Horn-wards she rushed, trampling the seas
to yeast;

There fell a rain-squall in a blind day's
end.
When for an hour the Dauber foimd a
friend



DAUBER SI >

Out of the rain the voices called and passed^
The staysails flogged, the tackle yanked and

shook :
Inside the hamess-room a lantern cast ^

Light and wild shadows as it ranged its

hook.
The watch on deck was gathered iii the

nook.
They had taken shelter in that secret place ;
Wild light gave wild emotions to each face.
One beat the beef-cask and the others sang
A song that had brought anchors out of

seas
In ports where bells of Christians never

rang,
Nor any sea-mark blazed among the trees.
By forlorn swamps, in ice, by windy keys.
That song had sounded; now it shook the

air



I



68 DA UBER

From these eight wanderers brought to-
gether there.
Under the poop-break, sheltering from the

rain,
The Dauber sketched some likeness of the

room,
A note to be a prompting to his brain,
A spark to make old memory re-illimie.
"Dauber," said someone near him in the

gloom,
"How goes it. Dauber?" It was reefer

Si.
"There's not much use in trying to keep

dry."



"No," said the Dauber. "What you

doing?" "Drawing . ..
Drawing the watch in there." "A jolly

crowd. . ..
DA UBER 59

They're always having sing-songs or else

jawing.
If I could paint like you, Daub, I'd be proud.
The mate's just overhead, so don't talk loud.
I'd like to paint like you. Sit down and talk.
