OYEB THE TOPMAST

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 96, 20 October 1934, Page 15

OYEB THE TOPMAST

NAUTICAL MEANDERINGS

"It's a peculiar thing," said Captain McSkuppn, leaning against tho funnel and nonchalantly chewing a length of to-vy. "A peculiar thing!" ''Yes," I suggested politely. "Yes, yes.'' "Well, these hero fellows as liko talkin' about their experiences an' gettin' their names in print. Can't stand 'em myself; can't stand 'cm." "Take a seat," I urged. He arranged an anchor comfortably and sat down. "Now mo, ii'r instance, D'you think I'd ever want to tell people about me bcin' fifty-nine years in active commission and travelled round the world eighty-seven times, and -been to the Antarctic; d'you think I'd make a noise about things like that? Xo —you've got mo. all .wrong if. you've coinc down 'e"rc to .get a story put o' me! All' wrong!" 'Ho seized another stump of rope and stuffed it intq his mouth, chewing, heatedly, ?' 'Avo . a piece""- he asked rt moment later with traditional nautical camaraderie.: ' "Thanks all the" same,-but.l've just had some varnish off the saloon door,''' I returned. "So you will tell me nothing? Not oven a little bit?" The captain crumpled a piece off a hatchway and toyed with it ruminatively. "Nope, notter word. Don't believe in it. Bnd for trade!" "Bad for trade?" "Deuced bad —almost damn' bad. What'd you think my crew'd do if they was to know I run away to sea when I was eleven years old, served in a windjammer on'tho'Chinese coast for ten years—"

"Junk?" I queried, taking a short-

proach to Southampton Water as she was making for port from New York on the night of September 11. She did not dock until 1 a.m. the following day, nearly three hours after her scheduled time. She was going practically dead slow, and was only on the mud for about a quarter of an hour. She refloated under her own power, and then anchored off Cowes for more than an hour to wait for the tide.

The Blue Star Line's steamer Napier Star is now undergoing extensive alterations. There is a possibility that she will bo lengthened and fitted with a new bow.