Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1928, Page 54

SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTO JANUARY 1, THE MATE STANDS BY. By Albert Richard Wetjen E was a silent man and well past middle age. His cheeks were hollow, his mouth wide, and his eyes were coldly blue. An honest man. bsorbed in the sea and with the ethics of the s Young Martin, the second mate, knew he had held a m:; 0 year nd considered him fossil for not getting a comm; it was, he was merely 1 B'scardi, bound from New Cape Town in ballast. On the fourth day out, Young I tin happened to be on the bridge | during the mate’s a talkative chap. commenced ir ently: “He's heen lit since we dropped Sandy Hook.” The mate said #peaking of the c “Sure, blundered young ) . be. ng new aboard. “Who else? 1 went down this morning to ask him some- | thing, and he w ked out in hi bunk, snoring like a bull.” “1 don’t think I'd talk aid the mate. The second then shrugged “All right. If you feel that way But 1 was goinz to ask you what I'd me up in my watch and » fool order. ed the mate and anold | nd. As e of the York to! “Are you about it, the sec.nd confided eward. “Been passed and so long he's touchy about the old man being the attitude that the + no wrong. Mekes me ht to fire all these e some young feller I was lit, and skipper can sick. They old chaps and g a chance. 1= The third mate went up to relieve the mate at eizht bells and said: “Old man wants you in his room, sir.” The mate nodded and went on down. The master of the Riscardi sprawled in a chair before his desk, unshaven, his eves bloodshot, his shirt | open at the throat and his hands shaking as he lifted a glass to his lips. The mate closed the door behind him. The captain looked up, !:lughcd‘ and waved to a chair. Sit down, Collins The mate seat. ed himself. The captain hiccuped, fin- ished his drink and straightened him- =elf with an effort. He was an o man, in his late 50s. His hair was white and he was rather distinguishedy, looking in a fleshy, red-cheeked sort of = THEY PUSHED OFF, AND, ROWING TO A SAFE DISTA 2nd calm, but at gresent they glisten | ed uneasily and “sought every place but the mate's face. * % %% “l'\’E been pretty sick,” said the captain apologetically, noticing the mate's cold gaze fixed on the bottle at his elbow. The mate said nothing and the captain coughed and went on: “You've been with me a long time, Collins 10 or 12 years, isn't it since we were on the Watrous? . . Understand each other, eh? Well, well . 1 was speaking to them at the office about you. Want to #ee you get a ship pretty soon, they said . . Yes Have a @rink?” The mate shook his he tain poured himself tossed it down. He wiped his lips. “The Biscardi's worth much. 1 don't think th worry a if she went Bay something. man’’ ‘I suppose not, wir “That's right. You can savvy that | . Well, we won't bother much either, if anything happens. Mizht be advikable. Office’d find you a ship. 1| might get womething better myself. | They sort of hinted as much.” The mate stood up slowly. The blood | erept into bis lean face and then r eeded, leaving him deathly white eaptzin watched iim nervously, Ing bix lips and frowning shight “1 take it you're talking b sir,” he »ald. fn a harsh volc captain staried “Now. now, Collins, thing like that?” The mate stared ot him fent for s ong 1hat the cip! ¥ in his chair. ondered why you were drinking 80 heavily thix trip. sir. The idva e6uldn’t have sat well with you, at suppore you peeded some \p you along m not wit tuke oy advic ou'th whatever it wis the office talked #hout We've both seen a lot of men der . dolng things ik Forgot they were saflors. You 8 clean record, and you ought 16 keep 4. The cap- another and coughed again, ! old, Collins. office’d - under, eh? lot id the mate. | Who said any and was sl n roved There's a command in Colline " whispered the 1 fooded with red. f die within bim. ar 4 pititul. s 4 blg thing both of ux. 1 bavent saved much retiving Wisg were Ver enough for that, And you're not get g younger You to b *hip before you quit done 1, ax tor you ougin ve B o per en b ve ot hing % )w, ! Command yeurs, bi Prought ug in 1 P i p we bt Ky many mste wmiied bic wded i for »oa saflor first He thoughi 1 { e bt sl iy Welt the cap Dand It e bl wred shing | arm you pever know,” whi in. e ax it to g1 tesnptution could i1 x u block of it over p 1 y inee Just think Collins. 4 mesns a We wouldu't bave Lo swest on such Lubs as this They'il &5 Grampian Tiwe xh tair Brride toward Ui doos gone b turned Lo e Sous s (o £OUNE ak which | 2o Dis bread was bultered He wie B0 M8 s and he dresded poverty And Colling vugit o a ship | The wan mum wunt & ship 16 10 was only @ oneannn sob or, I be had e perye e d hundie i ’ . vam you 1 e whiook bis hend cap | When he had | At e Collins | s ticket for over | s | propeller, it's likel; aft at _the mate and spoke querulous) | duzed, and his e | thickly, Open th s e Courage, Loyalty, Danger and Temptation in the tropies. the n. ix or It was a week Iater, The pacing { his h clasped hehind b | not slept much the Idays. e had a fear that the | with his steady drinking, tively for, f. forget he w ilor, not vet entirely drowned that memory was proved by continued drinking. He was tryving to crush out the last embe sense honor that went bands. He had 1 unbelievable the mate was afraid that he would open the sea-cocks, or me other officer to hix ide prowldl the decks when he n sleepin below, an other officers like with n (smpte shion, me i ven Ko Collin should have ! he watched t hawk The very thought of barratry volting to the mate. It was a every single thing he had ever learnod 1t sea. It was a violation of ail that ade life worth living to a sailorman, was an insult flung in the face of ose men who had gone down on th e had sjood calmly dirceting poop: an in 1 after rt and nerve had to offer. And equally ng to the mate was the idea o alty to in. Both thinas smpiy weren't done. A man stood (. th by his ship and his captain mpt 7 of the promised cem bothered the m; Il wanted no s wa rinst mand i The bos'n came on the bridge, and the mate turned to him, thankful to have his mind taken from his wo for a while. He had just finished gi ing some explicit orders when the Bi -di, checked in mid-career, shud- dered, humped herself forward and gave a long, jerky roll. The mate unprepared for the movement, went gering against the rail. while the bos'n made a sudden grab for a nchion, missed, and fell heavily There w thumping noise. from aft, and the engine’s stamping stopped. The mate recovered The bos'n staggered to I gazed stupidly around the jeve ruffied sea. The Biscardi still rolling. but more gently, and the mate sprang to the engine room speaking. tube. Men were shouting from the main deck. Cabin doors began to slam, as the officers came running half-dressed, to find out what was the matter. The mate spun on his necl to the gaping bos'n. = feet and 1, wind- “Hit something. . . . Stripping the Get all hands Call the captain. . . . No, I will. ... That'l do the wheel for a bit. - Thank Heaven, it's caim.” The second mate and the third *yme runing up on the bridge, and the mate | snapped, “Stay here, Martin. Iake the caypenter and find out the damag Browa. All right, bos'n. Get along. The bos'n stumbled away with the third mate, both men dazed at the suddenness of disaster on the placid sea. The mate went down 10 *he cap. tain's cabin, The captain was lying i his pajamas in his bunk. He blinked “What's the racket? Hope the bo tom’s dropped out of her."” “Propeller stripped, 1 think,” said the mate coldly. “We hit something sir. Submerged derelict probably. N you take charge?” captain muttered and ¥at up hand over his forehead that with sweat, He seemed €8 were vacant excuse, Collin he sald “Don’t you mee We an way whe strained herself and founderod weacocks . » Or I've got dynamite in the lo dexk ... . Dido't overloow any thing. Just think. command of the ramplan. " Yle weemed entirely obsexsed with the one ide “You'd beiter get some answered the mat He Jeft the cabin abruptl the cabin the mate met the gineer, phucking his beard and lking 1o himself. The mate caught hix arm and said, “Where you bound, sir?” To see the ca o, wurprised wort of u report Never mind, wir #ick waid the ma chief hesitated, He o and nodded, was wet “Good wome draw: wir whit “steep. ce answercd th ok ‘'ve got to mak P The aryly xed captain’s and the after a He understood L Wi hnd or it struck liet, had v propeller wan hurried, the Biscardi rubmerged tndex from her after-hull s itk pumps were quite adequate o of the Wakage, and there were wpsre blades in the midship shel ey And thix ged by bring ar of the puld e mians soardi's wlern ¢ that the engineers could on the propeller from i Klige after tanks weve puroped dry and weathty wis taken for'srd prowled ihe #hip worried with the thought that the cap | i Bttt heing sstified w something, with §utt, Pha proved when, shout nothe morning, be ran winking u s amiding wiy oppeite the forehiteh sht the fignre by the Ehouliers wrenched it mavogely round. 1 sar the o i, s ehead i and ehaking 1 leaf, wed ut the mate's lapel snd choked Bk bt o [ thile Don't he's falling to bits o one for'aid, Never And Wn cilm wepther Lt e Phe mute sadd nothing, bt groping the caplain's pookets, discovered w s into o i The The W, i vash e, Bryway i ke YW in veady capped and fused. He tossod themn overside und Jed e onplain protesting, back to his cabin. Opee in s with the door shit, bie { spk i { hurehiy a he sald i | B Phits i, ol You o real iry that [RIReo wek, P e Uing what yuu t woulden- | of the the | Tay ¢ such | ;| The Job was to ship them. | he | Cpund to protect i he mid s your ship. You're sick, and we'll_say nothing about it any | more. Where's the rest of that dyna- seven [ mite Dain Tost control abruptly n to curse, so the mate, with shrug, began 10 open the awers of the desk until he found the remainder of the explosive. This ihe crammed it his pockets, and, | picking up the bunch of keys that on the deck, he started for the | door., ‘Keep quict and lie down, sir,” he iid before he left. “T'll be back as s we're under way again.” iptain only cursed him and then col- | lapsed, weeping, on his bunk. The {mate locked the cabin door behind him, tossed the dynamite overside and, haking in e limb, returned aft, He found the steward and drew him aptain’s whisky?" he nd the steward, after 1ce, told him. He Dbin. and the mate threw every crside. He also went down to tand disposed of everything ! except one mnall keg of rum the men might need: That dene, he felt better land worked with a quicter mind until ! the Riscardi was under way in, a | tittle before noon. ‘When he entered | cabin, he found the and breathing heavily. arch disclos the captain sleep A thorough se: od half o case of liquor. ind this the mate put overside, tak- {ing care he was not obse | he tidied up the cabin, | unconscious and drunken | went out again, locking the door | "A tew days later the steward said |to his friend, the sccond mate: « the craziest ship 1 was ever in. mate won't let me go near the skip- (per's cabin. Comes down and gets soup and toast and coffee and goes up and feeds him himself. Guess he must clean the place out, too, for he took my brooms and bucket the other day. ays the old man's sick. He's sure £ enough howling around.” snorted young ‘Martin derl- He's got the D. T. Any gne but the mate’ it and let the old man face the musi If the old man was fired it's likely the mate’d get command, and heaven knows he's been waiting for it long lenouzh. But that'® the way it goes. These old cooties hang together. Later, to the mate, young Martin | ventured tentativel he skipper’s | pretty sick, eh, sir? Quite sick,” said the mate shortly. { “Not much use to the ship that w i r? He's been under the weather |ever since we sailed.” The mate did not answer. “Seems to me, sir, the owners'd sure do something about it if they knew. Might be vou'd get command of this hooker. If you did. I'd like to speak for the mate’s job. Still the mate did not speak, so the second, encouraged, went on: “Most firms're pretty strict about drinking. 11f you feel like n {we get home, sir, port you | The mate turned then, and some- |thing in hix eves made the confident |young officer wilt. “I'll ask you not to refer to the cap- ain again mister,” said the mate icily. When you've heen at sea as long as 1 have you'll have more sense. Any man’s liable to make a mistake. Re- member that. I've seen better men than youw'll ever be slip a bit and come |back,” A little loyalty and help s all that’s needed. Some day you may | need it yourself.” “Aw, 1 wasn't trylng to pull any. |thing funny, sir,” protested the sec. | ond. “All right. We'll let it go at that. But if 1 hear another word out of you, | and if you tell any tales afterward, I'll | make it my business to put some- thing in the log that will give your ar a jolt.” | “You've got me wrong, sir,” yourg Martin stuttered. “I'll stand by you right along, and——" “That'll be all,” sald the mate. That night the Biscar I'd be glad to sup- | Miracle Leads to Peruvian Rite ar 1651 an African from who was then living in Lima, Peru, where he had been brought in childhood as a wlave, painted on a wall an image of the Savior crucificd. The nume of the ob- | eure artist has remained unknown, and all thut s known of him i that | he was poor, an became an humble aluve, that he had no Instruction what- {ever ind only u natural love for paint [ing that was Intuitive, ax he could have had no sehooling, and finally that |he was most devout and mystical. | In those early days the nelghbor [ hood wherein this mural painting wis L lovited was one of the poorest fons {of the growing City of Kings, ax Lima wan designated, mostly inhabited by I negroes, who w wont to congregate in the very n wt chapel and t o thelr devotions. in the emotionil ner of thelr riace, to the Christ cruci ainted on the wall by atie of thelr nimbe l On November 13, in the yer + ond vielnity were the +meost tereible carthguake e Fetroyed the grenter portion of the eity, {eansing many deaths and bhringing mis: {ery nnd fesolation o the people, The s Hkewlse many another muffe the N the y Ange | A from with Christ erucificd was left L stunding, wille everything else around {wns a heap of detnis, For 17 y { Ui pninted wall vemained in place in Tt und although to the {effocts of the atmospl ither {nor the painting suffered In the jeast, T wis in 1672 that a certain dweller this section, Andres de Leon, re the devotions 1o the Image wd yoof [0 cover it and, diguing apound the {will, he forwed for It an udobe pedes tal, thus converting the wall Into a !mul of ultay, whereon he kept lighted Feandlen and made such 1 s hin poverty would g i fin | started nit, becnuns nodded then and witghed b D ball u dogen pticis of dynsmite sl | Apdres de Leon, his pompous Castilian | maoie notwithistanding, wis ilso 4 poor inekro nnd afficted with cuncer, and it {In Bmwured to his day that the Lord rewnpded his plety and faith, curing e poun man of his affliction Thin palpable mivacle was hevalded throughout the band, wid It is waid it wan Ahe devotlon to the mibvacilons Chebed siaciivd on the wall sstended i | The captain’s | nors, and alone the | (13 that treated her savagely, The whe v engine developed serious trouble and stopped at intervals, and hecause she was light the ship rolled and pitched like a mad thing. For the first time since leaving York the captain appeared offictally on deck. He was drawn of face and he tramped back and forth with the mate d said nothing to either of the offi- cers. All orders came from the mate, and once, when young Martin insisted on directing a question at the captain, the mate gave him a rough push and rdered him to run along. “Just as It I'd heen some apprentice,” the second complained to the steward. “Wait till we dock and 1I'll fix him.” The Biscardi -hegan to leak some- what badly as the gale progressed and she spent intervals rolling in the trough at such times as the engine {was out of commission. pumps sobbed and heaved almost ¢ E v now. The lines in ew deeper and plaine vop of his lips in n retired below some time. The ste rd reported that he spent most of his time at his desk muttering to himself. “As if he was going ol 1 was seared of something.” the explained. Young Martin had routed out some old book and was studying up on the conditions under hich a ship’s ofli- g could legally depose the eaptain {and take charge. The crew grumbled openly and id. The . | satid nothing save what was nece {and the chief engineer put down g sip in the engine room with an iron | hand. | The gale a had been ca and was helple: a gale ated, but the freighter d far off her cou s, with her feeble en. gine, against all but the mildest weather. As a matter of fact, the en- &ine quit entirely for a whole day and left the Biscardi to roll hugely in a flat swell that came up from the east. “Colling,” said the captain nervous- 1y on the afternoon of the day the en. gine quit, “Collins, 1've been thinking things over. I know all what you say's right about being a sailor and so on, but don’t you think—- R to founder anyway, the coast of South and Forget it, sir. If you've still got that idea stuck in your head, let me tell you that I'm making it a personal matter to bring this ship in.” v re a dumb fool, Colline! Wha has being straight ever brought you “Quiet, sir. The stewards alw £ot his ears open and we would want any gossip to go for'ard.” The captain pulled at his mustache and frowned. There was something of shame and remorse in his heart, but the idea of what he would gain if the ship sank persisted in his mind. It came as something of a shock, even to the silent mate, to hear that the coal was running short. The Bis- cardi’s owners had loaded on her bare- Iy enough to carry her to Cape Town, here she was several days behind her E, TOPI‘ElD TO WATCH THE FREIGHTER iking a report when schedule and far to the west of her | jeourse. Food was getting low, 100, {hut this problem was not so serious as that of the fuel, for rations could be cut and fishing might heip out. The engine patched up, the mate set ithe course again and the Biscardi | plodded on. Rumors had reached the fo'c'sle, via the second mate, the stew- d and the bos'n, of a serious dis- reement between the mate and the captain. The men began to complain that they were being endangered; that the ship should be headed for the I nearest port for adequate supplies ana repairs. The mate {gnored such talk. The ancient hufl grew leakier, mo that the hand pumps had. to be brought Into use occasionally to sup- plement the engine-room pumps. Strong winds lessened the freighter's speed. Twice again the engine failed for stretches of hours. The coal was gradually enten up. The mate cut the rations down and met an almost open mutiny with an expressionless face and a revolver hidden in his pocket. Hix very unrelenting grimness, his absolute refusal even to consider any advice from the men, won him the | w | t! where it was proposed go sell her. and | 1 | that old windjammer idea—thinks an | AP'I‘I‘.R many days the coal gave first round of the argument. But the crew then demanded to speak with the capta believing that if he w on bad terms with the mate he would stand by them. The meeting was held on the lower bridge, the captain standing outside the doorway of his cabin, newly d, washed and changed, at the mate's insistence. He held on to the lintel of the door with one hand, as it weak, and the mate stood beside him, grim and silent .and watchful, The nd mate stood near, restless and in sympathy with the men. The spokesmen for the crew had their nd the captain seemed undecided it to do. He caught the mate's cold eyes-—slightly contemptuous, it seemed — and with a gesture turned®| things over to him. “Mr. Collins will do the best he can for you, I'm sure,” he said, weakly, and entered hig cabin. The secona mate choked. The men were taken aback. Rumor had led, it seemed. The mate smiled slightly, and with a suggestive motion buttoned his open ket. “Get off the bridge,” he said, icily. “And let’s have no more of this non- sense.” They filed slowly away, muttering and sullen, but for the present quelled. Young Martin hurrled down to his friend the steward and said: “The way the mate’s handling things is making the men sore. If it was me now, I'd explain everything to them and v on their common sense. But he's got officer’s something like a god and doesn't have to explain.” On the lower bridge the captain had emerged from his roém again and was holding the mate's arm, “You see, Collins, they're all ready to abandon her. No one would blame us if we just edged over nearer the coast and then took to the boats. Quite easy. . . . Don't look at me like that. I didn't interfere with you and the men, did 17 . . . Don't vou see how things are coming our way? The ship's about finished. We don't even have to blow a hole in her. I think-—" “You're a sick ma the mat what you £ir,”" answered ou don’t know out. The mate gave orders to use the steamer’s woodwork and the hours were filled with the ring of axes. The Biscardi was now near the African coast, it being the mate’s intention to get as close In as possible, in case he should be forced to beach the ship. Steam was preciously hoarded for the engine. Al hands labored like Tro- Jans, unwilling and sullen, but over- awed by the grim, lean figure that prowled sleeplessly among them, The evening the African coast was | sighted, far down on the horizon, the food was nearly done, and the Bis- cardl was a desolate, stripped ruin, as regards superstructure. Not once dur- ing all the long and slow passage had she sighted another ship from which fuel could be obtained, and the even- ing she made her landfall the men had started to strip the cabins and | the fo'c’'sle. That night the men dis- cussed the advisability of taking to the boats and pulling for the shore, but they could find no one of their number with sufficient courage to ap- proach the mate about the matter. | All the next day, with the line of the coast hazily in sight, the strip-| ping of the cabins went on, inter-| spersed with spells at the hand! pumps. The captain had remained | in his room, having his meals brought up from the saloon and hold- ing converse with no one except the mate, who visited him once or twice A day, to report. The captain had | apparently given up his ideas of wreeking the ship. The weather thickened that night, and a swell sprang up from the north The mate was on the bridge, looking over a chart during the second mate's twelve-tofour watch, and when he left the chartroom he stood for a while by the fop'ard rail. Young Mar- tin paced past him once or twice, then stopped to peer down on the main deck, where men were breaking up some doors by the light of lanterns, He joined the silent mate and coughed to attract attention. “Skipper was up here about an hour ago, sir,” he stated. “Seems to have perked up quite a lot. Said we'd all done splendid work to bring this old hearse in. He asked about the course, and took a squint at the chart. | suppose he'll be taking things over pretty soon.” “Quite possibly,” said the mate, Tle was vaguely disturbed by the conver- wsation, though he could not tell why. He stared anxiously into the murk, where he knew the coast lay, and wondered if he should get more of an offing. The glaxs was holding steady, | though. It wax a thick night, of | course, but there was no sign of a blow, for a while. at least | | “Yes, he was quite cheerful, sir" | ing something else to be said, and was | !gle he had been 1928 —-PART SIR,” STAMMERED YOUNG MARTIN, HIS FAC PICION. *“l1 SAY, SIR. voung Martin went on. ‘“Puttered around a bit and hung up his oflskins in the wheelhouse. Said he might be up later on, and it looked as if it as the mate came up. “Lookout yelled. | might rain. Do you think we'll make (and I spotted it about the same time the Cape all right, sir?” | Compass® crazy. or something. 2 “Not under our own power,” | Hear that suri I answered the mate. “We'll be out of | As a matter of fact, it was by the wood tomorrow. Keep a sharp look- | surf sound that the lookout had first | out.” become aware of the proximity “Yes, sir,” said the second, and the | land, for the night was far too thick mate moved away, frowning to him- | to make vision possible. He had heard | self. There was an uneasy stirring [the surf. and, straining his eves. inside him, and he went down to the | caught what he thought was a line of | captain's room to see what that man |white against a darker mass, and| might be doing. shouted his warn'ng. The Biscardi | The captain was sitting in his chair, | turned and plodded back the way she tying together some papers. He looked | had come. and the mate went into the | rather startied when the mate ap- | wheelhouse. He peered at the compass | neared, and there was a haunted look | for a long time: asked the frightened in his eves. The mate sat down and | helmsman some questio As he sald, “Well, we ought to sight some | turned to go. he caught sight of oil- one pretty soon now. We're right in|skins hanging from one of the pegs. the sailing lane. It'll probably cost and there flashed to his mind young | the office something for towing. but | Martin's words, “puttered around a they should have put enough coal on |bit. and hung up his oilskins in the | hoard." wheelhouse." There was a sick feeling in the mate’s throat, and his hands shook as he took the oilskins down. He was |caretul to cover his action by turning back to the helmsman. Under the kins hung a small canvas bag. and He said. In a chatty sort of way, it was very heavy. Iron: scraps of “Well, that’s fine, Collins. You don't |irgn. The captain had deliberately | suppose any of the men have any idea | placed iron near the compass. Still of my . delinquencies - | carefully shielding his movements, the | do_you?" e {mate left the wheelhouse. walked to “I think not, sir. We'll Just | the rail, and pitched the bag over- ! forget them. I've written up in the log that you were sick, but carried on just the same.” 4 ! “That's nice of you, Collins, after the way I've acted.” !and a dampness to the warm air, as if fine spray hung about. | Land ahead, sir,” said the second. *x s 'HE captain brightened up per- ceptibly, as if he had been expect- relieved. me current carried her inshore, likely.” he said to young Martin. eep well to the west. | He moved away. For a moment he | “I'd do as much for any man 1 feit he should go and see the captain | served under, sir. And we've been |again, but he dreaded that. The man ' together a long time, and I've seen |was mad. There could hardly be any | you do some fine things." | question of that new. He would have “That's right, Collins. I'm glad 1o be watched. prevented from talk- there’s no suspicion. You see, if any- |ing. He, the mate. would have to see | thing should happen now - | it through. Couldn’t let an honorable quite naturally. of course -|career go up in smoke and disgrace there wouldn't be any awkward quel-!No. A saflor must stand by his cap. { tions, would there?" | tain. The mate'stumbled down to the | The mate’s eves parrowed, and & main deck and watched the men | lurking suspicion rose within him. He | hreaking up the last of the doors. By stared intently into the captain’s face. lonly a hairbreadth had the Biscardi and something he saw there made |escaped destruction. | him very thoughtful. He wondered he | * e = | hadn't seen the way of it before. The 'D_\\\‘.\"aiamver« the ship well at aptain was mad, or the mental strug sea, the coast out of sight. An through. together |y oyr or’ two hefore noon the last of | with the heavy drinking on the first | i 00, T0 BECRE Bonn (0 et B days of the voyage. had disturbed his { oni;y - stopped. while the last of the ; : {steam was used to work the pumps. | u haven't been up to anything. | Tha Biscard rolled stugzishly then to | said the mate slowly. he long swell. threatening a blow, : ::r::(‘g”:rl." .‘i.‘;.‘\ Féones )‘L::" tripped skeleton of a vessel into rrecking the ave yo < o o ;. frigedh i which the sea crept remorselessly “It's a temptation, Collins. T'm an old man, and you want the Grampian, don’t you? You let me handle it.” “What have you done”" insisted the mate, his face whitening. The cap- tain shook hix head. and at tha moment, they both heard a mufled | “The mate said nothing, only stalked shout from the bridge above. Tele | pora and there giving. ordess. remes graph bells jangled. The Blscardi|manding, seeming to expect exactly rolled sluggishly. More shouting. The | the same dscipline and rest for work mate sprang for the door. and the fthat would have existed on a sound captaln shouted, “Let her alone! She's |yl fited ship gone! Don't throw away the am- | e lay down plan’ dropped instantly The mate gave a savage look over | xjamber. his shoulder and then ran. On the | \When he awoke, it was dark. and navigation bridge the second mate | he thoush: the vessel sounded was swearing, and had one hand or | sirangely qui On the lower bridge the telegraph handle. The Riscardi | he found vou was turning to starboard. There was | “\Why have the pumps stopped? A dull, moaning sound in the darknes: | wiic the mate. and youns Martin re- { The hand pumps were kept going. | | the men working without interest and |talking. quite without evasion, of tak |ing the boats and making for the |coust. The food was nearly all gome [ Unless a vessel was sighted, they vould soon be starving. in his into clothes and A troubled ppenings were attributed to i, The negroes, who were the ma- Jority of the devote constituted themmelves into a special congregation for the adoration of the image and made Friday the great night whereon spectul wervices were held before the wall, An thewe devotions became at times uproarious, h the chu h and the civil nuthorities thought fit to inter: vene and make restrictions on the | manner in which the devotions should [ o ¢ on. The pirish priest, un der whowe ecclestasticnl Jurisdiction the chapel came, felt eventually obliged to forbid the holding of further wervices thei which measure brought about loud protests from the fanatical ngregation, with the result that e ensued, whereupon it became Imperative to take more drastie meas urew, and consequently the wall was ed 1o be demolished. R wurred the 1o that save L wall and consecrated shrine for the falthful Lin the chronicles of the p thiat aws the min who wis to tear down the wirll vadsed hin arm and gave the first stroke with the tron bar his arm be po pavalyzed and he feil as if str deid. Instantly thig was followed by the darkening of the xky and a down pour of heavy rain with thunder and g, un atmospheric manifesta | tion altogether unknown in Lima, The { populace therenpon broke out into | lamentations and supplications, and Liaw In the mivacle performed u proof of the desive of the Almighty that the image should bo preserved and the cult to 1 properly entablished The yeaction wis Instantaneous, and “Phe Lord of Mivacion,” as the mural puinting was deslgnated from thence, hecame one of the church's great dev tons in Peru, The arehbishop ordored the epection of i proper and beautiful temple on the site, which on comple ton wan most reverently and solemnly conpecrated with ehureh and state pomp, the viceray, Count de Lomus, betng In attendance with the whole vice-regil court and all afficials and throngs of the populace from all over the*eountry to- do honor and render homiage 1o the holy fnmiage on the wall. I 166w wealthy Bpanlad, Don | many mor extraordinary for all tme the It oak w holy 1t iw wtated T miry | | dighte Sebastian de Antunano v Rivas, who had become u devotes of the image offered his life and fortune to the ser e of he Lord of Miracles,” and, buying up all the adjucent land, he had built on it & monastery whereln would be clolstered holy women, who would care for the miraculous image ‘and devote their lives to its perpetual adovation, Clolstered nuns, who were known as the “Nazarenes" hocuuse they devoted thelr lives to the veneration of the passion and death of the Savior, were trunsferred to the new monastery, which became the Nazerenes and the church holding the miraculous wall win likewise Aamed Church of the Nazarenes, The Holy See in 1710 rec nized the Order of the Nuns of the Nuzavenos by apeclal bull of Pope Hen- 1L, and In 1715 the church unly acknowledied the great mira ® and benefits obtained through the tion to “The Lord of Miracles," Tntming the holy image patron and tor against epldemion und public culamition, expeclully enrthquakes Finally the Archbishopric of Lima eod Mpecial devotions to the ne with public processions through the o Inst theee days, to be followed by a novena of prayer and o final clos. iz procession. The negroew, who con muclves as the original dev of the cult of thin took upon them that thewe processions panying devotions were | and thereby con s the wpeclal age. A veplica of welven (o wen and the neeo wtrictly on stituted th wuardians of the the muoral paintiy placed on un alta, WhICH now In bo the 1Ky, 10th wits imade and and 1t tn this inage o 0 procession on and 2oth v ench yenr, from the Church of the Nusarenes hack to I, ar veating sach night at another temple en route and visiting dueing the day tnnumer. ablo tomples . s M coldved population of Lima and the constal towns of Peru, ex peclally the cotton and sugar cane heltw, Nocks to the elty In Ootober and hooomen the moving apivit in the city during the devations, The men wnd women who helong (o the congpes Hone futornitien and sovorities, conse vrated o YThe Lord of Mivacles," i = | plied. “Who's going to run ‘em, sir? The crow’s sgone.” “Gone™ The mate was ineredulous. ou_mean deserted taken the | boats?” “As soon as it dark.” the see ond explained, “they gansed up and started to lower away. We tried to stop ‘em. and the skipper came out fand said to let ‘em go." “The sKipper™ choked the Hadn't you enoush sense ‘1 asked vou once what I'd de it the old man came around with some xoofy onder, and you sid to obey it | responded the second cheekily. “He you couldn’t blame the men old hearse won't tast untit morn clude practically every man, woman and child of African blood, and, be sides, many of the native Indian and white populations have become con- | firmed _devotees and take part In this now national religious manifestation. | Mauve and deep purple are the col | ors that are worn for the oceusion The men and women who follow the procession with lighted tapers, incen; boxes, trays of flowers or who haul the heavy altar, some shouldering it others tugging at long ropes ux it is | dragged along ov the streets, are drensed in purple cloaks, and every one else Is supposed to don this color, a symbol of penance, to show dovetion. Of course, in these modern and com- mate. “1 se0.” The mate breathed heavily Well, how many, are there left>" “The enfinercom gang stayved The thind mate, the steward and my wolt stuck. Chips, the cook: you and the skipper make the lot. 1d have wakened vou, but thought there merclalized times, all along the route [ wasn'e any use. The men were crasy of the procession are to be found am-: | and there'd have been bloodshed. bulant vendors of Scapularies, iImages | “There woukl” asserted the mate of the wall, candlew, Mowers incense, | grimly. “Rut Ud ke to know why ete, while i the vicinity of the tem-; you steek. You've been busy sym ples Where tho procession halts or | pathizing with the men since we've the fmage spends the night there are | had our. hard luek.* | tableew of sutubles and drinkables Jtm bot g bad ua (hat, sl said | oy " rucle te | the second. 1 mixht shoct off w ot AT e o mienelol I ot manth, bub Tm there when it slons and devotions of the faithiul | VMes o a pinch During the days of celebration money Wil make and Jewelry offorines are lavishly | SWered the mate. made and the quantities of sick, steick | & en und aflioted who Hock to render devout homage to the holy imake i proof of the faith of the people in its mivaculous powers. A VIRIL to Lima around the thne for the annual holding of the procession of the Lord of Miractes woukt lead ane o belleve thin (o be & negroid eity, to AUCh AR extent tw the colovod popula ton of the country In evidence, Lror the main deck, whees the engin These colored poonte Toak upon (his | eors wat on the main hateh and sk Inags an thele own apecinl mivon, and [ ed and varned and diseussed the it they resent any interference from the | uation. Every Ve Was perieetly eoanl White population n matters wlfecting | theve were thive boats st n - the | the procenston, 1t s they who atone | Gavits, and the coast was ot sa vers | carry or haul the whar through the f far away. There was & blaw ue te Atreotn of the elty and it in they who [hreak, it was trae, bt 1t misht net | dofray all the expenses of the cololea: | areive for & day or mare. s who | tona dn o the templon T be the foared® The arvival of vovag Mave | UMadardomo” ar Saverseer” of the | created some disturbance, bt the provesston s an honor and ane which | ohief engineer sabt, quite Remly. “\We In Kreatly sought by the oalored peopto, f don't Want ARy more matinies. s g | Who Wil save up enough money dur: | husy,” and the PUmps began o cwnk | g the year In arder to be able (o] again i satlor vet," an et A of the gineors and keop those pumps g TRu What's the use, str® We cant | possibly hokl the water. The ol hearse'll founder before dawn, and 16 We DU ¥he WOR'E Jast hut @ few howrs langer “Get the engineors” said the mate ROV, TN have to argue with You every time ! give an onder The second shruggad and started compete, When the thme comes, for I the cabln the captain was saving, his wreateat of all hopors in the seev | Rveryihing's WOrking out fine. ok foo and devation of the bawd andd lins. You vant beat e Luok's an Maxte The Lawid of Mivaoles Wy skle TRis s dene her feve! Fooao rreey Dost o sink W we, ARd 1S only been oA\ - ! cara | water seeping L wearily WHITE AND HIS BRAIN A RIOT OF SUs. YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOURE SAYING. He was chueklinz had taken on a he brilliantly ning a ran a fever suffere the mate’s cold glance could not que him now. But it was easy to persuade him to lie down, easier than it had ever bee and the mate felt thankf *x x % THF. end came befo actually expec rollin slu; almost to her sheiterdeck po: the listless night of pumping seemed to have no effect whatever on the into her. Soon atter dawn the ship began to tilt so that her bows buried themselves almost beneath the surface. while the stern was lifted almeost The mate was midships when this happened, and calling to men standirg braced at the pum he had them lower a boat to the water. unhook it, and make it fast with a painter. The men dispersed to gather together what few belongings they could take, while the mate made rapid examina- tion of the boat's gears to see that all was in order. Young Martin happened to be on the bridge when the deck began its abrupt slant and. with a sudden gust of panic that she was going to dive, he jumped for the companion and was half-way down bhefore he remembered the captain, presumably sick in room and helpless. He went back and, hammering on the cabin door. burst inside. The captain was standing be- fore his bunk. a:tired in his pajama: swaying like a drunken man. his face ghastly white and splotched with red. His eves made Martin shudder. “Come on, he said. &0t to clear out. “You see, T win, Collins.” said the captain thickly. taking a half-pace for- ward. “You might as well have been decent about It from the first. Saved me all that trouble. She's done. and I'll get my cut of the money. Youl get the Grampian. too.” He laughed horribly. No onell believe you if You sy she sank on her.own. see. 'I'ho. office’ll be sure it was you and me.” “I s stammered young Martin, his face white and his uspicion. 1 say. don’t know what you're say There was a and the mate came stopped short. se Martin and the capiain facing each other. Martin started. “He's been talking crazy, sir” but mate waved him to silence and ad eed towand the captain, who was ning horrid! The captain seemed to make an effort to straighten himself and then, with a lttle whimper, he_c mate picked him up. bunk. and dent over X seemed an age to the a bewildered second mate. Eventually the mate id fatly “We've 1 t tonished and turned and < A stroke M At the rigid forn 1 say. Not in on “on as and his f He crossed the o m detween oy t down wit In the course of duty “T'm afraid T don't think 1 understand that. From the way he ta'ked i come to think of ft, one or two things I've noticed—" Some day.” said the mate quietly, “If vou live long enoug! nd work hard, you'll have a command of your own I you ever get sick and have aueer ideas, you'll need same decent offfvers to see yo rough. You Knew WwWe have done evervthing humanty possible to bring ship . I don't Know what veu, bhut vo rstand that he went down own bridge In the ourse o Whatever he was, he Was your cantain Sosee, sie said quite slowly and derstanding came out. “Why, was w it throush his shi Vo ttle ns swad hur He W owky ¥ Qe Martin was it s i ad toward A SR man i el was US Up o us o we Even after he's dos The mate fingers 6y sathered went eut on &AD o} water hoat and They st in oA st dbtance the frelghiors « had fallen quict tan had diet sion, from the secomt tatked out varia Just aiter ot A Black sidel SRt and she was W, young Nt shority What's o spevt in v YL wae sust (hinking, " answernt the mare At AL any ahe ot me the Qrampian, 10 Reak hisoaw He Sthedd tewretuity and added, “Some Thing s abwass Gnal U B Sop we Trom yettis Ship Taw sweond mate tonehedd Bin Knee s 0o Wan sove ous, And Al the arwsence of yeutd seeled t BAVE Kuie fvan hiw ot vou wWhat, s he sail shawdy 101 ener geb a command, Loty hope i have & mate Nke you™ And, twe vouns MR AL Wan the Nighest Prabo ke conid rendey IR TR AN nodded and the oy second’s few pape ™, Way hat b ™ oot hove 1w White Doy Tugh it HOW te. ned (v ward and