84 ALONGSHORE n 



trample down something beautiful and valuable 

 with every step forward in our own belauded 

 enterprises? 



Meanwhile, in some of their mysterious young 

 minds, so clear yet so obscure, like spring water 

 standing in shadow, a process is beginning which 

 will end only with their lives. The sea is laying 

 hold of them, tightening her grip, asserting her 

 authority over seafaring blood. She is picking 

 and choosing among those happy-go-lucky kids; 

 and whom she chooses she never really lets go. 

 If she cannot have their service afloat she still can 

 wreck with cross-purposes their lives ashore. Their 

 imaginations will for ever be running away to sea 

 if they themselves don't. When they had best go 

 straight on they will look back to her call. They 

 will suffer an Interior divorce between what must 

 be done and what they have a hankering to do. 

 How many Ineffectual land-lubbers, men never 

 prosperous, or prone to decay In prosperity, would 

 have made good seamen had they been allowed 

 their youthful way? 



Mr. Sllverpoll — the sea has laid hold on him 

 firmly enough. No more than three or four years 

 ago he was a chubby, blue-eyed, flaxen-haired baby 

 — 'Dada's baby-boy,' as his father used to sing. 



