The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-02
CHAPTER XXI

As for Jerry, for several days there was no war. There was no vessel to be procured, no danger ous sea to be crossed, no English to be punished in the name of inn pressed seamen with striped backs. There was only Polly, honest and lovely, who had given her body into his keeping, along with her heart.
 At the end of a week Cabell Banks arrived at the hotel and asked to see Monsieur Jeremiah Whitfield" :"
 "Le voici!" said the innkeeper, and he pointed out Jerry just com ing in at the door with his wife.
 Cabell wrung Jerrys hand and kissed Polly on both cheeks to the intense pleasure of some native onlookers who had supposed all Americans to be cold and re- strained. Jerry asked Cabell to come with them to their room, and presently the two men were deep in conversation at a window looking toward the harbor while Polly sat across the room with her knitting.
 She would not, she mentally vowed, intrude on the friendship of Jerry and Cabell Banks. It was a strong masculine thing, built of mutual misfortunes and shared dangers. Their three futures were cradled in this friendship. The two young men had plan, and Cabell was impatient to get on with it. And so was Jerry, Polly admitted, trying to feel no jealousy.
 Cabell said, I've found the ship for us, Jerry! She's tied up at Cart eret. We'd be able to get out of Carteret."
 Jerry mentally located the little port 20 miles to the south. We might get out of there all right. Yes, think we would. Whats the ship like?" ..
 "A clipper. Built in Baltimore"
 Jerry's face fell. New Eng flanders don't hold with those ships, Cabell. They're too f1imsy."
 "They're the fastest things on water"
 q doubt if I could handle one. No. I don't. believe l could bring one home right side up," Jerry declared.
 Cabell hooted in disagreement. slIy friend, I've been hearing things about you. There are a number of stranded American sailors in this port and some of them are from down Connecticut way. They tell me you saved Captain Cobb's barkentine Eliza from the rocks in a hurricane on 8 trip around the Horn. You were just 20 at the time"
 Polly looked up quickly. There was so much Jerry had never told her. How did you do it., Jerry?"
 "It was just chance, you might say. It was the trip we lost our first mate in a blow and our second mate from fever. Cap'n Cobb was down in his bunk with a broken leg and l had to take charge. The bosun or the galley cook could have done just as well, if they'd been put to it. Capn Cobb made me first mate alter ward. But there are better and older sailors than me that've never had the chance"
 Maybe" Cabell agreed dryly Look out, or you'll get conceited over your modesty This cllp- per now
 "What's wrong with her? Whats she doing in little port like Sarteret? How long has she been rotting there?"
 She's been there only a couple of months and she's sound. Her captain died of a fever the day they put in there. Her owners a Baltimore merchant who's finan- cially pressed. He wants to sell her."
 That means he wants ready money. You could hardly get her on credit, I reckon?"
 q reckon not. But wait till you hear this! His agents the same French banger here in Cherbourg my father transacts business with. I've convinced this banker that MT. Cabell Banks, senior, of Bos- ton would want me to have the ship to get home in, and that he'd like me to have enough money advanced to outfit the clipper and pay the crew for five weeks. The chief expense will be pair ot Z long guns, properly mounted, but heTl stand for it. It's perfect situation, friend Whitfield. Who're we to snipe at fate?"
 "A Baltimore clippers not safe, Banks. Those Marylanders are mad to build them. Too fiimsy