THE BROKEN YOYAGE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 6

THE BROKEN YOYAGE.

SANDY RE-EMBARKS.

[Br Mebb Mew.]

Tassy, the Australian, said that !}< would never forget. Sandy—"biowed i! ho would."

Tliey had for months been "mates" ill Wind X of Wellington Public Hospital*—side by sido thoy had Jain in tliefr helplessness, in varied lauguago reproachuig. Fate for its unkindncss; joiumg in commentary on the administration of the Hospital; treating olio aiiother to any little delicacy which had como into stock; or holpiug in the diction pf tho occasional lettor-writiisg. Fate had seldom achieved a more quaint conceit than in throwing such a pair into eioso companionship. Tassy, colonial born, had le-d a nomadic lifo— ever Becking employment whoro jt would bo tintod with most novelty end variety. A chronic rheumatism was the ultimate reward of his irresponsibility of existence.

Sandy's scheme of things liad novor calculated New Zealand as a setting. "Chips" on tho barque Scotia's Isle, a tempest-troubled passage had necessitated a call at Wellington for refitting and stores, and Bandy, who had received an mjury during a storm, was sent to tho Hospital for treatment. B.e Was still suffering too much from his injuries to join tho barque when she was again ready to sail, and was in consequence left behind. When discharged from tlio institution, Sandy got work on a- wharf contract while Waiting for a, ship, and tlicr good money ho was able to earn there caused him ta postpone his quest. Kegularly ho Was able to se&da tidy remittance to tho wife and bairns in Glasgow, and at tho back of his mind there was growing • an idea of bringing them out to this distant gem of Britain's greatnosk Sucli was Sandy's budding proposition, but. the wetness of winter ana of Mb job generally caused a different disposi* tj.oia of things, and once again he was an inmate ofl the Hospital. He Was sure, though, that it would bo only for a week or two, and as soon as ho got out again ho would join tho first ship Home. This country, ho now decided, was not a bit of gooa to him. Ji'v-cry day ho was able ta get up and about the ward far a, while, and when not performing Seme little task, his squat form eould fee notieed passing from bedside to bedside feeling pulses with. great solemnity, and, after tho fashion of tho medical staff, prescribing treatments, but of a sailor4iko originality. Gradually, however, his complaint assumed more serious phases, and lie was ordered to keep his bed. Then a nature, which had its element of humour/ took oii a frequent g'lumness and irritability. Tossy., in argumentative mogd, I thoroughly broke up these spells at j times; other days Sandy, propped up, would vacantly staro across the ward, ; His thoughts and his heart wero many ' thousands of miles away. From under his pillow ho -Would bring _a, prayerbcok, » photograph, arid a little bunch of faded heather, whose appearance : gave such reality to his yearnings that his eyes would dim with unshed tears. To tho loved, ones in Glasgow ho had still been able to send a 'little money, as if ho was still lisle and :n work, but the stock was dwindling. The Scotia's Isio would now bo Home, ana he could not bear the thought that the wife and bairiis should ever JsnoW that lie, who had not finished the voyage ill ber, should. be in distress ill thi'3 "foreign land"—for so ho called it. "I'll bo gey filed to bo Sgen.i Gfesca, •. ho would say, proudly showing tllA photograph—of two honnic, straightbuilt laddies in kilts, with feathered boOTiets. "An thero it! hide." 11l hospital onco aforo v he had bneii. he said, " 'twuz in, Algiers, in' France." men were tho nurses there, and they lsad treated him well, altimugl) he could never understand what the? were "parley-vooiu'" about- He had I'ot then the worrit fef tho bairns to think about— and with this bo would drift into silence. Occasionally a stalwart Highlander would visit Sandy. Arrayed in the full dory of tho tartan, from spa™ lll '! Sioe-bucklo to flapping busby, he would stride down tho ward, raising a rare glisten in tho sick Scotsman s eyes. "When gang yn awa', Sandyr was the sahito of tho ma of Bruce. Yo ro an avfu' mon." Sandy usually exheetit" to bo Homo by tlio ISew \e»r. Could mero striving to got well overcome tlie inroads of disease Sandy would havo soon caught lus ship. But tho weeks sped by; springtime marge'dinto summer. Ta»y, mm liobWing round a little, sincerely assured feand.j that he was looking well, but there was a telltalo tinge of colour. . , . Impatience grew upon him, and tho nurses were often sorely perplexed a* his varying whims--sic' a place and peoplo he had never ht.d to <l»o wi' afore. Gie him on.y craft at a""Late'one afternoon ho told Tassy thafl ho weilld writo home to sort o c:t P';® in his delaying. Just «s well Ire as ho was cxne-etit by tho ftew Year, and he mielit bo a wee bit later, but ha had a chance yet— . Hope, like the gloaming taper s light, Adorns and cheers the way; And still, as darker grows the night, ' limits a brighter ray. And tho toilsome task of ietter-writmS began. Tassy was the scribe as Sandy said he was "gey wake that da}. "Say," said Sandy, "that Im nag vera Well, but it's naethui tae fa*h about. (Tassy dM daem weel at scluilp. •' • • * ' anE J to# bo umang th' Gicsca fowk ag0..,, hero's «• la-noly pwrt « ™. W " T ' . Sud I H.-WS bo hajno by No'erday, n. Quid Now Year to yin an' a'. . . « Naixt ship home. • ■ • ~.T . r Sandy's dictation stopped. Naixfi o:iin homo • • • he ropeated, "Ma hoid's sair, Tnwsie, an' it's cettm' gao dark. . . •

It was Tassy's cry of alarm that brought tho charge nurse running alone. But it was too lato. A frail bark liad slinped tlio moorings and set out io th® Unknown Scft.