The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-20
|BRing witbcuf a country &C.! :s;;'. e.

sale" and as ne caught Pauis eye
he grinncd and asked Unexpectedly,
Want 10 buy n boat7"
Paul took his pipe out OF his
mouth and gaped at him. Buy q
boat? Well. why hadn't ne done
that months ago2 He had been an
ardent yachtsman, back In North
umbra, proud OF his ability TO get
as much out Of q small craft like
this as any man In the Royal
Yacht Club. A boat. nova trim,
geaworthy little thing like this
one -- why, that would give some
point 10 his existence here. II
would restore TO his daily life that
lost SAVIOR.
He put the pipe back in his
mouth and sent back an answer
ing grin.
Say, you know I really might"
nc said.
swell" said the man. Come
aboard and have a look"
Paul climbed the low iron rail
at the edge Of the concrete quay
and lowered himself 10 the boats
deck. The man took his hand In
sinewy grip.
MY names CONN he said.
Jonas CONN. The boats named
La sylphide. 1 didn't name her"
MY name Is Ferronc," said
Paul. II take H. you don't approve
Of La Syiphide as a manner"
Il do not. What's q name like
that mean, anyhow? Down east
where / come from they give boats
names that mean something. You
name your boat for your girl, say,
like Ann Mckay. or you name her
something gay like Whitecap, or
something fancy like Nightingale.
But La BylphidcW
We'll" said Paul, who was be-
ginning TO like this strange sailor,
III she was your boat why don't
you change her name?"
Didn't get around TO II. You
see - oh, well, It's n long story.
Let's take n look around her and
then III tell you about 1t"
La Sylphidc proved TO be a
sloop. 81 feet over all, gaff-top-
sail rugged and equipped with an
auxiliary gas engine which was
housed In casing sunk In the
floor Of the cockpit, She drew five
and one-half feet Of water, said
Coffin, was sturdy enough for
decp-sea cruising. handled un-
commonly well when beating 10
WindWard. and could be trusted to
keep within two points OF her course
with 81 lashed tiller.
Below, the SIoop possessed q cory
cabin with q built-in berth on each
eide, galley, ample cupboard and
locker space, and lavatorg. She
was. insisted Coffin az tight as q
drum and as sound as o dollar-hc
offered statistics about white oak
knees, cedar planking, copper
sheathing and the like-and one
man, all alone, might sail her clear
to Australia II he felt like 1t.
They emerged from nc cabin
and sat down In the cockpit. From
- locker under the scat, lCoffln
brought out q bottle Of the thin.
Bourish wine OF the country, and
TWO aluminium CuDb,
"Thcrc's no special bite 10 It,"
he said, as he poured the drinks,
but us all there Is aboard. Well,
here's mud in your eye" ur
Paul drained his glass 10 this
quaint toast. Then he said, Nov
ten me how 1t rs that you didn't
change this name which you dig
like 80 greatly"
Jonas Coffin filled his corncob
pipe.
We'll" he said, ITS Like this.
You sec. I come from the state OF
Mainc--thats In America. Another
fellow and /. We came over here
for six months TO paint. Well, that
Was three month"; ago. In these
three months found out I'm never
going 10 be 81 painter"
He grjnned
"To be- honest I'd suspected ~
before. guess came over mostly
for the fun Of IT.. Anyhow, in thcsc
three months ] learned II for sure.
The other fellows Btlll at ". UP in
Parib. Me. came down here 10
| have fun. ! saw this boat and
bought her Off Frcnchman and
figured I'd take - Mediterranean
cruIgc for myself spent two weeks
getting her fixed up, ovcrhaullng
the rigging. hrrl 30 on. Before !
got around 10 changing her name ]
got word from home, moneys all
gone, Or most al. 80 ! 20 back
ana get into harness, and someone
else you, maybc--gctg La Syl-
phldc."
Maybe do" said Paul rcflcc-
lively when you 20 back home
and get into harness. what do you
| dor"
"1hc old mans got n couple Of
boats up st Camden. Maine. Little
| power boats. mean. We take
summer folks around. haul pack
age freight up and down the bay.
asa--a--aa