The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-10-07


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 a
few minutes Ernest said:
"Now eeverything's ready, gjexcept~'
ing the oars. Run up to the house and
get them, won't you, Tom? Do; there's
good fellow!''
" All right" replied Tom, although,
1t must be confessed, somewhat reluct-
antly, and he started off, but in mo-
ment turned back again, with:
" say, Ernest, you We forgotten the
rudder, and l can't carry everything,
you know"
Hold up a second, and I'll come,
too, then." responded Ernest. adding,
as he swung himself up on the dock,
Now, Roll, you sit in the boat and
watch the kite while we're gone. Mind,
and don't let it get loose or tangled in
anything" s,>7.s,f, ,,,..e'
:" I'll keep an eye on it," answered
Roll, as. the two others trudged off
through the long, salt grass, on their
way to the house. Arrived there, at first
the oars could not be found, but after
a search they were discovered under
the cherry-tree, one broken short off
at the blade by the children in their eff
forts to knock the fruit off the branches.
Calling for string, Ernest sat down on
the back porch and silently began the
tedious task of splicing the two pieces
| together. as $500 fFsSs 1ss4i, L
At last, after the rudder had been Sc
cured and they were just ready to start
| it was too provoking to have their moth
| er call them in to take, some lunch, for,
| as she expressed it:f . 7 - - 3
50 There's no telling when you'll get
| back from your kite-sailing."
Reluctantly the boys threw down the
things they were carrying and went in
| doors, resolved to eat as little and as
quickly as possible; and while they are
thus engaged, letu leave them and 90
back to Roll
AS soon as his brothers disappeared
among the sage-bushes he lay down in
the stern of the sdory, resolved to make
himself comfortable until they returned
| 1t was very cozy in the boat, and as
the wind blew through his tangled hair
and on his wet body, it felt cool and re-
freshing in the extreme.
Roll lay thus for several minutes,
watching the kite struggle to free itself,
and specializing as to why the boys did
not come back. From observing the
kite he began to wonder how it would
seem to be up there where it was, sway
ing to and fro and soaring among the
sea-birds. ,
Thus Rolls fancy scared, and unfor-
tunately for him, as there was quite a
glare in the sky, he shut his eyes for a
few moments, and, as is generally the
case. when people wonder with their
eyes closed, he softly and quietly fell
into slumber, as deep as tired boys
of eleven usually enjoy. 1t was sleep
| gentle though mot dreamless, for in
Roll imagination he was himself kite,
flying among the clouds, rushing
through space toward an approaching
storm.
| Nearer and nearer it came, and now
he could hear its roar, when, just as he
felt the first splash of rain in his face,
he awoke, with start. - = tsl E
Where was he? What had happenedP
Poor Roll, stupefed, instinctiVely put
| his hand up to his cheek. 1t was wet,
not with rain, but merely with a dash
4 of spray, which the bow Of the boat,
| half-buried in foam, had thrown up in
her reeling. staggering course.
Roll looked around him, but there
was naught to be seen save sky and
water, and over the waves, far to wind
ward, blue cloud lying low on the
horizon, the fastldisappearing land. a
And still the dory plunged on, quiv-
nrv1 in hnr cho fos~ ~axy
leapt from one billow to another. Far
above him was the great kite, rushing
through the air and dragging the boat
through the water with almost the speed
of a locomotive. while from the stern
hung little end of that fatal rope,
which, truth toitell, was an old one Tom
had found on the shore.
Only for moment or 30 was Roll be-
wildered. Quickly regaining his pres
ence of mind he realized his situation,
and conprehended that the first thing
to be done was to unite the kite string.
But this he soon saw was impossible, as
the strain on the line had drawn the
knot too tight. Roll felt for his pocket
to get out his jack-knife, but alas! since
he had started on this singular voyage in
Ills udGAIHS-Sul1, Ho WAS OlSappOluLou III
finding either. To break such stout
cord was far beyond his strength, and
at last the poor boy. sat down again
almost IN despair, while horrible
thoughts Of shipwreck, sharks and star
vation kept thronging through his mind.
Thus he was carried along for some
distance, until, when he again got up and
looked, about him he could scarcely be-
lieve his eyes.
The low, blue cloud, instead of being
astern as before, was now directly ahead.
Had the wind changed and thus
turned the boat aroundp No; for he
would have noticed it Instantly Roll
eagerly peered forward till he was able
to discern, far out at sea on his left
hand, a large ocean steamer inward
bound. eA5>'A A3 %@.A,s-
Here, then, was chance of being
rescued, if the people Oh board could
only see him; so Roll excitedly set
to work to find something with
which to attract attention to himself
IL, 20 <1 1;ca6x,ar