Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 28, Number 193, Decatur, Adams County, 15 August 1930 — Page 5

JUKES <- -> By Bill Adams] i n MiiiioWMnHW"B |aiußMim '

Ai BOARDING master’s b At was alongside by the fore rigging. The ln< master and his crimp were bringing <■« ‘ he crPW ’ helping the drunken . lh e bulwarks, and r ". them into tip *"' "'.'7,., mme over the bul--4 J p k t ' He eame without as ’ p ||e was drunk, ns were felows. but hi» drunken11' < (urn different from F ' he jumped to the deck * b ' r /the ship’s mate by the ilAflt* jlitnde revengeful and de- . .It Jukes strode up to the *' |,. st.sxi face to face with i d cursed him. mate paid no attention a Ilf Jukes. He had heard 11 thing had seen the same / :' n ;:“, ;:.auv tunes from such 111,1 \ Jukes He looked at Jukes r,./Xediy as if he looked ,1 , coil of rope or a barrel of ta'i’W he mate turned disinterest- . »,y Jukes addressed him2 , the ship- Scornfully scan- „ her from boom to taffrail, , deck to mastheads, from JXm to yardarm h’ eursed L As if exasperated by her Lee. as if maddened by her d>g,|lV. he raised his voice higher and higher. bike the mate, the ship paid no heed to him. The wind in h cr rigging whispered of clean thing* Jukes ceased his cursing and (talked to the forecastle, in which ..mrades were now gathered. Having put the last senseless seaman aboard, having collected from the skipper the price prearranged for them, having pocketed a months advance pay for each one of them, the boarding master with his crimp was already well on the xav ashore The tug was alongside the ship. The ship’s mate leaned on the bulwark and talked I with the tugboat men. presently the skipper appeared Ind spoke to the mate, who walked so-ward and called the sailors from [ th“ forecastle. Alf Jukes came last from the fnr-tastle bike all his comrades, he reeked of cheap and abominable liquor, but. unlike them, he walked I erect and steadily, a. fierce reI monstrance in his step and bearin? They staggered, cursed, or grumbled listlessly. Some were | tall, wme short; some wide, some narrow, some bearded, others not. They were of many nations. Some fore dungarees, others shoddy doth; one, a pair of trousers made of ship's canvas; his upper body covered by a threadbare oilskin jacket. Some wore old cloth caps: i one. a batt* ro<] sun-downer; ani Ither a dented derby. Jukes towered above his comrades. His curly brown head and I bony feet were bare. His worn dungaree shirt w;is unbuttoned, i His neatly patched dungaree trousers were gathered by a broad brass-buckled belt. His forearms, hands, ami throat were rugged His breast showed white through h'« unbuttoned shirt. It looked 1 cold, like marble. Alone of all the crew. Jukes did not The stamp of the sea was on him as on them. But the shore had stamped him fcss He scowled toward the shore m he followed his •umrades from th* forecastle. Impelled almost as much by instinct as by the brief command of the mate, the crew ascended to the forecastle head, took the windlass hare from their rack and set them in their places. As they leaned their weight upon them some runted like pigs. Some laughed •tupidly. Jukes alone was silent. The crow stamped slowly round •nd round the windlass, heaving fh* anchor in. The cable clanked tt the hawse pipo. Tide and cable •Poke of clean and windy things. Th* reck of liquor grew fainter. ™ wind came fresher. The mate said: Someone sing’ w One of tho sailors began to sing , • forecastle song a u>, antPy „ hal . with a wailing chorus. His o,r e, at first spiteful, sneering, •nd contemptuous, the voices of ,* others, also at first spiteful. " I * r ing. and contemptuous, bot ®me presently attuned to the ' / )n “ s nf "rind and tide and cable. ' p y no longer cursed, or grunted " pigs. The stamp of the shore '’’’tailing from them. h ’ "!' ip ~aJMW’ ff swiftly from the >r heads. The tugboat let go r ’'’w'lne. some of the men * aloft, to loose sail. Talking lh ' ,w v °i'’es, others waited by wh ? an<l ha'yard; ready to hoist j, . " tblP ma,P ’ 8 order came. ... ", Rt " od apart, detached, soliHe looked like a r|pL V rPlPaap <’ from an uni... Pai;p ' an| l still uncertain of “• ireenom. The mate called: Holst away, main tops’!’” end i’. T kraspefl the halyards u " bap k. setting their weight Straining to raise the .X'" 1 '" «* Hlowh. mPn Wni,Pd whlle Jukes On th R bProached. As he laid hold himself T b ? SPPniPII to Hl ’ske bt’ath 'H. ‘ 7"' a lone ’ dPPp higher ... rP,, ' llP<i '>n. higher and ’ Th. n " grPat chest expanded, fate called: Th. t0 ’ p,hpr ’ now!—Lay beck!" through i?./? ra, " p(l no,al ’y sail ,|,a u ,hre< “- f0 ’ d hltvks The “« marthead reSh ? S and ftlUnS ’ t 0 said the mate.

A sailor repented: "Bully boy!” Jukes remained aUent, sombre, brow-boclouded. While sail on sail : was spread, the crew all hauling | to his leadership, he took no notice lof anyone or anything. Ho paid no heed at tUI to their admiring comments. The shore lino faded astern. The day passed. The sun sank. Night fell. THE sailors sat tn the forecastle. "T>w long was you ashore?” asked one. "Three days. How long was you?" came the reply, "I come in the same day as you, then. I been three days ashore." "We was five months at sea," said the other, "three days in port, an’ I don’t know nothin’ about 'em." The dozen sailors discussed their stays in port. Not one of them had been ashore over five days. Each had accepted a drink from I the boarding master’s bottle. Bei tween then and now no one of : them knew aught of what had taken place. "We wns two hundred days on the passage out," said one "We was posted mlssln’. Four days in port, an' back to sea agin!" "How long was you ashore?" asked one. turning to Jukes Jukes seemed not to hoar him. “He don't know," laughed one. Jukes rose and left the forecastle. For a long time he sat motionless on the bulwark, his head bowed, his great hands upon I his knees, his figure dim against the starry sky. When etc!:! hellstruck and his comrades s’arted . aft to answer to the muster <<oll he crossed the deck and re-onteie.i the forecastle. His step Boeined to falter as he neared the dingy Lamp Looking r.bout him to make sure that he was all alone, he drew from a pocket a small oilskin package: untied and took from it a fad 'd kerthief —an old bandanna. loosening the knots, he drew from its crumpled folds an env elope. The envelope, drab and dirty like the kerchief that protected it. bore the mark of a distant port, and of a yet more distant date. A picture but ii'tl*. larger than a postage stamp fell to the table and lay face up. The letter, dogeared and torn from much handling. was like the pl-tare -coin I monplace, yet smiling and hopeful. As Jukes looked hungrily at the picture his face grew haggard. His lips moved as he read the old let- , ter over. Startled by a shout from the quarterdeck. Jukes thrust the letter and picture back within the bandanna, folded the oilskin about them, and hurried out to answer ■to his name. A MONTH was gone. A canopy of cloud hung low over the mastheads It i was without break, or rift, uniform from horizon to horizon It was of that cold gray that presages snow. Because it was uniform It seemed to be without motion. Beneath it the canyon hollows of the sea were black. From horizon to horizon white sen cataracts roared Every two. hours a sailor peered from the forecastle. Watching his opportunity, leaving those behind him to close the door, ho sprang to the dock Now running la few steps, now desperately clinging to the wire-tight life line, now I leaping high Into the rigging tn escape the raging sea. he battled a slow way to the wheel; whence | the helmsman whom he relieved I made an equally precarious passage to the forecastle. It was midday whei» Alf Jukes I opened the forecastle door. Unlike the others, he did not hesitate, 'or pause to scrutinize the chances of the deck. Though in the past Iwo days no man aboard had slept, ! there was no sign of weariness ; about him. As he opened the door he looked with a casual but comprehensive glance to the gale- , whipped and snow-laden sky. I Then, stepping to the waist-deep smother of the forward deck, he turned and deliberately banged the .door behind him Hoad unbowed. I gaze straightforward, light hands upon the rigid life line, ho strode surefooted through the tempest's j rage. When an insweeping sea completely submerged him, the mate, who was watching from by the helmsman’s side, made for the chart room and bellowed to the skipper. JftkeS’s head and shoulders reappeared as the skipper leaped out to the poop deck. The skipper and mate looked amusedly into each other’s faces. Alf Jukes’s shoulders, his gripping hands, his arms, the every ■motion of his entirely reckless body, appeared as the limbs and I motions of a gambolling schoolboy. I By the toss of his chin, hv the shako of his head, by the partings ! and closings of his stubble-sur-rounded lips, the universe might observe that Jukes, on his way to relievo the wheel, was singing Pointing to the helmsman, the skipper yelled an order into the mate’s ear. The mate nodded. Waylaying the man, the mate dragged him into the chart room. Bo ordered by mate and skipper, the exhausted helmsman sought shelter in the chart house Instead of attempting to reach the foreI castle. When sailors looked from the forecastle door to see what was become of Jukes, or of the man whom he had gone to relieve, it was to see the mate gesticulating to them to go back; voicelessly ordering them to remain where they were. Afternoon passed, and no man [ventured to the wheel's relief ' Toward dusk the wind fed, its

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1930.

I irwm II ft 1 I TO 5 wsf v, Ss fl - : v-• i. .., The boarding master and the crimp lifted Jukes and dumped him in their boat.

I uproar ended abruptly—aa If a I multitude of yelling maniacs had leaped from a precipice edge to in- ; stunt extinguishment: The crest of the sea died down. The ! horizons widened. For a little while gray ocean rolled under gray ' sky. Snow fell. The horizons were , blotted out. i Sklpp' r and mate descended to ' th* saloon Jerking the door of !the steward’s pantrj open, the skipper shouted for the steward. A trapdoor in the pantry deck I opened slowly, and the steward, i who had laid hidden liclcw. arose. | His teeth chattered. For a moment I he looked dazedly up at the skipper; then, realizing that the storm was over, that the ship still floated, and that it was long since h’’ had served a meal, passed out to the deck and made haste to the cook's galley. ”W«"11 set sail when the moon rises,” said the skipper to the mate. Skipper, mate, steward, cook, and sailors buried their noses in pannikins of steaming coffee Ravenotisly devouring hash made of pork scraps mixed with pulverized sea bisvuit. they forgot the fury of the recent storm, forgot that It was snowing—forgot Alf Jukes. The clouds lifted. The snow ceascl. A wan light illumined deck and rigging. "Ixiose them upper tops’ls!" bawled the mate. Some of the sailors climbed aloft Ito cast the gaskets off Others gathered at the halyards, ready to hoist away. Snow, disturbed by the feet of the climbers, fell on the heads and shoulders of those below. Flapping their arms, shaking their fists, the men on deck swore at the climbers, who. envying them the comparative comfort of the deck, replied with gibes and curses. A man aloft called: "All ready on the main!” The mate said: “Hoist away!” The men lay back, straining on the stiff, swollen rope. The sail refused to move. ■Were's Alf?" asked one of the sailors. "Jukes!" called the mate. “Jukes!” And than remembering “He’s at the wheel. One o’ you men relieve Jukes. "I forgot ’im," said one. Alf Jukes came forwaril from the wheel. Snow was thick on his I sou’wester, and on bls shoulders. I Snow was frozen on his sleeves land oilskin trousers. His hands, his lips, were blue. “Lend a hand here, Jukes," said the mate. Jukes strode to the halyards and reached up. His great chest expnnded as he reached higher and i higher. "All together—now!" said the mate. Jukes laid his weight upon the halyards. The sheaves rattled. Th" yard began to rise. -Bully boy!" said the mate. A sailor grunted. “Bully boy!" Their feet tramping soundlessly in the deep snow, the men ran the topsail to Its masthead. “That fellow Jukes Is a good man. Mister," said the skipper to the mate, “Jukcy ain’t afeard o' nai’-bt ’’ said a sailor. “I wish as I was 'lm ’’ Night passed. A BRIGHT sun shone nn the ship at anchor. Sails w-re furled, ropes ccil"d. From the J fore bulwarks, the sailors watched a boat rowed by two men approacbdng.

I Jukes sat alone upon the forecastle head. Gazing shoreward, he saw masts and spars, steeples and roofs. Chimneys smoked. Windows glinted. Beyond the town he saw low hills, with treetops blowing. His eyes were hungry. Noticing the approaching boat, Jukes rose to his feet. His teeth i lenched, a scowl on his face, he Spaced to and fro. He looked like a bear come too close to th’’ dw< 11ings of men—suspicious, undetermined, afraid of the world and of himself. Hands extended, eyes-a-twinkle, faces beaming, a sailor's boarding master and his crimp climbed aboard. j “Did ye have a good voyage, boys? Were are ye from? You're come to a good port this time!" The boarding master entered the forecastle. Seating himself, looking amicably up to the expectant and childish faces of the sailors, he drew a bottle from his pocket. "The best, boys! I d never offer ye any but the best.” ! One of them grasped the bottle. “Don’* swaßer it all!” cried one of the sailors. i "’Old 'is arm!” another. I " ’S’all right, boys. There's plenty more," grinned the boarding master. The crimp came from the boat, hotties in his pockets. | The j''i ecastle reeked of cheap uind abominable liquor. Presently cn<» ot tie' sailors asked: "Were's Jukey?" I The ■ riinp left the forecastle, to seek the missing man. "The boys wants you.” said he, discovering Alf Jukes alone upon the forecast!’ head. He took a Lottie from his pocket and held it lout to Jukes. Uttering a low coughing grunt. Jukes struck savagely at the i crimp. The bottle fell, and broke ’upon the deck. Cursing Jukes, the crimp beat a hasty retreat. With a half pannikin of unspilled liquor In it, the lower half of the bottle remained upright against the windlass. Alf Jukes looked down. Nostrils quivering, fingers twitching, he uncertainly approached the broken bottle. He stooped, lifted the bottle, and stretched out a hand: as if to hurl it to the water. He hesitated; drew in his hand, and sniffed. Another moment and he flung the emptied fragment over the forecastle rail. “Hey, Jukey! Come on down, lol' son!" called one of his comrades, looking up from the fore- | castle. Jukes descended and entered the I forecastle. His follows slapped him on the back. The boarding master ithrust a bottle in his hand. As Jukes todk it. one of his comrades tried to snatch It from him, and a bellow of laughter rose as the sailor wont sprawling on the deck. The bottles passed around. “No more ships for me," said one. “Nor me, boys." said another. Jukes drnnk silently. By and by the sail'Ts shouldered their sea hags and followed the boarding master and his crimp from the forecastle Jukes towering heedless among them, they shoved and olbowd one another aside, making for the boat, fointi ing to other ships near by, they cursetd them. They cursoq the ship tHey left. They chattered confidingly to the boarding master, who promised them one and all an easy job on the Dnd As Jukes grasped the stroke car and set the

pace ashore they shouted their approval. • "OT Jukey!” they cried, and I "Good ol’ Jukey!" They laughvfi to see the way the i boat drove through the water. I with Jukes’s great muscles surg- ;, ing her along. They jumped , ashore and turned their backs for- ■ ever on the sea. Without a glance ' liehind, they followed Jukes ai ross ' ] the street; Jukes at tile boardii’g master’s heels, the crimp liehind '' them all. Hours passed. Besotted sailors | lolled on dirty cots about a dirty ( room. They quarreled, forgot their quarrels, and embraeed each other. 1 They smoked, and spat, and sang. The leering crimp eame in, ami ■ went, and came, and went again, ( ' and called them each by name— j quick fitted names. "’Ere. old Cork-fender, lap It up now! It's good for sailor's giz-j . zards." I I •'(linimo yer empty glass 'ere. , Queer-fellow!" "Young Ba’ndy-slianks, you've i 'ad enough! You're voting. An- |; ether? All right, then. Wot’d yer , monimer say?" "Aw, haw! haw! haw!” "Drink hearty, Jimmie Bilge! 1 j [There's plenty more." ii Ignoring their quarrels and cm- |< braces, taking no part in their ■ noisy songs, Alf Jukes held out his glass for tilling and refilling. The .crimp winked at him deferentially. Evening came. Save for loud snores, heavy breathing, and now i and then a mumbled, sleepy oath, : the room was quiet. Steady-handed i 'still, Jukes stood erect amidst then wreckage of his fellows and emptied his glass. !| In the barroom adjoining, the : boarding master reached a black bottle from beneath the hgr. Alf Jukes came from the back room as Ii he replaced it. Resolve in his face, . ■ he stepped toward the street. Three brimming glasses stood i ; upon the bar. Lifting one to his ' . Sown lips, the boarding master . pushed another out toward Jukes. ; “Here, big boy! Don't run off Iso soon!” he quickly called. : Jukes stopped and hesitatingly looked toward the bar. The crimp ; and boarding master raised their glasses. , I Jukes took the proffered glass, lifted, and drained It in one long straight swallow: then turn'd and strode toward the street door again. Millway, ho staggered. The boarding master and the crimp came from behind the bar They lifted Jukes, carried him to the dusky street, and dumped him | in their boat. "That fills her crew." growled the boarding master with a nod to the riding light of a ship at anchor close inshore. DAWN was breaking. Stars were fading. Mastheads of anchored ships sv,ayed easily against the opening sky. A ship’s mate banged upon the forecastle door, rousing his crew. A drowsy sailor lurched off to the galley, fetching the morning coffee. "How long was you ashore?” I asked one sailor of another. “Wot day is it?" came the reply. The questioner chuckled S"nm surlv, some indifferent, they sipped their coffee. The mate looked in. “Rouse out hero, now! Get up and man that windlass!" They straggled to the deck. But j Jukes lay sleeping still, his face to the bulkhead. The mate stepped in and shook him. He wakened [ slowly.

’Tumble out, here, you I” Jukes climbed from the bunk and looked about him. "Come on, now! You’re at sea my man. Get out of here!" With a long staggering stride. Jukes passed out to the new ship’s deck. The wind blew tn his hair. The tide sang by. Jukes turned, wild-eyed, and faced the mate. M-n on the forecastle head looked down arid laughed to hear him curse. He gazed up at them, vacaut eyed. He looked toward the shore, saw hla old ship, and shuddered. "Come on, my man!" the mate said. "You re at w-a.” Ait Jukes ascended to the forecastle head. WEEKS were gone by. It was black midnight No star shone Sails hung invisible Ixirig dwells rolled sluggishly beneath the keel The ship’s bow rose, dipped to deep hollows, and arose again. Half naked in the hot night. Alf Jukes lay slumbering. Tie watch on deck sat talking on the hatch without. Poring above a chart the skip per e'-t In his ehsn room. ITes ent’.y he rose, !.>oout to the dark night, listened a while and went below. An hour passed High and sudden, the mate’s voice rahg above the •nol’es of the night, and, answering quick commands, gloom-hidden tailors leaped up and rushed to the bini’e.’. The skipper ran. pajama-clad and shouting, to the deck The watch on deck were shouting at the ropes. A deep, long, grumbling roar was all about—the grow! of rollers bursting on a reef. A sailor yelled at the forecastle door, wakening the sleepers of the watch below. The ship quivered. A rending sound rose sharp above the roar, died, and arose again A topmast splintered and went overboard. Torn canvas snarled. Blocks skirled. The ship slid on. settling beyond the reef. I<ast from his bunk came Jukes. Striking a match, he held it high, and by its feeble flare saw the crazed struggle of his comrades all yelling at the door. Fallen men clutched madly at the feet that trampled them. Water lapped into the forecastle. The match went out. The ship lurched heavily Jukes stepped from the emptied forecastle into water knee deep. As he slid barefooted to the rigging. the water rose to bls waist He gripped the shrouds and swung himself aloft. The water followed. Ho climbed, cnt-nlmble. The water followed close. He hoard a last useless order from the skipper. Someone screamed, "The boat!” A shriek ended in a groan 'close to him. A hand clutched his bare foot. He bent to grasp the hand: but It slipped, and he touched only water. Save for the grow! and long wash of the sea there was no sound. Alf Jukes was swimming Dawn eame, and treading water. Jukes gazed round the sea. He struck out, swam with strong steady strokes, and presently swung himself upon a piece of drifting wreckage. The horizon was empty, the sky without a cloud. The sea was flat. The sun rose. It beat on the bare white skin of Alf Jukes. Jukes took a little oilskin pack , age from his pocket and wedged it in tb* centre of the raft. He

, "Upped off his dungaree trounern 'and dipped them in the aea. The dripping dungarees in hi* hand, he stood stark naked and once more gazed around. The aea was empty. His head by the mft's edge, he lay down and covered himself as well as he could with the wet dungaree. The sun climbed higher. By and by Jukes rose. His eyes searched the horizon It was empty. He dropped the dungarees and dived deep. He swnm down and down, seeking the cooler depths. He glimmered white, far under the unrippled blue water, when he rose to the surface again he held to the edge of the raft The I raft gave no shade. He reached for, and covered his head with, the I dungarees. The sun was overhead when hr drew himself up. and. holding to the edge of the raft, ' looked all about again. Suddenly Jukes hurled hlmsetf upon the raft. His body, glistening in the sun. he watched a long green shape dart under him. For the rest of the day Jukes dipped his dungaree in the sea and cover"d himself as best he I could. All day a sharp green fin 1 cruised slowly around. Stars wakened. Ixmg after day was gone Jukes curled himself in >he middle of the raft and went to sleep Thirst wakened him. He dipped the dungarees in the sea and wrapped them round his neck , Night passed. At dawn the horizon was empty. Fins cruised to and fro on all sides Snouts broke the still blue water. The skv was cloudless. When Jukes dipped his dungarees, jaws snapped on them. He wrenched, nnd a leg of the dungarees remained in his hands. Dav passed. Night came, starry amt still. Snouts nosed around the raft’s edge. Fins darted to and frr>. rippling the windless water luk’-s slept fitfully. dreamed, wakened. dozed. and dreamed again Night passed At dawn Jukes climbed unsteadily to his feet. His lips were black, his skin scarlet. He moaned. His tongue was swollen A quarter of a mile from the raft a dense black cloud was slowly 1 I 'Tossing the equatorial sky. A I sheer wall of water fell from the cloud to ’he sea. Flying fish i i Imped at the rain’s foot White birds preyed on them from above, j silvcr-liellled fish from below. The ; snouts were gone, to join in the , preying. The squatl passed by. came within an eighth of a mile of the raft dipped under the sea rim, and was gone The sun rode high in a blue cloudless sky. The snouts were back Fins rippled the water 'all about. Jukes crouched, with j the wet scrap of dungaree about ' his neck. Day passel. Night ; came. Juke* lay prostrate, face down- I wnrd Hours passed. Ixmg after ■ 'midnight he lifted his bead and' tried to climb to his knees. A dim preen light winked on the sea far off He toppled over and was still Wind ruffled his hair and blew <xs’l upon his brow. A!f Jukes saw bonnes with smokine chimneys, windows agllnt. Saw masts and spars along n wnterfmnt. Hoard singing far nway. A wind blew through green treetops WIEN Jukes came to himself he lay in a lamplit forecastle. From near by came the voices of sailors. "I seen a boot wf' two dead mon Ip her one time None ever knowed wot ship they was from." Jukes raised his head p’.iinf’iHv nnd listened. From neck tn ankles his body was a fiery blister. "I been eleven blasted year at sea. I got nuthln’.” "Yon never will ’ave." "W'oo cares?" “There don't no one care. Ton an’ m“ is dogs." "This here’ll bo mv last v'yago " “Ave. —That’s wot you says.— Wait” "Wait yeraelf. I’m done." Jukes climlied from the hunk nnd tottered out Into the starlight "‘Ow nrv ye, matey?” e "Bring 'im some water ” Jukes gulped cold wefnr down ” ’Ere. mate —you 'ad it in ver ’and.” Jukes took the little oilskin package. They Jed him back and laid him in the bunk again. They smeared more grease on his burned limbs. They gnv» him more water As Jukes with fumbling fingers untied the package, they gathered round His lips moved. A sailor bent nbove him listening “ 'E’s done. No more o’ ships fer ’im.” Jukes dozed away. They passed the picture from hand tn hand They read the dog-ejred letter over. "I-ook st ’ere," said one, and pointed to the date. "Three years ago! ’E’l been a long time —• "Shanghn'ed. maybe." “Them crimps." "I'm done." “Haw. haw, haw! Maybe!” IT was the dog-watch time. Th* sun wns sotting Warm, pearly little clouds passed overhead A ow wind murmured A dozen sailors gambolled hr the hatch, trying themselves, pitting their strength and skill against each others. Alf Jukes -va." thero. with head and should •» higher than the rest. "Here, Jukes’" called one. lad with An unshaven downv face. “111., race you to the masthead! — Up *nd back. * round of baccy to the winner. You take the main, and I'll go up the fore." “'Ere. Chipe! Come on an' start

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I ’em.” calk'd an eager sailor; and » Cltlpe. the carpenter, stepped up, ’ “One—two—” "I'll tmt a pound o' bwccy on ; young IJmbertoes!” I Jukes at the main, the other at the fore shrouds, stood waiting "three." i "Three!" snanped the carpentegk i "Go!—(Oi—g.> 1 "Go, Idmbert -us! viy baccy*J 1 on you!" "Go, Jukes!—Go. Jukes’" "Show ’lm a sailor! Show "Im, , I timber, now!" Over the futtock flhroudn. toI gather, neck and neck, went Jukco and IJmbrr. 1 "Two pounds o’ berry—’on tnkc® > I me on?—two pound on Limber!** ] ’Done—an’ my Sunday whack Jo* duff thrown In!** ”Ix>rd!—look at that there Jukes! *Ep*r like a monkey.” ”Some sailor, that,** th* skipper said ’*Tx>ok at him go ” **But the young man wins,’ ’he mate replied. ”BuDy for Umber?” The youngster touch a hand upon the fore royal truck a much ahead of Jukes upon the main “Down- -do wn! —down! — roared all the sailors. Alf Jukes came sliding down the main royal stay. Down the fore 1 royal stay came Umbertoea. A tie! They’re n°ck and neek." “No!—Umber wine!” A bellow rose from every sallnr. Full forty fret above the dock Alf Jukes let po and dropped Hands up and arms above his head he fell straight as a plummet and landed on his feet. “That fellow’s Nk* a bear,” the skipper said. “Jukes, was you ever boat at anything?” Without an answer Jukes walked slowly off and sat alone upon the I bulwarks His fa<*e was The bell struck The crew strolled aft to answer to the mus* i ter roll. came Jukes. He 1 < J like a bear that, peering sheltering’ wilds, wonders ' u at lies in the valleys beyond it* I RT- at freedom. SAITOS were furled, ropes roTlpdt the ship at anchor. A chill j wind thrummed in her rig- ; ping Cnld rain beat down. The sailors Rat in the forecastle, • amidst them a boarding master. 1 While they drank from his bottles, Alf Jukes paced up and down the ' deck outside, alone.. Now and 1 again a sailor looked from the forecastle and called to him. Jle paid no heed. The boarding mn-sfer’s '•rimp came out bottle In hand. “The boys sent It ye. mwtrv.” said ho. and held the bottle temnt- | Ingly toward Jukes. Jukes an- ■ sweretl with a growl. His great ' right fist shot out. nnd. as the • bruised crimp climbed to his feet. | the sailors looked, laughing, from the forecastle ports. The crimp re-entered the forecastle. The boarding master imssed the bottles round The sailors cursed the ship, all ships, and damned the sea. S*x»n. crowding at his heels, thev nil swarmed out. and clambered down Into the boat ahead of him. Pavinr no heed to their loud farewells. Jukes walked up and down In the wind and the min. T/ist, loitering front [the forecastle, came the crimp The shouts (rs the s.nllors faded away The ship was silent The wind nnd the rnln l»eat on her • Jukes entered the deserted forecastle. It was gloomv and chill Water dripped from him. He down, shiverirr n little. He drew out his ilskir and unit led it. Dark : Presently. lighting the lamp, Jukes saw n bottle nn the tnhla. He scowled. Tie picked it ’in. and step-H'd tn the door. The wind soughed drmrilv Therein whinped hv. He hesitated in the doorwav, the bottle in his outstretched hand. A boat drew nois r lesslv nlongrjde the ship The hoarding master and his crimn climbed berk jaboard nnd noered unseen through one of the forward forecastle Pottle jn hand. Jukes leaned in the d-'orwav nnd looked out Into the night. Tomorrow he would bo forever dope with the sea Sbor« lights glimmered, through the min. The sounA of music renoh n d him. faint un-'n ’’'i wind. Sin r *’ng come in y from the waterfront It ••"'-•y snlltarv. vorv cold in the Jukes mover, r>!n«o r tn tv»o ’ ", and held th n bottle nudg°d the m p,p 't'> Alf Jukes n«it the hoM’”* »-> ’i rnse Something to worm A litt’e; then toss |t over fhn ’ Jukes tinned the boft’e j Adam’s apnle mso and fell Ha I took the bottle from h’s Uns. end listened He looked about him, i making sure that he wns all alone. Jukes sat down, bottle In bend. Outside the wind walled dmnrilv. The cold rain hissed His Adam’s apple rose nnd fell again The hoarding master entered ths forecast’e, the crimp at his heels. ‘ Jukes turned nnd leaped to his • feet. Lifting the bottle to hurl it« i he swayed uncertainly. I The crimp was laughing » Jukes clutched nt the bulkhead, t The lamp was grown suddenly dim. t The boarding master and th© . rr’mn had disappeared. r ••neona truck Alf Jukes just amd the oar. Someone laughed 1 ir by. Stars whirled in a pitch-black - - v. The boarding master knelt r c- er Jukes. , Everything was dark. t ' Q McClure fiewpaper