The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-03-29

in fresh white letters on herbow. As she
lay to, before moderate breeze we were
soon on board
When we reached the deck Wonder
mcnt asked for the captain.
IAN right sir!'' said sailor, "she is
coming"
She! The old man and opened wide
our eyes. but none too wide for the sight
We saw. Up short companion-way
there stepped young woman, who with
quick and sea-trained step came to-
ward u.s. She wore a close-fitting dress
Of blue and n broad straw hat.
"Why, if this isn't Wonderment" sha.
exclaimed, advancing toward the old
man with outstrctchcd hands
I'm real glad TO see you Polly" said
Wondcrmcnt, you're looking finely.
And how s?'--
ale is not living" said Polly" quiet
~. II am so glad YOU came on board.
This is your friend, ! suppose"
Wondermcnt introduced me.
Come into the cabin, she said, "and
vii! tell you everything that has hap
pcnrd."
When two glasses Of grog had been
brought, Polly told her story. II was
not very long one Her husband had
died about three years after they first
sailed away in the Coppcring Pet. This
happened when they were in the Japan
csc seas. She would have sold the YES
sci and returned TO her home, but she
found il was not easy 10 make suitable
arrangements u this kind; and then,
before any plan could be carried ont,
she heard of her fathers death. When
she recovered from this new shock she
did not want to come home, and If she
sold her vessel, she felt that she would
have no abiding place in this world, so
she determined to keep the Coppering
Pet, the only home sho had; and having
n competent mate and a good crew, and
being accompanied by n middlc-aged
Scotch woman, who acted rs both maid
and companion, she had sailed and trad
cd in those Eastern waters until few
months ago, when she had determined
to see once more her native town.
While Captain Polly was speaking l
had watched her closely. She was real
| ~ a very handsome woman and hcrface
was but. little sunburned
And now" she said Il want 10
hear everything that has happened
here
Thereupon Wondcrmcnt told the story
Of Captain Mercens death aud the
singular disposition Of his worldly sub
! stance.
"This is strange story" said Capt
| Polly, sand | must think ii over before
| say anything about it. And now Won
dcrment. did YOU come out to take Pei
over the barr"
Il didn't come fur that" said the old
man. inspired by the grog. "but though
I'm not a pilot by trade. I've been over
! this bar back ards and fot'ards as often
81 any man liviu. II any Of the reg lar
pilots had been in the town, | suppose
they'd a come, hut they're away, and
here stand ready for the Job"
"All right" said Captain Polly, you
shall take us over
was not at all satisfied with this dccis-
ion When he came aboard. Wonder
mcnt had supposed that Captain Alba
was in command, and knowing the cham
mel. he would scarcely need pilot, |
took Captain Polly aside and explained
the matter Ia her.
at will soon be high water she
said. "and don't want TO wait outside
twelve hours more. There is nobody
else here, and am certain old Wonder
mcnt would not offer to pilot us If he
did know the bar. He can't help
knowing it; he has lived here all his
lfe."
1t was not long after this that the
sails were set to fresh southeastern
breeze, and We were steadily moving
along toward the narrow entrance tothc
harbor. Wondermcnt stood leaning
against the foremost, his feet wide
apart. and his frequent orders were pass
ed to the man at the wheel. We had
now almost reached the bar. On either
side of US stretched long eXpanse of
sandy beach, with gentle surf rolling
up on il.
"Hard-a-port. Starbu'd. llard-star-
bud. Starbu'd. D.! shouted Wonder
mcnt. And then there was CRATE and
grind, and the vessel stopped, We've
aground on the north beach.
The next day after this was sitting
with Polly in the parlor of little house
in the town where she had taken lodg-
ings Captain Polly was much troubled,
but kept up good heart and blamed
only herself for trusting Wondermcnt,
| felt anxious to help her in every
way that | could, and was now dis
cussing with her what was best to be
done. The Coppcring Pet was high and
firm upon the north beach. Every eff
fort had been made By the crew and the
inhabitants OF the town to get her off,
but all were unavailing. 1t had been
decided to send to more northern port
for steam.tug, and in the meantime
Polly and her woman Sarah had taken
lodgings in the town.
Two weeks. elapsed, during which the
Coppcring pct remained firm upon the
beach. The tug had arrived, but it had
been found too small to move the ves-
sci. Another and larger one had been
sent for, and in the meantime the cargo
was being taken out and removed to the
town in fighters.
During this time ] saw much of Polly,
and became indeed her most trusted adj
visor She had M relatives in the Town