The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 11, 1900, Page 8

VDAY CALL Suddenly astonishment 'Wot th' devil’— he shouted, “wot th’ devil yeh got on?" the waters as the ship's prow thrusted exploded the s he tall man delivered an oration. exclaimed, The brave fellows! to take the manly 4 Jhe Reluc’ant Z o y c' e‘ S oat with a : g i “Bathing suits.” said the tall man. He mAde another statement. The schooner went on. Y down and watched. me they began to shiver. The soft black- passed away Kind sailors in biue and 1 us Into the boat and conduct frames to the quarterdeck The two voy- ound will welcome with gold bands all and gray mi Soon lights of early dawn went charging across the sky and the twin beacons on the Highlands grew dim and faintly, as if a monster were dying. dawn penetrated the marrow of the two men in bathing dress. The captain used By Stephen Crane, SAuthor of * The Red Badge of Courage.” etc. Aall Rights Reserved. - Havanas glow, 1 and privation. lack hurryinzg the wine gurgles and the we'll tell our tale of peri The ship came on | Y froth-filed maw. The t wanderers - stood up and clasped har Then they howled out a wild duet that rang over the wastes o The cries seemed to strik Men with boots on the deck. They and threw them down. After hideous creakings and vessel stood still. the n\eant!hr}e been chanting their sor Jthe blackness they becko: ed to the ship and coaxed. A voice came to them. to pause opposite hitch one hand in his suspender and jaugh. “Well, I be dog-hanged,” he frequently e the ship. d and ran about with a dsngeton feked up heavy articles huddled fraternally * sald the freck- The tall man grew furious. He smnarled middle of the ra a mad undertone companion. wanderers had muttered the He suddenly paused, transfixed by the ain’s suspender. “It's goin’ to break,” cried he, in an ecstatic wh! grew large with exc! the captain laugh. iaped flock of ducks flew toward hadows and ed eastern “It'll break in a They puffed out their cheeks “Hello! Hello! Wot do yeh want?” But the commander of the schooner re- covered and They followed him along the deck and fell down a square, black hole into said the voice. wanderers gazed at each other denly down on the raft. sweeping over the sky and quenched their stars, * gaid the freckled was an awfully s of the sea night came ng waters took Tt was a little den with walls of & van- amp shed an orange two_little bed A wooden table immovable, ft had been builded around at_in the middle of the floor. d the square ‘hole A footworn fmmediately the tall man bawled mise He stamped } ing Into the wo forgot and rollicked But almost to them the freckled man found he could ) of his legs and n his bathing dress. to whistle As night settled finally over hts began to dot ere mysterious hed whiteness. In a sort of reces t and frown- threateningly called frotu s studded with a filled with a menace. limbs that the sea as the anterns flickered held a debate and made murmured the onderous crack- ptain produced ham. Then and_some cold bolle vanished in the firmament like a fantastic such a foo! The broad bs pied by a_conte shadows over dived from in't ordered that new dress the trip to-morrow night,” the darknes: gan to clamor like a mob. ward, the h t quite contentedly tle of a lo » ‘freckled man > a stout squaw man walke The freckled and heaved bosom, when to chime with a sout the cabin 1 at the crudeness of toward ihe raft legs weals. After a time one of the men of enor- »d a rope that the stern and drew the freckled ‘man, arm appearing and ant wave crests. mous limbs moon came and looked at them. “Somehody" He contemplated his no, of course “I won't 'stand Heavens and earth, azes did you slowly and war- wooden plate looked from brown eye, but his the raft that slyly ap- 1 cautiously toward the water flashed in the gloom as the oars dipped. cet from the raft the boat 0 er you?* asked a voice. braced him vivid pictures, {llustrating aid the three giants. gers deserted the raft. They feeling in their hearts a mite ness for the wet planks. they wriggled up the side of the vessel and climbed over a railing. met a man. He held a lantern to their faces. any chewin’ tewbacca?" he inquired. +No,” said the tall man, “‘we ain't.” “he man had a bronzed face and a soli- Peculiar lines about his mouth were shaped into an eternal smile His feet were bare and clung bered in and row had an almanac,’ all man regarding the moon. Presently they fell to starin lights that You're a fine old duffer, you are! “Well, I—I—- twinkled = about He seemed was seated upon The freckled man somewhat blisstul. the bench, comfortably enwrapped in his bathing dress. The tall man stormed about the cabin. “This is an outrage. T'll tell him what I think of—" He was interrupted by a pair of legs that appeared among the stars. tain came down the ladder. a coffee-pot from the sky. tall man bristied forward. He was 8oing to denounce everything. The captain was intent upon the coffee- it carefully, eet to find the steps of the wrath sudden plate as a beacon. abducted me! “Providence will not leave us. the freckled man. e'll be picked up shortly. said the tall man. on an imaginary twirling fingers His bathing like a dead ba snorted, shook the freckled man. must think I'm a fool.” sitting down dress spread The tall m I'll see the cap- sald he suddenly, “that with healthy ships beneath their turn back after having once started on a voy be rescued by some’ship bound for the golden seas of the south. you'll be up to some of your confounded Aevilment and we'll get put off.* The; what they'll do! On an island with s and sun-kissed maidens and all -kissed maidens, eh? his companio: py the other end of the raft. a deliclous mily up into the vast sky of sum- fish floated near, tremulously waving d the tall man. His grunted blissfully. nds from the sea rocked their and lulléd them to peace. sea songs about trundled along like a procession tary whisker. et and leaving where over the land sunset colors were assembling The two voyagers, back to back and at er end of the raft, quarreled at length What did you want to foller me for?” demanded the freckled man in a voice of of derision. But the wrath of the tall man faded He twirled his fingers In excitement and renewed his ecstatic whisperings to the Look, quick, look! were supported by a plece of suspender that went up the wrong side of his chest the right side of his back, dividing him into triangles. Sanford, capt'in schooner y Jones of N'yack, N. Y., boun’ from Littie Egg Harbor, N. J., to Athens, N. Y., genelmen,” he sald. ‘Ah.” sald the tall man There were a few moments of silence. The giants were hovering in the gloom and staring. freckled man. “It’s goin' to break! It'll break in a minute vith interest, fo ting his wrongs in staring at the perilous But the captain arrived on the floor with triumphant suspenders. “after yeh have et, sleel;; some! If so, yeh He suddenly ceased and turned to stone. At a distance a great, green eye was con- templating the sea wanderers.._ tood up-and.did-another dance. As they watched the eye grew larger. Directly the form of a phantom-like ship About the great, green eye there bobbed small yellow dots. wanderers could hear a far-away creak- and flapping of shadowy sails. There came the melody of # the freckled man. your figure hadn’t been so like a bottle we wouldn't be here,” replied the ¥ suddenly turned rted at the waves. The tall man in- v twisted his head and wa lunge its claws Into the water. arose with a sflver gleaming fish. bird has got his feet wet again. came inio view. elighted, I'm The fires in the west spread over lights began blazed away and the sea, Electric maybe ye'd like t' can sleep on them The tall man made no reply, save In & strained undertone. “It'll break in about & minute. Look, Ted, look, quick! & The freckled man looked in at the little beds on_which were heaped boots and ofl- skins. He made a courteous gesture. “My dear sir, we could not think of de- riving you of your beds. No, indeed Jist & couple of blankets, If you have sleep very comfortably on t}xem. g-nd :e‘ ese benches. l~‘Th«e captain protested, politely twisting his back and bobbing his head. The sus- pender tugged and creaked. The tall man partially suppressed a cry and took a step forward. The freckled man was sleeplly Insistent, and shortly the captain gave over his deprecatory contortions. He fetched a pink quilt with yellow dots on it to the freckled man and a black one with red roses on it to the tall man. Again_he vanished in the firmament. The tall man gazed until the last rem- nant of trousers disappeared from the sky. Then he wrapped himself up in his quilt and lay down. The freckled man was puffing contentedly, swathed like an infant. The yellow polka dots rose and fell on the vast pink of his chest. The wanderers slept. In the quiet could be heard the groanings of timbers as the sea seemed to crunch them together. The lapping of water along the vessel's !1\]»! sounded like gaspings. A hundred spirits of the wind had got their wings entangled in the rigging and in soft voices were leading to be loosened. Piihe freckled man was awakened by a foreign not: He opened his eyes and saw his companion standing by his couch. His comrade’s face was wan with suf- fering. His eyes glowed in the darkness. He raised his arms, spreading them out like a clergyman at a grave. ie groaned deep In_ his chest “Good Lord!” yelled the freckled man, starting up. “Tom, Tom, what is th’ mat- ter?” The tall man spoke in a fearful voice. “To New York., he sald, New York in our bathing suits. The freckled mfan sank back. The shad- pws of the cabin threw mysteries about ths figure of the tall man arrayed like some ancient and potent astrologer in the black qullt witl s on it. Directly the went and lay down and begar The freckled the world upon the tall man for 1" sald the tall man fi fix know t They regar “What in thun demanded the ta companion wa peated he angri we going to ‘I am sure I don't know said the a dismal voice f something,” roared the nething, you old fool int to m ny more idiot freckled man city “T know a man up In Harlem freckled man. “You »w a fellow up in Harlem,” howled the tall man. “Up in Harlem! How in the dickens are we to—sa; crazy ! “Well, we can take a cab,” cried th cther, waxing indignant The tall man grew suddenly calm. “Do vou know any one el uredly Park place.” Somewhere on Park place” repeated the man { ] al manner. C ewhere on Park pl With an air of sublime re to_the wall. The freckled man sat erect and frow in the direction of his companion. now, I suppose you are going to sulk. You make me 1ll! Tt's the best we can do ain’t it? Hire a cab and go and look thaf fellow up on Park—What's that? Wh that? You can’t afford What sense You are getting—Oh! Well be we can beg some clothes of the tain. Eh? Did I see Im? Certs saw 'Im. Yes, it ¥ ble ths who wears trousers lik t can clothes to lend. No. I w ar oilsk and a sou'wester. To Athens? Of course not! 1 don't know where it Do you? I thought not! With all your grumbling about other people, you never know thing impjortant yourself. What? Broe way? T'll be hanged first. We can't get off at Halem, man alive. The: are no cabs in Harlem. T don't think we can bribe a sailor to take us ashore and brirg a cab to the dock, for the very simple reason that we have nothing t. i with. What? No, of cotrse bnrr’;tt).er like that. I ain’t, either. I ain't! What? It’s no such-thing! I ain't! than you have, anyway. Well, he asked meas- I know another fellow somewhers on gnation he turned his face here, Tom Sharp, don't you swear at me I won't have it. What's thar? t? T am not! I've got more - you an't doing "anything so very brilliant yourseclf —just lyin’ there and cus: At length the tall man feigned to prodiglousiy enore. The freckled man thought w such vigor that he fell asle After a time he dreamed that he was in a forest where bass drums grew on tre There came a strong wind that ba the fruit ab empty pods. A fright ful din was rs He awoke the captain of the schooner stan m. = “We're at now,” sald the captain, raising his voice 'above thumping and banging that was being done on deci n’ 1 suppose you feller: wanta go ashore. He chuckled in an exasperating manner “Jes' sing out when yeh wa b added, leering at the freckled mar The tall man 1‘\‘»0{’(9.‘;.Lfl::‘v i asped the captain by.the throat. ‘r“lryuu Iausph again I'll kill you,” & sald. The captain gurgled and waved his legs and arms. “In_the first place,” the tall man con tinued, “you rescued us in a deuce shabby manner. It makes me ill to tr of it. I've a mind to mop ¥ just for that. In the second place, y vessel is bo B Y. & there's no ser will yo will you ip about and ta us back w are, or o I adelphia, w . Hap furiou captain. The he eased his grip and awaited a reply “T can’t,” yelled t n. “T car This here vessel d to me. I've ot _to. BONWell, then,’ you lend us so Hain't gt ‘e away. His f: were glaring. “Well, then interrupted the tall man othes?"” e captaln backed red and his eyes e was man, advanc- 2 money 7" said the ta romptly. e laughe “Thunderation!” roared the tall man. He seized the captain, who began to have The tall wriggling cont ions man kneaded him as If he were biscuits. *“You inferna oundrel. he bellowed: “this whole affair is some wretched plot. And I am about to kill you. whisker of the captain » demon upon you are jn it. The solitary acrobatics like a str: chin. His eyes stood perilously from head. The suspender wheezed and tugged Ike the tackle of a sail Sudden man released his hoid. sat g to break,” upon his features. he cried, rubblng nds. t the captain howled and vanished In the sky. The freckled man then came forward. He appeared filled with sarcasm. So!” sal ! You've settled the matter. The c: only man in p us, and I dare say an now. t,” said the tall man. the way I run things ome on this trip at the world who v had another quarrel At the end of it they went on deck. The captain stood at the stern addressing the bow with opprobrious language. When he perce rs he began to air he yelied. The man. looked at his eom- ut us off, you walk about and 1 like to ses you a rope. A boat d Well, if bright we see.” He climbed think 1l go in the boat a down the ecraft ar seated hims 1 an ominous manmer the stern “You'll =ee he said to h id to his companio boat the capta laughed very victort “Well, was all?” he inq tall man made m t heavens murmured. He stared at the ap “My, what a | * he quav- ered. “Do you think so?" spoke up the tall man. “Why, I ly_thought you ltked it.” He a hard voice. “Lord, a'll cut.” arred the freckled man's ame mad. the boat around!” er ‘round, quick. Man rn ‘er ‘'round, d'ye in the stern gazed at his 1 glowing eyes said. " “We're golng t.” He began to h words. an stood up and waved e tall man. “You'll n to shout. ed from th man in. freckled man's torrent of sen- »ked him. And he with his hands. t on to the shadow of was Intent upon rocked dangerously o 1 ma o3 of as- paths. A be- faller on tall man Continued on Page Nine.