• <*•*
Friday, Jan. 17, 1941
SOUTHERN OREGON MINER
Page 6
|BqBEN A* ies W illiams
CHAPTER XII—Continued
-—13—
CJ BIN AMI 5 WILLIAMS
M. vj . Service
Mary and George went on deck
together. The day was fair, and for
the season—early spring in these
latitudes—mild enough; the wind
light Mary saw broad streaks of
yellowish red upon the water to
starboard where the great schools if
brit were near the surface; and
moment later a black back showed
and twin spouts rose straight as
fountains. Richard himself was in
( the main rigging, watching the
whales now so near the ship that
voices aboard were hushed and
whispering.
“Mr. Forbes, you play loose boat
and stay clear,“ he directed, •The
mate and I will fasten if we can.
Tommy, go aloft and keep your eye
peeled if they sound. Ready the
boats.”
Peter said, to no one in particu­
lar: “Where's Feik?” Without wait­
ing for an answer, he dropped down
into the after ’tween decks to find
him. A moment later he came on
deck again.
“He’s sick. Dick,” he said.
“Corkran will take Feik's place.
Mr. Forbes, lend Borst to the mate's
boat.
You can manage without
him.” replied Richard.
Peter protested: “Blast it, Dick. I
don't want to tackle a whale with a
green man.”
“I think Corkran knows his busi­
ness.” Richard said curtly. "Low­
er away.”
He turned toward the boats, not .
waiting for any further word: but
George moved quickly toward him.
caught his arm.
“Cap'n. may I
go with Mr. Forbes?"
Richard looked down at him.
grinned and clapped George on the
Mary felt herself tight«« warily.
"Pearls? Who says so?”
“I'm naming no names, ma’am. I
have w sleep amongst 'em. A man
has to sleep sometime, and it's easy
to slide a knife into a man asleep."
protested: “You're trying to
scare me!"
"I'm scared myself, ma'am,” he
insisted. “I was in a ship once that
came near mutiny; and you could
smell it coming days before. It was
wanting to get ashore to the gold
fields that was the trouble then;
and it’s pearls they're talking now.
Pearls as big as chestnuts. And
they're saying that barrel of amber­
gris would make the man rich that
had it safe ashore.”
"But I don't believe a word of
all that about pearls, Corkran," she
declared. “If Cap'n Corr had any
pearls aboard. 1 guess I'd know it!
And nobody with any sense would
want that bad-smelling stuff in the
barrel; so if that's all you’re worry­
ing about . . .**
He looked at her briefly. He said
in a flat tone, grave again: "It's not
all, if you want the rest of it Ma'am.
I’ve served many’s the year at sea,
and I never did see a mate playing
lickspittle and “polish your boots,
mister” with his men that harm
didn't come of it in the end.”
Mary's pulse leaped, She knew
suddenly that she had thought this I
same thing, without knowing her
own thought as she watched Peter
day after day about the ship.
She tried to persuade herself
thereafter that Corkran was afraid
of shadows; but she could not for­
get bis uneasiness, and a day or
two later she repeated part of what
he had said to Richard. She did
not quote Corkran's criticism of Pe­
ter. but she told Richard about the
pearls.
He was interested in the pearls,
but he did not ask where she had
hidden them; and he made light
Corkran's fears. “Men are bound
talk when they’ve nothing else
do," be said.
Since the day he killed the whale,
he and Mary had drawn happily to­
gether. finding pleasure in this new
companionship, each at ease with
the other. His confident dismissal of
her fears reassured her; and their
talk turned at random now, turned
back to the years in New Bedford.
Mary laughed at a sudden memory
and said-
“You know, Richard. I really hat­
ed you for a while when we were
children.”
"Me?"
"Yes. When Peter gave you my
letter.”
He looked at her in a puzzled way.
"What letter. Mary?”
"Forgotten, have you?” She
smiled.
Ab-h!” For the boat yonder
He shook his head. "1 guess I’m
was in the air.
dumb. What was in the letter? Wbo I
was it to?”
shoulder. “Go ahead, man,” he
She looked away from him. ab­ agreed.
“Mr. Forbes, mind you
surdly hurt and unhappy because he keep clear."
had forgotten; but then she remem­
And a moment later the three
bered that Peter said Richard kept boats were in the water. Mary from
her letter, that he even read it aloud the rail above them called softly
to people, and laughed at it with down:
them. She turned away from him,
“Good luck, George!"
her eyes suddenly hot with tears;
George grinned happily; and
and be saw them and caught her Corkran. bending the tub line to the
arm and protested:
box warp, looked up at her and
"Here, wait a minute. Mary, Lis- nodded in a cheerful reassurance.
ten . . .”
The boats stepped their masts and
Then he stopped, for George was under sail crossed the Venturer's
just emerging from the cabin com­ bow. Richard took the lead. Peter
panion close beside them, seeing her close behind him. Mat Forbes bear­
crimson, with tears in her eyes and ing away beyond them to keep
Richard's aand restrainingly upon clear.
her arm.
Isaiah, beside Mary at the rail,
If George was disturbed by what looked after them in muttering
he had seen he did not show it He wrath.
kept them together in talk with him
"Like as not young Stam-all give
a while. When Richard presently Feik something to sicken him a-
left them, Mary tried to make some purpose! He'll always stay astern
explanation, but George stopped the lighter if he can, when it's time
her.
to lower.”
"You don’t need to explain to me,
“He and Richard are different,
Mary,” he said, gently and honest­ aren't they?”
ly. “I’m beginning to get hold of
Isaiah exploded scornfully: "Why
myself. There’s a jealous devil in wouldn’t they be?”
me. I hate to have any man look
“Well, after all. they’re brothers.”
at you. I've made you unhappy be­
"Act like brothers, do they?” he
cause of it more than once; but demanded. She turned to him in
I’m whipping it. I know you and astonishment, and he said trium­
Cap'n Corr are old friends; but I phantly: "Well, they ain’t!”
know there's nothing else.”
"You mean, not at all?”
She was so grateful to him that
“Not a mite!” he assured her.
thereafter she loved him more and
"But—they must be!” She was
more.
wholly bewildered; and her incredu­
Richard told them one morning at lity, working on his anger, drove
breakfast his plan to cruise a while him to a loquacity he would regret.
on the right whale grounds among He said stubbornly:
the islands off the South American
“Must be or not, they ain't Cap'n
coast, and perhaps fill their casks Ira'd ought to know! Here the night
before refitting to round Cape Horn he died, Ira told Richard that Pete
homeward bound.
wa'n’t even his own son! Me and
Peter was eating slowly, sawing Hiram was there and beard him.
at the tough salt beef, not raising Old Ira told Richard he’d heir ev-
his eyes He said resentfully: “This erything, only a dollar to Pete. t»
salt horse's tough as witchet, Dick.
Realizing he had said too much,
It’s about time we put in some- he pointed across the water; said:
where for fresh stores.”
“The boats will be on ’em in a min­
"We’ll refit before we make up ute now.”
tor Cape Stiff," Richard reminded
Mary, turning to look, found her­
him. "But we’ve got business to self shocked and confused by this in­
attend to around here first.” Mat credible intelligence; but as the dis­
Forbes went on deck.
"It won’t tance between boats and whales nar­
take more than a couple of these rowed, she forgot what Isaiah had
fat old bulls to fill us bung up,” said in the excitement of the immi­
Richard said; and then Mat spoke nent encounter.
softly through the open skylight
Mary saw Big Pip in the bow of
above them.
Richard's boat half a mile away
"Whales close aboard, Cap’n drive home a harpoon.
Corr.”
Richard leaped toward the com­
CHAPTER XIII
panionway. He called back to Tom­
my: "Tell the harpooners to grab a
She thought for a moment then
bite. I’ll have cook pass along the that Pip had harpooned not one
mess kid torrad. Sharp.” He scram­ whale but a dozen. The great fluke*
bled for the deck, and Peter more rose and whipped from side to side
slowly followed him.
with a terrible rapidity. The boat
HOW t Q SEW
4^ Ruth Wyeth Spears i-Ar)
Hi. Phi Hips
i backed off. the sail and mast came
down. Richard and Big Pip were
i changing ends. Isaiah cackled in
LUKE TWITCHELL ON
shrill glee.
INDUCTION
"Never saw Pip mux it before.
Dear Elmer: Well. 1 am in the
They don't take to that! Look at
army, but I won't be much help to
him cut ter 'em!” And then sud­
it for a long time on account of being
denly. in a long, whistling sigh:
all worn out by the physical exami­
“Ah-h!”
nation. I had an idea it war easy to
For the boat yonder was in the
get into a war today, but 1 find it it
air. Then the bow seemed for no
almost impossible I can't make out
reason to break off in small frag-
yet whether I was being examined
meats; and then men and boat were
for the army or for a Mi.» 1er Amer-
in the sea. lost in a shuddering con­
ica contest
fusion of torn water and flying flukes
• •
and a great black body swinging to
My great-great-grandfather fought
and fro.
She had forgotten Peter. She saw at Bunker Hill when he had flat
his boat now. the sail down, the feet a complete *et of false teeth
oars springing.
He was at the and one glass eye. Always 1 have
steering oar, leaning on. making the the idea that what counts is how a
boat swerve toward the fighting man can tight and not what shape
whale. Mat Forbes, well away from his teeth are in or whether he has
them, was racing toward the fight. had his tonsils out. but do I learn
Peter's boat shot in alongside the different!
•
•
•
black bulk. She saw Corkran in the
bow erect, the harpoon ready.
Even when I was examined for
She had an instant's pride in Pe­ life insurance it wasn't so tough.
ter. This time at least he had not Five times I try to explain to the
failed! Then she saw Corkran drive doctors getting into the army wasn't
home one iron and then another.
my idea anyhow, and that I showed
Mary saw then that Corkran was up because Uncle Sam invited me,
in fact lancing, his shoulders pivot­ and why treat me like I was trying
ing like a boxer's as he drove the to put something over? What was I
keen shaft home. The whale in the drafted for. anyhow, a war or a
instant after these new irons struck screen test?
him had rolled a little, giving Cork-
• • •
ran a chance: and he was bold to
What
gets
me
is the way they go
seize it She saw the thrust; and
a moment thereafter, above that over my teeth. Say, ain't it enough
I should lick Hit­
turbulence of foam and flukes, she
ler without being
saw a red flag of blood like a foun­
expected to eat
tain playing.
him? They poke
Isaiah cackled in a sort of glee­
around my up­
ful wonder:
pers and lowers
"Got him flrst jab! Say, that Cork­
like they suspect­
ran won't ever go ashore t'wind-
ed 1 was using
’ard!”
somebody else'*
Then the whale drove away, on
the
surface.
thrashing
flukes, teeth and they And trouble I didn't
breaching half out of water, it* even know I had with 'em. If my
spoutholes streaming blood like a teeth don't give me no trouble, why
crimson banner. Mary watched the should they worry the United State*
men in the water. Mat’s boat army in a time like this? 1 will
reached them and began to pick lay you two to one that Napoleon’*
them up, pulling man after man teeth were punk er oo and I think I
over the side. All of them. Saved! read a piece once what said Julius
A great relief swept her; and she Caesar, George Washington, U. S.
Grant and most of the Green Moun­
held hard to Isaiah's arm.
Isaiah said disgustedly: “Blastl tain boys didn't see their dentists
twice a year, either.
That whale s sunk."
• • •
Her eye swept the water in all
directions and saw nowhere a spout,
They go over my eyes. too. like
no glistening back, nothing but Mat’s they thought they was examining
boat yonder now full of men. and a guy who was
Peter's bobbing on an empty sea.
making an appli­
“Corkran went in too high with cation to become
that lame." Isaiah said, and spat. a watch inspec­
“Can't blame him. He had to work tor. I have been A
fast But he went in over the shoul­ wearing glasses
der blade. Right whale’s got an air for a couple of
bladder same a* a fish. You let the year* and 1 don't
air out and down it goes.
have no trouble
He looked at her sidewise. getting around in civilian clothe*, so
“There’s time* I talk more’n I'd what makes ’em so worried I won’t
ought to.” he admitted awkwardly. be able to recognize an enemy army
"Like telling you about the mate when I see it?
not being Cap'n Ira's son. Richard
• • e
told me not to, and he'd give me
All my life I have no complaint*
fit* if he found out I did; but it's
so. Cap'n Ira married a widow wom­ about my ears, but these fellows at
the induction look
an. and the mate was her young
'em over, make
'un. She wouldn't marry him only
tests and shake
if he'd tell folks Pete was hi*. They
their heads as if
kep’ anybody from knowing, some­
they thought they
how.” He added: "But I’d oughtn't
were the kind of
to've told you. I was kind of worked
ear* that MIGHT
up at Pete for trying to get out of
wear out too ear­
lowering.”
ly in life. When I
She said reassuringly: "I won't
tell anyone, It's not our business. think it is all over they go over
my feet, which are in swell shape
is it Does Peter know?"
“He ain't supposed to.” He cack- like most Americans on account no­
led with a relish. “It’s going to body in this country uses feet any
be some supprise to that young more. Everybody either drives an
smelt when he hears the will read auto or is a hitch-hiker, Their feet,
out. I'd admire to be there to see.” are good now, but wait until they
The boats were near; and they have been doing army patrol six
moved to the rail. Mat was ahead. month*!
Peter some distance behind, tow­
ing the stove boat; and Peter was
Well, anyhow, I barely get in on
standing up, using the long steering
account I am six points short of
oar instead of the tiller which he
being the Perfect Man and once had
might sensibly have preferred for asthma.
this peaceful return to the ship.
Yours for a war anybody can get
Richard faced forward, and he
Into,
seemed to droop in a discouraged,
—Luke.
broken fashion. Mary lifted her hand
and called to them, a greeting with­
WOMEN AND DEFENSE
out words. The boat came along­
(
“
E. V. McCollum of Johns
side, and she called: “Was it fun,
Hopkins told the meeting that
George? Are you hurt, Richard?”
the women of America could
George grinned happily, and Rich­
help in the defense program by
ard shook hi* head "I’m all right.
seeing that their menfolks got
Sassnet'i ankle's twisted. The fluke*
proper food.”—News Item.)
just ticked me on the arm. But if
it hadn’t been for Peter it would Ladies, would you help defense?
have been bad. The whale was
Would you make your country
ugly.”
stronger?
Yet she saw then that he was Feed your menfolks with more
more seriously hurt than he had
care—
said. He was needing help to reach
Do not serve that hash much
the deck. His left arm appeared to
longer I
be of little use to him; and he was
white with pain.
Do you want our coastline safe
Mat said: “You'd best get into
From the batterings of Dover?
some dry clothes and see bow bad Have a heart and do not chirp,
that arm is.”
“Honey, this was just left over.”
Richard nodded and went aft, and
Mary looked after him, wishing to Are you for preparedness?
follow him; but George was beside
Do you want the future sunny?
her, flushed, full of talk, trembling Cut that old line, “Sorry, but
with th; excitement of the past few
We're just having cold cuts,
minutes. She heard him telling her
honey!”
what he had seen, and tried to lis­
• • •
ten, and caught broken phrase*.
In this business of leasing war
"One so near we could have hit him
supplies to Eng'and, Elmer Twitchell
with our oars . . . Peter didn't
hopes we don't wind up with noth­
hesitate this time.” And then she
ing but a mortgage on a couple of
heard him say: "Losing his boat
smoke screens.
will make Richard a little more hu­
• • •
man. Not quite so *ure of himself.”
Well, nobody can say our defense
She wished to say loyally that an
program hasn’t a lag to stand on.
accident might happen to anyone;
* • •
but instead she spoke of Peter. “I'm
SIMILES
glad Peter killed the whale. He's
As unconvincing as a bald magi­
been feeling so badly about Uncle
cian.
Tom.”
“It was Corkran who killed it,” he
As well spa cod as a banquet menu.
reminded her.
—Martin Ragaway.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
SI
4
F old ♦ strip » of canvas
AND TACK TO ALL
FOUR SIPES OF FRAME L-V'
q SEW RUS TO
'
I X8"
r.\ CANVAS IL .
pine
KW
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CORNERS^
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------------- Jj’
i
J ROLL AS
I WORK IS
II COMPII TIP
I
REST FRAME
ON tool
OF TABLE
OR THE BACK
OF A CHAIR
H’WO of the nicest hook rugs I
have were made without u
frame. Many rug makers like to
work this way so thut they muy
turn the work as they do different
parts of th© design. Then, too,
whenever rug hookers meet there
is sure to be an exchange of treas­
ured bits of colored fabrics. In
no time ut all n rug making group
is meeting and it is difficult to
carry a frame when one goes visit­
ing. It is often difficult to And
space to put a frame away in a
small house or apartment, too.
You cun ■<*■ by thia lliut I rather
favor working without u flume
though I know perfectly well Umt
it is more efficient to work with
one. Almost all professionals hove
frames thut rest on u pcrmanint
base. I have sketched here the
type of frame that most amateur*
use.
You can buy the corner
clumps at the hardware store and
put the frame together quickly. It
muy be the size of your rug or
■mailer. If it is smaller, just part
of the rug is stretched on the
frame ut one time.
• • •
■EWING lluuk S tails you mactly how to
prepara the bin lap for ■ hooked ius like
ti><- om in ihiH sketch and give« much
other valuable Information on ruf hook­
ing. There la atlll anolher hooked ru< de-
»Ilin in llook ft; al»u a braided aiul a cro­
cheted t u< Send order lu:
Mil*
E hc I okb 20 c for Hooka & and 0.
Nimt .
Addreaa
ASK ME O
ANOTHER r
The Questions
1. What is the population of
Greece?
2. What standards are used by
the Bureau of the Census in com*
puling the number of illiterates in
the country?
3. Under what conditions may a
private in the U. S. army wed?
4. What does a panegyric piece
of writing do?
5. “Now God be praised, I die
happy” are the dying words of
what general?
6. President Andrew Johnson es­
caped impeachment by how many
votes?
7. Does the moon, when it is half
full, shed half us much light on
the earth as it does when it
reaches the full stage?
8. Which is the world's largest
flower?
8. Of sheep, cattle, deer, ante­
lope, goats and swine, how many
of them are cloven-hoofed ani­
mals?
10. How much horsepower is de­
veloped by the hydroelectric plant
at Niagara Falls?
The Answers
RUTH WVKTII SI’FAH*
Drawer 10
New York
Bedford llllla
• s
¿4 Quiz With Answers
Offering Information
on Various Subjects
7. No, n half-full moon sheds
only about one-ninth as much light
on the earth as one that is full.
8. The krubi which grows in Su­
matra and takes 12 years to
bloom. It is over 8 feet high and
12 feet in diameter. It is bell­
shaped and has a disagreeable
odor.
8. All of them.
10. At present over a million
horsepower is produced, and ex­
perts estimate that the volume of
water which pours over the preci­
pice could develop over 3,875,000
horsepower, or neurly one tenth of
the power needs of the United
States.
Evil Thought
Multitudes think they like to do
evil; yet no man ever really en­
joyed doing evil since God made
the world.—Ruskin.
1. The population of Greece is
8,204,684.
2. The Bureau of the Census
10 «A m
rules that anj person 10 years of
age or older /ho cannot read or
write in any anguage is an illit­
quick (y M.ÌZ
erate.
LIQUID
3. With his .'ummanding officer's
TAkLSTS
• ALVI
permission.
NOlt 0*0*1
4. A panegyric piece of writing
COUCH 0*0*1
elaborately praises.
5. James Wolfe (after his vic­
Passing Splendors
tory at Quebec).
The splendors that belong unto
fl. One. The vote was 35 to 18; the fame of earth are but a wind,
a two-thirds majority was neces­ that in the same direction lasts not
sary for conviction.
long.—Dante.
COLDS
666
• • •
• • •
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