SHIPS IN THE BAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHIPS IN THE BAY

"Please, Aunty Helen, may Rodney «ud I go down to see the fishing fleet leave this moaning?" Madge spoke eagerly. Madgds and Rodney, sister and brother, were spending a week's holiday with their aunt at a small lishing port. Town-bred as the children "were, the little port with its wide blue bay dotted with craft of all shapes and .sizes, held a curious fascination for them. Aunt Helen's brows drew together. "Well, yes, I suppose so," she said doubtfully. "But Rodney, please do be careful. 1 don t want you to go falling off the end of the jetty." -1 hank you, Aunty! We'll be ever bo careful," cried both children, and together they ran down the narrow street and out on to the jetty, which stretched like a tljln red finger into the sea. They were jiKt in time. The first of the fleet of small fishing vessels swung away out over the blue, calm waters of the bay and far out to stormier waters, the other boats following in its -wake. As the last boat left, Madge and Rodney leaned against the wooden piles of the jetty and waved furiously to Joe Briggs, a young lad with whom they had become very friendly on their numerous trips to the shore. Joe (to Rodneys great amazement) was not very fond of ships. His great ambition was to "o-et to tlie city.' and in exchange for being taught "real sailors' knots," Rodnev •would tell Joe all about the trams, the huge buildings and crowded city streets. . How Rodney's heart burned with jealousy to see Joe standing there on the eloping, heaving deck of the cumbersome fishing vessel which was now more than half-way across the harbour. "Some day," he said to Madge, "I'm going to be a sailor." ' "Why?" queried Madge. "I love the eea-shore, of course, but I think I'd rather bj> bark home." "That's because you're * girl" answered Rodney scornfully. "It must be lovely to be on a ship, to smell the ar and the salt, and—l wonder how it must fee! to be able to see land anywhere? Madge, there's nothing nicer than a ship!" 6

"What if it sinks?" queried Madge, absently. Rodney snorted indignantly, "These girls!" "Aye, but_ the little laddie's right. There's nothin' nicer than a ship— to a sailor," came a gruff voice behind them. Tlie children started and turned to see a grizzled old sailor sitting on a wooden pile. A peaked, faded blue cap was perched jauntily on his head, and his rough, brown hands were busily mending a not—a perfect picture of an "old salt" such as Madge and Rodney had often seen in books. But to see one in real life! ''\es, laddie," he continued, "ye have the true instincts of a sailor." (Rodney glowed with pride). "There's somethiii" about any ship, whether it be an old tub or a wonderful liner, that appeals to them that be sailors at heart." What better introduction did the ehildien need than this? For some time afterwards Bill, as was hi« name, told them tales of his life at sea. They' were lather fantastic and highly-coloured, a pirate or two being tucked in every here and there, but did the children mind? Not they! With fascinated gaze and parted lips they listened, the old sailor preenin" himself xisibly before such an appreciative audience, until at last they tore themselves away. "Really, I don't know what you children find to amuse yourselves down on the harbour all the morning," said Aunt Helen. Rodney and Madge grinned at each other. "Oh, we love watching the ships in the bay, they said.