Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-07-06

| llSHIllS III q bO'tt 10 1ull-ef, observed
Walt, looking longingly at an empty
dory that lay idly rocking at the foot
of the steps leading to the water.
''SeemS to me they don't bite very
we'll this afternoon: [ wish father
hadn't told us not to go off in boat.
know how to manage one" said Fred
going to the head of the stairway and
looking down.
"Whew, amt this a hot one i?
Where's the wind going top and Walt
pushed back his straw hat and gazed
toward the mighty blue, dotted with
silvery sails; :" seems to be wind out
side there. I wish
"See here, Walt" and Fred's head
was visible in the stairway, 8 this
dory's fast; let's get into her and push
her up under the wharf. It's nice and
cool down here"
No sooner said than done
"Ohr' said Walt, softly, lust look
at that great fellow; he's going to bite
There now, this is something like" as
he pulled i'll gOOd-sized Gunner. \
| long time the boys sat and fished, COW
ering those caught with piece of an
old sail found in the boat Meanwhile,
the tide which had risen had turned
again, and, the wharf being at the
mouth of the river, the current set out
strongly. The dOry drifted out from
under the wharf the length of the
| painter. There she chafed and fretted
lmpatiently. At last she wore herself
free, and all mnOticed by the boys be-
gan to float down the little bay, slowly
at first, then faster as she got into
sWifter water. Suddenly Fred, reused
| by the new motion Of the boat, looked
up and around.
Walter Seabury, where on earth
are we going to-" he exclaimed; give
me the oars" But there was only
one.
80 Walt, didn't MI. Grant teach
you how to scull? Take the oar and
try it" Walt struggled manfully, but
the current was too strong, and he
found himself pOWerless.
"Giye your whoop, Fred; maybe
somebody II hear" But if anybody
heard, he thought it only merry
shout, and gave it no reply. Then the
boys looked each other blankly in the
face and thought fast.
"It's my fault" said Fred, after a
time, " though that don't help us out
any now. But if we ever get back
again, I'll bear all the blame.'
"No, you don't" said Walt, gener-
ously; "who spoke of a boat first, I'd
like to knoW?'
Then they were silent again. Time
passed and the sun fastened down the
western sky. The boys knew that
night would soon be upon them, but
what could they do?'
go Walter, look" Fred pointed to
the southeast. A huge bank of fog
was trailing along the Surface of the
water. Nearer and nearer it came, till
the horizon, Boone Island Lighthouse,
and at last the shore, were blotted out
The loneliness of the situation became
awful. Fred caught up his breath
with sort of dry sob.
"Don't, Fred" said Walt, with a
culver in his voice. Come, let's do
Something."
"What?" asked Fred, in hopeless
tone.
LETS boiler. Take turns; you first,
then me, SO as not to waste breath. 1t
seems as though somebody might
hear At any rate, maybe it would
keep us from being run into
Its no use," exclaimed Fred after
a time, during which he had grown
! hOarSe.
"Well, [ don't know as it is, but
let's give one more, together this
time"
Walt thought he heard faint an
sWering, "hOllop' but his throat was
SO dry and his voice so nearly spent
that he couldn't get much beyond a
whisper.
8 Hark!' said Fred, lifting his head
from his arms. 4 certainly heard
something"
Cant we give one more shout?' %
asked Walt.
This time an answer came across the
water: BOAT ahoyr'
"Hollor' shouted Walt.
"WhO are yOu?" sounded a voice
near at hand.
9. A dory lost from York. Helpr'
"Ay, ay."
Then they heard the stroke of oars,
| and presently q boat gathered form
from out the fog. A few moments
more and they We're on board the Yacht
Zephyr, with the dory in tow.
80 father, it's my fault cried
| Fred, throwing himself on his knees.
and hiding his head in his mothers lap.
No, it isn't" said Walt stoutly,
and then he told the story: :. and now.