The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-09-08

with q start, and sat up on my couch,
only half compromising what had
happened. The blow had come, in
deed. The papers left on my table
were whirling around the room: the
window-shades were Tapping their
entire length inward; and the Big avn
ing below was straining and creaking
like q distressed mainsail on q ship.
The clouds were black and lowering.
while low. distant thunder and vivid
CLEANS Of lightning portended the
terrible mischief to come. l ran to the
window, to find the sea of glass al
which had gazed in the morning all
black waves and angry, foaming crests,
and all the little boats scudding for the
harbor; but among them all could not
discover 1.-THE Flying Sylph." Far
and wide, east and west, scanned,
but our own White Cat was nowhere to
be seen.
| dressed myself furiously (no thought
of blue ribbons and crimped hair came
to my hindrance now and ran down
stairs.
MARY! Mary"' l cried. for there
was little Robbie sitting with his stuffed
dog and live cat upon the parlor floor,
but alone and unattended.
''Mary gone away" he enunciated,
calmly.
ran through the house. The table
was set in the dining-room, the kettle
singing costly in the kitchen; but the
priestess of the temple was invisible.
However provoking, however mex
plicable, the fact stared me in the face.
My girl was out, and baby and were
alone in the house, with this terrible
tempest raging, and somewhere my
b0atful of darlings, exposed to its
pitiless storm. l went to the front
door and looked hopelessly out.
A kindly fate sent me an ally. Mr..
Humbert, our next-door neighbor, the
kindest ind queerest of little German
music masters, came across the lawn,
his rubber cloak tapping wetly around
his little handy legs.
''You are distressed, Madam" he
said, kindly; "and you think that
your boat and your babies and good
man are in peril. am come to tell you
that do not believe it. Somewhere
on the long sandy shore or on the next
island they are huddled up, safe under
cover, and their boat anchored until
the blow has passed. That will be
soon; very soon. Pouff! this can't last
an hour. 1t will change to beautiful
brightness by night, and your Captain
and the little mates will come home all
hungry to supper. The thing for Madam
to do is to-what you call it?-keep
coolr'
"Oh! Mr.. Humbert, l cannot
cried. the tears pouring down my face.
"They are away and in danger some
where. mast do something. must
send somebody to help them, and here
is my servant away and little Robbie
alone, and what can l do?' And
wrung my hands in agony of spirit.
Come, little one,'' said my kind
neighbor, and, before knew what he
meant, he had gathered up the small
boy and woolly dog and hairy cat under
his ample waterproof and turned to 90.
"Put on your cloak. dear madam. -
he said. "Cry not any more. Tears
are worse to watch than tempests,
assure you. will but take these little
ones over to the Haus-Frau next door,
to keep warm and safe and happy. And
you and | will then go into the town
and see the sailors. and they will laugh
at your fears until you feel better"
And he hurried away, with the little,
face and curly head nearly
hidden on his breast.
"You dear, good man." 1 whispered
to myself, as, with the utmost haste, |
put on my rainy-weather garb. IL
never heard of an angel with handy
legs; but, doubtless, many of the saints
have had them. A moment later and
we stepped out into the storm and
fought our way down the hill, clineing
closely together and nearly thrown
down b. the gusts of wind.
Our road led US for awhile away
from the sea, and when it opened again
on our view we both stood still with
and horror. In the seeth-
ing waters, under the black sky, there
was boat, where no boat stood be-
fore. The boat. l knew her we'll, ev-
cry line of her shape. The blue flag
was lying. all her sails were set. She
had just come into sight, no doubt,
where the shore rounded away, and
near the beach she swept
along; for once "The Flying Sylph,"
indeed, for she looked as frail as a
Dresden figure, and she seemed literal
ly to fly.
"Madnessr' muttered Mr.. Humbert,
between his teeth. How can any man
in his senses sail that boat unreefed!
Come, hasten, dear Madame. Icannot
feel that the Captain knows the full
peril We had better try to send help
to him."
1.-THE Captain! My husband! Mr..
Humbert, he is not there! see no fig
ure at all, but one little head, one little
white cap! Where is Eugene? Where
is little Isabel?''
We rushed along, until we reached
the wharf, where gathered an excited
knot OF gazers, with glasses and anx-
ious eyes all concentrated on that one
white point in the dark, wicked waters
the mad little boat 80 terribly near
the shore, all her canvas spread!
1t was dreadful risk to put out q
boat in such sea; but imagine there
was that in my face which made those
brave fellows ready to run any risk.
could not speak. All nv voice was
gone; but / pointed, and they knew me
and knew the boat. Then Mr.. Hum
bert took up the word and explained,
his words sounding SO cultural, in his
excitement, that they were scarcely
l saw the two brothers, Captain We'd
der and Captain Jack, look each other
straight in The eye, and then give lit
tie nod, and they moved forward.
Come. Skipper" said Captain Jack,
who. although the youngest. always
took the lead.
AYE! aye! Mate" answered his
brother.
And they jumped into the Lotus, :"
the largest and best boat on the island,
and began to unite ropes and loosen
sails.
Then, for the first time, ] spoke.
"Let me 60, too" entreated. '.Dear,
good men, who are risking your lives
to save my children, take me with
you"
mo. madam" said Captain Jack,
very calmly. I'VE take no women pas.
aboard to-day. Push of therer'
And the boat set forward.
Mr.. Humbert held me up with his
ornn. hpnf snlnoI .o~.~~i.. .,.