Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-07

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but It's summat. Look again"
s'Summat black, William Jonesr
'sYes. Coming and going. Now It comes,
and it's black; now it goes, and ths water
looks white where it was II it isn't wreck,
the tides flowing, and it'll 60 ashore afors
night at the Caldron Pint, il I wait for it.
But shan't wait, be added, eagerly. "rn
go and overhaul it now
He looked round suspicious, and then said:
"Matt, did you see any Of them coast.
guard chaps as you come alongr
''No, William Jones"
Thought not. They're up Pencroes way,
fooling about; so there's a chance for a hon.
est man to look arter his living without no
Questioning. You cone along with me, and
il it is summat, I'll gle thee tuppence some O
these fine days.
As he turned to go, his eyes fell for the first
time on her attire
'what's this, Mattl What are you doing
in your Sunday clothesT
The glrl ives at loss how to reply. She
blushed scarlet, and hung down her head.
Fortunately for her, the man was too alb
sorbcd in his main object of thought to cate.
chise her further. He only shook his fat
head in severe disapprobation, and led the
way down to a small creek in the rocks,
where a rough coble was rocking, secured by
a rusty chain.
Jump in and take the paddles I'll sit
astarn and keep watch.
The girl obeyed and leaped in; but before
sitting down she tucked up her dress to her
knees TO avoid the dirty water in the bottom
Of the boat. William Jones followed, and
pushed Off with his hands. Calm az the water
was, there was a heavy shoreward swell, on
which they were Immediately upiifted, with
some danger Of being swept back on the
rocks; but Matt handled the paddles like one
to the manor born, and the boat shot out
swiftly on the shining sea.
The sun was burning with almost INSURER
able brightness, and the light blazed ON the
golden mirror Of the water with binding, re-
fracted rays. Crouching in the stern Of the
boat William Jones shaded his eyes with both
hands and gazed intently on the object he had
discovered far out to sea. Now and then he
made rapid motion to guide the girl in her
rowing, but he did not speak a word.
Oh, how hot it was out there ON the wideless
wavesl For some time Matt pulled on in
silence; but at last she could bear it no longer
and rested on her oars, with the warm per-
spiration streaming down her freckled cheeks
"Pull away, Matt" said the man, not look
ing at her. "You amt tired, not your
With a long drawn breath Matt drew in the
oars, and, swift as thought, peeled Off her
jacket and threw off her hat, leaving her head
exposed to the burning sun.
Now, the silk gown she wore had evidently
been used by its original owner as a festal
raiment, for it had been cut low, and had
short sleeves. So Mats shoulders and arms
were perfectly bare, and very white they
looked in contrast with her sun-freckled hands,
her sun-burned face and her warm brown
neck Her bust was as yet undeveloped but
her neck and shoulders were fine, and her
arms beautifully nodded. Altogether, her
friend the painter, could he have seen her just
then, would have regarded her with increasing
admiration.
Freed from the incumbrance Of her Jacket,
she now pulled away with easy grace and
skill. Far aher and farther the boat receded
from shore, till the promontory they had left
was a couple Of miles away. Suddenly Will
liam Jones made a sign to the girl to STOP
and stood up in the boat to reconnoitre.
The object at which he had been gazing SO
long was now clearly visible. It consisted Of
something black floating on CLASSY stretch
Of water, and surrounded by fragments Of
loose scum or froth it was to all appearance
motionless, but was, in reality, drifting
YEARLY shoreward on the flowing tide.
William Jones now evinced increasing ex-
element, and urged his companion to hurry
quickly forward-which she did, putting out
all her strength in a series of rapid and power
full strokes. Another quarter Of an hour
brought them to the spot where the object
was floating. Trembling with eagerness, the
man leaned over the boats side with OUT
stretched hands.
As he did SO Matt turned her head away
with a curious gesture OF dread.
"What is it, William Jonesi" she asked, not
looking at him. at isn't-you know-one O.
them9"
mo, it amt" replied the man, leaning over
the side of the coble, and fitting the gunwale
almost to the waters edge "Too early for
them, Matt. II they comes, it won't be till
Sundays tide They're down at the bottom
now, and amt yet rose. Easyl Lean 'tother
wayl So there-look outl'
As he spoke, he struggled with something
in the water, and at last, with an effort which
almost capsized the boat, pulled it in. Matt
looked now, and saw that it was a small, flat,
wooden trunk, covered with pieces Of Shiny
weed. Floating near it were several pieces of
splintered wood, which seemed to have formed
part of boat. These, too, William secured
and threw down on the footboard beneath
him.
"Its box, that's what it is" cried Matt.
"Its box, surely" said Jones' "And it's
locked, too. And, look We now. misdoubt
there's nowt inside, or may hap it would have
sunk Horsepower, Wen seel"
After ali unavailing effort to force it open
with his hands he drew forth large clasp
knife, worked away at the lock- and tried to
force open the lid, which soon yielded to his
efforts, as the action of the salt water had
l.eady begun to rot the wood. On being
thus opened the box was found to contain
only a couple Of coarse linen shirts, an old
newspaper, two or three biscuits, and half q
bottle of some dark fluid.
After examining these articles one by one
William Jones threw them back into the box
with gestures of disgust, retaining only the
bottle, which he uncorked and applied to his
lips.
RUM he said, smacking his lips and nod
ding at Matt. Then, recorking the bottle
carefully, he returned it to the box, and,
standing up, reconnoitred the sea on every
side. But nothing else rewarded his eager
search be threw himself down in the stern
of the boat and ordered Matt to pull back to
shore.
As they went he closed one eye thought
fully and unused aloud:
might afore last it blew half gale from
the southland. This here box came awash
from the east coast Of Ireland. May be it
was big ship as was lost; them planks was
part of the vessels long-boat. More's coming
If the wind don't come up from the norrard
The moons full tonight and tomorrow. I'll
tell the old 'un, and keep a sharp lookout of
" s...ko