IN WINDJAMMERS 



was very funny, but the climax was reached one 

 Sunday evening, in a beautiful semi-tropical atmos- 

 phere, when there was barely steering way on the 

 barque. The sails were flapping with the gentle roll of 

 the ship, and the swish of the water against the sides 

 made music for those who are accustomed to it. I 

 must explain that, although he had a vast quantity of 

 spirits in the lazaret he was a teetotaller, and I had 

 great difficulty in getting him to disgorge two bottles 

 of whisky to me. The prospect was not cheering, as 

 we were still some days from our destination, even 

 with luck. He came up to me and said : " Do fetch 

 your clarionet." It was not worth while correcting 

 him regarding the real name of the instrument ; per- 

 haps he was flattering me. There and then I fetched 

 the reed, which would have been torture to ninety- 

 nine people out of a hundred. It was Sunday evening, 

 as I have said, and what to play was the trouble. 

 Happy thought ! — " Abide with Me," and, mind you, 

 although having been through years of environment 

 with the tough side of life the old melody brings back 

 early pictures. I managed somehow to put in a very 

 pathetic note that evening, and although I have tried 

 since I have never been able to get the same effect. 

 I cannot think that it was an aural delusion, for it 

 sounded good even to me. The skipper walked away, 

 and I saw he was crying ; and I offered dumb sym- 

 pathy, but he resented this, as he thoroughly enjoyed 

 his grief. 



After this came the comedy of the whole business. I 

 mentioned one or two bits which he might like to hear, 

 but he shook his head and said to me : '' As a favour, 

 I want you to play me the ' Dead March.' " It nearly 

 took my breath away. To play the " Dead March " 

 — from Saul, presumably — on the flageolet, which is, 



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