Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23

that day they pushed fiat sandstones to and
fro, bucket of water beside each of them
to keep the stones wet.
While the second mate and I were seated
together the after hatch Gillian passed by.
was removing the old apprentice buttons
from my shore going jacket.
-Four giddy years and you can do the same"
I said as the chum glanced at me.
''IIl bet you dollars to doughnuts he swal-
lows the anchor" muttered the second mate
the kid, overhearing the words, blushed GRIM
son.
Next day the crew were set to sailor work
in the rigging. But the new chum was given
a bucket of water and holystone and put
to securing the deck beside the two malinger-
ers. They knelt in row together.
Working in contented twos and threes, the
sailors talked while they worked. When none
of the mates were the two malngerers
muttered to each other. cursing the mates and
ship, and leering at Gillian.
you was blasted fool to go to sea, wasn't
you puppy?" said one.
Gillian pretended not to hear. The fellows
swore at him and tainted him, sneerng at
him because the sandstone panied his spnt
hands He took notice of them.
While every one elses hands healed the new
chums hands remained sore-chafed by the
stone and continually dipped in salt water
Day by day the malingerers jeered, calling him
foul names, and damning him as one who In
days to come would be an officer.
Weeks passed We picked up warm south
east trade wind. All but the three holy
stoners were busy painting the ship. We were
counting the days to Frisco.
Evening by evening worked at my naviga-
ton problems in the room shared with the
second The new chum dwelt alone In the
half deck with his salt pork, bareback, bitter
coffee and thin brown skilly. And the pic
lures of his people hung on the bulkhead
ON a warm Sunday such of the crew as pos
~ sessed any brought out their shore-going
clothes to give them an airing.
Gillian was hanging his brass-bound suit Tor
air as passed him.
"C;oinr TO wear EN- when she gets imp"
asked.
He understood my meaning-knew that I
was wondering whether he had made up his
mind to swallow the anchor. His lips parted,
he turned sharply round as though about to
speak. But he was silent. / saw sparks waKen
in his dark eyes once more.
As I strolled away to my room the two NAL
ingerers came from the foc'sle, and, seeing the
new chum brushing his brass-bound jacket
nudged each other.
In the second dog watch that day the second
told me to get the kid to the wheel and show
him how to steer. / found him in the half
deck, seated at the table, with paper before
him and pen in hand. We should be In In
few weeks, and he was writing home-to the
people whose pictures smiled on us from the
telling. The men were singing in the f'c'sle as
he followed me aft. The malingerers walked
the fore deck together. The mates sat talking
quietly on the after hatch. The sleek dog dozed
near by.
With a soft beam wind Just keeping her sails
full she scarcely needed steering, and left 1T
to him. The rosy sunset shone on his thin
white face. The sails glowed above him; the
sea glowed below. The second mate called up
to me where sat on the taffrail: cit won't
be long now till we take walk ashore!"
The sun went down. The sea rippled and
sang under her counter, beneath her helms
mans feet The moon rose in the gloomy east
Stars winked amid slow-moving little clouds
His hands on her wheel spoke, the pinnacle
shining on his down-bent face, the new chum
seemed almost spectral boy.
I was standing at the door of the carpenters
shop talking with Chips when the new chum
was relieved and went forward. The moon
shone bright on deckhouse and on deck.
murmur of talk and snatches Of laughter came
from the fo'c'sle
AS Gillian passed me 1 heard harsh laugh
on the fore deck sneering voice said Eye
looks as good in 'em as the puppyll ever look"
The new chum started, then stopped. For
an instant he stood still. AS he sprang for
ward I followed.
Besides the hatch stood one of the nainger-
ers with Gillan's brass-bound jacket on. Catch
ing sight of Gillian, he threw the jacket of and
tossed it to him.
" Ere. puppy" he sneered
The jacket fell to the deck 1t was who
picked 1t up AS did so heard the sharp
click of fist upon bone. The fellow who had
been wearing the jacket snapped out foul
oath.
The crew came streaming from the fo'csle
Chips hurried from his shop the cook from his
galley. Gillian was on his back on the deck
but for an instant only.
AS the new chum staggered backward and
went down again, the second mate strobe up