88 ALONGSHORE n 



been man enough to keep. Entertainments, tea- 

 fights, picnics, and living pictures have as little 

 attraction for him as Sunday-school. Out of 

 school is out to sea. Where he got his style in 

 rowing, I don't know; it came natural, I suppose. 

 They make the boat travel, those kids. 



When last I shoved them off I asked another, 

 a bigger, boy whether or no he was going to 

 jump in. 'if Silverpoll will take me,' replied the 

 bigger boy. 



Which means that Silverpoll is in fact and deed 

 the skipper of his craft. 



Two magnets are dragging those longshore 

 kids two ways, towards the sea and towards the 

 land. Prudence, money, parents, love, friendship 

 — to say nothing of cowardice, laziness, comfort, 

 and a score of other considerations — all throw in 

 their weight increasingly against the sea. But the 

 sea calls: 



Now the great winds shoreward blow, 

 Now the salt tides seaward flow; 

 Now the wild white horses play, 

 Champ and chafe and toss in the spray. 

 Children dear, let us away! 

 This way, this way! 



And some of the children hear; and time and 



