Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22

"How long was you ashore?" asked one
sailor of another.
"Wot day is it9" came the reply. The ques-
toner chuckled.
Some sury, some Indifferent, they slipped
their coffee.
The mate looked in.
Rouse out here, now! Get up and man
that windlass!"
They struggled to the deck. But Jukes lay
sleeping still. his face to the bulkhead. The
mate stepped in and shook him. He wakened
slowly.
Tumble out. here, you'll"
Jukes climbed from the bunk and looked
about him
Come ON. now! You're at sea- my man.
Get out Of here!"
With long. staggering stride, Jukes passed
out to the new ships deck. The wind blew
in his hair. The tide sang by.
Jukes turned. wild-eyed and faced the mate.
Men ON the forecastle head looked down and
laughed to hear him curse. He gazed up at
them. vacant eyed. He looked toward the
shore. saw his old ship and shuddered.
Come on. my mani" the mate said. You're
ct sea-"
All Jukes assembled to the forecastle head.
night. No star shone. Sails hung in
visible. Long swells rolled sluggishly beneath
the keel. The ships bow rose, dipped to deep
holows. and arose again.
Half naked in the hot night ALI Jukes lay
slumbering. The watch on deck sat talking
on the hatch without.
Porting above q chart, the skipper sat in his
chart room. Presently he rose looked out to
the dark night, listened awhile and went below
An hour passed.
High and sudden, the mates voice rang
above the noises of the night, and, answering
quick commands gloom-hidden sailors leaped
up, and rushed to the braces.
The skipper ran, pajama-clad and shouting,
to the deck. The watch on deck were shouting
at the ropes. deep, long, grumbling roar was
all abOut-the growl Of rollers bursting on q
reef.
sailor yelled at the forecastle door, waken-
ing the sleepers Of the watch below.
The ship quivered. A rending sound rose
sharp above the roar, died, and. rose again. A
topmast splintered and went overheard. Torn
canvas snarIed. Blocks Skirled. The ship slid
on. settling beyond the reef.
Last from his bunk came Jukes. Striking
match. he held it high, and by its feeble flare
saw the crazed struggle Of his comrades all
yelling at the door. Fallen men clutched
madly at the feet that trampled them. Water
out. The ship lurched heavily.
Jukes stepped from the emptied forecastle
into water knee deep. AS he slid barefooted to
the rigging, the water rose to his waist. He
gripped the shrouds and swung himself aloft.
The water followed. He climbed, cat-nimble.
The water followed close. He heard last use
less order from the skipper. Some one screamed
THE boat" A shrek ended in a groan close
to him. hand clutched his bare foot. He
bent to grasp the hand; but it slipped, and
he touched only water.
Save for the growl and long wash of the
sea there was no sound.
ALT JukeS was swimming.
Dawn came, and, treading water, Jukes
gazed round the sea. He struck out, swan
with strong, steady strokes, and presently swung
himself upon a piece Of drifting wreckage.
The horizon was empty, the sky without o
cloud. The sea was fiat.
The sun rose. It beat on the bare white
skin of ALI Jukes.
JukeS took little oilskin package from his
pocket and wedged it in the center of the raft
He slipped off his dungaree trousers and dipped
them in the sea. The dripping dungarees in
his hand. he stock stark naked and once more
gazed around The sea was empty. His head
by the RATS edge, he lay down and covered
himself as well as he could with the wet dun
gareeS. The sun climbed higher.
BY and by Jukes rose. His eyes searched the
horizon. 1t was empty. He dropped the dun
garees and dived deep He swan down and
down, seeking the cooler depths. He glmmered
white, far under the unrippled blue water.
When he rose to the surface again he held to
the edge of the raft. The raft gave no shade
He reached for, and covered his head with, the
dungarees. The sun was overhead when he
drew himself up, and, holding to the edge of
the raft. looked all about again.
Suddenly Jukes hurled himself upon the raft
His body glistening in the sun, he watched a
long green shape dart under him.
For the rest of the day Jukes dipped his
dungarees in the sea and covered himself as
best he could. All day sharp green fin
crlIiSed sJouIy around