Part 17 (1/2)
When a man has lost his only son, his summer's work, and his means of livelihood, in thirty counted seconds, it is hard to give consolation
”All Gloucesterhelplessly with a dory-becket
”Oh, that don'tthe wet from his beard ”I'll be rowin' summer boarders araound East Gloucester this fall” He rolled heavily to the rail, singing
”Happy birds that sing and fly Round thine altars, O Most High!”
”Coht to give orders Their eyes ht for a quarter of a minute
”I dunno who you be, but I'll coet back some o' the--some o' the--nine thousand dollars” Penn led him into the cabin and slid the door behind
”That ain't Penn,” cried Uncle Salters ”It's Jacob Boiler, an'--he's remembered Johnstown! I never seed such eyes in any livin' man's head
What's to do naow? What'll I do naow?”
They could hear Penn's voice and Jason's together Then Penn's went on alone, and Salters slipped off his hat, for Penn was praying Presently the little e drops of sweat on his face, and looked at the crew Dan was still sobbing by the wheel
”He don't know us,” Salters groaned ”It's all to do over again, checkers and everything--an' what'll he say to ers ”I have prayed,”
said he ”Our people believe in prayer I have prayed for the life of this man's son Mine were drowned before my eyes--she and my eldest and--the others Shall a man be more wise than his Maker? I prayed never for their lives, but I have prayed for this man's son, and he will surely be sent hily at Penn to see if he re have I been
”Pshaw, Penn! You weren't never an ”Only a little distracted like”
”I saw the houses strike the bridge before the fires broke out I do not reo is that?”
”I can't stand it! I can't stand it!” cried Dan, and Harvey whimpered in sy voice
”Then I have been a charge on some one for every day of that time Who was the man?”
Disko pointed to Salters
”Ye hain't--ye hain't!” cried the sea-farether ”Ye've more'n earned your keep twice-told; an' there's money owin' you, Penn, besides ha'af o' my quarter-share in the boat, which is yours fer value received”
”You are good men I can see that in your faces But--”
”Mother av Mercy,” whispered Long Jack, ”an' he's been wid us all these trips! He's clean bewitched”
A schooner's bell struck up alongside, and a voice hailed through the fog: ”O Disko! 'Heard abaout the Jennie Cushman?”
”They have found his son,” cried Penn ”Stand you still and see the salvation of the Lord!”
”Got Jason aboard here,” Disko answered, but his voice quavered
”There--warn't any one else?”