Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

"Hearty welcome aboard the Reuben and Esther," he called out when the

tender swung to the foot of the ladder. "What schooner is she, there?"

"Poor old Polly," stated the master, first up the ladder. In his haste

to greet the fishing-skipper he left his daughter to the care of Captain

Mayo.

"That's too bad--too bad!" clucked the fishing-skipper, full measure of

sympathy in his demeanor. "She was old, but she was able, sir!"

"And here's another poor Polly," stated Captain Candage. "I was fool

enough to take her out of a good home for a trip to sea."

The skipper ducked salute. "Make yourself to home, miss. Go below. House

is yours!"

Then the schooner lurched away on her shoreward tack, and the insolent

yacht marched off down across the shimmering waves.

Mayo shook hands with the solicitous fisherman in rather dreamy and

indifferent fashion. He realized that he was faint with hunger, but he

refused to eat. Fatigue and grief demanded their toll in more imperious

fashion than hunger. He lay down in the sun in the lee alley, put his

head on his crossed arms, and blessed sleep blotted out his bitter

thoughts.