Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-08-11
DARE,S CRUISE !;

What pretty boy"
Dare laughed and blushed as she
jammed down the tiller of her little
dory to let the larger boat, from which
the remark had come, pass by.
THAT amt a boy" she heard a
rude voice reply; "that's that Peters
girl from Star Island"
Dare's laugh died out, and the flush
turned into an angry red. The first
speaker she did not know. 1t was a
girl-a little younger than herself, Dare
thought-with frank, pleasant face
and winning voice. But the other was
familiar foe, who had tormented Dare
for ten years. Tom Suydam, she verify
believed, was the most hateful boy that
ever lived. Because he was o rich
mans son, and boarded at the hotel
every summer, while she was fisher
mans daughter who lived on the
beach, he seemed to feel at liberty to
tease and annoy her in every possible
way. When she was little girl he
had amused himself by destroying her
castles in the sand; and now that she
was thirteen years old, and did not
build sand castles, he would make un-
complimentary remarks loud enough
for her to overhear. Dare almost hated
Tom Suydam.
1t was not surprising that she should
be mistaken for boy. Her short clus-
tering hair, firm mouth, and ruddy
complexion gave her face boyish
look, while the sailor hat, and blue tlan-
mel waist, open sailorwise at the throat,
added to the illusion. The costume
was nothing more than girls bathing
suit; but Dare found it convenient for
boating, and not in the way when the
boat capsized, as had once or twice
happened, Notwithstanding her good
seamanship, and she had to swim. She
could sail boat, Captain Peters proud
ly declared, better than any boy around
the Shoals, and there WASH trick of
the wind she did not know. In this
respect, at any rate, Dare felt sense
of superiority over Tom Suydam. He
might be richer, and know more, but
he couldn't manage even row-boat.
Dare wondered as she looked back
over her shoulder, and saw the little
skiff driving ahead under the fresh
southeasterly breeze, how the sweet
faced, gentle-voiced girl, who was his
companion would trust herself to his
care, and how, indeed. she could go
with him at all. Dare knew that Tom
had no sisters. "She must be his
cousin" the girl concluded, as she
hauled over the sail on the other tack.
Dare was going back to the Island,
having taken her father over to Ports
mouth on his way to Boston. The wind
was against her, and she had had to
beat down the river, and was now 60
ing on long tack to the north. 1t was
not steady wind, but fitful gusty
blow that warned Dare to keep her
hand on the tiller and her eye on the
sail. She knew precisely how much
wind the boat would take, and she knew
too that ones calculations might be up
set by an unexpected puff. She looked
up at the sky critically, and decided
that the wind was shifting. There were
clouds in the west indicating thunder
storm. at will blow me straight tc
the Shoals" Dare reflected, bringing
the boat little closer to the wind
The slight change of direction hrough,
into view Tom Suydam's skitf, which,
as she looked, seemed to have put
about. and to be running on the same
tack as herself. Tom had no doub
seen the clouds, and was making fol
home. 1t was now race between the
two boats, at distance of perhaps hal
mile apart.
Meanwhile, with every instant tht
sky darkened and the wind grew fresh
Dare took reef in the sail, and KEEP
the halyards free, so that she couit
dropit at the slightest warning. The
other boat. however, kept on under ,
full head of canvas. Was Tom Suydan
crazyp Dare wondered. She had hard
ly framed the thought before gus
struck his boat, and laid it so far owe
on its side that the mast seemed t.
touch the water. 1t righted, however
while Tom, evidently uncertain what tt
do, hauled the sail over. and attempted
to run on the opposite tack. For al
instant the sail tapped in the wind
then it suddenly filled, and for seconc
time ,careened until Dare never expect
ed to see it come up again.
They'll surely be drowned!'' sh,
cried, letting out her own sail anothe
point, while she steered the dory so a
to intercept the others course. TIL
skif had righted once more, but wa
lurching wildly, and threatening t
capsize with every gust.
drop your sailp' she cried, excited
ly; but at that instant the skitf Law owe
again, and Dare saw that this time
would not come up. Dare had alread
skillfully brought her boat up within
few yards of the skiff, and dropping he
sail, she now steered it close enough b
take in Tom and the girl, who, thoug
in the water, had succeeded in clingin
10 the wreck.
"Wellp' she exclaimed, when the tw
were safely ON board. TON Suydan
should think you had lost all the littl
sense you ever had"
For once Tom was humbled.
20, i say Dare" he cried, "don'
hit aEfellow when he's down. Just loo
after my cousin Mollie, won't you
She's all broke up. I'll sail the boat fc
you,Y he added.
Dare gave him warning look. "Yo
go sit in the bow" she said. "When
ask you to sail boat for me I guel
you'll know it. There's nothing to
afraid of now," she said, reassuringl,
turning W lom cOubiH, VINO was bnl
er.ng with fear and cold. "Only
wonder you ever went out with hin
He doesn't even know how to ro,
Take,m my coat" she said, producing
heavy jacket from q locker undernea
the seat. ~ sha'n't need it, and you
just soaked through"
The impulsive little stranger threw h
arms around Dare sneck and kissed he
YOU'RE DEAR she said
thought SO the minute laid eyes {
you-only supposed you were a boy.
Dare laughed. Ft
al heard what you said" she reptile
roftly. Now II you will sit here wi
me at the stern, II will trim the boi
and we can make for home"
But the wind, with the uncertain
OF thunderstorm, had shifted furth
20 the north, and It was apparent ev