The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-06-23
A QUEER KIND OF HOLIDAY.

"Fine day we've got for Itch. Bob?
"First-rate, old fellow; and the wind
all in our favor, too. | say, let's stand
out to sea bit; it's no fun lodging
about the coast this way"
They were young sailors who spoke
thus. Neither could have been above
fourteen; and in 1742 the eastern coast
of England was very different from
what it is now in 1883. Lighthouses
were few and far between 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
plumber of wrecked vessels, thought
nothing of showing false lights to lure
a storm-beaten ship to her doom, or of
quieting with a timely knock on the
head any one who might have survived
to dispute their right to her cargo.
But all this did not trouble Bob and
Jim in the least. They were out for a
days sport, and days sport they
meant TO have, come what might.
Young as they were, it was not the first
time they had taken boat out to sea
in rough weather; and when Jim, TAX
ing the tiller, shouted to Bob to ''let
90 the sheet and they felt themselves
flying over the water like sea-birds,
both boys shouted with delight
"When I'm man." cried Bob, "and
have money enough, I'll be pilot, and
have craft of my own, and cruise
about all day on the lookout for Jobs. .
'And I'll be Captain of figate, >
added Jim, land sail all around the
world, into all sorts of places where no
body's ever been"
For two or three hours the young sail
ors were perfectly happy; but at length
Jim said, rather seriously:
Hadn't we better put her about9 /
can hardly see the shore, and you know
we promised Sam to bring the boat back
before dark"
"Just one half-hour more" pleaded
Bob; "we don't have a cruise like this
every day."
Away they went again; but mean
while the breeze had freshened to a
strong wind, which was fast rising into
a gale. The dancing ripples had turned
into white, leaping waves, one of the
hugest of which burst suddenly over the
gunwale, drenching both lads to the
skin.
jim clear gray eyes were bright and
fearless rs ever, but his firm lips were
set, while even the reckless Bob began
to look serious
CT think we'd better put about, :"
faltered he.
TOO late replied jim, decisively;
"all we can do now is to keep her be-
fore the wind. Ii this wind don't change.
the next land we shall see Crowded we
see land again) viii be the coast Of
Holland"
Pleasant sputtered Bob, ruefully.
as another wave filled his eyes and
mouth with brine. Il 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" s..
They d so, indeed. A few minutes
later furious squall burst upon the de-
voted boat. Before Bob's numbed fin
gers could obey Jim's shout of Down
with the sail!'' the gale struck her with
all its force. The light mast snapped
like II stick Of sealing-waX, down came
yard and sail with a run, and the hamp-
cred 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 bale her out, having first lash
ed the helm amidships to keep her
steady.
Afternoon waned into evening, and
evening deepened into night-a night
| that seemed endless to the tOrlOrn bows.
wv wholly at the mercy of the wind
and wave. About an hour after mid
night a deluge of rain broke upon them,
showing that the storm was near its
end, and they hailed the favorable sign
with a CHEEKY hurrah. But the next
moment Bob shouted frantically,
Port 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 a deafening
crash, and their shattered boat went
| down like a stone into the depths of the
sea, leaving them clinging convulsively
to a tangled mass of cOrdage.
8" l sayr' cried Jim, who was the
first one to reach the deck of the vessel
against which they had been dashed,
"this is out of the frying pan into the
fire. The old tubs half full OF water,
and there's not a soul on board p
- Isn't there ?'' shouted Bob, bending
his head eagerly forward. Listen %