found a handspike and set to making
busy clatter at the pump.
She'll do" he hailed. dig into
this now, you lads. Well have her
afloat in an hour.
lily.
Were all DONE" echoed the tall
man. He called himself Charlie DID,
din. Singing Charlie" A bone-built,
clothes horse of a man, with stringy
yellow moustache and gridironed race
Perhaps you don't know how done
we are" he pleaded. TITS been@ts
been a hefty days work.
"And the whole crowd of us as good
as standin' on the drop this minute,
was Brewers comment. made with
out heat. 'Or maybe it won't be
hanging" he added. They use the
garrotte in some places, still, don't
they? Or mud wall and hrin
squad"
Tho others stirred uneasily.
."Wha's the use to pump tha' river
in an out again?" demanded Chris
pim. "The ship is rotten"
.And j tell you the ship is sound
as a doIlar-rebuilt only three years
ago. 1 know. She's been tended to
and KEEP part dry. The pumps IN
first-class order Will y help?"
Tell George" suggested Chrispim;
but. George, sitting apart, stupid with
fever, paid no heed. He was the