RAIN IN THE DOLDRUMS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1923, Page 3

RAIN IN THE DOLDRUMS

(By R. F. W. Rees in “Daily Mail.’') Heat—the dead, listless heat ol the tropics unrelieved by a breath ol wind. Aloft, the sails sagged and boomed and Happed as the ship rolled to the swell. The pitch bubbled between the deckseams. and the men wore their bluchers. because even their hard feet could not hear the burning planks. What water there was in the fo’c’s'le bucket was tepid. The tliisty men looked anxiously to the horizon.

Then, like a wall of mist, the rain came down upon them. As the white S.piall drove it on. the water whipped the surface of the sea into a not ol foam. The noise of il was like a regiment of cavalry charging through a field oi wheat nian-higli. A change swept over the men. No longer was there any list lessness. 1“ a mement their scant v do! lies wen' thrown to the deck, and mother-naked thev ran to trim the yards to meet the squall. Madly ibex -et Imdats ami barrels and pan- to catch tin- in-c, ionfresh water. And then the rain swooped right dnw o noon them. I In* great diopsizzled on their hot skills and turned the scuppers into open-air baths, in which they ladled and revelled. U "as then- orgy of fresh water their only, one until.' after kicking about half the world, they should cross the line again on ihe other side ol the Americas.

When the squall had passed the hands turned to for a field day in the matter of laundry. I - '"' the rr-i oi Die voyage tile' wsolid have to hither l In? snap in a , upful o! trash "ater. rnl-u; : the garments in saft. and conforming to the sailor’s "ashing rule: - “ f irst a sleeve and then the breast -

Never mind about the rest. But for the moment they had in much fresh water a- any laundress ashore. qhe decks were dry again, the beat was over everything, hut there 'was plenty of drinking water and no rationin-' wav in the distance showed another white squall. ••’Hike a haul on your weather

braces!" Suddenly ten left their washing to obey. They had had their fill of rain. They could slore no more. ' “Dli curse the rain." murmured the ungrateful shell-backs, as they tailed on to the weather braces.