The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-10-22
OBEDIENCE WITHOUT QUESTION

off in an hour, sure"
Hugh, Harry and Jack went
away to look after their fishing
tackle while the little girls played
on the sandy shore. Jimmy
Tinch's boat, the largest sail boat
any where about that part of the
sea cost, lay little distance out in
the water
''Now, then," said the boys com
ing back. "We've got plenty OF
bait, and can fish couple of hours
off Rocky Point before we shall
have to come back"
But what great disappointment
awaited them.
Papa has been here since you
went away" said Madge, "and he
says we are not to go in Jimmy s
boat to-day. We may take a bit of
a sail in your boat if we all want to,
but that is ALL
"What can be the reason?' broke
in Hugh, in great astonishment.
Did he say why, Madge?'
"No."
| L saw nllu lOOh at luC
said Susie.
Il suppose that's it; he thinks
there's going to be storm. But 1
don't think so. Those light clouds
don't mean anything. If he had
only given us sort of reason for put
ting off our trip
81 think he meant us to obey
without having a reason" said
Madge.
Hugh fumed and fretted in
great ill-humor.
'It's going to be a splendid al
ternoon," he said.
"The clouds are all blowing
away" said Jack.
Pm going to ask jimmy" said
Hugh. "Here, Jimmy; is it going
to Storm"
''NIvir, the bit, sor. It's the Ill
CANT day for sail. It's out o the
bay we'll be and round the pint IN
no time at all, at all"
"Hear what he says?' said Hugh,
turning discoutentedly to the 9th
ers. "Papa is over-careful, you
see. OF course Jimmy knows a
great deal more about weather than
he does. So let's go.'
"WIthout leave?" asked Madge
in surprise.
"Why, l know he'd let us go if
he could hear what Jimmy says; so
it will be 40 harm. I'm old enough,
I'm sure, to have something to say
about things, and 1 know its safe
for US to 60"
The others wanted to believe so.
All but Madge followed him to the
boat, although with rather hesitat-
ing steps.
"Come on" cried Hugh. "See
how the sun is breaking out.
What nonsense it would be to have
our long walk down here for moth
ing"
"Do give it up, Hugh" entreated |
Madge, but he only laughed at her.
MaGge turned her face home
ward, calling the little girls to fol-
low her; but they were glad to lis
ten to Hugh's reasoning. In a few
minutes Jimmy Tinch had hoisted |
the sails, and the boat was skinning |
gracefully toward the outlet of the |
little bay.
Once outside its shelter, Hugh be-
gan to feel rather less confidence in |
his own judgment and in Jimmy's. |
They had better view of the dark
clouds which were rolling up in the |
western sky, and the water was
much rougher than they expected !
to find it.
For a while the boat danced gay
ly over the waves, and all enjoyed |
the exhilarating motion, but far
ther out the breeze became sharper.
A sudden gust seized the sails and
and almost threw the boat over,
while a scream of terror rose from
the little girls.
"Take carep cried Hugh, in
great alarm at observing that jim
my made no effort at taking in sail;
for even the boys inexperienced |
eye could see the danger they
were in.
Jimmy gave a stupid laugh as
boat leaned heavily to one side. |
Hugh gave him sharp glance, and |
his heart sank with dismay. He !
had not before seer what his ia.
theirs keener eye had marked-that
Jimmy was under the influence of
liquor and utterly unfit to under
take the management of a boat. |
Believing that the boys would obey |
his command, he had not thought |
proper to speak of this to the little
girls.
"Take in that top sail,' said |
Hugh, almost angrily. ''Don't you |
see we shall go oyer in another min
ute"
Jimmy made a feeble clutch at a
rope, then reeled as the boat made
another lurch, and if Hugh had not |
seized HIM he would have fallen |
overheard. The next moment he
was in heavy sleep in the bottom
of the boat.
"Take hold here, boys" said |
Hugh, with a pale face, as he called |
into play his best knowledge of
bOSAOAbS9
With trembling hands they did
their best and were then obliged to
commit themselves to the mercy of
the storm, which soon beat pitIless
ly down upon them. For hours
they were driven before it, but as
night approached Hugh observed |
with most thankful heart that it
was abating. Darkness came on and
he''knew not where they might be on
the tossing waters. The little |
girls cried to be taken home, then |
cried for supper, when it was dis
covered that the lunch basket
which had been handed to Jimmy |
to stow in the boat had been left |
behind.
Face to face through the long
hours of :that night, with the full
realization that his disobedienee |
had brought his brothers and sis