Moonlight on the Sea

Southland Times, Issue 22158, 28 October 1933, Page 18

Moonlight on the Sea

—lst Prize— The wind died down; the stars came out, and gradually the sea subsided until the crashing of mountainous w 7 aves was reduced to a soothing murmur. It was then that the tumbling watery waste looked very beautiful: but to the three ship-wrecked people who stood on the sandy beach of that Coral Island, alone and friendless, it appeared as a cruel monster. They saw no beauty in the stretches of darkly blue water; they found nothing pleasant in the soft lapping of tiny wavelets on the beach. To them it seemed that that hungry monster was only stretching out long arms to grasp them, to embrace them in its watery heart. No wonder that they gazed awe-filled upon it, and drew back shuddering.

Then overhead, softly and silently the clouds parted above their heads, and the silver moon stepped out of the rift, and shed a soft glory over all. The tall cliffs behind were outlined in silver with black cavernous shadows beneath. The beach was turned into a sheet of undulating silver, upon which broke a transformed sea. No longer 7 did it lie dark and relentless, waiting for its victims. Now, it softly smiled with silver dimpled surface, while every rock, headland and wave was tipped with a wonderful radiance. The sea, tranquil and quiet was empty save for a large white shape which loomed dimly in the shadows of a headland. At sight of it, the three shipwrecked people gave loud cries of delight, for it was no less than a ship. The moonlight had shown the people to the ship and the ship to the people. Through black statuesque palms, a round-faced man smiled down on a tranquil world of black and silver. —4 marks and 3/- to Cousin Margaret Jaquiery (15), 21 George street, North Invercargill. —2nd Prize— The peaceful little settlement on the sea?shore was asleep, for it was midnight. It was situated at the foot of high bush-clad hills. In front surged the restless sea, a beach of golden sand separating it from the village. It could well have been called a paradise, and at an ordinary time it was. Just now, however, it was far from it, and under a great tree near the water’s edge, a few of the chief men were talking earnestly. It had been a disastrous year. Late frosts had ruined the fruit crops very early in the year. This was a bad blow, but when continual bad weather spoiled most of the vegetable crops the position was indeed serious. Then a storm of unusual severity had laid low the remaining source of food, the grain, the plight of the little settlement was desperate. With winter soon to come, starvation seemed certain. There was one hope only, and a slim one. Thirty miles away were several islands, any of which might contain food enough to save the situation. The only means of getting was by the small boats which they built themselves. What was still a greater difficulty, the journey would have to be made at night, for a number of very ferocious fishes roamed the sea in daylight, so that it was certain death to venture far in a small boat. At night, however, these fishes apparently took themselves away, or slept, for by night no trace of them was ever seen. This was the problem the little band of men was discussing. At last one stalwart young man volunteered to make the attempt as soon as the moon was full enough to give him sufficient light to steer by. So about a week later a boat was ready for the great venture. The moon shed a silver radiance on the sea through which could dimly be seen the distant islands. Taking one companion, for the boat would hold only two, the daring young man pushed off with many wishes of good luck, and many fears for his safety. Promising to return on the third night at latest, the young men turned their faces towards the islands, and went on their great venture. On the third night the whole settlement turned out long before dawn, to watch for the return of their hero. The same silver sheen was on the sea and they eagerly watched for a dark speck upon the water. The hours went by however, and dawn came with no sign of the boat. The next night and the next the same thing happened, until the moon failed to light the surface of the .water. Then they gave way to despair. Either the boat had upset and the men were drowned, or they had taken longer than the hours of night to reach the island, when the savage fish would surely destroy them. Two weeks of great sadness passed, and no other had dared to offer to undertake the perilous journey. Then came a night when it was again moonlight on the sea. At the water’s edge sat the sweetheart of the young man who had volunteered the trip. She was looking again on the sea, as she had seen it when her lover had gone, silently mourning his loss. Far into the night she sat, when suddenly she became aware of a big dark blot on the shining water. Fascinated she watched. After some time she was able to discern a big ship, such as she had never seen before. Great sails fluttered above it, and it was slowly but surely making for the shore. In breathless haste she ran to the village and roused the sleeping people. Soon the beach was full of eager watchers!

After a long wait, by which time the dawn was breaking, the ship came to a halt some distance out, for it could come no further; but a cheery hail came from aboard it. With a cry of delight, the girl recognized her lover’s voice, and was splashing through the water to meet him. Boats were quickly launched and the hero brought ashore where his tale was quickly told. They had reached the island just at dawn after a weary journey, and had been surprised to see the large ship. They were further surprised to find it without a soul, apparently abandoned. Then they explored the island and found fruit and food in abundance. Besides this, the ship contained food of all sorts. They had then made the daring resolve to load the ship and bring it home. This, however, had taken longer than they expected, and when it was loaded it took some time to learn to work the ship. Meanwhile, they were off their course, and had been hampered by foggy days and dark nights They were overjoyed that night to see, as the fog lifted, the silver moon appear. In the light of the moon they saw, not very far away, their own settlement. Happiness now reigned everywhere, for food was plentiful, the wanderers had returned, and they now had a ship that could defy all the monsters of the sea. Each month, when the moon first lights the sea with her glory, two lovers may be seen at the water’s edge, talking of a similar night, when happiness came by moonlight on the sea. Prize of 4 marks and 2/- to Cousin Connie Jellyman (14), Queen street, Otautau.

Highly Commended, A more wonderful sight cannot be imagined than moonlight on the tropical seas. When one is on a steamer, one can lazily lean over the side, and watch Lady Moon shed her pale light over the dark waves. Gleaming on the water, there is a pale shaft of light which illuminates the dark waves with a silvery glow making them dark in the hollows, and brilliantly bright on the foamy crests. The moon riding high in the heavens like a silver ball, looks majestically on the wonder she has created. The water seems to be a mass of molten silver, which covers boundless distances, and seems to end on the far horizon. As she floats behind a cloud, the colours gradually lessen till all the silvery radiance is gone, while darkness envelopes the scene. But only for a moment, then the moon slowly returns to survey once more her magnificent work. —3 marks to Cousin Mervyn Keane, (13) 66 Yarrow street, Invercargill.

rapture as he dabbled his hands in the glistening wavelets. Out of the sea they came, silver sprites, with the cold pure light, bathing their glistening limbs. Then, suddenly they went bearing the soul of Bobby. At last would his dreams come true. A cloud scurried across the moon, and heaped up to hide its radiance, once more the land was plunged in darkness. —3 marks to Cousin Chrissie Ross (14) Maia, Dunedin. Commended. How calm, how peaceful, how silent is the sea, the silence being broken only now and then by the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. The moon is high up in the heavens, pouring forth a silver gleam. As the waves ripple along, the crest of the wave has a beautiful reflection of the golden moon on it, and it shines like the stars. In the trough of the wave all is dark like a shadow. If one looks up in the sky one would see a calm, peaceful moon resting lightly on the clouds, and throwing a beautiful golden light on the silvery sea. All is tranquil like this until the clock solemnly strikes twelve, and the tide rushes in full force. The waves dash round the rocks and battle along making a thundering noise. But alas! the moon still is unmoved. She shines her brightest on the rough sea. If a ship had come along it would have been dashed to pieces on the rocks by the thunderous waves. The rocks could not be seen above the towering, mighty waves. All is like this until the tide goes out, and then all is tranquil again. The moon looks peacefully down on the stilled sea and everything is at peace again. —2 marks to Cousin Lilian Todd (13) Toa.

Highly Commended. Tire great house was suffused with light that poured from every window and glowed into the gloom of early night. Sounds of music and gaeity floated up to the nursery where Bobby knelt before the open window. Not for him the mirth and music of the party, for Bobby lived in a world of dim things and pixy-lore. The cool shadows hid his limbs that were pitifully wasted and twisted. The night was kind to Bobby, and it was then that he dreamed. A thousand tiny wings were pulsing about, the stars shone with steadfast purity. Suddenly a sea-gull cried! Over the lacy lines of the bush-clad hills spread a faint clear glow, then a golden rim appeared until the full moon rose into the skies. The moonlight spread, a pure silver flood, changing the sooty shreds of cloud with light. Etching the hills in ebony, driving the shadows into every vale and hollow, and silvering the hillsides. Ebbing on, until it reached the sea. Suddenly the brooding waters were twisted and shining, dimpled with ebony, and shining with clear radiance. The heart of Bobby ached with mingled pain and joy. He saw the dance of dark sprites and glittering pixies, and mermaids that slid down the shimmering ropes of light. The breeze pulled at his cheek, the curtain fluttered. Oh, the lure of the shining sea, that was beautiful with deep metallic sheen! Voices were calling to Bobby, insistent, urgent. . He could feel nothing. His crippled legs found strength, and Bobby ran down the winding road, deaf, blind to all except the whispering waters that danced before his eyes. His . breath came jerkily his eyes were blind with