Evening star., 1926-02-21
Again and again at an order from

Again and again at an order from
the captain l flung the canvass adrift
and restowed 1t and slowed 1t again
Very soon my back was aching. my
fingers were raw and bleeding, and
was drenched with perspiration and
buffeted all over with the thrashing
canvas. But that didn't save me.
For four solid hours l was kept at
1t on the yard. Not till I had made
the sail fast for at least the tenth
time. and one bell had been struck to
call the watch-my watch--was the
old autocrat on the poop satisfied.
When at last I did climb down the
rigging I was just about dead beat and
every limb in my body seemed dis
located. Eight bells struck as I
stepped on deck. There was no help
for 1t. my dinner was Il thing of the
past, and without even a chance of
running below for smoke l turned to
with the watch at washing down.
1t was the first lesson in practical
seamanship that l received from
Capt. West and I quickly learned that
1t was typical OF his instruction, on
one side at least. Even now 1t APP
pears to me a somewhat drastic
method of training but, after all. II
met with fair amount of success. /
know this particular instance anyhow
taught me thoroughly and unforget-
ably how 10 stow a royal. never
needed any more teaching on that
point.
All this time the fresh breeze blew
and slowly hauled into the nor'-east
On the oath of January we entered
the tropics, with the wind steady
whole sail breeze and the horizon piled
With heecy masses of white cloud
There was little doubt that we had got
the trades" at last.
Two days later, when We were IN
the latitude of the Cape de Verde
Islands, having run 500 miles In the
4S hours. there wasn't doubt Of It.
The steady. singing breeze, true TO
handsbrea dth: the tumhled whites and
blues of the sea all a-sparkle in the
sunshine; the untroubled rim Of the
far hor1Zon-these were signs unrniS-
taxable of the authentic trades, the
glorious winds that make seafartng a
pleasure cruise.
After many delightful days, broken
by period Of calm, when the dol
drums had US in their grip. the
weather gradually changed. The air
grew more chilly and the nights
turned downright cold. Day after
day the sky assumed a harder tinge,
the wind came more and more in
gusts and the frequent sprays that
leapt through the fore-riggiEG struck
ones face with vicious sting.
Slowly We laid aside our thin tropt-
cal gear and donned warmer gar
ments. The flying fish disappeared,
our hunting tackle was put away and
almost insensibly we reached the
realms of the great west wind.
THEN. suddenly, the weather broke
up. All day the wind had been
freshening and when we Of the port
watch came on deck at midnight the
prospect looked threatening.
The ship was still carrying every
stitch OF canvas, but at times. to. a
fresher pun than usual, she stag
gered under the tremendous pressure
and a long white cascade foamed
ahrard over the almost subp.erged lee
bulwarks. The mate. VINO hadn't
spent his life in the tea clippers for
nothing, wedged himself into the cor
ner of the poop-rail and let the bark
rip.
And rip she did. Paddy. Burton.
another apprentice, and stood ready
pectinG a. call. But Mr. Thomas hung
on to his canvas. One bell was
struck; two bells; moment later a
few sharp drops Of rain began to pat.
ter on the deck and the winds note
shr1lied to a. keener edge.
Stand by your staysT alyards!"
came the order. and then-to the ris-
ing drone Of the gust-"Leggo! Aft
here. and brazil in the spanker!"
Brazil In the spanker" shouted
Paddy, spr1nging to the pin-ran and
came blundering along from forard.
Lee of
that ead-outhaul-Leggo your gaH-
topsl haiyards!" The squall shrilled
fiercely, and under the strain the
bark hummed like a Top aIoft.
Cursing the darkness and the beat
ing rain, the men searched for the
ropes and with quick cries began to
spill the wind from the shaking
canvas. Hardly was the sail snugged
in to the mast before there was a
sharp crack for'ard, a quick rattle Of
chain, and d noise like a volley Of
pistol shots.
There goes the fore-royal." SAID
some one.
Let go your royal halyards,"
shouted the mate. and we dashed
for'ard to carry out the order. The
yard came down. with q run and as 1t
did so. hang went the fore-t' gallant
sheet. For a moment the sail blew
ouI, tuSSIlS wildly dL IIlo pOiI-TOpSS,
then split into ribbons and a thousand
tatters of canvas whirled away into
the darkness.
Things were getting lively and a
tumbling green sea, rearing above the
weather bulwarks, hung for a mo-
ment. then crashed aboard and filled
the decks waist high in q welter Of
foam.
Call all hands," said tho mate
Quietly.
A man ran to the fok'sle door, flung
1t open and shouted into the dim
slumberous warmth of the interior:
"All hands on deck to shorten
sa.a all! Turn out. me sons, she's In
Il ruddy mess aloft.:
An uneasy stir Of tired men
answered. him; the hands rolled out
Of their hunks, reaching hastily for
coats and boots as they made for the
door.
Both watches were soon Chewing