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The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater was an anthology radio drama series with Tom Bosley as host, which aired on the CBS Radio Network in 1977. Himan Brown, already producing the CBS Radio Mystery Theater for the network, added this twice-weekly (Saturdays and Sundays) anthology radio drama series to his workload in 1977. It usually aired on weekends, beginning in February 1977 and continuing through the end of January 1978, on CBS radio affiliates which carried it.
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00:00The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater.
00:16I'm Tom Bosley.
00:18In 1896, that's over 90 years ago, which is a long time,
00:24a very great man named Rudyard Kipling wrote this exciting story of the sea
00:30and about a little stinker of a boy who was changed into a regular Joe
00:36during five months at sea with a handful of Gloucester fishermen.
00:42But not till he had lived through more adventures than he could have had in five years ashore.
00:48Our adventure story, Captain's Courageous,
00:51was adapted from The Great Saga of the Gloucester Fisherman by Rudyard Kipling
00:55for the General Mills Radio Adventure Theater by Ian Martin.
01:00It stars Skip Hinnant and Fred Gwynn.
01:03I'll be back shortly with Act One.
01:12His name was Harvey Chain.
01:14He was 15 or 16 and acted like a smart aleck most of the time.
01:20He wore a cherry red blazer, knickerbockers, red stockings, high sneakers,
01:25and a red flannel cap on the back of his head.
01:29Nobody aboard the big ocean liner could stand him.
01:33Old Mr. Cyrus Porter is busy summing up his fellow passengers' feelings
01:37on the subject of Harvey in the men's smoking salon.
01:41What can you expect from such a boy?
01:44The father's a multimillionaire, has one mansion in San Diego, another in Los Angeles,
01:50owns six or seven railroads, half the lumber on the Pacific slopes,
01:54and lets his wife spend the money.
01:57She can't stand the West.
01:59Floats around the country trying to find out what'll amuse the boy.
02:04Now she's taking him to Europe.
02:06What's pocket money he gets?
02:07And anything else he asks for.
02:10No wonder he's a stuck-up little snob.
02:13Hey, that fog's thick outside.
02:16You can hear the fish boat squawking all around us.
02:19Wouldn't it be great if we ran one down?
02:21Shut the door, Harvey.
02:23No, no.
02:24Get yourself outside at first and then shut it.
02:27You're not wanted in here.
02:30Who's gonna keep me out?
02:31I got as much right as the rest of you.
02:34Is that a fact?
02:35Yeah.
02:36Do you want a light for that cigarette?
02:39Nah, my cig keeps going out.
02:41If you want a man smoke, try one of my cheroots.
02:45Hey, thanks.
02:46I'm sure it'll be my pleasure.
02:49Right?
02:50Duck it in good, boy.
02:53Sure.
02:54How's your mama this afternoon?
02:57I didn't see her at lunch.
03:00In her stateroom.
03:02She's most always sick on the ocean.
03:06You know, this is the first time I've been on the ocean.
03:10I say, it's deader than mud around here.
03:14Hey, I think we're slowing down.
03:16We're getting near the Grand Banks.
03:19Shaving pretty close to those fish boats you'd like to run down.
03:23Uh, how's the cigar?
03:27Fine.
03:27Full flavor.
03:29Well, there's no action here.
03:34I think I'll just slip outside and see what the log says.
03:41Oh, yes, gentlemen.
03:43It takes a man to handle a wheeling stokey.
03:47Our little brat ain't that yet by a long shot.
03:52My head was bursting.
03:55I wished I'd never boasted that I was never seasick.
03:59I threw the vile cigar away and staggered to the side of the boat.
04:04I was going to be sick.
04:07But just as I leaned over, the ship rolled and tilted me over.
04:12I landed on my head and just about blacked out.
04:16I could feel myself sliding and slipping.
04:19And before I could come to, a big gray wave broke out of the fog,
04:23whacking my head so hard against the wood that suddenly everything went black.
04:35Santa Maria, you big boat!
04:38What's the matter?
04:40You cannot hear Manuel, eh?
04:42Lucky few, you do not run me down.
04:46Good for Manuel.
04:48He blows his horn so you turn away last minute.
04:52But not so good for this young boy, huh?
04:56Hey, hey, little fish.
04:59You feel some better now?
05:04What?
05:05Where am I?
05:07Am I drowning?
05:08No.
05:09You are alive.
05:11Well, pretty good so.
05:13I take you aboard my boat.
05:15I row now.
05:19Bastille, we move better.
05:23If you rock the dory, maybe you slide off, back into sea, huh?
05:29I thought I was a goner, sure enough.
05:32Fine, good job I got you, eh, what?
05:36How come you fall out?
05:38I was sick, I couldn't help it.
05:40Just in time I blow my horn on your ship, she turn a little.
05:44Well, then I see you come down.
05:49I think you are caught up with the propeller.
05:52But you drift, drift to me, and I haul you in.
05:57So, you will not die this time.
06:00Well, where am I?
06:01You are with me, in the dory.
06:04Manuel, my name.
06:05And I come from the schooner.
06:07We are here, of Gloucester, Massachusetts.
06:10Massachusetts, I live in Gloucester.
06:14By and by, we get supper, eh, what?
06:16Oh, I can't eat.
06:19I think I...
06:20Ah, so, so, boy.
06:23You try rest.
06:25Manuel blow horn to warn schooner he got trouble.
06:29Then they be ready to help.
06:37Later.
06:38I don't know how long.
06:40I felt the hands lift me.
06:43And suddenly I was dropped down a dark, heaving hole with men in oil skins who...
06:49who gave me a hot drink and took off my clothes.
06:54I...
06:54I must have fallen asleep.
07:02Well, good morning.
07:04Feeling better?
07:06Say, uh, uh, how about some coffee?
07:08Oh, isn't there any milk?
07:10Well, uh, no, uh, least wise there ain't likely to be, long about till September.
07:16Here.
07:17It ain't bad coffee.
07:19I made it.
07:19Oh, it's hot.
07:20Uh, yeah.
07:21Uh, I, uh, dried your clothes, uh, though they ain't our style much.
07:25Twist round the bed and see if in your hut.
07:27Oh.
07:28Uh.
07:29Oh, I don't guess.
07:31Oh, that's good.
07:31Because Dad wants to see you.
07:33Best, uh, fix yourself and go on deck.
07:35Who are you?
07:36I'm his son.
07:37Dan, they call me.
07:38And, uh, I'm Cook's helper.
07:40Ah, and everything else on board that's too dirty for the men.
07:43You'd better move it.
07:45Dad's waiting.
07:46Well, if he wants to see me, he better come down here.
07:51If that don't beat off.
07:53Hey, Dad, uh, he says you can slip down and see him if you're anxious that way.
07:59Dan, quit fooling and send that boy up to me.
08:07The tone of that voice made me hurry up on deck to see him.
08:11I couldn't wait to watch him squirm when he learned who he was dealing with.
08:16Morning.
08:18Uh, afternoon, more like, I might say.
08:20You've nearly slept round the clock, young fella.
08:23What do you expect after an accident?
08:25We won't go into what I expect right now.
08:29What might be your name?
08:31Uh, where are you from?
08:32My name is Harvey Chain II.
08:35I'm overboard from the liner Calpurnia, and I demand you take me straight back to New York,
08:40where my father will pay you anything you ask for returning me.
08:43Wow!
08:44Uh, quite, Dan.
08:45Well, I can't say as I think much of any man, or boy even,
08:50who'd fall overboard from that kind of packet in a flat calm.
08:55Least of all, using the excuse he was Caesar.
08:58Excuse?
08:59Excuse?
09:00Do you think I'd fall over into your dirty little boat for fun?
09:03Jeepers!
09:04Dan, if I was you, boy, I wouldn't call the boat that under Providence was the means of saving you
09:12any names.
09:14I'm Disco Troop, and this is my boat.
09:17The we're here, out of Gloucester, which you don't rightly seem to know.
09:21I don't know, and I don't care.
09:23I'm just telling you, the sooner you get me back to New York, the better it will pay you.
09:27Uh, how would that be, young fella?
09:30Cold dollars and cents.
09:32If you want an advance now, I can give you a hundred or so.
09:34Is that a fact?
09:36What?
09:37It's gone!
09:38My money's been stolen!
09:41So, I'd have to wait to see your pa to get the reward.
09:44I had a hundred and thirty-four dollars in my pocket.
09:47You stole it!
09:48Give it back!
09:49Now, what would a boy be doing with that kind of money?
09:52It was part of my pocket money.
09:53I get two hundred a month.
09:54You don't say.
09:56Two hundred?
09:59You don't suppose he might have hit his head, maybe, Dan, scrambled his brains?
10:03Why, you, you...
10:05We're sorry for you, son, and we won't talk any more about the money.
10:08Uh, about getting back, we've just come out of the banks, fishing.
10:14So, with good luck, we ought to make it a show about the middle of September.
10:19But this is May!
10:22I can't stay here doing nothing while you fish!
10:25Right and just.
10:26Just and right.
10:27We won't ask you to do nothing.
10:30You'll go with Dan here and help him do as you bid, and I'll give you a...
10:34I'll give you a ten and a half months.
10:37Ten and a half?
10:38You must be crazy.
10:40For what?
10:41You don't expect me to wash pots and pans and things.
10:44And lots of things.
10:47No call to shout.
10:48You take me to New York, you hear?
10:51And my father will give you enough to buy this dirty little fish kettle ten times over.
10:55Then I won't tell him you stole my money.
10:58Oh.
10:58Now, don't you call Dad a thief.
11:00He, uh, he don't take that from no one.
11:03I'll call him what I want.
11:04Pirate!
11:05Thief!
11:05I won't do menial work for anyone.
11:07You hear me?
11:08You, you, you see?
11:09Shut up!
11:10Oh!
11:11You hit me!
11:12You hit me right in the nose!
11:15Dan, I was set again, this young fellow, when I first saw him.
11:20Now I'm sorry for him because he's not quite all there.
11:24He ain't responsible for the names he calls.
11:27Uh, you be gentle with him, Dan.
11:30I'm going below for a while.
11:32Uh, my nose is bleeding.
11:36Harvey, I tried to warn you.
11:39That ain't no ways hasty, but, uh, you asked for it.
11:49I found it hard to believe I was really going to be stuck on this smelly old tub for six
11:57months.
11:58I couldn't believe it was happening to me.
12:02And that all my dad's money wasn't going to save me.
12:07I was scared.
12:09I was alone.
12:11And most of all, I, I was sorry.
12:15Sorry that I'd made such a bad start on my new life.
12:26Well, how would you like to be in Harvey Chains' shoes?
12:29Or maybe I should say high sneakers.
12:32Of course, I know none of you are spoiled brats like Harvey sure is,
12:37but just the same, his comeuppance is kind of rugged.
12:41I wonder if he can handle all he has to face.
12:45For the answer to that, we'll just have to wait till I return with the rest of his story.
12:57Well, now, let's see.
12:59We left a very miserable boy in a wrinkled, shrunk, saltwater-stained cherry-red blazer and knickerbockers,
13:07nursing a nosebleed and feeling very sorry for himself.
13:11Well, he's still sitting there as the other boy in his rubber boots and seaman's garb comes back across the
13:17deck.
13:18He steps in front of Harvey, lifts a pail he has fetched, and suddenly...
13:23Oh, what did you do that for?
13:27To wash up.
13:28And the deck.
13:29And you better forget being mad at Dad.
13:32You are crazy to call him a thief.
13:34Oh, why?
13:35My money's gone.
13:37Your father has never seen more than a five-dollar bill at one time, so why wouldn't he just...
13:41You don't know what this ship that we are here is worth.
13:44You wouldn't say that.
13:46Oh, my father could buy up this boat once a week and never miss it.
13:50Oh?
13:51How did your dad get all this money?
13:54Ah, and gold mines and things.
13:56Out west.
13:56Hmm.
13:57Does he go around with a pistol and a trick horse the way they do in the circus?
14:02Yes, they call that the wild west.
14:04My father hasn't any use for ponies.
14:06When he wants to ride, he takes out his own private railroad car.
14:10I bet you've never even seen one.
14:12Oh, yes, I have at the Union Depot in Boston.
14:15But that belonged to Slayton Beeman.
14:18He's a millionaire.
14:19My father's what you call a multimillionaire, and he has two private cars.
14:28I told him about the private cars.
14:30One named Harvey after me, one Constance for my mother.
14:34And I described them as I remembered them.
14:36The Morocco leather chairs, the velour drapes, the crystal chandeliers, oh, and the electric lights.
14:43And I told him about how I was going to Europe to go to school, and a thousand other things.
14:48And Dan listened with his mouth open, and I could see he believed me.
14:53Gosh.
14:55Dad's made a mistake for once in his life.
14:57He has for sure.
14:59Oh, he'll be mad clear through.
15:02Harvey, you better get up and start pitching in alongside of me, or you'll catch it.
15:08But if you do your job, you'll be all right.
15:11Dad's a mighty just man.
15:13My nose looks like it, doesn't it?
15:15Oh, that's nothing.
15:16All dried up now.
15:18Now, I can't have any dealing with a man thinks me, or Dad, or anyone aboard is a thief.
15:24We're fishermen.
15:25And we shipped it together for six years.
15:28I'll tell you this fair and square.
15:31I didn't look through your pockets when I dried your clothes.
15:34But it's my opinion.
15:36They were empty.
15:38Ask me.
15:38You lost the money before you fell overboard.
15:42Maybe you're right.
15:43I should have thought of that before I started calling everyone a thief.
15:49Well, where's your father?
15:51In the Caribbean.
15:52What do you want of him?
15:53You'll see.
16:03Excuse me, Captain True?
16:05Watch it now, boy.
16:06Uh, I'm here to take things back.
16:11I want to apologize, sir, and thank you.
16:14There you are.
16:16You'll make a man of it yet, if you go on that way.
16:20That'll be the men coming back with the catch.
16:23You go back to Dan and tell him to fit you out in some seafaring clothes.
16:32Here they come.
16:34Now, you'll have your work cut out for you.
16:37Wow.
16:37I've never seen the sea from Solo Down.
16:39It's a good catch.
16:41Look at Manuel there.
16:42Couldn't take another fish aboard.
16:44He's as low as a lily pad in still water, ain't he?
16:47Oh, which is Manuel?
16:48Uh, there he is, uh, with the curly black hair.
16:51And the yellow earring in his left ear.
16:53Portuguese he is.
16:55He's the one who found you last night.
16:57He'll be the first aboard.
16:58Who are the others?
16:59Uh, uh, behind him, to his starboard side, Long Jack.
17:02Jack, Irishman from South Boston.
17:05Uh, port is Tom Platt.
17:07Used to serve on a man of war.
17:09Then, uh, back of him, uh, Uncle Salters.
17:12Dad's own brother.
17:13And if there's any bad luck around, it'll fetch up with him.
17:17Only man stung up today, I'll wager.
17:19And what would sting you?
17:20Uh, strawberries, mostly.
17:22Uh, pumpkins sometimes.
17:24And, uh, sometimes lemons and cucumbers.
17:27Strawberries?
17:28Lemons?
17:29You're pulling my leg in the ocean.
17:31You don't want to believe me?
17:33Someday, you'll see.
17:34Hey, here's Manuel.
17:36Uh, lay a hold of that tackle there.
17:38The what?
17:38Uh, that rope by your hand.
17:41Huh?
17:41Didn't you ever done a ton of work in your life?
17:43I'm gonna try to work now, anyway.
17:45Only it's all new.
17:46What do I do?
17:47We'll be swinging him aboard soon.
17:50Hey, Manuel.
17:52How many?
17:52You count with me as I fork them aboard.
17:57Two hundred thirty-one.
17:59Look out!
18:01What are they?
18:02What are we fish for?
18:04Cogs!
18:08You wouldn't believe how fast and how easily Manuel flipped those big fish onto the deck
18:14while Dan held the dory close with a bow hook.
18:17When it was empty, Dan told me to give Manuel my rope, which had a hook at the end of
18:22it.
18:22He took it, slipped it through a hoop of rope at the dory's bow, caught Dan's tackle,
18:28hooked it to the stern, and clambered aboard.
18:31All right, Harvey.
18:33Together.
18:34Pull!
18:36Pull!
18:37Pull!
18:39Hey, hold on.
18:41That's high enough.
18:42Now, swing her in and lower her away.
18:45As steady as she goes, these dories don't weigh nothing empty.
18:50Well, that was right smart for a passenger.
18:53Hey, well done, Nino.
18:56You feel pretty good now, huh?
18:59Yes, thank you.
19:00Well, what is to be thankful to me?
19:03I only do what I must when I pull you from the sea.
19:09I am stiff, and I have not cleaned my boat today too easy.
19:13Hey, you clean him for me, Danny.
19:15Oh, I will.
19:15I want to.
19:16Well, here.
19:17Catch this swab.
19:18I got it.
19:19You can best make haste for his Long Jack.
19:21If you don't, his boat will be nesting on top of you.
19:28Long Jack's dory whacked against the we're here,
19:31and in no time, another stream of glittering fish were thumping on deck.
19:35Two hundred and more.
19:36He was followed by Tom Platt with a hundred and ninety-odd.
19:40Dan and I were just nesting his boat with the others
19:42when Uncle Salter's boat thudded against the hull,
19:45and another boat I hadn't noticed.
19:48In it was a small man with a small voice,
19:50very quiet and sort of dreamy.
19:53He and Uncle were in an argument of sorts.
19:56I think it's 42.
19:58Well, then my ducks turn for once,
20:00because I caught 45.
20:01Well, 42 or 45, I've lost count.
20:06Who's that?
20:07Uncle Salter's and Penn count in their catch.
20:10He speaks to the circus any day.
20:1342, you said?
20:14Well, count again, then.
20:16Oh, patience in Jerusalem.
20:18What possessed a farmer like you
20:19to set foot in a boat beats me?
20:21What's the start here?
20:23You get that fisher boy.
20:25Don't spoil the fun, Dad.
20:26They're arguing who caught the most again.
20:29Well, supper's waiting, and Salter's is on first half.
20:33I'll count for you, Salt.
20:35One, two, three.
20:37Make fast, Uncle, and come aboard.
20:39You too, Penn.
20:40Toss them lines, Harvey.
20:42Aye, aye, Dan.
20:43Come on, Uncle Salter's.
20:45You too, Penn.
20:48All right, thank you, Danny.
20:49You're a good boy.
20:50What's count?
20:5247 for Penn, 41 for you.
20:55Salt, Penn here beat you.
20:57I thought you called yourself Sailor.
20:59Well, t'want a fair count.
21:01Come on, Salt.
21:02After supper, we'll go to dressing down.
21:05You'll pitch to me.
21:06Tom and me'll stall.
21:08We are second half, Harvey.
21:10You, me, and Manuel, and Penn.
21:12Now, what's second half?
21:13Oh, well, we sit down to eat second.
21:15What's dressing down?
21:17You'll see.
21:21I saw.
21:22I stood by my tub at the edge of the hold.
21:25Long Jack, with one scoop and a wrench, cleaned the fish and waxed their heads off.
21:31Uncle Salter's caught the fish as they were slid to him.
21:34There was a wrench, and the backbone was out.
21:37And the fish splashed into my tub.
21:39From there, I pitched to Dan.
21:42Pitch them bunched.
21:43Don't scatter them, Harvey.
21:44That was Dan, crying out from deep in the hole as he stacked.
21:49After an hour, the fish were heavy as lead.
21:51And I wanted to quit, but you couldn't.
21:54And I made up my mind to keep at it till I dropped.
21:58Which, by the time we were finished, I was ready to do.
22:03Water, turn in.
22:05Oh, well, I did a little better that time, Danny.
22:10Aye, Penn.
22:10And I think it's my duty to help clean.
22:14I wouldn't have your conscience for 10,000 content.
22:17Turn in.
22:18You've no cause to a boy's work.
22:20Good night, lads.
22:22Good night, Captain Troop.
22:23Here's your water, Dan.
22:25Oh, thanks.
22:28Uh, where do you think you're going?
22:32Ben.
22:33Oh, no.
22:34Boys have to clean up after dressing down.
22:37And first watch is boys' watch in calm weather.
22:39Oh, but I can't keep my eyes open.
22:42You will, Harvey.
22:44Or a rope sand will teach ya.
22:50I saw a lot of things as the days went by.
22:53Like the first day Dan got permission from the captain
22:56to take me fishing in his little red dory called the Hattie S.
22:59My first holiday, I thought.
23:03Go short, Harvey.
23:05If you crab your oar, you're liable to turn her over.
23:08Uh, where's the sail and mast?
23:10You don't sail fishing, Dory's.
23:13You pull.
23:14But isn't my little Hattie S., Daisy?
23:18Don't you wish you owned her?
23:20I guess my father might give me one or two if I asked him.
23:24Oh, that's right.
23:25I forgot your father's a millionaire.
23:27Yeah.
23:28Uh, ship oars, Harvey, and we'll, we'll try a line over the side.
23:36Where are the fish?
23:38Well, if Dad was along, he'd read the signs plain and tell us what.
23:42Oh, oh, I've got something.
23:43Bring it in.
23:44I'll lend a hand.
23:44No, no, no, it's mine.
23:46I, I, I want, I want to, uh, that.
23:48Why, why, these are strawberries.
23:52These ways they look like.
23:54That's right.
23:55Sea strawberries.
23:56Ow!
23:57Ooh.
23:58Now you know what strawberry bottom means.
24:01Nothing except fish should be touched by the naked hands, Dad says.
24:05Oh, it stings.
24:07Worse than nettles.
24:08It'll, it'll pass.
24:09Here, here, now take my line and give me yours.
24:12I'll clear it for you and bait up.
24:14It's stinging.
24:15I don't, I don't know if it's, oh, help!
24:18I'm bubbling this time for sure.
24:20The line's running out.
24:21Ooh.
24:22Hey, he's a big one.
24:23Uh, give him room.
24:25Yeah.
24:25Let him run.
24:26Test his strength.
24:27Uh, no, no.
24:28I'll help you.
24:28No, you won't.
24:29No, no.
24:29This is my first fish.
24:32Is, is it a whale?
24:35Calibate, maybe.
24:36Uh, wait.
24:37Oh, there.
24:38I glinched him.
24:39Oh, lay my wages.
24:41He's over a hundred pounds.
24:42Ha, ha.
24:43Are you still so everlasting anxious to land him alone?
24:47Yeah, I'm going to.
24:49If it's the last thing I do.
24:58Which is always a very dangerous remark to me.
25:02Supposing it turned out to be just that.
25:05The last thing you really did.
25:07A one hundred pound fish.
25:09Is that what's on the end of Harvey's line?
25:11And if so, can he land it?
25:13Is this rugged sea life starting to make a sniveling little snob into a right guy?
25:19If you stick around for a couple of minutes, we can find out about that when I return with Act
25:24Three.
25:31Remember when Harvey asked Dan about second half and about dressing down, and that Dan's answer was always a sort
25:39of mysterious, you'll see?
25:41Well, mostly when Harvey sees, it turns out to be something not too pleasant.
25:47But to get back to the story, just what is it Harvey is hooked on his line?
25:53Well, if we listen, we'll see.
25:56You've let him run enough.
25:57Check him.
25:58Check him.
25:58I can't.
25:59Look at my hand.
26:01They're bleeding.
26:02I'd better help you.
26:03No, he's my fish.
26:04If you run out of line, he'll be nobody's.
26:08I had to let him help.
26:10If I didn't, I'd have lost him for sure.
26:13Dan came over and snubbed the line in the bow cleave.
26:16Then the two of us started to fight him.
26:19He took off all over the place.
26:21And for the next 20 minutes, he was in charge of the dory.
26:25Then suddenly, with my face blue from hanging on, and my hands near cut to ribbons, he went
26:31dead on us.
26:33And Danny let me haul him in.
26:35Bring him home, Harvey.
26:37He's all yours.
26:38I'll gaff him soon as you get him alongside.
26:42I don't know if I can make it.
26:45Oh, sure you can.
26:47You can't lose him now.
26:48There.
26:49There.
26:50He's breaking water.
26:51What is it?
26:52Halibut.
26:54Bring him in.
26:55I'll sink the gas.
26:57Hey.
26:59Oh.
27:02Hey.
27:03Beginner's luck.
27:04He'll go at least 100.
27:06Is he that big?
27:08Big?
27:09Why, I've been fishing ever since.
27:12What's that?
27:15It's Dad.
27:16He wants something.
27:17I wonder what.
27:18He's calling the whole crew, Ian.
27:20How can you tell?
27:21See the four rigging?
27:22He'd just run up a potato basket.
27:25That's the signal.
27:26Ooh.
27:27He must be on to something or he'd never break fish in this time of day.
27:31Get your oars out.
27:33We'd best start rowing back.
27:37My back was sore.
27:39And my arms were falling off.
27:42But if Danny rowed, I had to.
27:45But before we got back to the boat, we saw Penn in some kind of trouble.
27:50So we rode over to help.
27:53He's done it again.
27:54What?
27:55Fouled his anchor.
27:56We'll have to free it up for him before he loses it.
27:59Loses it?
28:00Oh, he's always losing anchors.
28:02Lost two this trip already.
28:03See, Dad says if he loses another, sure as fishing, he'll give him a kellegg.
28:07What's a kellegg?
28:08Oh, just a big stone instead of an anchor.
28:11That'd break Penn's heart.
28:13He seems to try hard.
28:14Yeah.
28:15He can't rightly help it.
28:16He's not quite caulked.
28:18Huh?
28:19He's not all there.
28:20See, there was a big flood at a place called Johnstown.
28:24What was Johnstown?
28:25Flood.
28:26I heard of it.
28:26A dam bust open.
28:27Yeah, and the water drowned most of the town.
28:31Penn lost his whole family in it.
28:33And his mind, too.
28:35He was a preacher in the Moravian church.
28:38Jacob Mola was his name, and he had a wife and four children.
28:42And they all drowned?
28:44Yeah.
28:45My uncle Salters was a friend of his, so seeing the way Penn was,
28:50he brought him back east and gave him work on his farm.
28:53Poor Penn.
28:54I'm glad you told me.
28:56Now, don't you never breathe a word about Johnstown in front of him, though.
29:01Dad says if Penn ever remembers who he really is,
29:04and about his wife and kids,
29:06he'll die.
29:11By the time we helped Penn free his anchor and got back to the We're Here,
29:15all the other dories were in,
29:17and Captain Troop was making ready to sail.
29:20Dad sniffed out where the big car door.
29:22He knows them like he was one of them,
29:24and the fleet knows he knows.
29:26See all the other ships coming up one by one?
29:29It was Danny that whispered to me,
29:31and when I looked,
29:32I could see the whole ocean was crawling with other boats,
29:35just about like ours.
29:37Boys, I reckon we're getting a bit crowded.
29:42So we'll just leave them be to bait big and catch small.
29:46But how are we going to slip them, Captain?
29:50When the weather makes up.
29:52Uh, fog's on the way.
29:53Oh, I don't see it.
29:55By the time we weigh anchor, it'll be here.
29:57We'll slip them in the smother.
30:00Up anchor, then.
30:01And stand by to raise jib and pours off.
30:05How can he know there'll be fog?
30:07He knows.
30:08You'll see.
30:12I saw.
30:14The captain was right.
30:15And we did slip away from the fleet.
30:20The fog's so thick, that one.
30:22Oh, oh, oh.
30:23Si, Ninou.
30:24I could cut it with my knife.
30:27Eh, what?
30:28If we're over the Grand Banks,
30:30couldn't we run aground?
30:31Ah, not without, Captain.
30:33But,
30:34I teach you a trick.
30:35Oh, ah, yes.
30:37Momentito.
30:38He's going to show you how to fly the blue pigeon.
30:41What's that?
30:41And, and, and don't say you'll see again.
30:44It's the sound, let, lad.
30:46Ah, here she be.
30:48All grease and ready.
30:49Drop the jib.
30:51Come up on the wheel.
30:52We're sounding.
30:53Aye, aye, Captain.
30:55Watch Manuel now.
30:56As he slings it around his head.
30:58Blue pigeon.
31:00Fly.
31:01Whoa.
31:02Look at her go.
31:04Oh, way out over the bow.
31:06Bowling is an odd.
31:07There she drops.
31:08What do you make it at a guess, Dad?
31:11Um, 60, maybe, if I'm any judge.
31:15Oh, she's bottomed.
31:16What does she mark?
31:18Is he, Captain?
31:20He is right.
31:2160 bottomed to the mark.
31:27Why are we home, too, Dan?
31:29Fade a line like the rest of us.
31:31Don't say it.
31:32Because we are over the fish.
31:35Fish, oh, 20 pounder.
31:37Big fellow.
31:38And hungry, too.
31:40They'll bite even a bear.
31:42Oh.
31:43How did your dad know they were here?
31:45Dad could smell fish in a graveyard.
31:51Brought back the sexton, Captain Troop.
31:53I didn't mean to interrupt, sir.
31:54That's all right, Harvey.
31:56Just writing up the log.
31:58You find some sun to shoot?
32:00Yes, sir.
32:01You caught on real smart using that old sexton.
32:05You're getting to be quite a seaman.
32:07Just learning from what you and Dan and the others have taught me.
32:10Yeah.
32:11Learning a heap more about things than just the sea, I think.
32:16Captain?
32:17Yes, son?
32:19How many days is it by the log since, well, since I came aboard?
32:23Oh, power of them, Harvey.
32:25Most five months.
32:26Oh.
32:28That's a long time.
32:30Yes, son, it is.
32:31But, uh, chin up.
32:32It won't be long before we're turned for home.
32:42There's coffee below, Captain.
32:43I'll spell you.
32:44No, Harvey.
32:45It's, it's best.
32:46I'm aware I can get at things, in case.
32:49Uh, I mistrust I hear something.
32:52You hear anything?
32:54No, sir.
32:54Nor see anything in this fog.
32:56Thick as I've ever seen it.
32:59I got an uneasy feeling.
33:01And, uh, I'd feel happier with the wheel under my hand, in case of anything.
33:06Uh, keep the horn going.
33:07Aye, aye, aye, sir.
33:10It came on me sudden, after all those months away from home,
33:15how I used to be a no-good stinker of a kid in that cherry-red blazer.
33:21How I once thought it would be great if a steamer ran down a fishing boat.
33:28How I hated what I used to be.
33:30And how much better I liked myself now.
33:34Here I was, up at four in the morning, just before dawn,
33:38in streaming, crackling oil skins,
33:41blowing literally for dear life on a small horn,
33:44while somewhere near at hand,
33:46the steel bow of an ocean liner,
33:49rearing thirty feet out of the water,
33:52was storming along at twenty miles an hour.
33:55And then,
33:58I wanted my mind, my dad,
34:00so bad that I cried,
34:03till my face was wet as my oil skins.
34:05Then I prayed,
34:07please,
34:08please,
34:09God,
34:09just get me home,
34:12like a bad dream come through,
34:14she came sweeping out of the fog.
34:17So clear, I could see the waves at her bow.
34:19And all I could do was blow that horn and yell,
34:23Look out!
34:24Look out!
34:29She passed so close,
34:30a jet of steam blasted in my face,
34:32and a spout of hot water raked our deck.
34:35We staggered in the wake her propeller left,
34:38breaking over us and heeling the boat
34:39as if she'd never right herself.
34:42But she did.
34:43And once again,
34:45we steered for home.
34:51You sent Forrest there to me and Harvey?
34:55Why, yes, boys, I did.
34:57And did I do something wrong, Captain?
34:59I don't reckon you did.
35:01I don't reckon you haven't some time now.
35:05Not that I rightly recollect.
35:08No.
35:09All in all,
35:10I'd say I find you a fair man.
35:13Both of you.
35:15Now, I have a job for you.
35:17Skip up that rigging
35:18and let me know when we sight land.
35:26First time I saw you climb up here to the cross trees,
35:29I never thought I'd have the nerve to get here myself.
35:33Well, you took to it good,
35:34like everything else.
35:36Thanks to you and the Captain and Manuel
35:38and Long Jack and Tom Platt
35:40and Uncle Salters and Pam.
35:44Harvey.
35:44What, Dad?
35:46I...
35:46I guess this will be just about, uh, goodbye.
35:50Why?
35:51Dad sent us up.
35:53He knows we're making landfall.
35:55So, uh,
35:55I guess you'll go back to being a millionaire's son.
35:59You know,
36:01like you was.
36:03No, Dad.
36:04I'll never go back to what I was.
36:06All of you took care of that.
36:08And you'll be seeing me.
36:10Why,
36:10you're my family.
36:12And you just waited.
36:13You see what he'll do with...
36:15Hey, Daddy, look!
36:16Uh,
36:17yeah,
36:18I saw it afore.
36:21Land.
36:21I never thought I'd see it again.
36:25Especially that morning in the fog,
36:27the steamer nearly ran us down.
36:29I never thought we'd make port.
36:31Oh,
36:32Dad always does.
36:34That's why he called his ship
36:35the
36:36We Are Here.
36:38Harvey,
36:40you let him know we've made landfall.
36:43Aye,
36:43aye,
36:43Dan.
36:45Off the port,
36:46bow!
36:49Land
37:01Harvey didn't have to take Dan out west.
37:04For as soon as his father got the telegram saying he was safe,
37:07he came east with Harvey's mother in the private car.
37:11Oh,
37:12what a reunion they had.
37:13And what a party for all on the ship.
37:16Dan did get to go west later
37:18to learn the best parts of Harvey's life ashore.
37:22But the best of all
37:23was that Mr. Chain learned
37:25that money was less important than his child.
37:29And that Captain Troop
37:30had given him a gift he could never repay.
37:33A son he could be proud to call a friend.
37:43The gift is repaid now.
37:46Mr. Chain,
37:46among his other holdings,
37:47had a shipping company.
37:49A company that,
37:50after college,
37:51in an apprenticeship,
37:53Harvey now runs.
37:54And the captain of his flagship,
37:56after serving his apprenticeship,
37:58is Dan Troop.
38:00A ship renamed the Hattie S.
38:03Captain of industry,
38:04captain of a ship.
38:07What's the difference?
38:08They are still blood brothers,
38:11and captains courageous.
38:20Our cast included
38:22Skip Hinnant,
38:23Fred Gwynn,
38:24Russell Horton,
38:25Ian Martin,
38:26and Robert Dryden.
38:29This is Tom Bosley,
38:31inviting you to return
38:32to the General Mills Radio Adventure Theater
38:35for another exciting tale
38:37you can hear
38:38through the magic of radio.
38:41The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater
38:43is recommended by NEA,
38:45the National Education Association.
38:49The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater
38:50by NEA.
38:50the National Education Association.
38:50Thank you,
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