Evening star., 1938-08-28

He grabbed Matteo by the collar and heaved
him through the door.
MY old man will plant you in the Hacken-
sack Meadows for this, the boy shrieked as
Captain Blum shut the door and bolted it,
Off the Virginia Capes the Falcon ran into
head sea. She bucked like a bronco, took
water over her forecastle by the ton, and
shook it off her catheads like soaked setter.
She stood on her head and sat down on her
stern, buried her lee railing in the smother
and showed her pink bottom derisively to the
molten sunset sky.
Captain Blum peered into the dark western
sky, butting his head into the gale. The
topsais we're already furled He cupped his
hands at the mate, standing by the helmsman.
That's about all she can take, MIR. Nc
Groarty!" he shouted. Reef the fore and
main. I'll take the halyards!'
AYE, aye. sir! All hands on deck!" Nc
Groarty bawled. Lay aft. Main down-pull!'
When his orders had been obeyed, the
Falcon righted little. Less water came over
- to leeward, but more to windward. The little
schooner seemed to resent being shorn of part
of her canvas. She bit into the gale and played
a tune of derision with it on her straining
stays.
Down in the sail locker, young Matteo De
Franc sat hugging rolled up Jib. He was
still little sick. but he was more scared than
sick. The locker was dark as the grave. The
pounding of the sails the whine of the hal
yards and the roar of the seas racing along the
deck and slapping the vessel like claps of
thunder, convinced him that he was headed
for that bourne where even the toughest guys
fetch up sooner or later.
He kicked the door. screaming impreca-
tions called on saints whose names he knew
and on some who were comparative strangers
When the crew came below for round of
grog after reefing, Captain Blum opened the
door.
And how is our passenger" he inquired.
Matteo sat up. Behind the skipper he saw
five grinning faces under dripping sou'west-
ers There was still more than little fight
left in him. He got to his feet unsteadily and
delivered string of East Side curses and
anathemas. When he ran out of breath and
adjectives, he sat down on the jib and sobbed
invectves in minor key, still defiant Beau
tiful," said the skipper. admiringly Never
had finer cussing!"
He poured the boy stiff hooker of rum.
Grease your tonsils, son. he said.
Matteo took the tin mug and shifted it,
then heaved the contents in the shippers
face "Rotgut! he howled. My old man
uses better stuff in his radiator"
Captain Blum slammed and bolted the
door. That young hellion's got spirit. MIR.
McGroarty." he remarked, wiping the liquor
off his face with the back of his hairy hand.
What d'you say if we make sailor of him."
The mate rubbed his knuckles thought
fully.
Nothing would please me better. sir, he
replied. He picked up the rum bottle. Rot
gut HIM. Honest Jamaica popskull! His old
man must have jack. Maybe we can collect
salvage on the kid
Maybe" said the skipper with smile.
At four bells on the dogwatch the crew
sat down to supper. McGroarty opened the
door of the sail locker.
Dinner is served, sir" he said to Matteo.
salt horse on the hoof and lobscouse la
Queen, if it please your demned lordship."
Matteo rose warily He slid to seat at the
mess room table Mr.. McGroarty heaped his
plate with steaming lobscouse, which is
cross between mulligatawny and stew. with