Roy Norton

“ THE curtain of the dusk was lowering and the polished waters of the canal caught up and threw back red lacework gleams cast by the sunset through the bordering trees when the flagship Loggerhead hove to for the night. With rigid punctiliousness the junior Lieutenant appointed his watches and dutifully followed the Rear Admiral to the weather beaten tavern where they were to rest, while behind them came a sailor who lugged the officers' suit cases. There was a relaxation of form in the inn. The white headed old man was lonely. ”

“ THEY were waiting for the Loggerhead when she blew her thin shrill whistle off Annapolis impertinently assuming the dignity of a battleship. The sun was shining—the early morning sun which flirted with the waves and sent them into spasms of leaping exultation. It intensified the blue of uniforms on the landing. The Commandant was there in person to receive the Rear Admiral and appeared anxious when he studied his old friend's face. They walked away arm in arm, while the the junior Lieutenant looked haughtily at the cadets of whom he had so recently been a member. ”

“ Out through Kill von Kull and into Newark Bay they tore through the dancing crests, which seemed to welcome the sailor home again, and then through Staten Island Sound, where great steamers narrowly missed them and men stared curiously at their pennant. Now they nosed along Arthur Kill and into the Raritan River, heedless of the glasses leveled at them by outlying craft, and entered the waters of the nearly deserted Raritan Canal. There The Loggerhead passed between shady ranks of trees standing mute guard over the narrow thread she was to traverse. ”

“ He opened the water into his cell like aperture so viciously that the Loggerhead was almost capsized in the swirls that hoisted her up like a bobbing cork and sent her reeling into the spume until her gun deck was awash. Rear Admiral delayed for a few minutes after they had gained the upper level to express his opinion. It has been confirmed that the lock tender, despite a long life of contact with canal men, was much impressed: that there have been no further complaints: and that he still deports himself with a subdued air of one who has been petrified with awe. ”

“ Intrepid navigators in half abandoned canals find the greatest and most insidious enemy in the weeds, and they audaciously shackled the propeller of the Loggerhead at frequent intervals, requiring halts to be made while a man dived overboard and tore loose the mop of verdure, but the Rear Admiral bore these annoyances with uniform patience. ”

“ THE President reached over on the desk and picked up a paper. He glanced at the Secretary, and read a quick light of approval in his eyes. He tore the document into little shreds, and the pieces went fluttering from his fingers to the carpet, resembling a miniature storm of snow. He turned to the veteran, but without response. The Rear Admiral was looking far away into the past, finding the vision painted against a spot of blank wall, where the sun had stretched a mellow canvas of light. ”

“ The first act of his enterprise was the issuance of a bulletin announcing a christening; and it caused much merriment among the officers of the staff, for it was the first time a mere steam cutter had been so honored. He named as sponsor a tiny girl with whom he had become acquainted in a park through which he daily trudged for exercise,—an acquaintance that had developed an exquisite intimacy, for she was almost his first sweetheart. All his life until she came he had found time for nothing but the sea and "the service." ”

“ Mr President.," the sailor almost stammered. "I—I—"
The President, with a calm, restraining gesture of his upraised hand, claimed the privilege of speech and took a step or two into the room. "Stone," he said very quietly and very kindly, "I understand. I see it all now. We have been annoyed like little children whose rules of play have been broken. You wanted to see your flag blowing out beside the one which you have followed, through thick and thin, through good times and hard times, before you were retired." ”

“ Has Safely Escaped the Dangers of the D & W Canal. Doughty Officer's Flag Sighted Passing Markton Light."
The chiefs had many theories, some of which embodied insanity. They cringed beneath the storm of ridicule that had burst over them, but this culprit was too much beloved by his countrymen to be dealt with like a mischievous midshipman. They must go slowly, hear his explanation and then permit him to retire immediately and drop from public sight and memory. The cruise of the Loggerhead must be expunged. ”

“ He overlooked breaches of etiquette that in former years would have unleashed the trenchant sarcasms of his tongue
"The old man is getting young again," the juniors said with sly waggings of their heads. "He's glad to leave the service," older ones suggested. But one and all their admiration warmed for this grim old man of many seas who was going out loaded with honor. ”