Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17

that could not be denied. She had
an air of aloofness. a sort of cool
calm atmosphere. as If. with he:
master. she had taken on some OF
his qualities He was a Craddock,
one of the New Bedford Craddocks
that race back to Devonshire and
antecede Drake. Like all the breed,
he was small dark. neat. and. in
this generatio . clean shaver. The
Craddocks were reputed to have no
nerves, as they were reputed never
to have lost their temper. Neither
had they ever lost ship.
The annals of the sea take note OF
many curious incidents Detailing a
Craddock's vessel, yet never had one
of the name left his craft by reef or
sand bar or along the iron coast of
strange lands. 1t was rather uncan-
ny. but it was fact. In an old book
so it was said--there was written
that the first sailor of all the Grad
docks had made covenant with the
% sea that he and his seed should serve
ships and deep water forever, from
cradle to grave. with full loyalty and
love heart, hand and head. without
doubt or falter: and, in return. the
sea should render them right of all
ocean, wind. wave and tide and
should shelter their bones at the last.
Certain it was that the Craddocks
went quietly about their business.
which was the sea, prospered little,
and did their duty with rather more
: success than the average mariner
enjoys.
For the present Craddock the
Prince Shan was his first command
The braid was new on his ours, yet
he walked the poop calmly, at ease,
as the schooner started on her run
from Portland to Toxic.
1t was a clean and airy day. The
sea laughed and ran laZily under the
Spring sun. rendering spume to the
wind that walked between the crests
The canvas swelled to the moving
air and every rope and line lifted
the old Song of the Trade. About
the schooners bows there grew the
misty arc of a rainbow. growing and
diving, dying and growing as she
lunged across the sea and the green
hills of the land faded into the sun
simmer astern.
shes logging around 10. sir" said
the mate, very pleased and the cap
tain turned and looked almost
through him. as if not actually aware
Of his physical presence.
"Of course" he murmured absent
~, and the mate shrugged ana
moved away.
1t had always been like that when
the captain was only a mate himself.
Nothing disturbed him. He seemed
to take for granted mysterious
things to which other men could not
grow accustomed-strong winds and
fair where Gains had always before
been encountered. lucky warnings
when reefs and bars were approached
too closely, mere wild gales when ty-
phoons and hurricanes walked abroad
and sent other ships to destruction.
"Of course" Craddock would an
swer, as il he would have been sur
prised at anything else, as if he were
in communion with forces of which
others had no knowledge. 1t was
profoundly irritating to other men
whose forbears had made no cove
nant and who did not possess the
faith that makes for command and
the accomplishment of impossible
things.
Capt Craddock walked his poop
alone this morning-the breed was
always reserverd-and watched ms
men washing the port CRIME from
the decks. The peace of the sea had
descended Capt. Craddock drew
deep breaths and hoped that he
would prove true to his race and
tradition. A splendid ship, his ship,
his very first. The memory of the
land was like a vaguely disconcerting
dream. The Craddocks always felt
more at home on deep water. He
laughed softly and was contented, as
sure and confident as any man or ~
years standing, just as If the braid
on his cuff were not new and his
pulses not fiuttering with the hot pride
of command
THE sun set and rose again. The
windy, free days slipped by and
the rainbow was steady as the Prince
Shan's bow.
And then the wind left the schooner,
died away in fitful gusts and rendered
her to the deep heaving Of the calm.
It grew terrifically hot. The days
seemed endless. The monotony fretted
their growing irritation, increased the
i, work for each watch to do.
Capt. Craddock walked his poop I'm.
moved, TRANQUILITY sure of himself and
his slip. He sent for'ard lime juice
as a preventive against scurvy. He
ordered the mems diet varied some
what Practical things. He had no
personal interest in the men, but they
were essential to his ship and it was
u cdHOU Oh SOUO IldFISdtlOL lIldt l4Sy
be kept fit and obedient.
The calm persisted. Capt. Craddock
looked often at the glass. He was
not worried, only little regretful that
his voyage should be delayed.
One thick, warm night, with hot lit
tie gusts of air coming fitfully across
the CLASSY swells to stiffan the sails,
TO move the schooner few fathoms
and then desert her again, the mate
came to the captain al he sat below.
"Will you come 'midships, sir?" he
said, in a voice slightly shaken.
'Midships?"
1.-The main hatch, sir. There's
smoke"
The captain smiled family. His
pulses fiuttered. but that was a mere
bracing Of the spirit before the promise
of action.
Smoker" he murmured, and rose to
bis feet.
Smoke, SIR" insisted the mate.
The captain wiped his lightly per-
spring hands with his handkerchief.
He made note of the time, jotted it
down in the log, and pushed the book
away. Then he followed the mate on
dsck
The watch stood around the main
hatch
It's pretty strong, sir" observed
the boatswain, uneasy because of tho
thick silence. The captain looked al
the hatch. where a corner of the tar
J,aulin had been flung back. He
could catch Whit of acrid fumes
He bent over the little opening and
coughed involuntarily. putting his
handkerchief to his lips. When he
Strengthened. he brushed his jacket
although he could not see il dirt OF
a wrinkle had appeared on the cloth
His voice was entirely calm and pa
tient. He might have been ordering
his dinner.
Get the matches off. men. Wei