The Reluctant Voyagers

by Stephen Crane

CHAPTER ITwo men sat by the sea waves."Well, I know I'm not handsome," said one gloomily. He was poking holesin the sand with a discontented cane.The companion was watching the waves play. He seemed overcome withperspiring discomfort as a man who is resolved to set another man right.Suddenly his mouth turned into a straight line."To be sure you are not," he cried vehemently."You look like thunder. I do not desire to be unpleasant, but I mustassure you that your freckled skin continually reminds spectators ofwhite wall paper with gilt roses on it. The top of your head looks likea little wooden plate. And your figure--heavens!"For a time they were silent. They stared at the waves that purred neartheir feet like sleepy sea-kittens.Finally the first man spoke."Well," said he, defiantly, "what of it?""What of it?" exploded the other. "Why, it means that you'd look likeblazes in a bathing-suit."They were again silent. The freckled man seemed ashamed. His tallcompanion glowered at the scenery."I am decided," said the freckled man suddenly. He got boldly up from thesand and strode away. The tall man followed, walking sarcastically andglaring down at the round, resolute figure before him.A bath-clerk was looking at the world with superior eyes through a holein a board. To him the freckled man made application, waving his handsover his person in illustration of a snug fit. The bath-clerk thoughtprofoundly. Eventually, he handed out a blue bundle with an air ofhaving phenomenally solved the freckled man's dimensions.The latter resumed his resolute stride."See here," said the tall man, following him, "I bet you've got aregular toga, you know. That fellow couldn't tell--""Yes, he could," interrupted the freckled man, "I saw correctmathematics in his eyes.""Well, supposin' he has missed your size. Supposin'--""Tom," again interrupted the other, "produce your proud clothes andwe'll go in."The tall man swore bitterly. He went to one of a row of little woodenboxes and shut himself in it. His companion repaired to a similar box.At first he felt like an opulent monk in a too-small cell, and he turnedround two or three times to see if he could. He arrived finally into hisbathing-dress. Immediately he dropped gasping upon a three-corneredbench. The suit fell in folds about his reclining form. There wassilence, save for the caressing calls of the waves without.Then he heard two shoes drop on the floor in one of the little coops. Hebegan to clamor at the boards like a penitent at an unforgiving door."Tom," called he, "Tom--"A voice of wrath, muffled by cloth, came through the walls. "You go t'blazes!"The freckled man began to groan, taking the occupants of the entire rowof coops into his confidence."Stop your noise," angrily cried the tall man from his hidden den. "Yourented the bathing-suit, didn't you? Then--""It ain't a bathing-suit," shouted the freckled man at the boards. "It'san auditorium, a ballroom, or something. It isn't a bathing-suit."The tall man came out of his box. His suit looked like blue skin. Hewalked with grandeur down the alley between the rows of coops. Stoppingin front of his friend's door, he rapped on it with passionate knuckles."Come out of there, y' ol' fool," said he, in an enraged whisper. "It'sonly your accursed vanity. Wear it anyhow. What difference does it make?I never saw such a vain ol' idiot!"As he was storming the door opened, and his friend confronted him. Thetall man's legs gave way, and he fell against the opposite door.The freckled man regarded him sternly."You're an ass," he said.His back curved in scorn. He walked majestically down the alley. Therewas pride in the way his chubby feet patted the boards. The tall manfollowed, weakly, his eyes riveted upon the figure ahead.As a disguise the freckled man had adopted the stomach of importance. Hemoved with an air of some sort of procession, across a board walk, downsome steps, and out upon the sand.There was a pug dog and three old women on a bench, a man and a maidwith a book and a parasol, a seagull drifting high in the wind, and adistant, tremendous meeting of sea and sky. Down on the wet sand stood agirl being wooed by the breakers.The freckled man moved with stately tread along the beach. The tall man,numb with amazement, came in the rear. They neared the girl.Suddenly the tall man was seized with convulsions. He laughed, and thegirl turned her head.She perceived the freckled man in the bathing-suit. An expression ofwonderment overspread her charming face. It changed in a moment to apearly smile.This smile seemed to smite the freckled man. He obviously tried to swelland fit his suit. Then he turned a shrivelling glance upon hiscompanion, and fled up the beach. The tall man ran after him, pursuingwith mocking cries that tingled his flesh like stings of insects. Heseemed to be trying to lead the way out of the world. But at last hestopped and faced about."Tom Sharp," said he, between his clenched teeth, "you are anunutterable wretch! I could grind your bones under my heel."The tall man was in a trance, with glazed eyes fixed on the bathing-dress. He seemed to be murmuring: "Oh, good Lord! Oh, good Lord! I neversaw such a suit!"The freckled man made the gesture of an assassin."Tom Sharp, you--"The other was still murmuring: "Oh, good Lord! I never saw such a suit!I never--"The freckled man ran down into the sea.CHAPTER IIThe cool, swirling waters took his temper from him, and it became athing that is lost in the ocean. The tall man floundered in, and the twoforgot and rollicked in the waves.The freckled man, in endeavoring to escape from mankind, had left allsave a solitary fisherman under a large hat, and three boys in bathing-dress, laughing and splashing upon a raft made of old spars.The two men swam softly over the ground swells.The three boys dived from their raft, and turned their jolly facesshorewards. It twisted slowly around and around, and began to moveseaward on some unknown voyage. The freckled man laid his face to thewater and swam toward the raft with a practised stroke. The tall manfollowed, his bended arm appearing and disappearing with the precisionof machinery.The craft crept away, slowly and wearily, as if luring. The littlewooden plate on the freckled man's head looked at the shore like around, brown eye, but his gaze was fixed on the raft that slyly appearedto be waiting. The tall man used the little wooden plate as a beacon.At length the freckled man reached the raft and climbed aboard. He laydown on his back and puffed. His bathing-dress spread about him like adead balloon. The tall man came, snorted, shook his tangled locks andlay down by the side of his companion.They were overcome with a delicious drowsiness. The planks of the raftseemed to fit their tired limbs. They gazed dreamily up into the vastsky of summer."This is great," said the tall man. His companion grunted blissfully.Gentle hands from the sea rocked their craft and lulled them to peace.Lapping waves sang little rippling sea-songs about them. The two menissued contented groans."Tom," said the freckled man."What?" said the other."This is great."They lay and thought.A fish-hawk, soaring, suddenly, turned and darted at the waves. The tallman indolently twisted his head and watched the bird plunge its clawsinto the water. It heavily arose with a silver gleaming fish."That bird has got his feet wet again. It's a shame," murmured the tallman sleepily. "He must suffer from an endless cold in the head. Heshould wear rubber boots. They'd look great, too. If I was him, I'd--Great Scott!"He had partly arisen, and was looking at the shore.He began to scream. "Ted! Ted! Ted! Look!""What's matter?" dreamily spoke the freckled man. "You remind me of whenI put the bird-shot in your leg." He giggled softly.The agitated tall man made a gesture of supreme eloquence. His companionup-reared and turned a startled gaze shoreward."Lord!" he roared, as if stabbed.The land was a long, brown streak with a rim of green, in which sparkledthe tin roofs of huge hotels. The hands from the sea had pushed themaway. The two men sprang erect, and did a little dance of perturbation."What shall we do? What shall we do?" moaned the freckled man, wrigglingfantastically in his dead balloon.The changing shore seemed to fascinate the tall man, and for a time hedid not speak.Suddenly he concluded his minuet of horror. He wheeled about and facedthe freckled man. He elaborately folded his arms."So," he said, in slow, formidable tones. "So! This all comes from youraccursed vanity, your bathing-suit, your idiocy; you have murdered yourbest friend."He turned away. His companion reeled as if stricken by an unexpectedarm.He stretched out his hands. "Tom, Tom," wailed he, beseechingly, "don'tbe such a fool."The broad back of his friend was occupied by a contemptuous sneer.Three ships fell off the horizon. Landward, the hues were blending. Thewhistle of a locomotive sounded from an infinite distance as if tootingin heaven."Tom! Tom! My dear boy," quavered the freckled man, "don't speak thatway to me.""Oh, no, of course not," said the other, still facing away and throwingthe words over his shoulder. "You suppose I am going to accept all thiscalmly, don't you? Not make the slightest objection? Make no protest atall, hey?""Well, I--I----" began the freckled man.The tall man's wrath suddenly exploded. "You've abducted me! That's thewhole amount of it! You've abducted me!""I ain't," protested the freckled man. "You must think I'm a fool."The tall man swore, and sitting down, dangled his legs angrily in thewater. Natural law compelled his companion to occupy the other end ofthe raft.Over the waters little shoals of fish spluttered, raising tiny tempests.Languid jelly-fish floated near, tremulously waving a thousand legs. Arow of porpoises trundled along like a procession of cog-wheels. The skybecame greyed save where over the land sunset colors were assembling.The two voyagers, back to back and at either end of the raft, quarrelledat length."What did you want to follow me for?" demanded the freckled man in avoice of indignation."If your figure hadn't been so like a bottle, we wouldn't be here,"replied the tall man.CHAPTER IIIThe fires in the west blazed away, and solemnity spread over the sea.Electric lights began to blink like eyes. Night menaced the voyagerswith a dangerous darkness, and fear came to bind their souls together.They huddled fraternally in the middle of the raft."I feel like a molecule," said the freckled man in subdued tones."I'd give two dollars for a cigar," muttered the tall man.A V-shaped flock of ducks flew towards Barnegat, between the voyagersand a remnant of yellow sky. Shadows and winds came from the vanishedeastern horizon."I think I hear voices," said the freckled man."That Dollie Ramsdell was an awfully nice girl," said the tall man.When the coldness of the sea night came to them, the freckled man foundhe could by a peculiar movement of his legs and arms encase himself inhis bathing-dress. The tall man was compelled to whistle and shiver. Asnight settled finally over the sea, red and green lights began to dotthe blackness. There were mysterious shadows between the waves."I see things comin'," murmured the freckled man."I wish I hadn't ordered that new dress-suit for the hop to-morrownight," said the tall man reflectively.The sea became uneasy and heaved painfully, like a lost bosom, whenlittle forgotten heart-bells try to chime with a pure sound. Thevoyagers cringed at magnified foam on distant wave crests. A moon cameand looked at them."Somebody's here," whispered the freckled man."I wish I had an almanac," remarked the tall man, regarding the moon.Presently they fell to staring at the red and green lights that twinkledabout them."Providence will not leave us," asserted the freckled man."Oh, we'll be picked up shortly. I owe money," said the tall man.He began to thrum on an imaginary banjo."I have heard," said he, suddenly, "that captains with healthy shipsbeneath their feet will never turn back after having once started on avoyage. In that case we will be rescued by some ship bound for thegolden seas of the south. Then, you'll be up to some of your confoundeddevilment and we'll get put off. They'll maroon us! That's what they'lldo! They'll maroon us! On an island with palm trees and sun-kissedmaidens and all that. Sun-kissed maidens, eh? Great! They'd--"He suddenly ceased and turned to stone. At a distance a great, green eyewas contemplating the sea wanderers.They stood up and did another dance. As they watched the eye grewlarger.Directly the form of a phantom-like ship came into view. About thegreat, green eye there bobbed small yellow dots. The wanderers couldhear a far-away creaking of unseen tackle and flapping of shadowy sails.There came the melody of the waters as the ship's prow thrust its way.The tall man delivered an oration."Ha!" he exclaimed, "here come our rescuers. The brave fellows! How Ilong to take the manly captain by the hand! You will soon see a whiteboat with a star on its bow drop from the side of yon ship. Kind sailorsin blue and white will help us into the boat and conduct our wastedframes to the quarter-deck, where the handsome, bearded captain, withgold bands all around, will welcome us. Then in the hard-oak cabin,while the wine gurgles and the Havanas glow, we'll tell our tale ofperil and privation."The ship came on like a black hurrying animal with froth-filled maw. Thetwo wanderers stood up and clasped hands. Then they howled out a wildduet that rang over the wastes of sea.The cries seemed to strike the ship.Men with boots on yelled and ran about the deck. They picked up heavyarticles and threw them down. They yelled more. After hideous creakingsand flappings, the vessel stood still.In the meantime the wanderers had been chanting their song for help. Outin the blackness they beckoned to the ship and coaxed.A voice came to them."Hello," it said.They puffed out their cheeks and began to shout. "Hello! Hello! Hello!""Wot do yeh want?" said the voice.The two wanderers gazed at each other, and sat suddenly down on theraft. Some pall came sweeping over the sky and quenched their stars.But almost the tall man got up and brawled miscellaneous information. Hestamped his foot, and frowning into the night, swore threateningly.The vessel seemed fearful of these moaning voices that called from ahidden cavern of the water. And now one voice was filled with a menace.A number of men with enormous limbs that threw vast shadows over the seaas the lanterns flickered, held a debate and made gestures.Off in the darkness, the tall man began to clamor like a mob. Thefreckled man sat in astounded silence, with his legs weak.After a time one of the men of enormous limbs seized a rope that wastugging at the stem and drew a small boat from the shadows. Three giantsclambered in and rowed cautiously toward the raft. Silver water flashedin the gloom as the oars dipped.About fifty feet from the raft the boat stopped. "Who er you?" asked avoice.The tall man braced himself and explained. He drew vivid pictures, histwirling fingers illustrating like live brushes."Oh," said the three giants.The voyagers deserted the raft. They looked back, feeling in theirhearts a mite of tenderness for the wet planks. Later, they wriggled upthe side of the vessel and climbed over the railing.On deck they met a man.He held a lantern to their faces. "Got any chewin' tewbacca?" heinquired."No," said the tall man, "we ain't."The man had a bronze face and solitary whiskers. Peculiar lines abouthis mouth were shaped into an eternal smile of derision. His feet werebare, and clung handily to crevices.Fearful trousers were supported by a piece of suspender that went up thewrong side of his chest and came down the right side of his back,dividing him into triangles."Ezekiel P. Sanford, capt'in, schooner 'Mary Jones,' of N'yack, N. Y.,genelmen," he said."Ah!" said the tall man, "delighted, I'm sure."There were a few moments of silence. The giants were hovering in thegloom and staring.Suddenly astonishment exploded the captain."Wot th' devil----" he shouted. "Wot th' devil yeh got on?""Bathing-suits," said the tall man.CHAPTER IVThe schooner went on. The two voyagers sat down and watched. After atime they began to shiver. The soft blackness of the summer night passedaway, and grey mists writhed over the sea. Soon lights of early dawnwent changing across the sky, and the twin beacons on the highlands grewdim and sparkling faintly, as if a monster were dying. The dawnpenetrated the marrow of the two men in bathing-dress.The captain used to pause opposite them, hitch one hand in hissuspender, and laugh."Well, I be dog-hanged," he frequently said.The tall man grew furious. He snarled in a mad undertone to hiscompanion. "This rescue ain't right. If I had known--"He suddenly paused, transfixed by the captain's suspender. "It's goin'to break," cried he, in an ecstatic whisper. His eyes grew large withexcitement as he watched the captain laugh. "It'll break in a minute,sure."But the commander of the schooner recovered, and invited them to drinkand eat. They followed him along the deck, and fell down a square blackhole into the cabin.It was a little den, with walls of a vanished whiteness. A lamp shed anorange light. In a sort of recess two little beds were hiding. A woodentable, immovable, as if the craft had been builded around it, sat in themiddle of the floor. Overhead the square hole was studded with a dozenstars. A foot-worn ladder led to the heavens.The captain produced ponderous crackers and some cold broiled ham. Thenhe vanished in the firmament like a fantastic comet.The freckled man sat quite contentedly like a stout squaw in a blanket.The tall man walked about the cabin and sniffed. He was angered at thecrudeness of the rescue, and his shrinking clothes made him feel toolarge. He contemplated his unhappy state.Suddenly, he broke out. "I won't stand this, I tell you! Heavens andearth, look at the--say, what in the blazes did you want to get me inthis thing for, anyhow? You're a fine old duffer, you are! Look at thatham!"The freckled man grunted. He seemed somewhat blissful. He was seatedupon a bench, comfortably enwrapped in his bathing-dress.The tall man stormed about the cabin."This is an outrage! I'll see the captain! I'll tell him what I thinkof--"He was interrupted by a pair of legs that appeared among the stars. Thecaptain came down the ladder. He brought a coffee pot from the sky.The tall man bristled forward. He was going to denounce everything.The captain was intent upon the coffee pot, balancing it carefully, andleaving his unguided feet to find the steps of the ladder.But the wrath of the tall man faded. He twirled his fingers inexcitement, and renewed his ecstatic whisperings to the freckled man."It's going to break! Look, quick, look! It'll break in a minute!"He was transfixed with interest, forgetting his wrongs in staring at theperilous passage.But the captain arrived on the floor with triumphant suspenders."Well," said he, "after yeh have eat, maybe ye'd like t'sleep some! Ifso, yeh can sleep on them beds."The tall man made no reply, save in a strained undertone. "It'll breakin about a minute! Look, Ted, look quick!"The freckled man glanced in a little bed on which were heaped boots andoilskins. He made a courteous gesture."My dear sir, we could not think of depriving you of your beds. No,indeed. Just a couple of blankets if you have them, and we'll sleep verycomfortable on these benches."The captain protested, politely twisting his back and bobbing his head.The suspenders tugged and creaked. The tall man partially suppressed acry, and took a step forward.The freckled man was sleepily insistent, and shortly the captain gaveover his deprecatory contortions. He fetched a pink quilt with yellowdots on it to the freckled man, and a black one with red roses on it tothe tall man.Again he vanished in the firmament. The tall man gazed until the lastremnant of trousers disappeared from the sky. Then he wrapped himself upin his quilt and lay down. The freckled man was puffing contentedly,swathed like an infant. The yellow polka-dots rose and fell on the vastpink of his chest.The wanderers slept. In the quiet could be heard the groanings oftimbers as the sea seemed to crunch them together. The lapping of wateralong the vessel's side sounded like gaspings. A hundred spirits of thewind had got their wings entangled in the rigging, and, in soft voices,were pleading to be loosened.The freckled man was awakened by a foreign noise. He opened his eyes andsaw his companion standing by his couch.His comrade's face was wan with suffering. His eyes glowed in thedarkness. He raised his arms, spreading them out like a clergyman at agrave. He groaned deep in his chest."Good Lord!" yelled the freckled man, starting up. "Tom, Tom, what's th'matter?"The tall man spoke in a fearful voice. "To New York," he said, "to NewYork in our bathing-suits."The freckled man sank back. The shadows of the cabin threw mysteriesabout the figure of the tall man, arrayed like some ancient and potentastrologer in the black quilt with the red roses on it.CHAPTER VDirectly the tall man went and lay down and began to groan.The freckled man felt the miseries of the world upon him. He grew angryat the tall man awakening him. They quarrelled."Well," said the tall man, finally, "we're in a fix.""I know that," said the other, sharply.They regarded the ceiling in silence."What in the thunder are we going to do?" demanded the tall man, after atime. His companion was still silent. "Say," repeated he, angrily, "whatin the thunder are we going to do?""I'm sure I don't know," said the freckled man in a dismal voice."Well, think of something," roared the other. "Think of something, youold fool. You don't want to make any more idiots of yourself, do you?""I ain't made an idiot of myself.""Well, think. Know anybody in the city?""I know a fellow up in Harlem," said the freckled man."You know a fellow up in Harlem," howled the tall man. "Up in Harlem!How the dickens are we to--say, you're crazy!""We can take a cab," cried the other, waxing indignant.The tall man grew suddenly calm. "Do you know any one else?" he asked,measuredly."I know another fellow somewhere on Park Place.""Somewhere on Park Place," repeated the tall man in an unnatural manner."Somewhere on Park Place." With an air of sublime resignation he turnedhis face to the wall.The freckled man sat erect and frowned in the direction of hiscompanion. "Well, now, I suppose you are going to sulk. You make me ill!It's the best we can do, ain't it? Hire a cab and go look that fellow upon Park--What's that? You can't afford it? What nonsense! You aregetting--Oh! Well, maybe we can beg some clothes of the captain. Eh?Did I see 'im? Certainly, I saw 'im. Yes, it is improbable that a manwho wears trousers like that can have clothes to lend. No, I won't wearoilskins and a sou'-wester. To Athens? Of course not! I don't know whereit is. Do you? I thought not. With all your grumbling about otherpeople, you never know anything important yourself. What? Broadway? I'llbe hanged first. We can get off at Harlem, man alive. There are no cabsin Harlem. I don't think we can bribe a sailor to take us ashore andbring a cab to the dock, for the very simple reason that we have nothingto bribe him with. What? No, of course not. See here, Tom Sharp, don'tyou swear at me like that. I won't have it. What's that? I ain't,either. I ain't. What? I am not. It's no such thing. I ain't. I've gotmore than you have, anyway. Well, you ain't doing anything so verybrilliant yourself--just lying there and cussin'." At length the tallman feigned prodigiously to snore. The freckled man thought with suchvigor that he fell asleep.After a time he dreamed that he was in a forest where bass drums grew ontrees. There came a strong wind that banged the fruit about like emptypods. A frightful din was in his ears.He awoke to find the captain of the schooner standing over him."We're at New York now," said the captain, raising his voice above thethumping and banging that was being done on deck, "an' I s'pose youfellers wanta go ashore." He chuckled in an exasperating manner. "Jes'sing out when yeh wanta go," he added, leering at the freckled man.The tall man awoke, came over and grasped the captain by the throat."If you laugh again I'll kill you," he said.The captain gurgled and waved his legs and arms."In the first place," the tall man continued, "you rescued us in adeucedly shabby manner. It makes me ill to think of it. I've a mind tomop you 'round just for that. In the second place, your vessel is boundfor Athens, N. Y., and there's no sense in it. Now, will you or will younot turn this ship about and take us back where our clothes are, or toPhiladelphia, where we belong?"He furiously shook the captain. Then he eased his grip and awaited areply."I can't," yelled the captain, "I can't. This vessel don't belong to me.I've got to--""Well, then," interrupted the tall man, "can you lend us some clothes?""Hain't got none," replied the captain, promptly. His face was red, andhis eyes were glaring."Well, then," said the tall man, "can you lend us some money?""Hain't got none," replied the captain, promptly. Something overcame himand he laughed."Thunderation," roared the tall man. He seized the captain, who began tohave wriggling contortions. The tall man kneaded him as if he werebiscuits. "You infernal scoundrel," he bellowed, "this whole affair issome wretched plot, and you are in it. I am about to kill you."The solitary whisker of the captain did acrobatic feats like a strangedemon upon his chin. His eyes stood perilously from his head. Thesuspender wheezed and tugged like the tackle of a sail.Suddenly the tall man released his hold. Great expectancy sat upon hisfeatures. "It's going to break!" he cried, rubbing his hands.But the captain howled and vanished in the sky.The freckled man then came forward. He appeared filled with sarcasm."So!" said he. "So, you've settled the matter. The captain is the onlyman in the world who can help us, and I daresay he'll do anything he cannow.""That's all right," said the tall man. "If you don't like the way I runthings you shouldn't have come on this trip at all."They had another quarrel.At the end of it they went on deck. The captain stood at the sternaddressing the bow with opprobrious language. When he perceived thevoyagers he began to fling his fists about in the air."I'm goin' to put yeh off!" he yelled. The wanderers stared at eachother."Hum," said the tall man.The freckled man looked at his companion. "He's going to put us off, yousee," he said, complacently.The tall man began to walk about and move his shoulders. "I'd like tosee you do it," he said, defiantly.The captain tugged at a rope. A boat came at his bidding."I'd like to see you do it," the tall man repeated, continually. Animperturbable man in rubber boots climbed down in the boat and seizedthe oars. The captain motioned downward. His whisker had a triumphantappearance.The two wanderers looked at the boat. "I guess we'll have to get in,"murmured the freckled man.The tall man was standing like a granite column. "I won't," said he. "Iwon't! I don't care what you do, but I won't!""Well, but--" expostulated the other. They held a furious debate.In the meantime the captain was darting about making sinister gestures,but the back of the tall man held him at bay. The crew, much depleted bythe departure of the imperturbable man into the boat, looked on from thebow."You're a fool," the freckled man concluded his argument."So?" inquired the tall man, highly exasperated."So! Well, if you think you're so bright, we'll go in the boat, and thenyou'll see."He climbed down into the craft and seated himself in an ominous mannerat the stern."You'll see," he said to his companion, as the latter floundered heavilydown. "You'll see!"The man in rubber boots calmly rowed the boat toward the shore. As theywent, the captain leaned over the railing and laughed. The freckled manwas seated very victoriously."Well, wasn't this the right thing after all?" he inquired in a pleasantvoice. The tall man made no reply.CHAPTER VIAs they neared the dock something seemed suddenly to occur to thefreckled man."Great heavens!" he murmured. He stared at the approaching shore."My, what a plight, Tommy!" he quavered."Do you think so?" spoke up the tall man. "Why, I really thought youliked it." He laughed in a hard voice. "Lord, what a figure you'll cut."This laugh jarred the freckled man's soul. He became mad."Thunderation, turn the boat around!" he roared. "Turn 'er round, quick!Man alive, we can't--turn 'er round, d'ye hear!"The tall man in the stern gazed at his companion with glowing eyes."Certainly not," he said. "We're going on. You insisted Upon it." Hebegan to prod his companion with words.The freckled man stood up and waved his arms."Sit down," said the tall man. "You'll tip the boat over."The other man began to shout."Sit down!" said the tall man again.Words bubbled from the freckled man's mouth. There was a little torrentof sentences that almost choked him. And he protested passionately withhis hands.But the boat went on to the shadow of the docks. The tall man was intentupon balancing it as it rocked dangerously during his comrade's oration."Sit down," he continually repeated."I won't," raged the freckled man. "I won't do anything." The boatwobbled with these words."Say," he continued, addressing the oarsman, "just turn this boat round,will you? Where in the thunder are you taking us to, anyhow?"The oarsman looked at the sky and thought. Finally he spoke. "I'm doin'what the cap'n sed.""Well, what in th' blazes do I care what the cap'n sed?" demanded thefreckled man. He took a violent step. "You just turn this round or--"The small craft reeled. Over one side water came flashing in. Thefreckled man cried out in fear, and gave a jump to the other side. Thetall man roared orders, and the oarsman made efforts. The boat acted fora moment like an animal on a slackened wire. Then it upset."Sit down!" said the tall man, in a final roar as he was plunged intothe water. The oarsman dropped his oars to grapple with the gunwale. Hewent down saying unknown words. The freckled man's explanation orapology was strangled by the water.Two or three tugs let off whistles of astonishment, and continued ontheir paths. A man dozing on a dock aroused and began to caper.The passengers on a ferry-boat all ran to the near railing. A miraculousperson in a small boat was bobbing on the waves near the piers. Hesculled hastily toward the scene. It was a swirl of waters in the midstof which the dark bottom of the boat appeared, whale-like.Two heads suddenly came up."839," said the freckled man, chokingly. "That's it! 839!""What is?" said the tall man."That's the number of that feller on Park Place. I just remembered.""You're the bloomingest--" the tall man said."It wasn't my fault," interrupted his companion. "If you hadn't--" Hetried to gesticulate, but one hand held to the keel of the boat, and theother was supporting the form of the oarsman. The latter had fought abattle with his immense rubber boots and had been conquered.The rescuer in the other small boat came fiercely. As his craft glidedup, he reached out and grasped the tall man by the collar and draggedhim into the boat, interrupting what was, under the circumstances, avery brilliant flow of rhetoric directed at the freckled man. Theoarsman of the wrecked craft was taken tenderly over the gunwale andlaid in the bottom of the boat. Puffing and blowing, the freckled manclimbed in."You'll upset this one before we can get ashore," the other voyagerremarked.As they turned toward the land they saw that the nearest dock was linedwith people. The freckled man gave a little moan.But the staring eyes of the crowd were fixed on the limp form of the manin rubber boots. A hundred hands reached down to help lift the body up.On the dock some men grabbed it and began to beat it and roll it. Apoliceman tossed the spectators about. Each individual in the heavingcrowd sought to fasten his eyes on the blue-tinted face of the man inthe rubber boots. They surged to and fro, while the policeman beat themindiscriminately.The wanderers came modestly up the dock and gazed shrinkingly at thethrong. They stood for a moment, holding their breath to see the firstfinger of amazement levelled at them.But the crowd bended and surged in absorbing anxiety to view the man inrubber boots, whose face fascinated them. The sea-wanderers were asthough they were not there.They stood without the jam and whispered hurriedly."839," said the freckled man."All right," said the tall man.Under the pommeling hands the oarsman showed signs of life. The voyagerswatched him make a protesting kick at the leg of the crowd, the whileuttering angry groans."He's better," said the tall man, softly; "let's make off."Together they stole noiselessly up the dock. Directly in front of itthey found a row of six cabs.The drivers on top were filled with a mighty curiosity. They had drivenhurriedly from the adjacent ferry-house when they had seen the firstrunning sign of an accident. They were straining on their toes andgazing at the tossing backs of the men in the crowd.The wanderers made a little detour, and then went rapidly towards a cab.They stopped in front of it and looked up."Driver," called the tall man, softly.The man was intent."Driver," breathed the freckled man. They stood for a moment and gazedimploringly.The cabman suddenly moved his feet. "By Jimmy, I bet he's a gonner," hesaid, in an ecstacy, and he again relapsed into a statue.The freckled man groaned and wrung his hands. The tall man climbed intothe cab."Come in here," he said to his companion. The freckled man climbed in,and the tall man reached over and pulled the door shut. Then he put hishead out the window."Driver," he roared, sternly, "839 Park Place--and quick."The driver looked down and met the eye of the tall man. "Eh?--Oh--839?Park Place? Yessir." He reluctantly gave his horse a clump on the back.As the conveyance rattled off the wanderers huddled back among thedingy cushions and heaved great breaths of relief."Well, it's all over," said the freckled man, finally. "We're about outof it. And quicker than I expected. Much quicker. It looked to mesometimes that we were doomed. I am thankful to find it not so. I amrejoiced. And I hope and trust that you--well, I don't wish to--perhapsit is not the proper time to--that is, I don't wish to intrude a moralat an inopportune moment, but, my dear, dear fellow, I think the time isripe to point out to you that your obstinacy, your selfishness, yourvillainous temper, and your various other faults can make it just asunpleasant for your ownself, my dear boy, as they frequently do forother people. You can see what you brought us to, and I most sincerelyhope, my dear, dear fellow, that I shall soon see those signs in youwhich shall lead me to believe that you have become a wiser man."

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