New Britain Herald Newspaper, May 22, 1925, Page 27

’ s SAILING OVER THE RIM ivititionHolousy Y Y 5 A A A A! THE brigantive Maybelle, copper- sbeathed, 100 A1 at Lioyd's, drew cloar of the wharf at Halifax, en route to Santo Domingo with a cargo of dried eodfish, Martin Gorbam, her captain and owner, was at the wheel, Tt was an old castom in the grim, weath- er-beaten town for tho captain to take o trick at the wheel on all outward-bound vessels—a relic of Jthe days when steam Was not and Halifax alone sent 200 brig- antines to the West Indian trade, and Nova Scotlan wooden ships, with thelr iron- handed masters and their bucko mates, were known in every harbor of the Seven Seas. And not for words would ol Mactin have made even the o ightest change in the ac- customed program, lCnriuul yes watched him as he stood with one hand resting lightly on the wheel, the other clasped behind his back, & wids Vhouldered, massive figure in dark-blue broadeloth, his white hair surmounted by * wide-brimmed, woft felt hat which he wore with the air of a man who has spent a lifetime trading in the quaint Old World cities of the Spanish Main, There was A black band upon his left :::n.,"whu:h '!ml not been there on other rages, an( b the little group upon the The Marbelle began to move slowly past 1he whart. There is always o littlo hush % the sailing- vessel gathers way. On board i steamer, running on schedule like an ex- press train, the casting off of the final fiuwser means little mote than the ‘‘All thoard I of the conductor as the train pulls for the next station. But the sailing- vsscl's departure s so clearly a challenge o the savage, untamable ocean that, in- vluntarily, the onlookers’ voices drop to winor keys and then die away altogether s the craft's topmasts begin to glide athwart the sky, In the case of the Maybelle the silence "as profound. Martin Gorham had buried hie wife of his youth -less than twenty- four hours before and the little the wharf knew that hig strained to breaking. He turned to the whar! where {riendly faees were watching. He saw them all with curious distinctiveness, as though a search- light had brought each into special view: soung Mitchell, his charterer, bis immacy. late spat o pearl-gray patch against the brown dimness of the ancient wharf; Jen- nings, the stevedore, who had learned his trade from the famous Willis, years agone; clerks, sailors, the hangers-on of Mitchell's wharf, it stray policeman, a couple of run- ners fur sailors’ boarding-houses; Mickey, the lnne Jrish boy, who did his errands when the Maybelle was in port. Taking off his hat, he swept the onlookers a slow bow of farewell, just as he had done on dozens of other voyages. world upon nerves wers M RAE, the first mate, was now putting canvas ou the Maybells with the celerity of a man who knows how to get the most out of even a green crew, his grizzled head under its faded plaid cap wagging violently as he barked his orders. Wharves on the ight bund begau to flow by. On the left Island, a miniature Heligoland, close at land. its grassy slopes 1 brownisli-green in the soft haze of Indian siummer, and still old Martin stood at the thieel, silent and inscrutable. It was not ntil the lighthouse on MacNabs Island ind bren passed and the wide expanse of the hartbor began to open up that he rned the wheel over to McRae. ‘I've been wondering, Danny,” said the man slowly, “if we conld ever—-*" Yes”"" questioned Daniel McRae, turn- g his havd, black eyes upon his chief’s lizopid blue ones, that held in them a hint April skies. ‘Wonderiug if we could vver do what, sir?" Old Martin pointed ahead where the en- trance of the harbor, five miles in width, met the broad sweep of the Atlantic, like the edge of a Luge silver saucer. *'Could ever sail over the rim," he explained The first mate looked embarrassed. He knew—it was an old water-side story—how romance had touched old Martin's life at Hamilton, Bermuda, more than forty years before; just a few hours ago he had stood in the old cemetery at Camp Hill when the frail body that had enshrined Martin Gorham’s romance had been laid to rest No wonder the old man was a trifle off! It was nothing, of course. He would not even think of mentioning the matter to roung Peters, the mate. But it should not be encouraged. *‘Of course uot, he answered roothingly. Captain Gorham's eyes grew suddenly frosty. ‘“‘Mr. McRae,” he said sharply, “I'm neither drunk nor crazy. What I've been saring is romething I've been thinking off and on, since 1 was a boy. What is there just over the rim? There must be something different; and 1'd like to see it." “Over the rim, sir Le ejaculated “Lord save us! Just what we always have seen, I'm thinking ! Old Martin shook his must be something else,” “I know what you think: sea and more sea and a landfall at last! But that isn't what I mean.”" ® He stretched a hand ont toward the wide wastes of the Atlantic, touching the horizon in a fd#-off semicircle of deep-blue. **Did you ever catch up to yon circle, Dahny?’' he asked intently ““You or any other sailorman? Because yom found the rim moving away as you sailed, you'll be saging? Aye! Aye! T know that But what 1've been wanting to do these many years, Danny, is to catch up to yon clear over the rim.”" He “I'm wondering if a man could do it. Must be strange things te see on the other side,’’ he ended with a shadowy smile. “‘I'll be going below for a while,”” he ended with a sag of his wide shoulders. . ‘Arrange the watches with Mr, Peters and see that everything is shipshape for'ard."”" ““Aye, aye nwer second head. *‘There he said firmly circle and sail paused an instant sir!"” replied the mate, mo tioning a sailor to the wheel, and watching the “‘old man’’ descend into the semigloom of the enbin with a curfous feeling of and wonder that he did not care to define. HE interior of the cabin, dark though it aeemed from an outside view, was well lighted by a large skylight and by a series of windows high on either side. The win- dows had been hung with a very pretty red China silk, which harmonized with the dark hardwood paneling. Coconut matting cov- ered the floor while on the old-fashioned maliogany table a kquare of lacework be- trayed the hand of woman. On both sides of the cabin doors opened into sleeping- oabins, the remainder of the will space being taken up by buokshelves, ship’s clock, aneroid, n piperack, another, much larger, for glasses and dishes, and a miscellaneous assortment of engravings of clipper ships, the place of honor being given to the famous *'Bovereign of the Seas."” The bookshelves held, besides a nautical almanae, a ook on navigation and some manuals of foreign customs regulations, which might be said to constitute the work- ing part of the library, a well-thumbed Shakespeare in three volumes, the *Waverley Novels," odd volumes of Bickens and George Eliot, an illustrated edition of Longfellow and a copy of the “‘Frozen Pirate,” which Captain Gorham considered second only to the classie, ‘‘Moby Dick." The old man seated himself in his deep, leather chair and stared dumbly, about him Ordinarily Shakespeare, whom he knew practically by heart, would have been the companion of an idle moment like this; but for once, even Shakespeare was inadequate for his needs. * Where had they gone, those friends of other duys, who had sailed away and never returned? Lloyd's bad posted them as “‘missing’’ and, no doubt, some of them had foundered in heavy seas or had struck a lumber-laden derelict on a dark, foggy night or had met one or another of the dangerous mischances of the seas. But others there were whose passing was not so easily ae- counted for. Was it not possible that some of therh, Charlie Martell, for example— He turned to stare fixedly at the three volumes of Shakespeare, which Lad been given to him years Lefore by ( Martell, and as he gazed their last talk came back Martell, six feet tal!, L a quizzical smile, rose b ideal of a sailor if ever What had happened to b m danger and adventi h of life? What m than that Charlie Max his chagee for the greatest of all adven- tures and had sailed over the rim? It was only a chance, of course taken Cap- tain Gorham was too level-headed a man to assert that the thing bad been done even by the man affectionagely known along the waterfront as “Cap'n Charlie.”" But he was convinced it could be done and now striking his hard fist on be vowed it would be « e mahogany table, HE southward run The Maybelle carried a crew of four, which divided the watches even the cook, a Cape Bretoner from Port Morien, proved Limself an artist in his line: the wind held steadily from the northwest and the brigan. tine footed fast. And all the time Daniel McRae, the first mate, watched his employer anxiously Day followed day and he watched closels was very pleasant s he saw Martin Gorbiam pace a)sttactedls up and down the deck or pause a moment by the binnacle to stare at the compass or eye the square-sils, one by one, sillouetted against the fathomless blue of the sky. And always, McRae noticed, old Martin ended by gazing long and carnestly at the far-off horizon, where sky and sea met in a circle {hat was exactly like the rim of a gigantic saucer At Santo Domingo, the vellow-faced con signee received his cargo and the Maybelle began to load molasses for the homeward voyage. Captain Gorham. contrary to his usual custom, secluded himself in his cabin during most of the brigantine's stay in port, and the polite Spaniards with whom hie transacted, business. learning of the evil stroke dealt him by Fate, did not attempt {0 offer him entertainment Martin seemed to tind a great deal of pleasure in his lonely evenings; ¥o much as to puzzle the first mate until that indi- vidu# risked a glimpse at him through the skylight. The old ma: seated at the table, several sheets of writing-paper in front of him, absorbed in profound thought. KFirst he would take sheet of paper and then another, holding them to the light and then placing them in their oviginal place. There were drawings of geometrical figures op them, the mate noticed, ~nd on separate sheets were rows of figures, evidently the result of long caleulations. Daniel McRae would bave given a good deal to know the result of his chief's constant dabbling in mathematics, but asking was out of the question thing he did notice: once or twice old Martin shook his head with au air of disappointment. Obviously the result be looking for had not been reached waR up one One was HE Maybelic was not more than a few hours out of Santo Domingo, homeward bonnd, when Captain Gorham disclosed his secret ing to work that out by mathematies,” he said slowly, lifting tired blue eyes to the other's face. *‘And I can't do i Old Captain Matson gation school in Halif “I've heen tr; hat kept the navi ud have worked it done remarked the “But it can't be ont, it could be mate with convictiou nohow."’ I think you are right,"" replied the cap- tain wearily. “‘It isn’t a thing you can prove b¥ figures, but it's there. And some day X “Mayhe!"" admitted the mate cautiously “Lot's of queer things at sea!" he added That there was a good deal in this trite remark was shown a day or two later, when a baby hurricane, sweeping north from the Gulf of Mexico, caught up with the May Velle to the east of the Bahamas and pro ceeded to shake her as u terrier shakes a rat There was f sea-room and 2000 fathoms of water beneath the brigan and Martisf felt fairly comfort plenty of merely a first impres irvicane had devel zing mon standard, Captain f black risen from the vling waste blood e e had erashed . okes; vet his gaze McRae worked himself to him Was unconeerned T WAS an o) bridled sea s often known before delight of former s bim a® he watched for'ard. The waters into whicl slowly seemed ab Lill of dark belie spume, that threatened, st ering c to press down luge haud; al) f his | known from boy It was a est the brigantine old Martin knew to himself The mate had now other hgu! furiously he working s one ax. spr against 1 tered wpars ceased The Maybelle headed shoreward with a rush, her main boom almost unman- ageable in the furious gale to the deck’ and st as su to 5% came lay The shat- re savagely at the L that wild rus! o-licad clean, the fore-rig ging carried over the bow and the Maybelie ran free! effect was instantaneous. 1t seemed ugh esch separate hit of planking in the brigantine’s hull thrilled with joy. at was McCreery and the wa frantieall Wi over the bow, two sailors were gone! sbelle a Jit huddled m visible in a circu ter. Even as 1 tle t v pi it and it was gone! Two hours later the wind jagged hurriean s captain’s rface died dow of the ocean s passing n t had happe n ned But to he mate wan and the Old Martin swung o starboard Th ere of wreckage faintly quar- ked u wave broke over t beneath her sun shone o only the of the storm looked at each other. ‘Heavy weather Martin “The old girl w wreckage hanging over her surface ont over the Mr. McRae," lowly feeling his numbed forearms s hard to handle with that how. He gazed ocean, ® of the ut and torn 4 telling of the Then the mate undid, ashings and the two survivors and said old till dancing like a witch's ealdron, and a puz- look e as might e a Jover who zled harsh aetion on the part of ti *'1 wonder will any m: The mate shook his head me over his witnesses an ed doubtfully rd part w what I Newn the womer port! There's fair wrapped up in and then com mean ! olks wh you cookie's old mother—she's fe him e break g e b m, ruddy face such ep ncross the countenance of unexplainably woman ae ever under- “Dunno, sit!" ives on. "I like to take ack an, the ake Wrote me a letter from Cape Breton about him last voyage and T made him take out insur Peter carries some, too,” suggested tbe mate. But 1 ess “Mother'll get ried, wasn't he? —that 1 ody else. O'Brien wa on the wharf when we were loading ed him deeply. ame back to the rea kth mate made tly reported after which storm o Erew P his inigersal Then, e wheel hand. ‘'Bet f way forward s mar. Now I remember his wife e woman that used to come down Ol tragedy with ter of h a ieg of their from the try and the Maybelle to be hone the silent figure in the the dead-eye red with a flag moderate e a fu o definite pass i the Maybelle It was now 0 that t wo f an impromptu Tk ere f fiy uld bave on their is from Citadel F ha 1 a yellow i suddenly. *'We don't seem to be gettng any Tearer to it." Daniel MeRae did not reply. His black eves held a curious gleam as they. swept He seemed to be could not be ' be thinking of put into words replied lamely “If we could one!”" cried Captain Gorham see things we never dreamed of; I'll lay to that He ended with a shrug of his broad shoul- ders and fell to examining a broken block, running bis finger through the patent bush- ing of the sheave with deliberation as though Lis thoughts were far away. But be did not continue the conversation and the matter dropped until nearly the end of when it came up with entire something that “T don’t know, si “But I wonder, too. only get oue look—just “We would slow the voyage, unexpectedness. Day after day the Mavbelle ent down the distance hetween Lerself and her home port. Oddly enough considering the time of year—it was now December—the weather continued steadily favorable and the preva lent westerly winds had in them a south- erly shift that helped a al. The mnkeshift jib held stanchly and, together with the huge billowing main: helped the brigantine to foot fairly fast As time came in sight of Sambro near Halifax Harbor and the voyage was practically over Martin Gorham gazed with curious emo- headland, from which he was being reported to went on thej the entrance to tion at the rocky knew bix arrival Citadel Hill, near harbor, A in their fac dropped to n score of miles up the snowstorm had be, to beat and the therm er had two below zero. it would be late in the afternoon Mayhelle tied degres or Probably before the But early or late olil Martin knew s would be vafely to her there to wel come the crew that had sailed away with bim a few weeks before; and the thought was distinctly depressing, them? And as he the white-capped of his What could he wy to wondered his ghze swept which held so over ocean, many friends in its embrace Presently there pilot boat, and F came aboard, muffied to the eyes, his keen, hard- bitten alight with pleasure at sight of two old friends. Another man in his position might v had railed at fote for giving him a brigantine on such a day instead of an ocea g, who came stock, was one of e game for the game's ot for the that goes with came a hail from the ning, the pilot face of famous those who pla sake and money Now, casting a practiced g vessel e about the Some voyage that, Martin! with a bead q in a flash he said slow sbake of his an anchor left ! when 1 the wl said Fle R1¢ He {VER changing and veiling a threat behind a smile, the sea holds mys- tery that tightly grips the imagination of those whos her hazard. which meets even the greatest adventure with a smile, and so Captain Martin Gorham and hard-bitten Daniel McRae made the quick deci “over the rim.” e ] lives are spent daring In them is bred a courage on that sent them “Keap her off a ¢ cried Fleming in Lis ear. *‘I've T took you up in a uple of points been thinking storm like this forty pilot went on. ‘“‘You Michael Williams D’ye remember the time” “Aye! Ayel” “*I remember Captain Michael and his shore neater than years ago,"’ were first mate with said old Martin quickly. rig. No naval officer dressed Williams in those days and no better sailor man ever stood a trick at the wheel. And I mind the day you speak of. Aye! Aye! Aud fur mitt was frozen to the wheel spoke when we got up to the light Louse," Williams' LOWLY and doggedly the brigantine held on her way through the storm. She was making better beadway now. Old Martin could not see it, for the snow stuck blind- ingly in bis face, but Fleming, who knew every yard of the barbor approaches, as sured him it was so. And then, in a eud d flercer gust of the unex- pected happened: the jib blew loose with For a moment it the storm, the report of a cannon streamed across the field of viston like a erchief seen ext instant the curiously discolored ha against the driving snow remnining gear parted and it vanished off to leeward in the whirl of the storm, while the Maybells fell violently off her course. “We have to run before it now,V called that or drift ashore. away where we can the pilot. “Either There's a cove a mile lie snug for the night” The Masbelle peaded shoreward with a rush, her main- boom almost unmanageable in the furious gale. Jagged bits of the precipitous rocky shore could be seen fitfully through the haze of the storm. And, strugg ward, was a large steamer in the grip of two shrieking tugs ng slowly shore- “‘American steamer—broke her screw a hundred miles out—tugs bringing ber in for repairs!"’ eried the pilot rapidly. ‘‘They can't make the harbor,”” he added a moment later, ‘‘They're heading for the cove now." Up from the waist of the brigantine Daniel McRae made his way aft. *'D'ye neen yon steamer!™ he yelled hoarse- ly. ‘‘We'll have to cross ber bow; it will be o now close shave."” If we do,”" said Fleming, ‘‘we’re bound her off her course and she'll go She can just make it if she holds 1o throw ashore. on her course. Suppose we let her make ft,” said Mar tin Gorham quietly, shing his eyes free from snow. ‘‘There's women and children on that steam 3 Won hat's the ru “Aye! Ave!” agreed the first mate gruff- Iy. "That's & sailor's rule all right." From th he appro loomed ne 1z hive of Ling steamer belpless, & teeming ives e three on the brigantine ng had caused to port and ge stern Then old Martin put bis barely passed under her We couldn’t bave both made it,” said be pilot calmly. He shook hands with both the others Martin,” he ac though we Let ber go in bow on, shipshape haven the worll chance in to ashore Old Martin n he shorewar glanced | threat pwood e to men ge 1hing May rown eudd with a rim so low that rprise him to know He was gazing o P e .)—s}-sy- K <<ib<t-<§-—_- So