Adventure Magazine Cover — page 138: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- 128 Then why did he hunger and dream so? He heard Japes singing. Japes had the voice of a falsetto crow; he sang songs with no sense to them; he sweated and slaved in his stifling box and found the world im- mensely cheery, often joyful. He had known others like him—in the forecastle. In the long run Arnie, though, was no_ fool, and sailoring had not managed to make him one. If he could not figure out his problem, he could at least adapt himself to any condition. The theme was money; with money one regulated the world’s man- ners. His instincts might fight against this as an illogical doctrine, but he was preemi- nently of those who survive. True, he did not understand the world he was in, but he comprehended its habits, and eventually he concluded that he had better be illogical and happy than reasonable and—what he had been for seventeen years. Taken all in all, the run to Victoria pro- duced no impossible situations. The crew did not, of course, thrive on the fare dis- tressfully served to them by Japes, and gained no strength by pitching it over the rail—although something they did gain from these days, from the captain’s planta- tion methods, from the lesson of his vitu- peration and his frantic blows, from the reaction of their stomachs, from the proud sweep of the vessel and her impervious: aloofness to the winds that fought her, from Japes’ singing about tough-skinned whal- ers who laughed at every buffet of fortune. Not even they could have told what it was they gained, or perhaps that they had gained anything, but more and more they looked straight into Captain Loman’s face when he spoke to Ehem; rather than down at the deck. They broke their naes to sing grim, short-barked chanteys when the _ spirit moved them, taking their cue from the Samson’s soaring voice and from Japes’ nasal tenor; they copied the captain and cursed; they pulled at the ropes in a time and a fashion dictated by the moment’s im- pulse. Thus the Samson and its little world came into port and discharged. Gay THE intention was to load at once and lay a straight course for Frisco. i ee Captain Loman, however, got news of a shipment of cargo billed up the Sound about a day’s sailing and went to make in- quiries. He returned jubilantly. Adventure To Arnie he said: ‘‘A notable opportunity, Mr. ‘ Sandlicim: Two days ahead of schedule, and money for the two of us lying on the decks. A few hundred dollars won’t go amiss, eh? We have our-way to make in the world. A little excursion.”’ “Will the men do it?” Arnie queried, his instinct still unmolded to the new view of things. Immediately he saw his error; his keen mind leaped to the proper perspective of what he had to win. Lelona’s round, deli- cate arms shook him; her soft voice—so like the ardent, unruffled, unquestioning voice of the Samson—catechized him. Came his amendment: ‘Are the owners willing, sir? .. me then.” The captain’s reply as to the owners was indistinct enough but characteristically assured. The trip was made—an easy one. But easy«as it was, it required four and a half days instead of two, and before it was done with, the crew was pressed into the service of unloading. | At the captain’s direction Arnie sised over them and held them. at it, became a bucko mate and drove them at it. Silent they were at the hateful labor; only by the look in their eyes, which they bent strangely upon him, did their protest voice itself. As on another occasion, Arnie wished to Heaven there might be harsh retorts, even refusal of orders. For him, it appeared, there was only this hardest enemy to fight, this muteness that got under the skin. But why should it get under his skin? Their quarrel was with the captain. Loaded with boxes of fish, the Samson took the ocean swell and headed south- ward. A head-wind was blowing strongly. They were three days behind-hand. Of this latter fact the captain would not let any of them be for one minute ignorant. Arnie, with two hundred and fifty dollars thrift-money in his pocket, suggested longer tacks so that the watches might be spared. With dignity Captain Loman vetoed the idea. “Longer tacks, sir, longer run. As straight a course as we can lay with this devilish blow in our eyes—that’s navigat- ing. Three days behind. My luck!” — Every hour the braces were let go and brought around; every hour slacking and filling away; every hour the weary tramp, . It suits Eomichoo <S (CE)