The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-08-20
RedstOne Cliff.
A TALE OF BOYIsH DARING.

Youths Companion.
RedstOne Cliff.
TALE OF BOYIsH DARING.
What happy crowd of boys we We're,
to-be-sure, in those good old times when
our greatest trouble consisted in con-
STRUNG Caesar, or learning Latin roots
when our dearest pleasures were holi-
days spent in rambles through the for
est, or along the pebbled, golden-sanded
beach!
We were students, you know, in Dr.
MintOn's academy. Who could ever
forget the doctor "a gray-headed, kind
hearted, old man; and, above all, who
could forget the academy ?-an ancient
gabled structure, picturesque and ven
cradle, situated near the noisy sea, just
three miles from the little village of
Kingston.
Many and various are my reminiscent
of those jolly schOol-days, but, through
the gathered dust of yesrs, one memory
in particular stands out in bold relief.
refer to simple incident, which l
am never likely to forget, and which at
present forms the subject of my story.
Among my companions was one whom,
us the principal figure in the following
sketch, it is necessary to describe. In
fact, he is my hero, this boy of fifteen,
whose looks and clothes were always
soiled and torn, who was generally fore
most in all kinds of mischief, and who, as
you will shortly see, possessed some good
qualities after all.
In MintOn academy, as in the gener-
atty of schools, the detestable habit of
comforting nicknames held full sway.
My hero's name was Frank, but he was
universally known by the sOubriquet of
"Toby," corruption Of his surname
Tobin.
One hot afternoon in September, when
a lazy stiffness seemed to brood over
land and sea, Toby, Archie Duncan and
myself were strolling along the shore.
The weather was too warm for game
of ball, or even for nesting expedition
through the woods. So you may fancy
how idly and listlessly we rambled over
the sands, stopping now and then to pick
up c,lriously shaped shell, or to shy
pebble Mt some white-winged sea-bird.
"Look Mt Redstone Cliff" said Ar
chic, pointing to where, in the distance,
a huge, jagged, perpendicular rock rose
about q hundred feet above the level of
the sea. "Lct's 60 over there to the
cove and have a swim, >" he continued,
and when we get there I'll tell you
story about Captain Kidd"
"Can't we have the swim and the
story right here?" inquired Toby, as he
sent flat stone skippingoyert the smooth
surface of the water.
"Let us 60 to the cove" suggest ed
by way of compromise, "and let us
have the wonderful story in the mean.
time"
GAN right" remarked goOd-natured
Archie; "come along. You know, boys,
the big, round stone, lying by itself i'll
the middle of the cove, when the tide is
low?"
eyes, yes!" We eagerly exclaimed.
And then Archie went on to tell us
how, five years before, dark, rakish
vessel anchored about two miles from
the shore. just opposite Redstone cliff.
The strange craft excited the curiosity
of the neighboring farmers, but on the
following day it disappeared just as mys-
teriously as it arrived.
Shortly afterwards, however, a party
Of boys were amusing themselves by
Suddenly one of their number aston
ished his companions by remarking that
the stone had evidently been moved, as
sand marks around the edges could tes-
tify.
The boys provided themselves with
a number of stout poles, and at last sue
ceeded in overturning the rock.
"NOw, what do you think they
found ?" inquired Archie, turning to us.
"a pot of gold" was Tobey's prompt
"No; but they found hole in the
sand where the pot had been. You see,
the piretes carried off the pot the nighi
before"
So ended the story, and soon VIC
reached the cove. examined the black
rock, which we were unable to move,
and spent pleasant half hour plunging
about among the cool, refreshing salt
waves.
Then ut the foot of Redstone Cliff we
lazily stretched ourselves at ease, and
told wondrOus tales, and watched the
gulls circling round us, until the ever
ing shadows crept in from the sea and
enveloped all the land.
Archie rose with yawn, stretched
himself, and remarked that tho air was
very oppressive and that a thunder
storm was impending.
Then he took few steps forward, and
in another instant Toby and l leaped to
our feet, shuddering with terror at the
exclamation which burst from Arches
lips.
"HeGcCn save us!"
We ran toward him, and the terrible
truth flashed through our minds, when
we felt cold, splashing waves around our
feet.
While We were telling stories, the
treacherous autumn tide had stolen into
the cove, and the Vaters n0tO hcmned
as in a0ithout any means Of escape!
"We must swim for our lives !" Ar
chic cried, pulling off his coat and boots,
while followed his example.
At that moment caught o glimpse OF
Toby's white, scared face. My heart
sank within me, and my voice trembled
as turned and said to Archie:
"Poor Toby can't swim !"
"Then stay with him." Archie ex-
claimed, "while 60 for help Ii | can
weather the point, boat will be back
to rescue you in half an hour"
He plunged into the water, and we
watched him struggling with the waves,
which were growing larger and fercer
every second.
They conquered him and in five min
utes he was lying cold, chilled and ex-
hausted, at our feet.
"Oh, my poor mother I" Archie cried.
"What shall we do If I am drowned !"
Courage /" ] exclaimed, pointing to