Boone (FFG 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE SE. F. RER B aAN MEKlKHEl i Hurriedly and without a care in the wwid, the boy ran dovm the hillside to the H tertiront. He w just in time to see one of the great sailing ships sail for some distant port. Hi h- excited by the sight of the great essel. the boy looked around for someone to share his disco ' er - vith. Seated on an ancient looking bench beneath arooreandentfoddng oak bee, sat the old sealer, who was obviously more intent on wiiittling the chunk of pine in his hand than he v ias the highK agitated boy. Of course, the boy recognized him ri t away. E ier x)ne in the illage knew of the loney old Viidower who spent e er - day by the waterfront taking mental in ' €ntor - of exiery ship that came and went. Eagerly, the hoy approached the old man but watched quietly as the piece of pine seemed to come to life in the hand of its holder with seemin y little effort. Finally the boy could hold hack no longer, did wu see the schooner? Did wu see how easily she ided out of the harbor? The mariner smiled, i saw her. But shes not a sdiooner. she ' s a frigate. .A . fcm-O-VVar, she is! He danced at the boy with upturned evxes. The boy replied with a surprised oh! .And for several moments after, neither of them spoke. It seemed an etemit - had gone b ' before the wuth decided to press the conversation. bu used to sail a lot. didn ' t ' ou? .And then before the old one could answisr, he followed it up with, Was it on a frigate? The old man continued his carving as he answered the boy, No, I sailed on one of the great trading vessels. Oiir cargo ojvered ewrvthing from spices to pearis. .And where haw wu sailed to, sir? The boy asked. It wt uld be easier to count the places where 1 ha en t sailed! the old man replied. He reflected that x u can go a lot of places in more than half a century of sailing a tall ship. The boy saw that this was all he was going to get for a reply so he tried another question. ■ril bet that w eighing anchor and pulling out was the best part, huh? The old seafarer had ceased his caning now and was looking toward the sunset, without actually seeing the bright crimson orb as it touched the surface of the sea. In his mind, he was trawling hack to the da S when he was still an ardent sailor. He was remembering the many times pulling into this same harbor and. without tail, seeing his wife standing on the pier, tears in her e ies, and wa ing them home. He handed the boy the piece of pine, which was now an elaborate wxxKien anchor with an intricate chain attached Gee. thanks! the boy squealed, more excited than e ' er. Then he darted hack up the hill from which he had come forgetting his unanswered question. The old sailor stood up and watched the K y disappear over the hill while brushing the w »d chips from the front of his clothes as they hung tenaciously to his v x ien garments. When he was sure the boy was gone, he spoke the answer to the boys question, a wn contented smile on his face. No. son, he said, the best part of e ery cruise. was coming home. Then, he too, started up the hill. 59

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' SKwiiiEB ' jii H M E CCMING 1986