JUST AS THE SUN WENT DOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

JUST AS THE SUN WENT DOWN.

SHE was an old softwood barque and we were loading at Cardiff for one of the many coaling stations in the Atlantic or Western Ocean. I had signed on as second mate and we had just finished loading; that is, we had got just as much coal on board as the captain had ordered.

We were about 4in off our mark, and the c-nptnin and I were talking on the d<«'k when the iiyeiit of the coal company came along and said: "Could you take another 20 tons. ■ apt a i n'? I'liat will ju->t complete this t-hipmeiit to these people." The captain !-aid : "No, I cannot. Thla is just aa much ioal aa I ever put aboard, and I don't feel like putting 20 tons more into her." The two of them walked away and I went aboard the ship and told the mate what I had heard. "I hope the Old Man won't take it. We have plenty on board for thia time of the year," answered the mate, and he went ashore. The captain came along •-lowly and, shaking hie head, spoke to the mate. All I heard the mate say was: "I'm sorry, sir, that we are taking it." He came aboard and said:

"Don't put the hatches on yet, Mister. We're taking another 22 tons aboard." "Very well, sir," I answered, and the leading wa« resumed. "What is the matter, Mister?" I asked, and he said:

"Oh, nothing much, only T am sorry the Old that last 20 tons, but he evidently had to. He likes it jast as