Blow The Man Down: A Romance Of The Coast

by Holman Day

  XIV ~ BEARINGS FOR A NEW COURSE

  And now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun, It's hands about ship and reef topsails in one; So it's lay aloft, topman, as the hellum goes down, And clew down your topsails as the mainyard goes round. --La Pique.

  At the end of that week the _Ethel and May_ had delivered at market herfirst fare of fish and her captains had divided her first shares. Mayodecided that the results were but of proportion to the modest returns.He was viewing the regeneration of the tribe of Hue and Cry. In theircase it had been the right touch at the right time. For years theirhopes had been hungry for a chance to make good. Now gratitude inspiredthem and an almost insane desire to show that they were not worthlessdrove them to supreme effort. The leaven of the psychology ofindependence was getting in its work.

  The people of Hue and Cry for three generations had been made to feelthat they were pariahs. When they had brought their fish or clams to themainland the buyers were both unjust and contemptuous, as if they weredealing with begging children who must expect only a charitable giftfor their product instead of a real man's price. Prices suited thefish-buyers' moods of the day. The islanders had never been admittedto the plane of straight business like other fishermen. They had alwaystaken meekly what had been offered--whether coin or insults. Therefore,their labor had never returned them full values.

  They who bought made the poor wretches feel that it constituted aspecial favor to take their fish at any price.

  They seemed to come into their own that first day at market when the_Ethel and May_ made her bigness in the dock at the city fish-house.Masterful men represented them in the dealings with the buyers. The crewhid their delighted grins behind rough palms when Captain Epps Candagebawled out bidders who were under market quotations; they gazed with aweon Captain Mayo when he read from printed sheets--print being amystery they had never mastered--and figured with ready pencil and evencorrected the buyer, who acknowledged his error and humbly apologized.No more subservient paltering at the doors of fish-houses!

  Back home the women and the children and the old folks had a good roofover their heads; the fishers had the deck of a tidy schooner undertheir feet. Shiftlessness departed from them. After years of oppressionthey had found their opportunity. More experienced men would havefound this new fortune only modest; these men grasped it with juvenileenthusiasm.

  They were over the side of the schooner and out in their dories whenmore cautious trawlsmen hugged the fo'c'sle. On their third trip,because of this daring, they caught the city market bare on a Thursdayand made a clean-up.

  "I'm told that Saint Peter started this Friday notion because he wasin the fish business," stated Captain Candage, sorting money for theshares. "All I've got to say is, he done a good job of it."

  Mr. Speed, sailing as mate, always found ready obedience.

  Smut-nosed Dolph never listened before to such praise as was lavished bythe hungry men over the pannikins which he heaped.

  Captain Mayo, casting up accounts one day, was honestly astonished tofind that almost a month had passed since he had landed at Maquoit.

  "That goes to show how a man will get interested when he is picked upand tossed into a thing," he said to Polly Candage.

  "You are making real men of them, Captain Mayo!" She added, with alaugh, "And you told me you were no kind of a hand at making over humannature!"

  "They are doing it themselves."

  "I will say nothing to wound your modesty, sir."

  "Now I must wake up. I must! There's nothing worth while in the profitfor both your father and myself. I want him to have the propositionalone. There'll be a fair make for him. I didn't intend to stay here solong. I guess I sort of forgot myself." He went on with his figures.

  "But I knew you could not forget," she ventured, after a pause.

  He glanced up and found a queer expression on her countenance. Therewere frank sympathy and friendliness in her eyes. He had revolved bitterthoughts alone, struggling with a problem he could not master. In suddenemotion--in an unpremeditated letting-go of himself--he reached out forsomebody in whom to confide. He needed counsel in a matter where no mancould help him. This girl was the only one who could understand.

  "There may be letters waiting for me in the city--in the big citywhere I may be expected," he blurted. "I haven't dared to send any." Hehesitated, and then gave way to his impulse. "Miss Polly, I haven't anyright to trouble you with my affairs. I may seem impertinent. Butyou are a girl! Does a girl usually sit down and think over all thedifficulties--when she doesn't get letters--and then make allowances?"

  "I'm sure she does--when she loves anybody."

  "And yet it may seem very strange. I am worried out of my senses. Idon't know what to do."

  She was silent for a long time, looking away from him and twistingher hands in her lap; she was plainly searching her soul forinspiration--and courage!

  "You think she will understand the situation?" he insisted.

  "She ought to."

  "But no word from me! Silence for weeks!"

  Her voice was low, but she evidently had found courage. "I have notheard one word--not a letter has come to me--since I left my aunt'shome."

  "Do you feel sure that he loves you just the same? You don't needletters?"

  "Oh no! I don't need letters."

  "But in my case?"

  "I could see that she loves you very much. She stood out before themall, Captain Mayo. That sort of a girl does not need letters."

  "You have put new courage in me. I believe you understand just how agirl would feel. You know a Yankee! He expects to find a friend justwhere he left him, in the matter of affection."

  "A girl does not need to be a Yankee to be that way in her love."

  "I can't sneak around to her by the back way--I can't do that!" hecried. "I don't want to be ashamed of myself. I don't want to bringmore trouble to her. Don't you think she will wait for me until I cancome--and come right!"

  "She will wait for you, sir. It's the nature of women to wait--when theylove."

  "But I cannot ask her to wait forever. That's why I must go away andtry to make good." He set his teeth, and his jaw muscles were ridged."I believe a man can get what he goes after in the right spirit, MissPolly." He swing off the porch and left her.

  The fog was heavy on shore and sea that day, holding the _Ethel and May_in port. He disappeared into the stifling mist, and the girl sat andstared into that vacancy for a long time.

  Mayo rowed out to the schooner, which was anchored in the harbor roads.He was carrying his accounts to Captain Candage.

  Standing and facing forward as he rowed, he came suddenly upon a bigsteam-yacht which had stolen into the cove through the fog and wasanchored in his course. She was the _Sprite_, and he had formed a'longshore acquaintance with her skipper that summer, meeting himin harbors where the _Sprite_ and _Olenia_ had been neighbors in theanchorage. He stopped rowing and allowed the dory to drift. He notedthat the blue flag was flying at the main starboard spreader, announcingthe absence of the owner, and he understood that he could call for theskipper without embarrassing that gentleman. One of the crew was puttingcovers on the brasswork forward.

  "Compliments to Captain Trott, and tell him that Captain Mayo is at thegangway."

  The skipper appeared promptly, replying to the hail before the sailorhad stirred. "Come aboard, sir."

  "I'll not bother you that much, captain. I can ask my question just aswell from here. Do you know of any good opening for a man of my size?"

  The captain of the _Sprite_ came to the rail and did not reply promptly.

  "I have left the _Olenia_ and I'm looking for something."

  Captain Trott started for the gangway. "Oh, you needn't trouble to comedown, sir."

  "I'd rather, Captain Mayo." After he had descended he squatted on theplatform at the foot of the ladder and held the dory close, grasping thegunwale. "What are you doing for yourself these days?"
r />   Mayo had no relish for a long story. "I'm waiting to grab in onsomething," he replied.

  Captain Trott did not show any alacrity in getting to the subject whichMayo had broached. "It has set in pretty thick, hasn't it? I have beenordered in here to wait for my folks; they're visiting at some bigestate up-river."

  "But about the chance for a job, captain!"

  "Look here! What kind of a run-in did you have with the _Olenia_ owner?"

  Mayo opened his mouth and then promptly closed it. He could not revealthe nature of the trouble between himself and his former employer.

  "We had words," he said, stiffly.

  "Yes, I reckon so! But the rest of it!"

  "That's all."

  "You needn't tell me any more than you feel like doing, of course," saidCaptain Trott. "But I have to tell _you_ that Mr. Marston has come outwith some pretty fierce talk for an owner to make. He has made quite abusiness of circulating that talk. I didn't realize that you are of somuch importance in the world, Mayo," he added, dryly.

  "I don't know what he is saying."

  "Didn't you leave him in the night--without notice, or something of thekind?"

  "It was an accident."

  "I hope you have a good story to back you up, Captain Mayo, for I haveliked you mighty well ever since meeting you first. What is behind it?"

  "I can't tell you."

  "But you can tell somebody--somebody who can straighten the thing outfor you, can't you?"

  "No, Captain Trott."

  "Well, you know what has happened in your case, don't you?" The skipperof the _Sprite_ exhibited a little testiness at being barred out ofMayo's confidence.

  The young man shook his head.

  "Marston claims that you mutinied and deserted him--slipped away in thenight--threw up your job on the high seas--left him to work to New Yorkwith a short crew--the mate as captain."

  "That's an infernal lie!"

  "Then come forward and show him up."

  "I cannot talk about the case. I have my reasons--good ones!"

  "I'm sorry for you, Mayo. You are done in the yachting game, I'm afraid.He'll blacklist you in every yacht club from Bar Harbor to Miami. Ihave heard my folks talking about it. He seems to have a terriblegrudge--more than a big man usually bothers about in the case of askipper."

  Mayo set his oar against the edge of the platform and pushed off. Theskipper called after him, but he was instantly swallowed up by the fogand did not reply.

  On board the _Ethel and May_ his ragged but cheery crew were baiting up,hooking clams upon the ganging hooks, and coiling lines into tubs. Themen grinned greeting when he swung over the rail. He scowled at them; heeven turned a glowering look on Captain Candage when he met the latteron the quarter-deck.

  "Yes, sir! I see how it is! You're getting cussed sick of this two-centgame here," said Candage, mournfully. "I don't blame ye. We ain't inyour class, here, Captain Mayo." He took the papers which the young manheld out to him. "I suppose this is the last time we'll share, you andme. I'll miss ye devilish bad. I'd rather go for nothing and let youhave it all than lose ye. But, of course, it ain't no use to argue orcoax."

  Mayo went and sat on the rail, folding his arms, and did not reply. Theold skipper trudged forward, his head bowed, his hands clutched behindhis back. When he returned Mayo stood up and put his hand on the oldman's shoulder.

  "Captain Candage, please don't misunderstand me. Just at present I feelthat the only friends I have in the world are here. Don't mind the wayI acted just now when I came on board. I have had a lot of trouble--I'mhaving more of it. I'm not going to leave you just yet. I want to stayaboard until I can think it all over--can get my grip. That is, ifyou're satisfied to have it that way!"

  "Satisfied! Jumping Cicero!" exploded Captain Can-dage. He took the doryand rowed ashore. He found his daughter gazing into the fog from theporch of the widow's cottage. "He is going to stay a while longer," heinformed her, rapturously. "Something has happened. Do you suppose thatgirl has throwed him over?"

  "Father, do you dare to chuckle because a friend is in trouble?"

  "I'll laugh and slap my leg if he ever gets shet of that hity-titygirl," he rejoined, stoutly.

  "I am astonished--I am ashamed of you, father!"

  "Polly dear, be honest with your dad!" he pleaded. "Do you want to seehim married off to her?"

  "I certainly do. I only wish I might help him." Her lips were white, hervoice trembled. She got up and hurried into the house.

  "I'll be cussed if I understand wimmen," declared Captain Candage,fiddling his finger under his nose. "That feller she has picked out forherself must be the Emp'ror of Peeroo."

  Captain Mayo did not come ashore again before the _Ethel and May_sailed.

  The fog cleared that night and they smashed out to the fishing-groundsahead of a cracking breeze, and had their trawls down in the early dawn.At sundown, trailed by a wavering banner of screaming gulls who gobbledthe "orts" tossed over by the busy crew cleaning their catch, they weredocking at the city fish-house.

  "Lucky again," commented Captain Candage, returning from his sharpdicker with the buyer. "The city critters are all hungry for haddock,and that's just what we hit to-day." He surveyed his gloomy partner withsympathetic concern. "Why don't you take a run uptown?" he suggested."You're sticking too close to this packet for a young man. Furthermore,if you see a store open buy me a box of paper collars. Rowley hain't gotmy size!"

  Mayo, unreconciled and uneasy, hating that day the sound of theflapping, sliding fish as they were pitchforked into the tubs forhoisting, annoyed by the yawling of pulleys and realizing that hisnerves were not right at all, obeyed the suggestion. He had asecret errand of his own, yielding to a half-hope; he went to thegeneral-delivery window of the post-office and asked for mail. He knewthat love makes keen guesses. The _Olenia_ had visited that harborfrequently for mail. But there was nothing for him. He strolled aboutthe streets, nursing his melancholy, forgetting Captain Candage'scommission, envying the contentment shown by others.

  In that mood he would have avoided Captain Zoradus Wass if he had spiedthat boisterously cheerful mariner in season. But the captain had him bythe arm and was dancing him about the sidewalk, showing more affabilitythan was his wont.

  "Heifers o' Herod! youngster," shouted the grizzled master, "have youcome looking for me?"

  "No," faltered Mayo. "Did you want to see me?"

  "Have worn taps off my boots to-day chasing from shipping commissioner'soffice to every hole and corner along the water-front. Heard you hadquit aboard a yacht, and reckoned you had got sensible again and wantedreal work."

  "If you had asked down among the fish-houses you might have got on trackof me, sir." Mayo's tone was somber.

  "Fish! You fishing?" demanded Captain Wass, with incredulity.

  "Yes, and on a chartered smack at that--shack-fishing on shares!" Mayowas sourly resolved to paint his low estate in black colors. "And I haveconcluded it's about all I'm fit for."

  "That's fine, seaman-like talk to come from a young chap I have trainedup to master's papers, giving him two years in my pilot-house. I wasafraid you were going astern, you young cuss, when I heard you'd goneskipper of a yacht, but I didn't think it was as bad as all this."

  "My yachting business is done, sir."

  "Thank the bald-headed Nicodemus! There's hopes of you. Did anybody tellyou I've been looking for you?"

  "No, sir!"

  "Glad of it. Now I can tell you myself. Do you know where I am now?"

  "I heard you were on a Vose line freighter, sir."

  "Don't know who told you that--but it wasn't Ananias. You're right.She's the old _Nequasset_, handed back to me again because I'm theonly one who understands her cussed fool notions. First mate got drunkyesterday and broke second mate's leg in the scuffle--one is in jail andt'other in the hospital, and never neither of 'em will step aboard anyship with me again. I sail at daybreak, bade to the Chesapeake for steelrails. Got your papers?"

 
"Yes, sir!"

  "Come along. You're first mate."

  "Do you really want me, sir?"

  "Want you? Confound it all, I've got you! In about half a day I'll haveall the yacht notions shaken out of you and the fish-scales strippedoff, and then you'll be what you was when I let you go--the smartestyoungster I ever trained."

  Mayo obeyed the thrust of the jubilant master's arm and went along."I'll go and explain to Captain Can-dage, my partner."

  "All right. I'll go along, too, and help you make it short."

  As they walked along Captain Wass inspected his companion critically.

  "High living aboard Marston's yacht make you dyspeptic, son? You look asif your vittles hadn't been agreeing with you."

  "My health is all right, sir."

  "Heard you had trouble with Marston," proceeded the old skipper, withbrutal frankness. "Anybody who has trouble with that damnation piratecomes well recommended to me. He is trying to steal every steamboat lineon this coast. Thank Gawd, he can never get his claws on the old Voseline. Some great doings in the steamboat business are ahead, Mayo.Reckon it's a good line to be in if you like fight and want to make yourbigness."

  Mayo walked on in silence. He was troubled by this added informationthat news of his affair with Marston had gained such wide currency.However, he was glad that this new opportunity offered him a chance tohide himself in the isolation of a freighter's pilot-house.

  Captain Candage received the news with meek resignation. "I knowed itwould have to come," he said. "Couldn't expect much else. Howsomever, itain't comforting."

  "Can't keep a good boy like this pawing around in fish gurry," statedCaptain Wass.

  "I know it, and I wish him well and all the best!"

  Their leave-taking, presided over by the peremptory master of the_Nequasset_, was short.

  "I'll probably have a chance to see you when we come here again," calledMayo from the wharf, looking down into the mournful countenance of theskipper. "Perhaps I'll have time to run down to Maquoit while we aredischarging. At any rate, explain it all for me, especially to yourdaughter."

  "I'll tell all concerned just what's right," Captain Candage assuredhim. "I'll tell her for you."

  She was on the beach when the skipper came rowing in alone from the_Ethel and May_.

  "He's gone," he called to her. "Of course we couldn't keep him. He's toosmart to stay on a job like this."

  When they were on their way up to the widow's cottage he stoleside-glances at her, and her silence distressed him.

  "Let's see! He says to me--if I can remember it right-he says, says he,'Take my best respects and '--let's see--yes, 'take my best respects andlove to your Polly--'"

  "Father! Please don't fib."

  "It's just as I remember it, dear. 'Especial,' he says. I remember that!'Especial,' he says. And he looked mighty sad, dear, mighty sad." Heput his arm about her. "There are a lot of sad things in this world foreverybody, Polly. Sometimes things get so blamed mixed up that I feellike going off and climbing a tree!"