The Columbus journal., 1882-07-12

rBptdiA. IL yVu iuStoS g sSOluR, i II
stop on my way mp and X Captain
Danforth to look out for u. and if he
thinks you're getting int trouble to
sail after you"
"Thank you. Captain"
"Dick." said his mothes "can't you
lot the lobster-pots gO?"
"Couldn't possibly" smiled the boy.
:" Could you have the heart to ask me:
VIII you cast me of, mother9" he called
Q second later.
''Wait . minute" exclaimed Mrs.
Swing. Fetch your boat close up. ]
want to speak to you, Dick"
The boat received the necessary i'm.
petus, and touched the side of the pier
Mrs. Swing had seated herself on the
topmost layer of logs forming the wharf,
and leaned over As though to speak con.
fdentially to her son.
"Dick," said his mother, "hold fast
I'm coming" and into the boat she
dropped before either Captain Rose or
the dock or Captain Richard in the boa,
had knowledge of her intention.
"What under the sun, mother" cried
the boy, "do you mean?"
"pm going with you. Dick, to keeE
you from tumbling overheard when you
haul in," and she seated herself in the
stern, calling back as the tide floated the
boat out: 1--WE depend on you. Captain
Rose, to send after us if we-if it get:
too rough" she gasped, with dash ol
spray in her face.
"Aye, sye!" cried the Captain. and he
took off his hat and swung it, he scarce
ly knew why.
OF all the women in Dell Haven, from
the eldest to the youngest, Mrs. Swine
most feared the sea. To live beside it
to watch its every mood delighted her
but to venture on it for pleasure she was
never known to do.
A moments peace she never knew
when Richard, her only son, was eX'
posed to the treachery Of the waters, but
rather than mar his wild delight In wind
and waves this unselfish mother con.
cealed as much as possible her anxiety
for him.
Richard was not selfish, and had be
imagined what his mother was at that
moment suffering would have put the
boat about and tied it forever at the
stake rather than cause her this agony.
Just as the boat got well into the toll
of the waves the sun arose shedding such
brilliance on the waters that Mrs. Swing,
who sat facing it, was dazzled and well
nigh failed to see in time gill net into
which the boat was running.
"See any boat ahead, mother?" 9ues-
toned Richard, You must keep a good
lookout for me. I've got my ranges
right and can fetch the lobster grounds
every time"
lis it far?" questioned the mother.
shudderingly.
"Not very; just outside Dull Head. !
reckon we'n fetch it." said the lad, dip
ping his oars for a full stroke and then
letting the boat slide up to the summit
of rolling wave, q trick he had caught
from Captain Hezekiah Danforth, the
master bostman of Dell Haven.
The wind grew stronger and stronger
and the waves every moment increased
in size. Even Richard glanced sideways
more than once with ilI-concealed anxi-
ETY. as the long pillows came tumbling
on. and just then getting glimpse of
his mothers face beheld it so blanched
with terror of the sea that it seemed to
him his mother was no longer in the boat
with him.
"Dick," she gasped, as his oar missed
stroke and sent the spray over the boat,
Dick. I'm afraid to 20 on"
Dick glanced backward. He had
pulled about mile from shore and was
midway between the two headlands
fsmiliarly spoken Of as tho Horns. Dull
Head was surrounded by an even accu-
mass of breakers, and Bright
Head caught the sea on its precipitOus
sides. sending it backward in fountains
of foam, and all the four miles that lay
between the two points were rolling
miles of pillows.
Sitting with his face landward Rich
ard had not fully felt the danger.
Now the lad could not repress a shud-
der as he said: - don't believe could
find the buoys in such a sea, and nobody
could haul in tho pots. l believe I'll
put about"
30, do! o. Richard, there comes an
awful oner' and Mrs. Swing slipped
down from her seat into the bottom of
the boat and hid her face from the Or
coming wave.
Richard gave q mighty pull at the
oars to keep the boat head on. and it
rode that wave in safety only to meet
new ones. into whose depths the tiny
shell rolled. to be completely hidden
from the sight of two men who were
standing out on the Dell Haven pier.
Esnl 9TH
er was Captain Rose.
IF there was only a tug in sight to
help them," groaned Captain Rose.
"Why didn't you dun a little COM
mon sense into the woman if she didn't
take any naturally" scolded Captain
Danforth, "Or shut her and the boy up
somewheres."
Il told her, but l declare when I was
young could have brought down them
oars in half the time it takes Jim to
fetch 'em. Isay, 'Kiah Danforth. amt
that boat trying to put about?"
lit acts like it, John, but it will get
swamped just as sure as guns if-nO, it 5
going on. There's nothing else to do.
[ never in all my life saw time when
there wasn't sail in sight.
The boats gone! No! There it come.
up again.
Suddenly cry for a helping hand
was raised among the bystanders, and
willing hearts went forth from the land
Every second tells. It's a race fol
life"' called out Captain Danforth
Jim. you'd better get in. You're
strong; if one of us fuckers out you cal
take hold"
All ready lay the boat, dark greer
surf boat, a boat that could stand heavy
seas, and the two men and boy who haC
nobly volunteered were not long il
starting off.
success to you. Fetch 'em bacl
alive!" called out Captain Rose.
All at once the pier at Dell Havel
seemed thronged with people. Th'
news had spread that Mrs. Swing ant
Richard were out alone on the sea-
As they watched the dim, dark specl
now rising upon the swelling waters ant
as quickly vanishing from sight, not on
of the little throng but knew the DANCE
of the tiny boat. With breathless eager
ness they watched the surf boat as it