Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-02-12

THE LAUNCH or
sole spectator Of the French and Pro-
vencal arena, he stopped abruptly. He
had just caught sight of the girl and her
father, who quarter Of an hour before
had been listening to the guzlar. Both
he and she had had the same thought
and done a charitable action. The one
had given an aims TO the gypsy. the
other had given an aims to the acrobats
But evidently the meeting in tins way
was not enough for him-for rs soon as
he saw the lady he forgot all about che
arena and the money he paid for his
place, and dashed of towards the spot
where she had again mixed with the
crowd.
Hi sir sir {" shouted Pescade.
"You money We haven't earned it !
What's up? Where are you going;
Vanished Sm!"
But he sought to find his audience 4"
in vain 1t had been eclipsed. Then
he looked at Matifou, who with his
mouth wide open was quite as much
astonished as he was.
Just rs We were going to commence :"
said the giant I'VE are unlucky."
LET us commence all the same /!
said Pescade running down the steps
into the ring
But at this moment there was great
shouting in the direction of the harbor.
The crowd was growing excited. aud
moving towards the seaside, and then
was heard above the din of words:
1.-THE trabacolo the trabacolo !"
The time had come for the launch Of
the small vessel The sight. always an
attractive one, was of kind 10 excite
public curiosity. And the quays where
the people had gathered were sGn
deserted for the yard in which the
launch was to take place.
Point Pescade and Matifou saw that
there was no chance Of an audience at
present, and being anxious to find the
solitary stranger who had failed to fill
their arena, they left it without even
stopping 10 shut the door-and why
should they shut itl-and walked off to
the yard.
This yard was situated at the end OF q
point just beyond the harbor, where the
beach sloped gradually to the sea-
Pescade and his companion after good
deal of elbowing found themselves in the
front row Of spectators. Never, even
on benefit night, had they had such an
audience
The shores had been cleared away
..om the trahacoln and she was now
ready for the ceremony. The anchor
was ready TO be let go rs soon as the hull
entered the water, so as to stop her run
ming too far out into the channel
Although the trabacolo measured only
about fifty tons, the mass was consider
able enough for every precaution to be
taken against accident Two of the
workmen of the yard were on deck aft
near the flagstaff that bore the Dalma-
tian colors and two others were forward
standing by the anchor.
The trabacolo was to be sent into the
water stern first, as is done in all other
launches. Her keel resting on the
soaped slide was kept i'll its place by
KEY. When the key was removed the
boat should begin to slip, and then with
increasing swiftness she would rush
down the ways into her natural element.
Half a dozen carpenters with sledge
hammers were knocking in wedges under
the keel forward, so as to increase the
speed at which she would take the sea.
Every one followed the operation with
the greatest interest amid . general
nlence.
At this moment from behind the point
to the south there suddenly glided into
view-a yacht. She was schooner Of
about three hundred and fifty tons. She
was keeping on past the point so as to
open the entrance into the harbor. AS
the breeze was from the northwest she
was close-hauled on the port tack, so rs
10 take her straight TO her anchorage.
IL ten minutes after she had been
sighted she had come up us rapidly as IL
she had been looked at through n tele-
scope with continually lengthening tube.
Toenter the harbor the schooner would
have to pass in front of the yard where
the trabacolo was ready for launching;
and as soon as she was sighted it was
thought best to suspend operations for
10 time, and wait until she had gone by.
A collision between the two vessels, one
broadside on. the other coming ut great
speed, would have caused catastrophe
on boaSd the yacht.
The worlImen then stopped driving in
.the wedges and the men in char of the
key were then told to wait 1t would
lonly be for minute or two. On came
the schooner. She could be seen to be
getting ready to anchor. Two of the
jibs were taken in and the foresail hauled
up But she went on at good speed
under her fore, staysail and Spanish
reefed mainsail.
All eyes were turned on this graceful
vessel whose white sails were now gilded
by the oblique rays of the sun. Her
sailors, in Levantine uniform, with red
caps, we're running about at their vari-
GUS duties, while the captain, near the
man at tho helm, gave his orders in q
quiet voice.
Very soon the schooner was abreast OF
the building yard. Suddenly a shout
arose The Eabncolo began to move.