Evening star., 1937-08-29

stay beneath the bOWsprit, was live thing. In
the phosphorescent glow of foam, face loomed.
The legs of the thing, the mate saw, were
wrapped about the stay. With bony hands it
cung fast even as the Jason dipped again and
submerged it. Incredulous, John Hand waited.
The wave rolled high swept through the guard
rail. Then the bow rose, revealing the martin
gale and - the man.
Two seamen responded to the mates wild
cry. Lifting the coil of the staysail downhaul
from Delaying pin, they threw its end down
there into the dimness. The man clutched at it
feeby took a turn about his wrist; he fumbled
dangerously with the slack, then somehow
looped it under his arms.
Haul away!' the mate roared
The seamen bent their backs. and up through
the spume the stranger came, swinging like
pendulum. A sea caught him once and the
hemp ran out soaring the seamen's fingers;
but they hauled him aboard at last. Wide eyed.
as if they gazed upon ghost they clustered
around him.
Gasping the stranger leaned against the
rail, where the green glow from the starboard
sidelight fell upon his wrinkled features. His
hair, they saw, was long and brown, tangled
and matted like under sea growth. He grinned
foolishly, but to all their questions spoke no
word.
Here one O. you," said John Hand, and his
heart was chilled, take this man aft - He
added fearfully, IF he is a man. AS the
westerly gale screamed in the gear aloft, he
turned to the rest of the crew who had crowded
to the ladders head. Look alive!" he roared,
showing them with his big hands. I'VE don't
want to swim . Sails, Ole, Jansen - rouse
out spare tops1! If we don't plug that hole
in the bow weU never see no Falklands!' Then
he leaped down the ladder and followed the
stranger aft
At the break of poop stood Captain West,
legs braced apart, fingers gripping the teakwood
rail- The gale whisked savagely at his oilskin
coat; but he was obvious to that and to the
sleet driving into his face. We'll, he demanded
steadily what damage?"
''Plenty!'' John Hand shouted. Bow plates
squashed like tripe! I'm putin sail round it.
Well set the canvas up tight with watch
tackles" Mounting the ladder, he pulled him
self up by the brass handrails. Look what
we've got here - He pointed to the stranger.
Ndptdn west pttItO IltO lIlcH ldCeS SCclIlS
the strangers locks, shoulder length like the
weedy hair of the sea god, he doubted the evi-
dence of his eyes. He thought to himself quickly
no, it wasn't reef they had struck, but a
vessel By some miracle, as the Jason's bow
sent the craft to the bottom, the survivors
hands had groped hell and found salvation.
Mr. Hand he said, 'see the poor wretch to
my cabin"
Not until heavy storm canvas had been
stretched tight over the hole in the bow and
the pumps we're manned, did the captain 60
below He found the stranger sitting on
settee, his talon-like hands folded, staring
straight before him, vacantly. It's grog he
needs, thought Captain West. Taking demi-
John from locker, he poured glass of rum
and offered it silently.
The stranger drank with quick, deep gulps;
then he turned his face full into the lamps
glow. The captain started, moisture not of
spindrift glinted on his brow; he must not
speak too loud, too sharply to a man so thin
and worn.
whats your name?" he asked. What ship
was it,"
The strangers mouth opened Shrl broken
cries filled the cabin died suddenly to rasping
croak.
An awful realization chilling him, Captain
West sat down. 1t was as if time and human