, 1883-08-04
Two Boys Adventure at Sea.

"Fine day we've got for Itch,
Bob ?"
"First-rate, old fellow; and the
wind all in our favor, too. l say,
let's stand out to sea a bit; it's no
fun dodging about the coast this
way"
They were young sailors who
spoke thus. Neither could have
been above fourteen and in 1872 the
eastern coast Of England was very
different from what it is now in 1893.
Lighthouses were few and far be-
tween. Sunken rocks and shoals,
not yet set down on any chart,
abOunded all along the coast. Worse
still, the savage fellows that haunted
the shore, and lived upon the plumb
er of wrecked vessels, thought moth
ing of showing false lights to lure a
stOrm-beaten ship to her doom, or Of
quieting with timely knock on the
head any one who might have sur
viVed to dispute their right to her
cargo.
But all this did not trouble Bob
and Jim in the least. They were
out for days sport, and a days
sport they meant to have, come what
might. Young as they were, it was
not the first time they had taken a
boat out to sea in rough weather I;
and when Jim, taking the tiller,
shouted to Bob to '1et go the sheet"
and they felt themselves flying over
the water like sea-birds, both boys
shouted with delight.
"When Pm Il man." cried Bob,
"and have money enough, I'll be a
pilot, and have a craft Of my own,
and cruise about all day on the look
out for jobs"
"And III he Captain Of a frigate,"
added Jim, "and sail all around the
world, into all sorts Of places where
nobQdy's ever been"
For two or three hours the young
sailors were perfectly happy; but at
length Jim said, rather seriously:
"Hadn't we better put her about ?
l can hardly see the shore, and you
know we promised Sam to bring the
boat back before dark"
"Just one-half hour more" plead
ed Bob tive don't have a cruise like
this every day."
Away they went again but mean
while the breeze had freshened to Il
strong wind, which was fast rising
into gale. The dancing ripples had
turned into white, leaping waves,
one Of the hugest of which burst sud-
denly over the gunwale, drenching
both lads to the skin.
Jim's clear gray eyes were bright
and fearless as ever, but his firm lips
were set while even the reckless
Bob began to look serious.
T-I think we'd betterput about, 4"
faltered he.
"Too late" replied Jim, decisive
ly call we can do now is to keep
her before the wind. II this wind
don't change, the next land we shall
see provided we see land again) will
be the coast of Holland"
"Pleasantp' sputtered Bob, rue
fully, as another wave filed his eyes
and mouth with brine. 81 wish I'd
let you turn when you wanted to-"
''Never mind, old boy ;'it can't be
helped now. Catch hold Of this bit
Of bread and red herring; we shall
want all our strength before long"
They did so, indeed. A few min
utes later furious squall burst upon
the devoted boat. Before Bob's
numbed fingers could obey Jim's
shout Of "Down with the sail !" the
gale struck her with all its force.
The light mast. snapped like a stick
of sealing-wax, down came yard and
sail with a run, and the hampered
boat careened till the sea poured into
her like a cataract.
How Jim managed to get forward
and cut away the wreck he never
knew. But the boat righted at last,
and they began to bail her out, hav-
ing first lashed the helm amidships
to keep her steady.
Afternoon waned into evening,
and evening deepened into night-a
night that seemed endless to the for
lorn boys, now wholly at the mercy
Of the wind and wave. About an
hour after midnight deluge OF rain
broke upon them, showing tat the
storm was near its end, and they
hailed the favorable sign with a
CHEEKY hVrah. But the next mo-
moment Bob shouted frantically,
sport your helm here's
Before he could finish a huge black
shadow seemed to start up over them
right out Of the sea- There was a
tremendous shock and deafening