Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15

point south of Montevideo. He re
fused. as somehow the men knew he
would, and the mate refused also. But
the third officer was young and afraid
and was easily intimidated The en-
gines started again, the course was
laid and the Oddistar steered at a
tangent to her former course.
The day passed like a nightmare.
Cargo was preached in every hold.
and whatever the mutineers fancled
they took They drank all the time.
but enough always kept their heads
TO see tthe ship was under control.
Food was wasted lavlshly, prodlgl-
ously, and the scuppers were choked
with fragments, with broken bottles,
pieces of packing case wood. discard
ed old clothing. The lamp trimmer
shuddered every time he went on
deck. Every seamanlike instinct OF
him was being violated. Twice ships
hove in sight, but on such occasions
the mutineerS went below and the
third mate walked the bridge. Moth
ing seemed amiss. The ships passed
on Their passing caused the lamp
trimmer great rage. He shook ms
fists. But he dared make no move to
signal.
Evening fell at last with matters
mucH lHc SdIIlc do lItCS liftu fNNAi t%Ai
dav. There seemed no hope. The
Oddistar would reach the South Amer
lean coast all right. She Would@he
looted and sunk. and what part OF the
crew were not of the mutineerS would
either have their threats cut right
away or would be disposed of during
the journey, upcOaSt to MOnteVldeo.
Methodically, with the coming of dusk,
the old lamp trimmer prepared his
lights. Other ships might be at1oat on
the high seas thereabOut, and naVlSa-
ton must be made safe.
He went on deck with his lanterns
and ran into hilarious group drink
ing near the fore hatch, as they had
been doing the previous night. One
1.-the, dark haired rufflan pushed the
old man against Il companion, who
pushed him back. He could not break
away. They played with him, laugh
ing the while, tossing him back and
forth. He Rugged his lanterns to him
and protected them. His head whirled.
He cursed them in cracked, high
voice and in q rage kicked out. lie
caught a man on the shin. and was
promptly sent reeling with a blow
flush over his old heart. The others
only laughed and struck also. tie was
fair game. When he eventually got
away he was swaying. and sick and
trembling in every limb. But his Ian
terms were safe.
Two OF the mutineers We're quarrel
| ing in the port bridge wing, blocking
| the way to the slide. The lamp trim
mer hobbled toward them with his
lanterns and set them on the deck
He could hardly see, he was so dizzy
He mumbled continuously to himself
| He felt very tired. He wished he was
dead. He was an old fool, and the
| Thermopylae days were over.
He tried to edge by the auarreling
men and brushed against them. They
turned on him with kicks and curses,
and he stumbled out of reach past
them. He felt inarticulate curses
choking down his throat. He'd show
them, the dogs! He was old and bent
and strength was no longer his. But
he had q way. he had way. No
ship would pass the Oddistar that
night without stopping to inquire
what was wrong. He'd fix that. He
| had a way They thought he was an
old fool. only good to tend the naviga
ton lights. He'd show them. He slid
| the lantern into place in the port
| wing and chuclIled harshly.
X # X
LIE placed the lantern in the star
- board wing, and hobbled away
weakly to climb the rigging and set
| the masthead light in place. He
chuckled all the time. At times he
| thought he would fall. He made il
somehow, though. and reached the
deck again safely Then he lighted
| his other lanterns. He was painting
| when he had finished. The batter
| ings he had received were too much
| for his old body. lie crept YEARLY on
| to the foc'sle head, out of the way OF
| the mutineers. and collapsed across
| the spare anchor chained on the deck
| there, still cackling at some joke that
was his alone. Something appeared
| to break in his head. When he had
revived somewhat he sat up and
stared over the darkening sea. 1t
appeared that a tall, gray ship was
| looming up from the south, white
water curling from her bows and her
canvas bellying with the strain OF
| the wind. And any ship was good
that night. For none would pass the
Oddistar without stopping. He'd fixed
that.
He half rose to his knees and