The Red Cloud chief., 1882-09-22

J far sway from the Shoals.
"Why don't you hoist your SAIL"
| cried Ton. from his seat in the bow. !
land steer for the islands You'll 20
TO Boston II you keep on this way"
Just then . fresh squaIl drove the
boat ahead with such force that the vs.
ter broke over the bow. and Tom was
for the time suppressed. Fortunately
| the dory was sianch and seaworthy. IL
rode the waves lightly. snd 30 long -
Dare could keep u before the wind she
had no fears Of is capsizing. But ev.
ery breath Of wind carried them further
away from home. Presently the rain
began 10 fall; and then Moilie. that
Dare might not be wet. insisted upon
covering her shoulders with the jacket
also.
but I never take cold" Dare pro-
tested. I'm wet through half the
time when I'm out in the dory. and
don't know what IL IL 10 be sick"
But I sha'n't feel right unless YOU
take part Of it." the other declared.
TN sit close TO you. dear. like this.
and there'll be enough for both Of u.s."
So Dare did not resist IL was q new
experience for her to be a~fectionately
treated. and she did not need the jacket
90 make her feel warm. As Mollic's
arm crept round her waist, and the
girls little head rested on her shoulder.
she felt that something bad come TO her
which all her life had lacked. Leaning
over. she kissed the upturned forehead.
"You're not frightened. dear!' She
asked.
Just then q sharp fash Of lightning
forkcd across the sky, followed almost
Immediately by a deafcning peal Of
thunder. Mollie hid her face in Darc's
dress.
80 yes. / am" she cried; I'm aw-
fully frightened. do you think the boat
can stand il, Dare? DO you think we
will ever get homer
Dare looked out toward the horizon.
The rain was falling even more heavily;
the wind was blowing steadily from the
north. and the darkness wa shutting
down. 1t was an angry-looking night,
and Dare had In fight hard To shake of
q thrill o. terror from herself.
There's no danger, dear. she said.
bravely. "Tve been out in = heavier
blow than this. and 50 long As we can
keep her before the wind we re all right.
Only I'm afraid. Moliie. well have 10
spend the night out here. But you
needn't mind that. You needn't even
be hungry. for I've got some biscuit and
a can Of water in the locker:.and ia the
morning well run in somewhere down
the coast. or. IL The wind has changed.
come straight home. I wouldn't dare
put up the sail until after the storm Is
over" she added.
They ate the biscuits and drank the
water; and then, rs the night grew
darker and darker. and finally shut out
all surrounding objects, Dare insisted
that Tom and Mollie should GO to sleep.
Tom could lie down in the bow. using
one Of the seat cushions for q pillow.
and Mollic in the stern. resting her head
in Darc's lap. Dare would watch. she
said. Tom, who was quite used up by
exposure aud fear. mt once accepted the
suggestion; and Mollie. after some per.
suasion. also consented to it. though shc
insisted that Dare should keep the jack
ct for herslf. Before she lay down she
hesitated n moment.
MAY say my prayers'" she asked
softly.
Dare bent over her and took the little
folded hands i'm her own.
"Say them for me too" she wills.
pered.
So Mollie said her prayers: and then.
while the wind roared and the boat
rocked and the rain fell, she went
peacefully TO sleep. covered by the
jacket which. without her knowing it.
Dare hal taken of and transferred 10
Mo!l;e's thinly clad shoulders. For a
long time Dare watched the quiet little
form. resting N hand pro.ectingly
on the child's wavy hair. while with the
other she he'd the tiller and kept the
boat still before the wind. By-and-by.
however. the clouds broke and the
wind vccrcd. The water gradually
! calmcI. the boat rocked less and less.
and Dare too had fallen asleep.
Early the next morning Mrs Peters
came TO the door Of the little cottage on
Star Island. and shading her eyes with
her hand. looked out over the sea. II
promised to be a fair day. The storm
had cleared of in the night, and a fresh
breeze was blowing from the southwest.
Moth ne. however. could be seen of the
dory. and as the dory ought To have
been home the afternoon before, Mrs.
Peters began to be = little worried. She
had not worried till now, because Dare
could not be expected to come home in
. storm. The child had no doubt put
into kittery Point and siaid all
night with the Grays, as she had
done before under like circumstances.
But in that case she ought tn be coming
home now. Mrs. Peters looked toward
the little covc where the do-y was ac-
customed TO lie; and to her great sur
prise discovered q masthead rising
above the intervening rocks. The mast
was not rocking. rs il would be If the
! dory were in the water. The boat must
be drawn mp on the beach. But who had
done that? Had Dare come home in
the night? With a quick. beating al
her heart. Mrs. Peters ran over the
rocks down toward the beach. There
was the dory sure enough. How had il
got there. and who was in it?
Dare was in it for one. Her head.
from which the hat had fallen Of, rested
on the gunwale; her eyes were closed
|, in sleep; and though the position must
have been very uncomfortable. her lips
were parted in a half-smile. On her
|, lap rested the head of another girl.
whom Mrs. Peters did not know, but
who was also sleeping. while = boy re-
posed in the bow. VIVA: did it all
mean? With an unusual display of
feeling. Mrs. Peters leaned over and
kissed Dare.
!, The girl opened her eyes.
lis it time to get up?" she asked.
dreamily.
!, 81 should think it was" said Mrs Pc
tiers, briskly. "And what l want TO
know is how YOU got here"
Dare looked around in bewildercd
surprise. why, we must have drift
ed" she exclaimed. 1--WE were miles
away from here last night Moliic,
= DEAR" she cried. leaning over and kiss.
! ing tie head that rested in her lap. 'it'e
morningS and we've got home"
}, Moilie shrsng mp. rubbing her eyes
why did Won let me sleep so long?"
she cried, p&niten,ly. II might have
helped YOU with the sail"
}, Dare laughed. Il have been asleep
myself all n;ghA" she confessed. :. and