The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-06-20

still He might have been about so years OF
age. His dress was curious-consistin9 of a
yellow Southwestern, pair or seaman's coarse
canvas trousers and blue pilot jacket, orna-
mented with brass buttons 7Shich bore the in
sigma O. Her Majest, "a naval service.
Presently, without turning his eyes again
from the far distance, the man spoke in
husky, PARKWAY whisper;
MATT, do you see summit out yonderT
Matt strained her gaze through the daz'
cling sunlight, but failed to discern any OBJ
iect on the light Sxpanse of water.
''Look We now,n continued the man; sit
may be drifting weed or it may be wreck;
but it's summat Look again"
"Summat black, William Jonesp
eyes. Coming and going. Now it comes,
and it's black; now it goes, and the water
looks white where it was. If it isn't wreck,
it's weed; il it amt weed, it's wreck. And
the tides flowing, and it'll go ashore afore
night at the Caldron Pint, if wait for it.
But sha'n't wait, - he added, eagerly. "Tn
60 and overhaul it now.n
He looked round suspicious, and then said:
''Matt, did you see any of them coast
guard chaps as you come alongp
mo, William Jones'"
''Thought not. They're up Pencroes way,
fooling about; SO there's chance for hon
est man TO lcolS arter his living without no
questioning. You come 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 clothesp
The girl was at loss how TO reply. She
blushed scarlet, and hung down her head.
Fortunately for her, the man was too alb
sorbed in his main object of thought to cato
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 rough coble was rocking, secured by
a rusty chain.
Jump in and take the paddles. I'll dt
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 as the water
was, there was heavy shoreward swell, ON
which they were Immediately uplifted, 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.
Inc sun WIS DuTIlIlB mllu tilulOsb llsuutI
able brightness, and the light blazed on tho
golden mirror of the water with binding, re
fracted rays Crouching in the stern of the
boat, William Jones shaded his eyes with boil
hands and gazed intently on the object he hat
discovered far out to sea. Now and then h,
made rapid motion to guide the girl in hei
rowing, but he did not speak a word.
Oh how hot it was out there on the wideles
wavesl For some time Matt pulled on il
silence; but at last she could bear 1t 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 youp
With a long-drawn breath Matt drew in til
oars, and, swift as thought, peeled off he
\ Jacket and threw OFF her hat, leaving her hea
j exposed TO the burning sun.
Now, the silk gown she wore had evidentl
i been used by its original owner as a fiesta
raiment, for it had been cut low, and In
short sleeves. So MATHS shoulders and arm
were perfectly bare, and very white the
looked in contrast with her sun-freclled hand
n her sun-burned face, and her warm brow
= neck. Her bust was as yet undeveloped, br
her neck and shoulders were fine, and he
arms beautifully nodded. Altogether, Ii,
friend the painter, could he have seen her ju
i, admiration.
y Freed from the incumbrance of her JACKIE
n she now pulled away with easy grace III
" skill. Farther and farther the boat recedl
; from shore, till the promontory they had lie
was couple of miles away. Suddenly W
liam Jones made sign to the girl to sto
R. and stood up in the boat to reconnoitre
IA The object at which he had been gazing
: long was now clearly visible. 1t consisted
~ something black, floating on CLASSY street
n of water and surrounded by fragments
loose scum or froth; it was to all appearan
I'd motionless, but was, in reality, drift
err YEARLY shorewari on the flowing tide.
A William Jones now evinced increasing
Il element, and urged his companion to hur
10 quickly forward-which she did, putting {
Is all her strength in a series uf rapid and pow
full strokes. Another quarter Of an he
Mt brought them to the spot where the obj
,ys was floating Trembling with eagerness,
ed man leaned over the boats side with G
he stretched hands.
,e- As he did so Matt turned her head av
with curious gesture Of dread.
"What is it, William Jonesf she asked,
an looking at him. 1T isn't-you know-on
ms them"
mo, it amt" replied the man, leaning q
inc, the side Of the coble, and fitting the gunv
ne, almost to the waters edge. TOO early
~, them, Matt. If they comes, it won't be
~ Sundays tide. They're down ut the bot
.ce now, and amt yet rose. Easy! Lean to
AN way! So there-lOok out!'
sba As he spoke, he struggled with sometl
,ito in the water, and at last, with an effort w
NJ almost capsized the boat, pulled it in.
looked now, and saw that it was small,
I,a wooden trunk, covered with pieces Of 81
~ weed. Floating near itwere several piec
~ splintered wood, which seemed to have for
~ part of boat. These, too, William sec
49, and threw down GA the footboard ben
80 him
Vi ITS box. that's what it is cried Ma
vod ITS box, surely" said Jones. "AnC
' reu locked, too. And, look ye now. misd
~ ~. there's nowt inside, or mayhnp it would
- sunk Howsomever, Wen seem
- After an unavailing effort to force it
I'LL with his hands he drew forth a large {
~ knife, worked away at the lock, and trio
nc force open the lid, which soon yielded I
- efforts, Us the action Of the salt water
'Gl al 'eady begun to rot the wood On
,s thus opened the box was found TO co
- only couple Of coarse linen shirts, Al
JUS newspaper two or three biscuits, and h
.O,,,, bottle Of some dark fluid.
'"1e After examining these articles one b
a.. William Jones threw them back into tn
-. with gestures Of disgust, retaining on
o.. bottle, which he unCurked and applied
Low, lips.
a ,oais "Rum!" he said Snacking his lips anC
- ding at Matt. Then, recorking the
go carefully, he returned it 10 the box,
, es's' standing up, reconnoitred the sea on
a. side But nothing else rewarded his
.tit: search he threw himself down in tho
INA of the Llat and ordered Matt to pull Ll