The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-10-12

drift slowly down the river.
As it swept past the Clovis Scampadoro
became intensely excited. This was something
upon which he had not counted. lie expected
no doubt to get back to the Clovis after the
fashion Of his master As it was, his brilliant
device Was a failure Indeed ii might be
worse, for he was drifting away to sea without
even a bone on board in the way Of provision
for the voyage. The uniucly mariner began
to yelp more dolelulIy than before, but all to
no avail. Down the river swept the little craft
with its unhappy and helpless crew.
I None of these proceedings had escaped the
notice of Tommy Winch. At first he was mys-
titled by Scampadoro's tactics. When he dis
covered the sGgacious design of the dog, his
admiration knew no bounds. However, his
fresh recollection of Crumple's adyenturesome
excursion held him to the doorstep until he
saw the sharpe drifting helplassly down
stream. Then his excitement carried him away
and he set of at full speed for BERTHE Ho!den's
house, leaving old Crumple 60 be the sport of
/ circumstances. He met Berthe coming over the
hill with his gun upon his shoulder.
! 80, Bertie!" he cried, "just look there
/ Scamp's gone and Enawed himself adrift in the
sharpie, and there he goes down the river"
These tidiug5 were confirmed by ScampGdoro
himself, who having deserted the approach Of
his master gave vent 20 an outbreak Of appeal
ing howis and lamentations.
The little rascal" exclaimed Berthe. "How
came ne to leave the Clovis? He'll drift out
into the Sound, sure. Let's go for Captain
hinneys sharpe, and put after him!"
And dropping his gun, of went Bertie on
/ keen run for Captain Kinneys landing, which
was little further up the river than Bertie's
wharf Tommy raced after him in a fever of
/ excitement.
/ The landing was soon reached. The boys
/ jumped into the sharpie and cast off. BERTHE
seized the oars and began to pull away yigoT-
/ ously. Tommy was eager to take an oar him
self, but as he was a rather clumsy hand, Ber-
tie declined his aid, and bent his back to his
work with such energy that tho little craft
seemed fairly to leap ahead in the water. Past
the Clovis" they flew, leaving a long train of
/ bubbles in their wake, and began to gain
rapidly upon their chase.
/ ScampEdoro was about half mile ahead, and
was nearing the mouth Of the river The
wind blew freshly outside, and his little skif
began to feel the swell, and to pitch in a decid-
edly dsagreeabe manner. The little captain
did not appear to relish commanding sharpe
of his own, for he bobbed about in an agitated
manner, and now and then as q dash of spray
flew into his face gave vent 10 sundry yelp5
which had q tone Of excessive discomfort.
Finally he lay down in the bottom of the boat,
as his habit was when he had any thinking to
| do. He remained quiet for a short time, and
han n
of the situation and leaped overheard.
When Captain ScampadOro gnawed off the
painter which moored the sharpie to Berties
wharf, he left, as we have noticed, two or three
feet Of it dangling from the bow. This short
bit of line hs now seized with his teeth, and
struck out energetically for the shore. This
manguvre showed that he had thought to
some purpose But dogs, when they do their
thinking, usually take into account only one
thing at a time. Scampadoro's idea was excel
lent, but he had not included in his reckoning
the strength of the tide, the heavy waves, and
the shOrtneSs Of his tOwline.
Ia spite of his struggles the tide swept
the sharpe along towards the Sound Then
to add to his perplexities, the rope was
so short that he found it almost impos-
TO the shore Besides the little sharpie
was so tossed about on the waves that several
times the tow-line was jerked entirely out of
his mouth. Amid these difficulties Captain
Scamp was having a serious time of it. For all
this, however, he made gradual progress to-
wards the beach, but the tide was carrying
him downward at the same time, his course bore
directly upon ledge of rocks which projected
into the Sound near the rivers mouth, and
upon which the waves beat iurOusly.
But at this crisis the boys were fast overhaul
ing the canine mariner.
There goes the rascal overheard !" shouted
Tommy, as the dog executed the maneuvre Just
described.
BERTHE kept silence but pulled as if he were
rowing for the championship. His skiff had
begun to feel the force of the sea, and Bertie
was growing tired.
60 Bertie he's drifting straight on to Black
Ledge! He'll stave the sharpie all to pieces,
and get drowned himself. He never can land
there in the world!"
Bertie glanced over his shoulder, and saw
that the case was indeed desperate. Captain
Scamp was in greater peril of shipwreck than
if he had stuck TO the deck of his craft.
"Now, Tommy Winch, you look out lively"
exclaimed he "As soon as ever we come along
side you seize hold of the sharpie. If she
strikes on Black Ledge in that sea- she's goner
sure!" And BERTHE bent to his oars with des- /,
perate vigOr.
They were close upon the chase now; and |
close upon Black Ledge also. The waves tum-
blcG in upon the rocks with q dash and a roar, I
and flung great showers of spray high upon
their rough and weather-bcaten sides. It was /
hard rowing here, and BERTHE found use for |
all his strength and skill.
"OScampadoro! Good fellow Good tellow!" |
shouted Tommy, by way of encouragement; /
and the dog, hearing his voice, struggled hard /
to turn the sharpe's head about and drag it .
toward the boys. This desperate effort really .
saved Captain Scampadoro's ship from wreck /
Tommy seized hold of it when only few feet /
distant from tho ledge.
Back her, Berthe! Back her! I've got the .
sharpie.' he shouted. And with much effort
and mighty splashinG, BERTHE did back her;
and then, with few sturdy strokes, pulled the
two sharpies out of danger. Except that both
boys were thoroughly drenchcd by the seas
that had come aboard in the rough water near
the ledge, everything was safe and sound.
Scampadoro quickly padded along side and
vroS baulpd DaDtiup and nearly pXhauStp5 into /