New Britain herald., 1925-05-22

THE interior of the cabin, dark though It seemed from an outside view, was well lighted by large skylight and by a series of windows high on either side. The win dows had been hung with a very pretty red China silk, which harmonized with the dark hardwood paneling. Coconut mating GOV cred the floor while on the old fashioned mahogany table square of lacework be- traysd the hand of woman. On both sides of the cabin doors opened into sleeping cabins, the remainder of the wall space being taken up by bookshelves, ships clock, aneroid, piperack, another much larger, Tor glasses and dishes, and a miscellaneous assortment of engravings of clipper ships. the place of honor being given to the famous Sovereign of the Seas"
 The bOokshelves held, besides a nautical almanac, book on navigation and some manuals of foreign customs regulations, which might be said to constitute the work. ing part of the library, a well thumbed Shakespeare in three volumes, the 'Wavcrley Novels, odd volumes of Dickens and George Eliot, an illustrated edition of LongfellOw
  Captain Gorham considered second only to the classic, "Moby Dick
 The old man seated himself in his deep, leather chair and stared dumbly about him Ordinarily Shakespeare, whom he knew practically by heart, would have been the companion of an idle moment like this; but for once, even Shakespeare was inadequate for his needs.
 Where had they gone. those friends of |, other days, who had sailed away and never returnedt Lloyds had posted them as missing and, no doubt, some of them had foundered in heavy seas or had struck lumber laden derelict on a dark, foggy night or had met one or another of the dangerous mischances of the seas. But others there were whose passing was not so easily ac- counted for. Was it not possible that some of them, Charlie Martell, for example
 He turned to stare fxedly at the three volumes of Shakespeare, which had been given to him years before by Cuur' '' q".t Martell and as he sa2ed
 their last talk came back
 Martell. six feet tall, his
 a quizzical smile, rose bciOI
 ideal of a sailor if ever
 What had happened to hnr
 10 whom danger and adventure v,.l .. breath of life? What more likely ro he true than that Charlie Martel had taken his chance for the greatest of all adven lures and had sailed over the rim?
 It was only chance, of course Cap tain Gorham was too level headed a man 10 assert that the thing had been done even by the man afectionately known along the waterfront as "Cap'n Charlie" But he was convinced it could be done and now, striking his hard fist on the mahogany table, he vowed it would be done.
 THE souuwsrd run was very pleasant, The MaybelIe carried crew of four. which divided the watches evenly; the cook, a Cape Bretonsr from Port Morien, proved himself an artist in his line; the wind held steadily from the northwest and the brigan- tine footed fast And all the time Daniel MrRae. the first mate, watched his employer auIiously.
 Day followed day and he watched closely as he saw Martin Gorham pace apsttactedlv up and down the deck or pause A moment by the pinnacle to stare at the compass or eye the square snils, one by one, silhouetted against the fathomless blue of the sky. And always, McRae noticed, old Martin ended by gazing long and earnestly at the fare horizon, where sky and sea met in a circle that was exactly like the rim of a gigantic saucer
 At Santo Domingo, the yellow-faced con sgnee received his cargo and the Maybelle began to load molasses for the homewsrd voyage Captain Gorham. contrary to his usual custom, secluded himself in his cabin during most of the brigantine's stay in port, and the polite Spanisrds with whom he transacted, business, learning of the evil stroke dealt him by Fate, did not attempt to offer him entertainment.
 Martin seemed to tind a great deal of