Perhaps Jack Starland's most noticeable trait in boyhood was his
fondness for the water. He was a magnificent swimmer and learned to
handle a small boat with the skill of a veteran sailor. Some of his
dare-devil exploits in cruising among the Farallones and down the
coast caused his father great concern. He placed such severe
restrictions upon the lad that he rebelled. One day he slipped out of
the house, went down to the wharf and engaged to go as cabin boy on a
South Sea whaler. At the critical moment, however, his conscience
asserted itself and he drew back. His father never knew of this
particular episode in the life of his son. Had it been carried out, it
would have broken the parent's heart.
It was shortly after this that Jack received his appointment to the
Military Academy. He had told his "sister" Warrenia of his narrow
escape from playing the part of a fool and ingrate, and naturally she
was horrified.
"There never would have been the slightest excuse for such folly and
wickedness," said she, as the two sat in a palace car of the overland
train, flying eastward; "you have the kindest of fathers and you can
never do enough to repay your obligations to him."
"I admit all that," replied the young man smiling, "but what's the use
of rubbing it in when I _didn't_ run away?"
"But you started to do so," she persisted.
"And stopped in time: what was wrong in _that_?"
"It was wrong that you should have had a minute when you seriously
intended to commit the crime."
"Commit the crime!" he repeated, with a reproving look; "perhaps it
would have been a crime, but I'm not so sure about that."
"I am; Jack I'm ashamed of you."
"So am I; but don't forget that I was younger then than now."
"Yes; two or three months; persons sometimes grow a good deal in that
period."
"They may not grow so much in stature, but they do in sense."
"I have heard of such instances, but I do not remember to have met
any."
"Come now, sister," laughed the youth who admired his friend's
brilliancy, "I beg you to let up; I confess all you have charged; I am
a base villain, for whom hanging would be too good; you will be filled
with remorse when I become General of the army and you recall all the
harsh words you have said of me."
"_When_ you become General I will mourn my cruelty in sackcloth and
ashes. But I am willing to change the subject. Let us drop the past
and talk of the future. Your term at West Point I believe is four
years."
"Provided I'm not 'found' as the expression goes. But I'm not really
admitted as yet, though I passed the preliminary examination before
leaving home and won my appointment in a competitive contest. The
decisive examination will take place at the Point when I get there; I
understand it is severe, but I am quite confident."
"You always were, no matter what issue was involved."
Since we have already learned that all went well with the young man,
it is not necessary to repeat the speculation of the couple as they
steamed eastward. Jack did enter the Military Academy, and, as I have
said, made a creditable record for himself. Warrenia Rowland at the
same time became a student in the famous young ladies' seminary, to
which further reference will be made later, and the two were graduated
within a few weeks of each other.
It would be supposed that the military career upon which Major Jack
Starland entered would have extinguished his love of boating and the
water, but it did not. Could he have chosen his profession it would
have been that of the navy, and he would have entered the Academy at
Annapolis, but that could not be arranged and he threw his whole
energies into the military work.
Now it chanced that Jack's room mate and intimate friend was the son
of a prominent ship builder in the East. This youth was as fond of the
sea as the young Californian. In one respect he was more fortunate,
for his father had presented him with a superb yacht, with which he
had cruised up and down the Atlantic coast and made a trip or two to
the West Indies. I may as well add that this same yacht was placed at
the disposal of our government at the opening of the war with Spain
and did good service in scouting in Cuban waters.
The cadets at West Point have only one vacation during their four
years' course; that comes at the end of two years and lasts for a
couple of months. Jack Starland made a flying visit home and then
accepted the invitation of his room mate to go on a cruise with him in
his yacht. It being in the summer time, the craft headed northward and
visited Newport, Bar Harbor and several other noted resorts on the
Atlantic seaboard.
The excursion was a continual delight to both young men, who, as you
are aware, must have been fine specimens of physical vigor, or they
would not have been in the Military Academy. Jack wrote such a glowing
account of his holiday that his father's heart was touched. He read
the letter to his partner who remarked:
"A good sailor was spoiled when Jack became a soldier."
"I never knew a lad with a stronger liking for a nautical life.
Nothing would have delighted him more than to become a sailor. What
makes me respect Jack, is that with all this overwhelming fondness for
a sailor's life, he has had too much good sense to yield to it. He has
never asked me to allow him to go to sea, but has always placed my
wishes first. Do you know, Teddy, that even when a headlong, impetuous
youngster, he must have withstood temptation with Roman firmness. Of
course for the last year or two no thought of going contrary to my
desires has ever entered his mind."
(Ah, fond parent, you are but a single example of multitudes of
fathers, who have kept their eyes closed to what was going on within
touch of their hands.)
"A father is a poorer judge of his children than others. My love for
Jack is hardly second to yours, but I am not blind to his faults. I am
glad to say that he hasn't any more of them than he is entitled to
have. No father ever had a more obedient son; judging the boy
therefore, in cold blood, I must say I agree fully with you. If
anybody had suggested to Jack when a boy that he should go contrary to
your wishes or run away, he would have made it a _casus belli_."
(From which remark, it would appear that the father of a boy is not
always the only one who makes an error concerning the youth.)
"What I'm getting at, Teddy, is this: the reading of that letter from
Jack has caused me to decide upon a piece of extravagance. I'm going
to present him with a handsome yacht."
"It will cost you a tidy sum, Tom."
"I know that, but it will be a good investment. He may not have many
opportunities for enjoying it while he is an officer of the army, but
unless we have war very soon, Jack will follow the example of many
others who have been educated at West Point and resign, holding
himself at the disposal of the government whenever needed. Of course
his ultimate destination is here, in our business, in this office, and
the yacht will come in handy during his vacation times."
"And probably add to the number of his vacations."
"Which will be well; for it can be said of few of our business men
that they have more vacations than are necessary or good for them."
"May I give you a suggestion, Tom?"
"I am always glad to receive anything of the kind from you."
"We can make as good yachts on this side of the continent as in the
shipyards of the East. Nevertheless, purchase Jack's yacht in the
East."
"Why?"
"To bring it through the Golden Gate, he will have to come around Cape
Horn."
"A pretty risky voyage,--one that tests the staunchness of a boat and
the seamanship of the captain."
"True, and make it a condition that Jack himself shall bring the yacht
to California."
"It shall be done,--nothing will delight the young rascal more."