OVER THE TOPMAST

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1934, Page 14

OVER THE TOPMAST

THE CRUISE; HABIT"

; Morning was i beginning /: to: throw things around in the Bowl, of; Night, and the Cock wasLpiitting in- a : few moments practising before; tho Tavern boor''when- we 'sped' our -way to join the Sarah O 'Flaherty'at the, Shelly-Bay wharf.. • She was off on onb/ot' her popu-: lur cruisqgltOrPeiicarrou^no; luggage worries, rdtHrri'.trip guaranteed-under tlio Immigration Act, all'extras' extra, etc. >;■■■ Wo groped 'pur' way forward. in timo t<ii sco thtf ship's.dog/finishing- his yittcli.v ;-.'•'.',■■.■ v-r;.;. jvv.:^.,;^-r;/\_.f-.•■-. !/-v v i: ;.i Soon we were off.'; Tlio crowd cheered. In,a' mbmcirt iwo; were on again. ,:There wero shouts air rounds and: then 'we; paid for one' of ■ our 'ow,n^ ;-<:Thoy:::paddl6u thrafihod the liquid green sea |to/ d frothy; foam-: whilp;-the -wind''whistled through'her stays (wo wero.-.on tho^shipj

mind yon), and by midday we had rounded the new Steeple Kock ( beacon, whose latest fashionable shade of red occulting light is visible between 176 degrees through south to 286 degrees. The open sea was'before us just in time for one of thcpnssengeis to fall ovorboaid. /'Help!" he cried conventionally. _ Captain McSkuppa's face was set in lugg'edj Scams'as he peered through the raging gale. They opened and 'closed as the terror of the situation dawned on him. "Throw a lifeboat!" he bellowed, to the first mate, who stood awaiting ordeis. "Aye, aye, sir!" scieamcd the other, clicking his bare feet. ' ' In a flash the man had been rescued and was having rum pourod down1 Mb back.' Three more passengers fell overboaid immediately. "Let 'em wait till wo return," muttered tho skipper as he lashed himself to the wheel. ' Tho storm was terrific; water penetrated even as far as the 'deck." The frail craft trembled as she ploughed onward amidst the darkness with lightning playing about her binnacle and thunder making radio reception almost impossible. The passengeis clung to each other," faces green with' thiilled emotion. f "Yo, heave ho!" sang a sailor. That started it. A moment later the ship was in calm water. Dusky belles gathered-on'the rcc£ singing the latest American "blue" songs, and Press photographers thronged aiou'nd. It was a delightful scene. , By closing time there was only water, water everywhere, and nothing else to drink. As the bionzcd holidaymakers straggled home in time to take in the milk the golden sunset was doing its best to linger low adown in'the red Tvest—rather confusing to the lowing herd gambolling on the lea with weary ploughman. Everyone was in .bright spirits, however, a delightful day having been spent by all*