The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-09-25
THE RACES AT SHARK BAY.
by REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.


| this:
1t was Uncle Jeems that brought the
boys down to the bay. Their fathers hud
gone out to sea for q days trolling for
mackerel, and. being afraid to leave lot
of city boys running loose over the farm,
called the old man out of the stable and
put them under his care.
"Fuss-rate," said Uncle Jeems, coming
up when the gentlemen were gone. I'll
glib yoh a days spoht, young gemplems."
you'll attend to your own concerns"
said Pugh loftily. "Come, Potter; if we
are to spend the day at Sharks Bay we can
provide amusement for ourselves, | mag.
ine"-and they walked away arm in arm.
Ted and Joe and little Polly clung to
Uncle Jeems and tottered after them.
Pugh and Potterwere academy boys and
quite ten years Old They always ''imag-
ined" and presumed" when Ted would
have said he ''thinked it out" When they
landed from the boat, the other day, they
were quite sure all the boarders were look
ing at them, just as at home on Broadway
they thought the crowd admired them
passing by. Their only reason TOR expect
ing this public attention was that Pugh
was studying Greek verbs and Potter had
watch and there are great many persons
OF whom these things can be said, though
we 90 meet people sometimes who think
everybody is admirlng them, who do not
even study Greek and have not watch.
Since they came to the country Pugh
wore his best clothes of gray cloth and
Potter full suit of white linen, with mag
niicent neck-ties and scarf rings. They
were very much ashamed of the flannel
shirts and trousers in which their fathers
would go fishing.
What kind of sport shall we have!"
Ted asked the old man when they came in
sight of the bay.
Oats fob de young men to say, sah"-
and Uncle Jeems sat down on log and be-
gan TO pick the barnacles off it."
Never you mind" said Potter, gra-
ciously We'll take care of you little fell
lows.n
The bay was very little bay, only two
or three miles wide. 1t sparkled in the
sun, and now and then crab cams to the
top and made ring OF ripples on the tan
colored water. There was strip of sandy
beach all around it, and back of that green
and brown marshes as far as you could see
inland. The bay opened out into the sea-
which no doubt was very grand back
ground; but Ted and Polly took
very little account of tit was so
big and uncomfortable, Sand-hills and the |
mud in the marsh were the things, that is
you went in for enjoyment.
Pugh and Potter consulted awhile. Then |
Pugh said, as if he were making a speech:
I'VE are going to have races"
"Oh, goodyH, cried Polly.
"Hoorary" shrieked Ted and Joe.
"Rdces!n
THE grand races of Shark Bay that's
the name of them. Two heats. I'm to lay
down the rules for the first heat, and Potter |
for the second. Now dye understand !
Two heatsN
Two heats Hooray" yelled Ted and |
Joe, while Polly swung her sun-bonnet by |
the strings and screamed louder than |
either.
That will do. You'll make me deaf. |
child Now I'll make the rules for the
drst race. The starting point is this log
Just here, and that boat drawn up on the
beach is the goal. Every man entering the |
race must put down q quarter Of dol
ar --'
Haven't got quarter sung out Ted.
'"Hooray!' began Polly, but stopped
short,
"Well, put in what you have got"
Potter and Pugh each took out their porte.
monaies, and flung down quarter of a
dollar on messy log. Ted and Joe whis.
pered eargerly together.
SIS the one that wins to have all the
money!" asked Joe.
"Yes, yes. Come, don't be all day about
IT,
"Now, I've got fifteen cents and Ted's got
fifteen. II we put in ten each, we'll have
i've for the second heat Will that dol"
Don't yoh resk yoh money, chillen,"
5rowled Jeems. "You haven't got de ghost
IF a chance gainst dah long legs. Don't
,oh seel"
But Ted and Joe were breathless with
'agerness.
Can we go in on that3 Can Polly go
IN, too"
sob yes, yes" Pugh and Potter laughed
md exchanged significant glances. "Now,"
said Pugh, Fifteen minutes for prepare
.ion.n
He disappeared suddenly in the marsh.
grass. Potter took off his coat. Teed and
Joe, anxiously watching hun, did the same
mines trock," SAID Polly, ready to cry
But when Potter unlaced his shoes, and
Fed and Joe did likewise, she tore off both
hoes and stockings and hoped about IN
Ter tat, bare feet
Take your place." said Potter, throwing
back his suspenders, His face was very
ed, and he looked now and then anXiously
1t the little heap OF twenty-five and ten.
cent notes,
They all stood in row by the log, right
DOT out, looking lmpaticntly about for
Pugh.
81 think Polly ought to have start.
She's the littlest," said Ted. l
THAT'S against Latin rules" said Potter,
"'Mensa, mensH, mensp, men
sam
"OhW said Ted, looking aghast, didn't
inow.'
Come along, Pugh2' shouted Potter,
A L.. hAn AL. M. |