The Storyteller THE CALL OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 23, 4 June 1903, Page 23

The Storyteller THE CALL OF THE SEA.

The only memory of his father that Franklin Ihomp- ! son had was <he photograph of a young naval ofhcer in uniform which his mother, wilh Ira is in her c\es, often showed him. She died when FranlJm was six, lca\ing him, hor only cause for living longer, to the care of his father's brother. When he realised how unwelcome he was in his new home the only solace he had in the world was the photograph. Ho would look at it for an hour at a time, and read again and again the inscription on the back. Before he was quite alone in the world he had heard the sea a-calhng. On his holidays he would walk to the shore and watch the ships go and come Each was a speaking individuality, which he would recognise should he see it again. The salt breath was ever in his nostrils, the tang of salt spray in his veins. When he was eleven his cousin Edward, live years his senior, received the appointment to An- apolis. If Franklin felt any envy he stifled it. The inscription on the photograph in his father's own hand foibade that. 'Be honest ; envy nobody ; strive hard,' it ran. Two years later Franklin knew that his school days were at an end. ' I'll look for a place for von to learn some business,' said his uncle, as if the boy's preferences for an occupation did not count. Early the next morning Franklin went to the great bay near his home, as he always did when he was heavy of heart. Three men-of-war — one a new battleship — their white sides gleaming, rested their enormous weights on the water as gently as swans. On the battleship it was visiting day. From her side the monster reached down her big gangway, with holystoned steps and immaculate rope, as a gallant officer offers his hand to a lady. At tho threshold of the deck Franklin paused, as one who suddenly sees his dreams mateiialise in broad daylight. No one of the knots of sightseers, troing here and there with the spectators' ' Ahs ! ' and occasional questions, noticed the boy, who stood immovable, noting every detail of the leviathan. Each gun teemed to him a living thing. Ho saw some jackies going about their appointed duties, and others under the shade of the awnings aft mending their clothes. The officer of the deck must lie the happiest man in the world, Franklin thought. Tie imagined how his father must ha\e looked, pacing back and forth in the same way Oh. if his father were only alive, then, perhaps, he. too, might go to Annapolis He looked up at the bridge and imagined himself m a great storm, with the spr.iv stinging his face and blinding his eyes, and the mountain of steel as ol edient to his commands as a bicycle to the turn of the handlebar. ' Wouldn't you like to look around a bit 9 ' asked a voice at his elbow. Its owner. Franklin saw, was n boy of about his own age, dressed like the lackies m summer white ' Would I 9 Would I 9 ' the way Franklin asked the question was answer enough from one boy to another ' I guess you'll do,' said his new fi lend, laughing 'My names' Harry firimin I'm a 'prentue ' Harry showed how the ammunition was hoisted for a 13-inch gun by touching a button : he slipped a dummy shell into the breach of one of the :?-inch rapid r irers ; but he was quite unable to answer all of his guest's questions Franklin did not leave the man-of-war until the last boat was going ashore That night he told his uncle of his desire to loin the n.ny as an apprentice Uncle William was in unusually bad temper. He thought for a moment and then said • 'I don't believe -voifll cv er le any use in business Probably you'd run away to if 1 got you a place I'll take you to the naw \ arc! to-morrow ' At any rate, Fncle William thought, ho would be free from any further responsibihtv or care for the boy Nevertheless,' he knew what Franklin's proud father or his proud mother, were eithei of them alive, would say. That thoucht stung him a little While his cousin was at the school where officers are made, Franklin was to be trained for a seaman Fdward would begin his career with rank and position just beyond the highest grade Frank,lm could ever attain Franklin must lie ever on (he forecastle side of the dividing line lief ween officer and man He rmcht rise to bo a chief gunner, while Fdward might be an admiral But Franklin did not understand this ITe was in tho period of lichtheai tod youth when the 1 esponsibibt v for his future rested on bis guardian's shouldei s ITe was entirely under the spell of the call of Ihe sea A year later found him bound for South Amei ica on a small cruiser, which continued around the Horn an<l on to TTong Kong to loin the Asiatic Srviadron which was e\ c n then preparing for the conflict with Spam. In all that lone voyage he had never once born seasick and he had giown to lo\e the sea from fannl unity as much as he had lo\ed it in anticipation On that great morninir when the Ameiicnn men-of-war ran into Manila Tlay the executive officer set him to look for loipedo boats The story of how he reported. With his hand to his cap in saluie. ' Tor pod o boat on our starboard bow. sir ; she's sinking by the bow, sir : she's sunk,' went the round of the messes. After the battle came that long period of waiting until the army

took the city. When the sun was not as hot as an oven tho clouds poured torrents that rose from the hot awnings in steam. By this time Franklin had come to comprehend the separation of officer and man as only actual service can reveal it Sometimes, with cap in hand, he had to pass through the wardroom and the officers' quarters. These, which had been his father's portion, would be his cousin's, but co'iild never be his. His fellow-apprentices wore quite content with the forecastle. They felt more at home aft than they would 101 \wu d Thcie wao Chdilev, foi example. Charley studied as little as he might : he was always getting into iuiNchKi, but withal a bricht, good-hearted fellow, with the makings of a first-class seaman in him. The boatswain, known as ' Pete ' in the forecastle and ' Peering ' forward — and there you have his two names— used to fend off intrusion when Franklin was busy with his books. All his studies had the requirements for admission to Annapolis in view. Not that ho expected ever to have his learning put to the test. He knew no one ; he had no hope of knowing anyone who could secure for him the coveted appointment. It pleased him to be ready. One day, as he was bending over the little box which is at once a seaman's work basket and wardrobe, the captain, who had strolled aft, stopped by his side, and, looking over his shoulder, saw a photograph. ' Why, that's Thompson ! ' he exclaimed. 'Is he any 1 elation of yours ? ' ' My father, sir,' Franklin replied, as he sprang to his feet and saluted. ' I did not know that,' the captain repeated, thoughtfully. He picked up the photograph and scanned the face or his old messmate. Afterwards he never passed Franklin without a smiling glance. But that glance, meant so kindly, had a sting. It seemed to say that he was in a position unworthy of his father's name. When a \isiting Congressman of the United States came aboard the cruiser as a bluest Pete instantly sought out Franklin, and, taking htm to one side where he could not be overheard, said : ' Now's your chance, my bully boy. A Congressman can do most anything, so they say. You go right up to this one and knock \our cap smart as you can and tell him who your father was and that you want to go to Annapolis ' Franklin had not the courage or the presumption, whichever you call it ; Pete called it ' gall.' II you won't, sonny I will.' And when he saw the Congiessinan sitting on the deck after general quarters he approached him with a eulogy as earnest as it was picturesque. The Corvgressnian smiled and asked to see Franklin. ' Now, son in,' Peter, 'l'\e cleared the channel , go forw.ud and do \ our e\olutions.' '\s Franklin stood before the eldetiv. dignified man silting beside the captain en the captain's deck he felt himself to l>e quite the me st insignificant apprentice in the woild The Congressman looked him over keenly 1 torn iH'.id to foot, as if he were examining the texture 01 the cloth on the back of his lacket. ' Po \ou want to co to Annapolis'' ' 7 iid he want to > Poes the tender shoot of spring want the sunlight ? Franklin's voice trembled with hope ' Yes, sir More than anything else in the world.' 'Tin not making any promises,' the Congressman said lir.ally ' Congiossmen ha\e not a pocketful of blanks to (ill out whenever they :-ee a bnght boy. I'll si o w ha t T can do ' When, by the rules of the naw, Franklin was supposed to be .sound asleep that night he was wideawake. building air castles How long would he have to wait beioie \-v 1 eai d from the Congressman? Would ho ever hear ° The statesman did not appear again aboard the cruiser for many days In the meantime a new cadet, with his stripe fresh on his arm, came to the cruiser. It was none other than Franklin's own cousin, Edward. Wh< n they met at dull there was no look of recognition m Edward's face Later, in one of the intervals of the clay which the forecastle may call its own, the officer came ait and in a patronising manner asked the apprentice how he was getting on When Franklin told him \eiv well, Edward said it was awkward for an officer to have a cousin in the forecastle, and walked away. Franklin flushed at the remark, and repeated Hinder his breath his father's advice, as the soldier of the old days lepeated his talisman The next day Franklin had shore leave. On his way lack to tho quay lie saw his fellow-apprentice Charley m bad company He forgot all else except his friend's plight, and his hoiror over it When finally he had separator! Charley ft om the lounger who wanted to show the sailor boy the town, the cruiser's launch had gone. 1 hey had to hire a native to row them out in a banka, which crept at a snail's pace in the gathering dark r ness Fen the first tune in hi,s life Franklin was among tho ,i reused who stood at the mast tho next morning to hear their <-entpnces tioni the captain, who acts as iudge, and with the captain was the Congressman Franklin saw his look of suipiise ns their eves met The captain spoke ot his own lt i ief in dolL\ erlncr sentence of suspension from lea\o privilege for six months. Franklin's honrl swam, and his cheeks were aflamo. He could only reply with a hoarse ' Yes, sir.' As he turned to go he heard the Congressman say sarcastically that he did not think ' that boy was so very anxious to go to Annapolis.'

Franklin was the only one of the ship's company who did not brighten when they received the electric thrill of an order which broke their weary vigil in the famous bay by sending the cruiser to patrol duty among the southern islands. But when they were under way Franklin found that the Congressman was still aboard, and his hopes revived a little. For a week in coasting from port to port he looked in vain for some event which would set him right. Then came an order transferring him. He was assigned to the Marietta, a tiny gunboat no bigger than a harbor t/ugboat and with but half thu draft. He had only time to get his belongings together, which does, not take a sailor long. Hts found that his cousin had al=o been transferred and was to be commander of the cockleshell. The Marietta'a first assignment was to tako nono other than the Congressman up a river to the capital of a province where he had a son, an officer of the ar<my, in command of the garrison. There Franklin would definitely see the last of him. They had no thought of meeting with any delay on their llun of the five miles of winding stream, but it is when they are least expected that guerrillas appear. The Congressman was sitting in tho bow admiring the scenery, the little engine was ' chugging ' earnestly, the screw was whirling vigorously through the muddy water, when out of the soft green foliage of the right bank cracked a volley. The Congressman, a veteran himself, dropped on the deck and looked about him for a rifle, his old eyes flashing. The cadet had never been under fire before. He dodged and fell on the deck with the others. Franklin was at the wheel and remained erect, frightened, but not forgetting his duty. There bad not been a tremor of the rudder. ' Steer for that bank, sharp, sharp ! ' Edward called, and Franklin obeyed. ' I don't want to— to endanger your life,' he panted to the Congressman, his sentence broken by the ring of a bullet against the hull and whistle of other bullets over their heads. ' Seems to me I'd put a few shots back at 'em in the meanwhile,' said the Congressman. ' \\ hat's that for ? ' He nodded toward a rapid-fire gun in the bow. ' And that ? ' toward a one-pounder in the stern. Ed,ward could not fail to take the hint. He sprang up with trembling limbs- and ran to the rapid-fire gun, calling for the other to be manned. A bullet struck its support before he could put it in action. That made htm forget all his training. lie aimed wildly, and jammed tho delicate machine almost instantly. Then, in his desperation, he ran toward tho wheel. ' Steer in closer, closer ! ' ' It's too shallow, sir,' Franklin replied. ' No, it's not.' The ensign could hear the triumphant shouts of the insurgents, who increased their fire He was wild with exasperation. ' It's not ' ' he repeated, and sei7ed the wheel in his own hands and turned it hard alee. The bow veered sharply. I'or an instant the boat flew forward, then grounded. A 9 if they had been waiting on this for a signal, a fire broke out from some bushes which rose above the level of the grassy bank on the left side. ' Both sides ! ' gasped the ensign. He sprang overboard, as much to avoid the fire as anything. ' Push her off.' Everybody leaped into the wate,r. When the insurgents on the left bank saw the predicament of tho Americans they broke out of their co^ cr with a veil rind came running toward them. Meanwhile the Marietta was still in range of the fire from tho other side It was a question only of minutes — yes, of seconds, before they would be prisoners. The current swung the Marietta part i a 11 v around and drove her fast into the soft mud. and tho inisdn ected efforts of her crew to free her were as una\ ailing as if she were a battleship. ' Can't somebody fire that gun *> Can't somebody fire?' the Congressman called, putting fhe strength of his sixty years against the hull and feeling his shoes sinking in the soft ooze beneath them. At this juncture, in the face of the Tire, Franklin sprang on deck and ran aft to the jammed instrument of their hope. Ho felt as cool as his father's son ought 1o feel under such circumstances . lhe parts of tho mechanism were not a jumble to him, as they were to tho excited cadet, and' he saw tho difficulty and how simple it was. His study, his questions, had not been in vain ' Man the one-pounder ' Get the rifles, everybody ' ' ho called, with the instinct of command. Aa they tumbled aboard the ciew heard the rat-tat-tat of the gun under Franklin's hand, sweeping the field of white-shirted figures pressing forward, and soon a little shell from the one-pounder threw up dnt at their feet The insurgents were too near their p/-r/e to be stopped yet. ' Keep cool, everybody . keep cool ' said tho ( ongressman, himself firing with the nice calculation of a man at a range. The Americans did not realise that shois were still coming 'from the rear They knew that the insurgents on the other side of the stream could not cross it, and that was enough. If tho gun should jam again all would be lost. . But it did not jam ; and soon the insurgents, 710 longer able to stand the persistent accuiacy of the machine, began to fall back and finally ran in pell-mell flight, leaving their wounded behind. Promptly Franklin whirled his gun round and began firing upon tho first attacking party, which withdrew when it saw that it was unsupported by the other side.

When excitement no longer made their efforts futile, and one was not pushing against another, and with the screw properly directed to their assistance, the crew was very soon able to force the stranded Marietta back into the stream. After the Congressman had emptied tho water otttt of his shoes and was once more seated, with nothing to do but to enjoy the scenery, ho said to Franklin, in beaming gratitudo : ' Well, young man, you're quite a general ! ' .1 ■ franklin blushed. The remark did not make him Hunk of his ambition Tt gave him speech for another cause. ' Oh, sir, I want you not to believe that those charges were true. They weren't. I wouldn't have overstayed leave if it hadn't beeffi— but— but you ask Charley the rest.' I don't believe them. To prove it, all you've got to do is to pass the examination at Annapolis. I'll see that you get tho appointment.' Franklin's manner and his eyes spoke his gratitude better than his tongue. Edward, who had overheard, looked proudly at his colisin and then said to the Congressman : ' I thank you, too, sir ! I shan't be happy till he wears the uniform his father wore. He saved us all to-day.' His little speech saved Edward from a court of inquiry. He became Franklin's best friend, and if ever he goes into action again there is no doubt that he will bekave like a veteran. — ' Youth's Companion.'