Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-09-03
CAST ADRIFT.

1t was a bright, crisp morning, and al
though the air felt like September, it was
really July; one of those days which it
seems ought to belong to the autumn,
but which, by some mistake of the wealth
er-clerk, has been misplaced. The cool
''off-shore" wind, coming from far away
up in the meadows, scarcely paused as it
swept over the little sand island and
rushed boisterously out to sea, with the
force of "half a gale"
Any one who was on the alert that
morning might have seen two boys walk
ing along the beach, one holding bal
Of stout cord, part of which was wound
around the body of the other. From the
motions of both boys and the evident
straining and surging of the line, the OBJ
server might have supposed that they
had hooked large fish, and, not being
able to land it, were content merely to
prevent its escaping. But the principal
fact contradictory to this theory was that
the line, instead of leading downward
into the ocean, stretched upward far
above their heads.
If, now, the spectator had continued
his search for the unknown cause of the
boys singular movements, he would
have discovered, away up in the air, a
monster kite, now rising, now falling, as
the gusts struck it, and continually surg
ing and swaying on the kite-string,
seemingly trying either to snap the cord
or drag th boys into the water.
"Whew! Does MT it pull, thought
exclaimed the younger of the two, who
held the ball of twine.
81 should say it did," answered the
other, as he felt the quivering line. is
MT it II pity, Tom, that we can't make
use of that power in some way or other
1t tugs as hard as young horse. Why
could MT we make it haul wagon, OF a
-boat?" he added, as his eyes fell upon
the little dory that lay beside the dock,
off which his younger brother Rollin
was just plunging.
The idea once in his head, Ernest was
not the boy to give it up without, at
least trial; SO, having explained his
plan at some length to Tom (who always
agreed with him., the two hurried out to
the end of the dock, and Ernest, jumping
down into the dory, tied the kite-string
to ring in the bow; he then proceeded
to make the stern of the boat fast to the
pier with rope.
Meanwhile, Roll had arrived at the
surface of the water with many sputter-
ings, and, seeing what was going on,
Immediately clambered into the dory.
He was bright, athletic-looking boy OF
eleven, but at present his aquatic gam
bols had tired him somewhat; so, instead
of assisting his brothers vigorously, as
was his wont, he simply sat down on one
of the seats and asked questions.
The preparations for the trial trip were
very simple, so in the course of few
minutes Ernest said:
Now everythings ready, excepting
the oars. Run up to the house and get
them, won't you, Tom? Do; there's a
good fellow!"
"All right" replied Tom, although, ii
must be confessed, somewhat reluctant
ly, and he started off, but in moment
turned back again, with
g" l say, Ernest, you've forgotten the
rudder, and can't carry everything you
know"
Hold up second, and I'll come, too
then," responded Ernest, adding. as ht
swung himself up on the dock, "Now
Roll, you sit in the boat and watch the
kite while we re gone. Mind and dom
let it get loose or tangled in anything"
"rll keep an eye on it," answered Roll
as the two others trudged off through thu
long, salt grass, on their way to th,
house. Arrived there, at first the oar
could not be found, but after u searcl
they were discovered under the cherry
tree, one broken off at the blade by tn
children in their efforts to knock tn
fruit off the branches. Calling for string
Ernest sat down on the back porch an'
patiently began the tedious task of spite
ing the two pieces together.
At last, after the rudder had bee
secured and they were just ready to start
it was too provoking to have thei
mother call them in to take their lunch
for, us she expressed it,
"1here's no telling when you'll gt
back from your kite sailing"
Reluctantly the boys threw down th