Adventure Magazine Cover — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

158 “‘What’s on your mind?” he asked. Lowrie gazed at the old Nanette with her three skysails set and the sea. lapping over her railing. “Mr. Dowser,” he said, ‘‘there’s much on my mind, sir. I owe you my life. I don’t forget that. You need not have hove your ship to, that morning off the Horn.” He was silent for a minute, Dowser staring at him. “Captain Dowser,” he said, rising to his feet, as if they were aboard, and he address- ing his commander, “I want your girl, sir. I came to ask your permission. That’s not been my way—asking permission. But I ask it now. I am in your debt, sir.” “Sit down,” said Dowser. For a few moments neither spoke. Then, turning to Lowrie, Dowser said— ‘““The sea is no place for a woman.” “T can get a good command, sir. Asteam command with good money in it, and chances to make side money as well. My wife can live ashore, sir.”’ “Said anything to my girl?” asked Dowser. “No, sir—nothing. I wanted to plav square with you.” They were silent again for a while. Then Lowrie spoke— “Tt would rather quit the sea, sir, than give up Nance.”’ “Nance has got sea-fever. She’d turn you down like a shot if you quit the sea I imagine—maybe you'd better quit. I don’t know what to say,” said Dowser. Turning about, he stared hard at Lowrie. *fAre you sure of yourself?” “T could have said all I have said now years ago, sir. But I have waited. I don’t think you need question that I am sure.” “Nance is young—very young. If you can wait, so can she wait. Youd better wait a while I think.” “Captain Dowser, may I speak to her, sir? I’d like to know her answer.”’ Dowser arose and paced the little room. Stopping in front of the picture of the woman on the wall, he said: “We waited—waited for years; and the sea took toll at the end of it. Nance is very young. I’d rather you waited a while, Low- rie. I don’t want any mistakes made— she’s all I’ve got. “This craze she has for the sea will pass Adventure as she grows older,” he continued, “and she'll settle down. Take her now and there’ll be no keeping her ashore. She'll be like her mother was—wanting to follow the long cold furrows of the fenceless meadows; witched by the stars and the moon on the water and the roar of the gales. Lowrie, I hate the sea. It has robbed me— robbed me of my life. Wait a while and let my girl settle down.” He gazed at the face of Nance’s mother; and Lowrie, seeing the tenseness of his face, thrust out a hand. “Captain Dowser, you didn’t have to back your yards that morning off the Horn, sir. I guess I can pay my debt.” Dowser took the proffered hand. ‘Thank vou,” he said and added— “There’s no other man I would ask for her.” The following day Lowrie bade the River Bottom farm good-by. “I’m going down to a little place called the Ojai Valley,” he said. “It’s a God- forgotten hole, they tell me; dry as bone- dust, and hidden in the hills. A few months there and I'll be able to go to sea again. ‘They say it’ll cook all the wheezes out of a man for good.”’ Nance bade him good-by, under the cot- tonwoods beside the gate, her large eves fixed upon his face. “T hope it will cure you,” she said. He took her proffered hand a moment, fighting himself, saying— ‘“‘So-long, Miss Dowser, some day I’ll be back.” Clyde De Witt drove him to the depot. As they stood awaiting the arrival of the train Clyde asked him— “D’you reckon a guy like me could get a job on a ship?” Lowrie laughed. “Any one can get a job on a ship,” he said. “It’s a hard old life though, sonny, and if you take my advice you'll stay on the farm.” The train came and they parted company, De Witt going back to the farm with Low- rie’s words in his ears. ‘““Any one can get a job on a ship.” forgot the rest of them. A few davs later, when his father called him for the morning milking, he was gone; leaving the old folks hopelessly perplexed. Two days after his departure there came a letter from him: He (© DOOKS C@