Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-07-09

| ana the berries Will be q little lat.
to market. but we shall get good pric,
for the job. II is MT every day freigh
boats get good paying tow like this.
Captain Bates climbed ON board the
bark, and the bargain was made. A
long, heavy line was let down from the
bark's bows, the broken spar was GU
away, and the steamer was made fast
end then they set out, the steamer some
| distance ahead, and the disabled barl
towing behind. Captain Bates mean.
while had remained on the bark, which
left the ''Mary and Sarah" still more
short-handed. Sarah took up her books
again and was presently lost in the con.
temptation of the beautiful rule that the
the nominative case governs the gender
of the verb-at least, that is the way she
read 1t II; but what can you expect in the
pilot-house of a steamer towing q wreck
into New York Harbor?
The accident had taken place Just out.
side the Narrows, and they now passed
between Staten Island and Long Island,
and entered the upper bay. As the peo.
pie on the bark had said they wished to
go to Pier Nc. 40, North River, they at
once steered for the city. This pier was
only twelve docks from the "Miary and
Sarah's" landing place, so that after all,
the berries would not be late to market,
and Sarah would reach school in time for
the first lessons. She must study as
fast as possible to make up for lost time.
For little while nothing in particular
happened, and then Mr.. Cramp said to
Sarah, in stifed voice
"Take the wheel, Miss, for bit /
feel rather queerIsh, and perhaps I'd
better sit down awhile"
Sarah stood up behind the wheel to
steer the boat while the mate sat down
on. the sofa.
Don't you feel well, Mr.. Cramp?'
Something IS come over me. shall
feel better in moment. I'll rest, and
take the wheel again before we come to
the Battery"
They had now made the turn in the
channel off the Kill Won Kull, and
Sarah drew the wheel over and steered
directly for the city. There was a big
steamship coming out and several
schooners going up before the wind
She knew the channel and the rules for
passing steamers. and sailing craft, and
went confidently on. 1t was so far
plain sailing and she let the mate rest.
Now she was drawing nearer to the city
and tie navigation was becoming diff
cult. Already she could see the trees in
Battery Park. She looked behind her
and found that the1hdte- had lain down
on the sofa and hanfallen asleep, seem
ing pale and tired. He was an old man
with irCn-gray hair, and he seemed to be
sleeping soundly.
You had better take the wheel, Mr..
Cramp; we are almost up to the fort, :"
said Sarah.
He did not stir, and in a moment or
two she spoke again; but he made no
reply. The North river was crowded
with vessels, a great number being at
anchor in the river off Governors
Island, and she kept inshore to give
them wide berth.
"Oh, Mr.. Cramp take the wheel
Do wake up, sir; we are almost
there I"
Just then a Staten Island ferry. boat
came in sight, rounding the island and
close inshore. It at once blew one
whistle, as a signal that it wished to pass
to the right. Sarah reached up over
head and. pulled thecord for her whistle,
and replied with one blast to signify
that she understood, and then she
steered her boat to the right and entered
open water off the Battery, where the
East and North rivers unite. She must
now turn in a great circle to the west
and north, ana then make her course up
the river, between Jersey City and New
York.
"Please, Mr.. Cramp! wakeup We
can't stop, and we are in the river T.
The cid man lay motionless, and
made no reply. She did not dare to
leave the wheel. She could just touch
him with her foot, and that was all and
in spite of every appeal, he slept on,
and paid no attention whatever. She
looked all around to see if the way was
clear into the Hudson. Oh, there's the
Bristol heading down the East
River, and just beginning to turn to
pass the Battery, and behind the
"Bristol" are the double smoke-stacks
of the Massachusetts u Two of the
largest boats plying in New York waters,
and both heading for the same point
She would meet them both, unless her
course was changed. No time TO tell
Mr.. Cramp now. She must take the
boat on, Mt any hazard, as best she
could. She blew her whistle once, as q
signal to the Bristol" and instantly
there came two deep roaring blasts from
her whistle. Sarah looked all around
to see what this meant. They had re-
fused her signal There was danger
somewhere Oh, the bark towing be,
hind She had forgotten it. There was
no room for the Bristol" to pass
Sarah pulled the cord twice for the
whistle, and rang the engine bell, and
the engine stopped. Then she looked
out behind to watch the bark. 1t would
move on by its own momentum anc
overtake her, and she must keep out ot
the way. The enormous bulk of the
Bristol " came onward, like a great
white mountain, to crush her, and Saral
rang to go astern. The steamer swep
directly past her bows, and hundreds o
people looked down from the loft decks
and admired the skill with which tht
pilot of the "Mary and Sarah" haC
managed her. Perhaps some of then
saw young girl leaning from the win
dow, and watching the Massachu
sets plowing through the water jus
behind the other huge vessel.
Before the Bristol had fairl,
passed, Sarah rang for full speed ahead
and plunged, rocking and swaying, int,
the foaming wake of the great boat