Kathleen Of The Outer Banks Read online

  Cappi, while trying to greet what might be freight customers, was intrigued by the beautiful blond headed girl. She climbed high in the ratlines, then dove just clear of the rail. He was worried of her getting hurt, but decided not to sound prudish; he wanted to make a good first impression on her. “Boy, he thought, she is a sea nymph.” He decided that he was falling in love with her already.

  The three old men were making friends and soon uncle Judd slipped to the forecastle and returned with his fiddle. The music brought more boats and women from shore.

  Each time the girl climbed over the rail and back to the rigging to dive she caught his eye and smiled. This he took for an indication that she was interested in him.

  Another fiddle and a squeeze box appeared a real ho-down was in progress. Couples twirled and danced wherever there was room along the deck. Two men clogged whenever the music matched their mood.

  Thunder clouds drifted over the banks threatening rain and the people quickly loaded the boats for home. Tomorrow there was to be another get together at low tide, about noon. The oyster bars would be above water and ready to supply plenty for a good roast.

  Tomorrow, the captain swore to himself, would be different. He would make sure that business would not keep him from being at her side, nothing would.

  She had waited for him to look up and watch as she made her last dive, before swimming for shore, along with the boats with rowers hurrying to beat the rain.

  The rain came and went, just enough wet to give the islanders fresh water for their rain barrels. The captain noted that all of the crew with the exception of old Chips was stretched out on a hatch cover to sleep. Cappi liked this warm weather too. He looked at the stars above. What he saw was her lovely face.

  Chapter 2

  Outer Banks Oyster Roast

  Another beautiful day along the long sandy shore of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. It started with the youngsters gathering large piles of driftwood for the roasting fire. The swimmers speared fish and as the tide receded, walked out clams and scallops as well as a few conches. When the bars were uncovered clumps of oysters were gathered, enough for all.

  The women brought loaves of bread and biscuits as well as drinking water flavored with berries. The shallow water wells of the banks did not produce the best tasting water.

  Cappi stood erect at the steering oar as his two uncles rowed the yawl boat to the shore. Kathleen watching thought that he looked like a prince charming.

  Chips had enough of merriment for his old hide yesterday. He decided to “keep ship,” but not before he had gone to the paint locker forward. He brought up two kegs of rum from his everlasting supply.

  When the yawl boat reached shore the two kegs were lifted to Cappi’s broad shoulders, he carried them to where the women were setting up the tables. A shout and applause was heard as the two old timers set one at the end of each table. The women doled the rum out in small cups. The mood was merry and dancing soon started on the beached out deck.

  The smaller children still frolicked in and out of the water, often stopping just long enough near the working women to receive a bite to eat or a drink of the flavored water. The older girls had quit the swimming to get dressed in their fanciest clothes.

  A call from the spoke person woman in charge of serving the food brought Cappi to a table. He sat on a seat which was part of a huge log sawed off for the picnic seats. Some had lengths of plank stretched out between two to make long benches. He saw that his two crew members were being seated and attended to by several of the older women.

  Cappi first realized that he was being given special treatment when he noticed the long blond tresses close to his shoulder. A lot of good seafood was served to his plate as fast as he could eat it. This was however not too fast once he saw who his server was.

  The girl had changed from the flimsy rags she wore for swimming to a royal blue knee length dress that set off the luster of her hair. He could not keep his eyes from following her every move.

  The old woman that filled his cup with rum leaned close to look into his eyes. She seemed to be searching his soul, but maybe she was looking to see how quickly he drank his rum. He turned again to watch the girl. Her movement seemed slow and deliberant as she winked a pretty blue eye at him and nodded the blond head toward the dance floor.

  Cappi over took the girl as she sauntered toward the music makers at the platform. It seemed so natural to grasp her small hand in his. The music for this dance was a waltz; they moved together and she followed his steps as if they had been there before. He whispered in her ear to ask her name.

  “My name is Kathleen, but I’m mostly called Svenska, my grandmother’s pet name for me is Svenska Flicker,” she said. The words rolled from her mouth and were like music to the ears of the captivated captain.

  There was a short break in the music between dances and then a fast twirling square dance. She came to his arms after each parting with warmth that lifted the sailor’s heart to soar into the clouds.

  The dance ended with a long continuous swing; she was so light on her feet that Cappi thought of goose down feathers. After the swing was completed she said, “Let us cool off with a walk along the beach.”

  With her dainty hand enclosed within his big fist they walked along, they had not gone far however when he noticed the old woman following. “She is my grandmother; my protectorate, she will not bother us if we stay within her sight.” A large piece of root from an old tree lay along the banks; it made a good back rest as they sat in the sand.

  The grandmother sat down with her back against a tree when they stopped. This was the woman that looked deep into his eyes, she had been searching his soul; was he the man for her precious Svenska Flicker?

  The light of the day faded away as they talked. It seemed to Cappi that it was only moments before that they had come together.

  Kathleen looked toward her guardian, for the moment she was watching back toward the breaking up crowd. The girl made the most of the opportunity. She placed her ripe red lips directly on his for their first kiss.

  Cappi had been kissed lots of times before. Many girls on the islands and ports along New England harbors had seen to that. This was a different kiss; warm and tender yet with a yearning cry that warned of more and deeper feeling. Stars and lightning bolts seemed to cross the sky.

  Grandmother must have seen the last of the kiss; she got up slowly to approach the young couple. She passed to stop facing back toward the platform. It was very evident without a word spoken that this was the way to go and now was the time.

  The sailorman placed his arm for her to lean on; this gesture of respect was not lost on the elder woman. Kathleen grasped onto his other arm and the three walked to the little house.

  The captain of the “LIZZIE MAE” got his first look at the big mirror. It had been the most frequent topic of their conservation after Kathleen had told her story of the ship wreck. He told the grandmother and her Svenska Flicker that he would come again tomorrow.

  The two uncles both loaded with leftover food for the shipmate. Chips waited at the yawl boat. He jumped in the air and clicked both heels together to show the oldsters how good he was feeling. Their laughter echoed across the still water of the sound.

  Chips ate his food and drained the dregs from the two now almost emptied kegs and put them away. The two uncles told him of Kathleen and pointed at the in love youngster looking aloft to the millions of stars.

  The next morning started early. Today was the start of offloading of the lumber and cedar shake shingles. This was the load that brought the schooner here. The very old patriarch and owner of the home near the inlet had placed the order.

  Evidently the board roof shacks and unkempt houses took away the good setting for the big home with the white painted columns. He had bought shingles, boards and gallons of white paint to spruce up the neighborhood.

  Th
e lumber was lifted and settled into the water and floated ashore with bundles of shingles on top. The offloading took two days. The two old uncles knew just how to rig the booms for all the hoisting. Chips handled the hoist line on the nigger head of the hoisting engine.

  They shooed the love sick captain ashore to be with his girl. She was his girl now that was for sure, but not without grandmother in sight. She let Cappi know in no uncertain terms that there would be no penetrating her Svenska Flicker without the benefit of a marriage. Twice, when the girl was not watching she made an obscene gesture with her fingers, shook her head and then indicated the ring finger. From the bottom of the old carpet bag she showed him a ring. “This was her mothers and I want Kathleen to have it now,” she said departing from her usual choice of names. She hugged the girl to her then quickly left the room.

  The men working ashore with the help from four wild banks ponies had the lumber dragged to piles near the houses. The many gallon cans of paint were carried to shore with loads in the yawl boat. This was the last of the payload. The schooner was free to depart. Cappi went to the big house with his bill of lading. The old man and he was old, must be as old as Chips, thought Cappi while he paid the bill with no complaint. He paid with old gold that the captain would have bet came long ago from a wrecked ship.

  The captain of the schooner thanked the old patriarch for the order. The payment even after the ship chandler was paid off, would pay the bills for many months. The gold was heavy in his pocket. He went back aboard and in the evening darkness he helped the tired old men to secure the deck as soon as the gold was placed in his cabin.

  A beam of light shone upon the deck. He followed its rays as it was coming from the direction of the little house. There was something wrong; Kathleen was repeating what her mother had done so long ago. The old men were tired from two long days of steady work. He sprang to the yawl boat to go alone. All three of the men were there with him to row him ashore.

  Kathleen met him as he arrived at the lighted mirror. “She thought that you were leaving without me,” she said. “She looked so much for my happiness. She has had a severe stroke and she is so old. The doctor is with her now.”

  Cappi said, “Send for the preacher man, I know what will make her happy.” He also sent a boy to summon his shipmates. Almost every living soul on this stretch of sand was here already or arriving. Even the old man of the big house arrived to survey the proceedings. He did it from the seat of a magnificent carriage. It was pulled by two matched horses that were definitely not island ponies of the Outer Banks.

  The two young people stood with the preacher man beside the dying woman’s bed. When her old eyes focused on Cappi he indicated his finger and the preacher with his bible.

  Kathleen followed her grandmother’s eyes to the carpet bag. She reached inside and returned to place the ring in the old woman’s hand. The ring was then presented to Cappi’s hand along with a slight petting.

  It was only a few minutes later that the bride to be appeared outside the door. Lanterns had appeared in the hands of many of the good wishers giving good light.

  Kathleen stood just outside the door where her grandmother could see her. She wore the white lace wedding dress with mantilla her Grandmother had toiled so many hours on. The murmur of appreciation for her beauty ran through the crowd, none were as loud as the calls from Cappi’s crew.

  Chapter 3

  Married and In Love

  The preacher man opened his bible. He looked at the assembled crowd. He raised his eyes toward heaven and said, “We are gathered here in the eyes of God and under the millions of stars overhead.” The preacher was right; the sky was filled with bright stars. Not much as the barometer steadily dropping aboard the “LIZZIE MAE” indicated for the near future.

  The ship captain worrying of the storm to come heard little of the rest of the preacher’s words. He placed the ring on the third finger of her left hand. The kiss that followed brought loud shouts and then Kathleen looked to her grandmother. There seemed to be a smile on the old weathered beaten face. She had died happy with her Svenska Flicker provided for. Well-wishers closed around to shake hands and kiss the bride, but were subdued by the demise of the old lady.

  Cappi explained to a man that acted as an unofficial mayor. “There is a storm brewing and I intend to catch the morning tide and this fair wind out of the inlet. I want plenty of sea room in any storm and the one coming looks like a bad one on the glass. We will be away soon after daylight.”

  He asked the man to wait. He explained to Kathleen the need to hurry her packing and that he had left his money aboard the boat. She gave him the rest of the money from the old carpet bag then hurried to her task.

  With the money in his hand the man got busy issuing orders. The preacher was to stand by for the last words to be said over the old grandma. Two men were sent to get their shovels. The grave was to be dug in the sand next to the two Olson’s already there. Most of the families with young children had drifted off toward home while the older couples waited.

  Kathleen placed a big suitcase and the carpet bag outside. Cappi was busy talking to the un-official mayor while Chips was close by. She asked him to place the heavy mirror near the bags. If there was a surprise at her request it was not mentioned.

  A young married couple sat in the sand nearby. The girl’s belly still swelled with the first child to be. Kathleen talked to them. They would have the house and would plant flowers over the new grave and keep them watered.

  She heard the short sermon over her grandmother while still in her white wedding dress. She turned to her husband and took his arm. She was forever through with the Outer Banks.

  She never looked back. The two uncles lifted the heavy mirror on to the captain’s free shoulder. Chips carried the filled carpet bag. Uncles Emery and Judd placed a piece of a broken off oar through the handle of the suitcase. It was quite a walk to the yawl boat. The newlywed Captain was walking in the clouds. He did not stop to rest until he set the mirror in the boat. The new bride was sitting forward in the afloat dingy when the old men arrived. They had stopped twice to rest. There had been some hugs and kisses while waiting so time went fast.

  The cargo sailing schooner the “LIZZIE MAE”. Photo Credit by: Jeremy D’Entremont

  Once alongside of the schooner the bride was lifted and helped over the rail. She followed Cappi with the mirror below to her bunk. It had been a long and tiring day. She would not have changed it for the world. The dying of her beloved grandmother had not saddened her. She had known for some time that the old woman was hanging on just till her Svenska Flicker was well and happy. She dropped off to sleep; she certainly was well and happy.

  The captain tapped the barometer gently with the nail of a finger. The indicator dropped another bit. He went topside and broke open the canvas stops that secured the mainsail and foresail. The tired crew below heard him at the work. Chips started the donkey engine. A snatch block was rigged to bring the anchor line through it.

  The snatch block and donkey engine were necessary due to the few in the crew. In the old days the many men crew would seize the ropes and sing a sea chant while hauling away. Those full crews were a thing of the past.

  With the anchor close and tied off, the nigger head of the winch was used to hoist the two big sails. The anchor line was back on the winch head as the red sun rose out of the ocean to the East. (Red sun in the morning, sailors take warning.)

  The anchor was hoisted and made fast in place. The jibs were hoisted and the bow fell off into the wind to head out for the inlet and the out flowing tide helped them out. The Captain had his sea room. He motioned the tired crew to their bunks for a well-deserved rest.

  He wanted to head for home to show off his beautiful virgin bride with her long golden tresses. He just could not believe in his luck. To arrive at this long stretch of Carolina sunshine beach, while the grandmother was alive to prevent her fro
m straying. He steered the courses he had plotted for Reidsville, Virginia. He had secured a part load there for Cuba. While in Cuba he would load molasses for a buyer in Boston. He was so engrossed in his thoughts of love and future sailing that the sun was at its zenith and she was at the wheel with him, she snuggled close.

  He placed her for her first trick at the wheel. At noon the next day the storm caught up to the schooner. The crew was rested and had all deck and loose gear double fastened. The yawl boat in its davits on the stern especially; it must not be allowed to bang into the ship rail to destroy itself.

  Kathleen had yet to be taken to her marriage bed or bunk in this particular instance. With the Captain letting his old men crew getting their needed rest he had stood a triple watch. Once relieved at the wheel he had tumbled into his bunk clothes and all. Kathleen covered him with a blanket and went back to continue learning to steer. This time it was Chips that did the instructing. He did it as if it was the most important chore of his life.

  When the winds got to blowing harder Chips sent her to call all hands on deck. The captain took over the wheel and Chips rigged a life line for her use between the wheel and the companionway to the cabin. “Looks like the storm is going northeast and it is outside of us. The counter clockwise direction of the wind that I expect could set us too near the land. We will run southeast under bare poles (no sails) till it passes,” he said.

  All jibs except the flying jib were lowered and secured with their long canvas stops. The two big sails were lowered and stopped tight. The wind now coming from over the stern would not shake out any loose sail.

  The waves were higher than any Kathleen had ever seen. She looked into the face of her captain / husband for fear or concern. At her look he smiled his love and snuggled her close into his strong arms, there was no fear here.