Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23
HmyMemm1alAmma Sm1es by Bill Adams

second, and waved the incrowding onlookers
away.
Duckns his head and throwing his arms up
wildly the fellow sought Intellectually to guard
himself A boot of laughter arose HI ;faHds
upheld before his frightened face, he leaped
away from Gillian, Numbered blindly through
the cheering crew. and was gone, followed by
a below of laughter and oaths.
For an instant Gillian stood white and pant
ing, the men about him. the second mates ap-
proving hand upon his shoulder.
The moon went out. squat piped through
the rigging. Dmly seen sails bellied drum
tight, and as the ship reeled down the mates
and shippers voices rang above the sudden
tumult. All hands ran to the gear. While the
ship raced toward Frisco we lowered and
clewed up sail, shortening her down in hurry
as squall Upon staggering squall burst upon her.
Men who swung upon the foot rope gather
ing in her canvas shouted loosely, testing of
the fight Snatches of laughter sounded from
the swayng spars.
Cloud fringes parted and the moon rode out.
The sea twinkled and shimmered high crests
snowy, curves molten hollows cavern-inky
Testing they descended toward the deck,
the men in the main topmast rigging cried up
to Gillian above them, telling him he'd make a
bucko mate some day-calling him sailor"
They told me afterward how his face shone,
how his dark eyes danced.
At the moment that the new chun was
coming down over the futtock shrouds the
second mate looked up and saw gasket hang
ing loose upon the lee main yard.
"One O. you sailors lay out on the main yard
an make that gasket up" he shouted
fresh squall smothered the moon. Sky
and sea were darkened Laughter and cheers
were mingled with the nights roar.
The second mates watch went below the
mates men to coiling UP the tangled ropes
AS the full force of the wind took her up and
she lay far over spray flying thick and her
lee OulWark down the water 7 tn
room
had kicked off my boots and was half un-
dressed when wild cry from the dark deck
beside the lee main braces startled me- AS
man after man took up the repeated cry I
burst through the alleyway door and sprang
half naked to the night again The wind
howled Gathering seas smashed on her hidden
matches. Sheets of invisible water flew over
ship and crew. Voices were drowned. Ripped
from its bolt ropes, I heard sail whip into
ribbons high above me. Chains clatteEed on
the metal mastS Wind upon wind. Water
waist deep, shoulder high. Confusion. Skip
per, mates and sailors impotent to save. It
was no night to put boat out!
THE squaIl passed. Cloud fringes parted ana
the moon broke out The sea twinkled
and shmmered, its high crests snowy. its
curves molten, its holows cavern-inky.
Morning dawned. Full sail by breakfast
time the ship racing for port.
The mate beckoned to me, and together we
went to the half deck to gather the new
chums belongings. His oilskins swung on their
hook. Fallen to the deck, his pannikin rolled
to and fro. letter lay upon the Ii tie table,
From the bulkhead above his fancy blankets
his people smiled on u.s.
We took his oilskins down and rolled his
blankets We laid his peoples pictures where
they could not see us, within his sea chest on
his brass-buttoned suit The second mate came
in as we were done.
The mate picked up the unsealed letter
The same thought was in the mind of each
OF us: The tale of all his misery would be
there; hunger and cold, and three hard heed
less men, Either of us, all of us, might have
made the misery less!
The second mate and looked at the mate:
he gazed back at us.
You" he muttered, and thrust the letter
toward me-
read, aloud at frst-then scarce Whisper
ing: They say the first year is the
hardest. 1t is not hard. I'll soon be
home"
Copyright, 1927
Greater Use of Wires.