Sharp County record., 1882-09-07

skill udu llSlICIA OuOO AolO' oA' ""'
lurching wildly, and threatening to
capSize with every gust.
"Drop your sail!'' she cried, excited
ly; but at that instant the Skiff lay over
again, and Dare saw that this time it
would not come up. Dare had already
skillfully brought her boat up within a
few yards of the skiff, and dropping her
sail, she now steered it close enough to
take in Tom and the girl, who, though
in the water, had succeeded in clinging
to the wreck.
"Wellp' she exclaimed, when the two
were safely on board, tom Suydam,
| should think you had lost all the little
sense you ever had"
For once Tom was humbled.
80, | say Dare" he cried, "don't
hit fellow when he's down. Justlook
after my cousin Mollie, won't you?
She's all broke up. I'll sail the boat for
you," he added.
Dare gave him warning look. you
90 sit in the bow," she said. "When |
ask you to sail boat for me | guess
you'll know it. There's nothing to be
afraid of now," she said, reassuringly,
turning to Toms cousin, who was shiv-
ering with fear and cold. "Only L
wonder you ever went out with him.
He doesn't even know how to row.
Take my coat she said, producing a
heavy Jacket from a loc ker underneath
the seat. Il sha' mt needit, and you're
Just soaked through"
The impulsive little stranger threw her
arms around Dare neck and kissed her.
YOU'RE a DEAR" she said. 81
thought so the minute | laid eyes on
you-only supposed you were boy"
Dare laughed.
81 heard what you said," she replied,
softly. "Now if you will sit here with
me at the stern, it will trim the boat,
and we can make for home"
But the wind, with the uncertainty
of a thunderstorm, had shifted further
to the north, and it was apparent even
to Mollie that they were being driven
far away from the Shoals.
"Why don't you hoist your sail,
cried Tom, from his seat in the bow,
"and steer for the Island? You'll 60
to Boston if you keep on this way"
Just then fresh squall drove the
boat ahead with such force that the wa
ter broke over the bow, and Tom was
for the time suppressed. Fortunately
the dory was stanch and seaworthy. 1t
rode the waves lightly, and so long as
Dare could keep it before the wind she
had no fears of its capsizing. But ev-
erv breath of wind carried them further
away from home. Presently the rain
began to fall; and then Mollie, that
Dare might not be wet, insisted upon
covering her. shoulders with the jacket
also.
"But never take cold," Dare pro-
tested. Pm wet through half the
time when Pm out in the dory, and
don't know what it is to be sick"
"But sha'n feel right unless you
take part of it, the other declared.
"rll sit close to you, dear, like this,
and therell be enough for both of us.
So Dare did not resist. 1t was new
experience for her to be affectionately
treated, and she did not need the jacket
to make her feel warm. AS Mollie's
arm crept round her waist, and the
girls little head rested on her shoulder,
She felt that something had 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 a sharp flash of lightning
forked across the sky, followed almost
Immediately by deafening peal OF
thunder. Mollie hid her face in Dare S
dress.
80 yes. am," she cried; "rm aw-
fully frightened. Do you think the boat
can stand it, Dare? Do you think we
will ever get homeP"
Dare looked out toward the horizon.
The rain was falling even more heavily;
the wind was blowing steadily from the
north, and the darkness was shutting
down. 1t was an angry-looking night,
and Dare had to fight hard to shake oil
a thrill of terror from herself,
"There's no danger, dear, she said,
bravely. "Tve been out in heavier
blow than this, and so long as we can
keep her before the wind we're all right.
Only Pm afraid Mollie, we'll have to
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 in the
morning we'll run in somewhere down
the coast, or, if the wind has changed,
come straight home. 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, as 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. a pillow,