The Bozeman courier., 1927-08-05

ing captain-an uncommon occurrence
in the heet-ready always to pass little
better than the time Of day with any
member Of his crew, never hesitant in
lending helping hand where he deemed
such aid to be needed. Not a marked
change, for Jess Tiverton had never been
other than a good fellow, but an obvious
surface indication OF an increasingly
/ pleasant frame Of mind.
! A crew accepts its master as It finds
him. Or finds another master. Give a
! fisherman an inch and he'll take just
that. No more. The Blue Bellies crew
took their captains new happiness just
as it was proffered them, nor attempted
to encroach upon his good nature; they
allowed that good nature to expand and
| envelop them. The results were immedi-
ately apparent. Jess Tiverton and his
Blue Belle brought increasingly larger
hauls Of fish in shorter periods of time
than ever before. There were no changes
in the personnel of the vessels crew, ever
an indication to careful owners Of a
money making boat.
The second autumn following their
marriage, Ruth Tiverton failed to return
to her teaching, and aboard the Blue
Belle there ran a rumor that Jess had
high hopes Of prospective member of
his crew. The man himself, Of course,
made no allusion to the affair, but they
marked that he ceased whistling and was
given to long periods of silent thought
On December IL, when the Blue Belle
had been two days only on Browns Bank
there occurred that which men who
have grown old with Jess Tiverton still
speak Of in hushed tones and with q
wagging Of sage heads.
It was fine clear day for winter fish
, ing, a light breeze out Of the southwest
and comparative calm upon the sea
Twenty-eight men Of the vessel were ovel
the side in their fourteen dories, the
farthest Of them not a mile away. They
worked fast and sure, with a promise O1
, Christmas ashore.
Jess was below; besides himself only
, his mate, George Suttle, capable Glou.
cesterman, and Farley Manser, the cook
remained aboard. A little past noonday
! Jess came up forward where Suttle wa
idly splicing cable line. Beneath thl
brown Of the captains features the mat'
distinguished an alarming pallor.
? get your horn going," Jess ordered
We're heading home"
: Just like thatI Two days on the Bank
a hold not beginning to I'LL with fish.
you're sick?" Suttle asked.
Don't ask me questions Jess snapped
: ''Get your horn goingl'
= The mate, filled With wonder, com
plied-two long blasts on the fog horl
repeated at intervals Of minute for nv
III minutes.
/ To windward where the dories worke
men ceased their pulling on trawl line
II and themselves wondering, made
course for their ship standing platnl
Il within sight.
II In almost shorter time than it takes t
tell, the Blue Bellies dories were sboar
and slowed, the anchor broken ou
matnsail, foresail, jib and jack set an
drawing and she was of for Boston.
iii Only light breeze out of the south
west, as told you, and 1t gave little evi
AZ dence OF growing stronger. Yet 1T was
homing wind and the Blue Belle, light 1
III her ballast with only her ice, gave he
ii lee rail to the sea and made on on pol
run. A fast boat always more so in
III fair blow and to windward but speedy
any breeze, she was not fast enough fc
L Jess Tiverton that day.
Ill changed man, he paced the windwaI
deck Of his vessel barking orders In
language the key to which they neve
believed he possessed. Now and agai
he took the wheel himself. trying to dra