Evening star., 1937-08-29


~ leathery face was haggard; but there
was a hint of strength in his firm. square jaw
Though his steelblue eyes cleaned in the
lamps glow the countless tiny wrinkles that
trimmed them softened his visage and stamped
him as man who sometimes laughed.
50 you want me to square away he said
give up and run for the Falkland islands,
From the cabin doorway, the mate advanced
chest bulging beneath his oilskins. Water
dripped from his sou 'wester ran down his
cheeks and massive Jaw
Aye" he growled, towering over Captain
West 1T takes CUTS to know when you're
licked. sir But you'd rather murder the bloody
lot of u.s.
Mister" said Captain West in level tones,
let me remind you, there's date line on this
cargo That's not the only reason I'm standing
on for Valparaiso. Now, get back to the poOp,'
When the cumping of Mr.. Hand seaboots
died away Captain West sat down He knew
what the men thought of him. Little He'll
driver, sea-bully, they called him; behind his
back, of course. For fifty days. ever since the
smart ful-rigged ship Jason had reached south
Of the lie Marie Straits, he had been trying to
make westing against fierce gales and tremen
dous seas. Five of the crew were already down
with frostbite. At this very moment the car
penter lay in his bunk, gasping for breath, as
pneumonia wrenched his lungs And Cape Horn
still lay thirty leagues ahead directly in the
winds teeth,
Momentarily, Captain West felt twinge of
guilt. But after ALL he told himself, it wasn't his
IL ~, b,I tLo ~; ~lo
to work the ship in weather fair or foul and
deliver the cargo at its destination. Deep water
men, they knew what to expect on Cape Horn
passage. The devil, then! His duty was theirs.
His course was west and his name was West;
he'd steer west till doomsday be damned
to any man who tried to stop him.
Above Captain Vests head the lamp swung
wildly. He glanced at it. In that instant, the
force of terrific impact hurled him to the
floor The lamp went out The ship trembled
swung down by the stern with drunken lurch
AS the captain picked himself up, her motion
changed; she began to roll crafty, screaming
throughout her frame. In pitch darkness, he
bounded up the companion ladder to the poop
The men, he realized suddenly, would look
to him now - to his seamanship - to save
their skins But the dread question was IN his
mind - what had happened to the ship? There
we're certainly no reefs in these lonely seas. AS
he reached the poop, he saw black mountains
of water rolling down from the weather beam.
Growing out of the night they lowered above
the stricken vessel, then thundered over her
like an avalanche. He knew at once that she
had fallen away into the troughs, knew that
they must get her into the wind again - or
perish
"All hands on deckv' coming from so small
man. his voice was astounding in its volume.
"Mr. Hand. Ill take the poop You get for ard
see what's wrong"
Through the darkness now, he could already
see the fore topmast lying athwartship its
canvas and tangled gear trailing in the sea.
Dim figures foundered from the forecastle The
mate was among them. Directed by him, they
began to work desperately to cut away the
mangled spar and cover the stove-in forehatch.
Captain West opened his mouth and his
orders came with roar. Somehow he would
deal with the human forces arrayed against
him. But the sea! - the sea was pouring
through that broken hatch, filling her. A hor
rible realization came over him - there was no
lift to her now no effort to throw oft the
deadening weight of water.
As the helmsmans face loomed in the bin
nacle's glow, Captain West barked, Keep her