THE OLD CAPTAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 167, 17 July 1922, Page 4

THE OLD CAPTAIN.

IX REMINISCENT MOOD. I I An old s-ca captain whose house ov»fc i looks the harbour is deeply interested, I when during the night the foghorns are I :>'o\vin«j and the fo<j warning hells are I mounding on the vcv.-f'.s in port. *"I never hear thc=e signals," ho bay?. "l'ir v.liafc i I think of the days <jf the nld sai!er= and ] clippers vi over Sfty years iuro. and hovr j taroful we to bo at sea when fog* came down upon us. We lianlW ever had an accident, just heeau-;! , we tnk more tlian ordinary care. W'r i'"vor drove our vessels tlirougrh fo<f. ami si'.lincgl , the never typo r.f smvisiator j laughr at w hat ii- calk our ■>:.!-,':■-':';-ncl ! precautions they hardl; ever failvri '.ine luf them was scry siniplo. a-irl •! w;-.s i tln>: Wlu-n w> io>t our bearing .mil it 1 l-eoaroe too fojrsy to pi<-!; them nn »c : s&n-H a water barrel in two. ar.-l I half fiiiinu- i>nr- pnrt of it with tar. vvr- ! i■■_■•■*e. lit and throw ii overboard H i ftttnk <.],-?};.■ into the wnter. hut ,i- * ' f radualiy burnt nwuy it became iia'it.»r : .'. ii.l n:H' i•;. mid up, till after mmV : the fos r-tii! lasi.-H w<? .'.:,! t'i<- -am" with : tin- other half of th- ;::,-:-.. We kept ■»» ; near a* po-siK,. tn it tho wh.il.- wM. i (,- day for l!':it mattiT. and *ailod roiv-d , and niund ! ; . -.- ih;u v.-p novrr di-fted ' tiway i'> j:iK!"i ;!•■;- kin:v- when , ." 1! i ! j-nitr-c. lie »aid. hr> lVils rpfrrriiiv: io tue j hiah and thr advit-t- blwhva f-1-I lo« e( l in the i.M day, „-*•= -,:„;,■; !„,. j the kppp Mi-11 nin tn -i-a." •>.'"£ I very e«r!y days remain." wpni on tl:» I '-id i-»p;ain in ;i r.-niinacent mood. • a:'d ■ Hi.' half ctK,u-ii i-:-pdit ha, hern vi> !li them for the \v.; v thoy pik-tr 1 i ! :-Ir ! (Skips aHT>f- Hip seiiu with fo i>«- a . i- . dent* and liu> :.«.» ~f ;i;,, T\ wr , : ■ ■■<- i prartiralh no lights to -!;:■ :'i» - d ! riiflv-s. Inn tlipv i'.ct,' invsria'ily ::ipp • , ..,o ' k'.ipv.- tho rospnitfiliiiKy the;, rarrif! on J (lioir -.hoiiMorx. Tlip'y tool no ri-Va, I and thrir rpvard vvas'to —■ -. >~ i r -hip j land aafpl.v in (.on. Thai ,-,. m :mm--: :;:od j for ;in- thoii.-'aiid th'-y m"t : with on :'..,■ ami t':.■>. -■■• to j kno-.v thPir shi;, like n Hi-hlaml : addie ; i.:u.v his cnlUo dor." I