Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-11-17

near LQ6 waves, anu tudt tuey uSeQ 70
talk to him for all the world like human
beings.r When be gave up fishing he
had built small pleasure boat, which
was christened with great ceremony
The Saucy Jack, and smart. trim
little craft she was, with sailing powers
something perfectly miraculous All
through the summer she was kept fully
occupied, and heartrending were the
appeals Joe had to listen to from the
juvenile frequenters of the beach to
take them out for sail with him. But
he always had plenty of company, and
what with his sea stories and biscuits
and ginger beer, Joe Barton was at last
worshipped as a. hero johnny ever
went with him on these sea excursions,
and despite his deformity and ever-at-
tendant crutch, without which he could
not move, he had learned to handle and
maneuvre The Saucy Jack With the
greatest ease, and was as expert at tax
ing in a reef or putting about" as the
oldest salt in Yarmouth
1t was a glorious summers day, the
sea so smooth that it rippled on the
beach without noise, and seemed to be
coyly kissing the pebbles So hot, too,
that the rowers in the many boats float
ing about were leaning listlessly on their
oars, allowing themselves to drift lazily
along with the tide. All Yarmouth
seemed to be on the water, everything
in the shape of boat was engaged
The Saucy Jack alone remained idle.
There she lay, about a hundred yards
from the shore, securely anchored, ard
everything as neatly fastened up as
when she had been left the night before.
Many and anxious were the inquiries
for Joe Barton, and general were the
expressions of regret that he should not
be in the way on such lovely day No
one knew where he had gone, not even
Johnny All he could say was that his
father had received a letter the night
before, after reading which be had sat
silent and gloomy all the rest of the ev-
ening, and gone out before six o clock
in the morning, when he was abed,
without saying word. So The Saucy
Jdck remained idle all through that
livelong summers day. ys,7 ar--a1r5a
Evening came on, and Johnny, who
had beer lounging about uneasily, for
he could not bear his father to be away
from him, began to feel very tired and
sleepy, au'; thinking that nap on board
would be cool and comfortable, hailed
one of the passing boats, and was duly
transported to The Saucy Jack. Creep
ing into the little cabin at her bow, in
which spare sails, empty ginger-beer
bottles, and such like, were kept, he
soon fell into a sound and heavy slum-
ber. How long it lasted be knew not,
but when he woke he was startled by
hearing rippling sound above his
head it was quite dark, too, and the
boat felt as if she were moving smartly
along. What could have happened
Had she broke away from her anchor ?
For moment he lay still, frightened in
spite Of himself Then slowly he raised
himself on his elbow, and rubbing his
eyes, peered through the narrow aper-
ture through which he bad entered. He
could see the mainsail bellied out with
the fresh breeze, and that was all. But
was it not enough ? He knew he was
out on the sea, but how had he come
there ? Could anybody out of spite
have sent him adrift? (? No; he knew of
no one who had grudge against him
suddenly he was startled by a groan, as
if of pain His heart thumped against
his side, the perspiration broke out in
great beads his forehead, he neither
moved hand nor foot. Then ensued an
agonizing silence, then a voice, hoarse
and broken with emotion, burst into a
passionate prayer. Johnny was braver
now, and dragging himself along on his
hands and knees as quickly as his in
frmlties would allow, he made for the
entrance and thrust his head out
There was no moon, but the stars shone
out bravely. and in their light he could
see the figure of man with his back
toward him, rocking backward and for
ward, his face buried in his hands, and
murmuring to himself. Who could it
be? Johnny essayed to speak, but his
lips we're parched, soundless, and glued
together, his tongue rough and dry. He
stared at the black shadow as if it were
a spirit. Between it and him there was
a seat running across the boat he tried
to reach it in order to pull himself
along, but could not The figure NOV
ed its head, and 10 a momentary flash
of summer lightning Johnny saw that it
was his father He sought to speak
again, but he could not, while his eyes
eagerly devoured his every movement.
He saw MIN move his hand down to the
seat beside him, he saw him raise his
arm with something that glittered in
the silver light, he heard click, and
then, as if by inspiration, the truth
burst upon him Hurting himself for
ward with the energy Of despair. he
caught his father by the arm. There
was flash, report, and then he felt
something Craze his fingers. But he
needed it not seizing the pistol from
his hand be threw it with all his strength
into the sea, and then sank fainting into
the bottom of the boat. .tssr5s
Black grew the clouds, higher rose
the wind, beating up tie waves into
angry contention, There was every
appearance of the advent of severe
storm. The Saucy Jack, left to her
self, was heeling over in the trough of
the sea in a nerilons. manner. hut still