Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-11
THE MISSING BOAT.

A group OF ruddy, good featured, strong
built men were gathered one stormy fore
loOn Of late December In front of a cot
ar's barn near the crest of long, steep
incline, whence an uubrOken view OF the
snow clad country sOuthwards could be
had for a distance OF nearly thirty miles,
till bounded by a chain of hills forming a
natural separation between Caithness and
Sunderland. Here II Struggling cluster of
unpretentiUus houses, large and small
Did and new, mostly Of the cheaper de
scriptiOn, and of hard, blue whinstone,
constituted the village though other cot
tar steadings that thickly besprinkled the
landscape were included within the vii
lage name. The men were ON the lee side
If the barn, sheltered from the furious
nor easter that WAS carrying clouds of
whirling snow in its titful grasp. and rails
ing SpOtless banks and buttresses in all
directions, across ruadways and against
walls Of houses. Round about their feet
a flock of sparrows were merrily picking
up the oat grains that flew ont through
the upper half of the barn door from
under the cheersome and steady stroke of
the ilail. while outside their circle shy
robin lowered As il doubtful about ming
ling himself with the mobile vulgus OF his
feathcrcd tribe. The group of men were
gazing towards the foam tieCsed sea near
where the Moss Head lighthouse on its
long prOmuutury bounded the opening Of
the bay into the German ocean. One WAS
looking through a telescope rested on the
shoulder of another man, from which
after time, removing his eye, he handed
the glass 10 another of the group, remark
ing:
Il Gamma max DOT onything, boy.
Sometime think there's a black speCk
stopping the waves, and then it's lost in
the hollows. Ye have younger eyes,
maybe yell see better. A wild sea, to be
sure, for anybody 10 be out on"
The younger man now in turn rested
the glass on the shoulder of another and
peered long and silently through. till at
length an ejaculation escaped him.
No doubt about il, there's something
there! A black speck, rs Donald says, |
can make it out clearly; whiles it's lost,
but always come up again. much mis-
doubt but it's the boat, and the last We II
see o the puir fellows. Expect that's her,
keel up"
One after another now peered eagerly
through the glass, and each In turn
confirmed the impression of the preced
ing
The boat in question, II appeared, had
gone out fishing the day previous, and
had probably been caught in the storm
and dismantled, as nothing was heard of
her since. And now the news ascertained
through the telescope, and apparently
cOntirmatOry of previous impressions,
spread rapidly through the village, and
families mourned their loss; one of two
bread winners, father and son; another of
son; the third, a young widow,
the loss OF her one-week welded husband
But still, the grief which overwhelmed
them was mingled with fain. element of
doubt Nothing was certain. All might
yet perhaps turn out we'll The boat
might have been driven to take refuge in
some distant port, not an unusual occur
renee. But this thought carried no con
viction. 1t was but the straw to the
drowning man, and against it was the
dark omious speck on the waters. No
ordinary fishing boat could live there
long.
The day passed gradually by. The dark
speck still kept riding upon the waves
near where it had been first seen, but its
nature could not be verified, as no boat
drift whirled wildly through the air. more
wildly, If anything, than ever and deep
ened upon the ground, and all day long
groups of people succeeded each
other in sheltering places 10 gaze
and gaze again seawardsr in
dividusls came to their doors TO
scan vainly the object that kept rising and
falling near the horizon line, aud which
Saar1,al t,, rauliyn bai fnrahniin,,-.
and night closed down over the village
and grief-stricken families, and still the
same element of doubt mingled with their
despair.
Next morning n bright warm sun
rose up over the white landscape, and all
the wild fury Of yesterday had given place
TO peace and quietude. Before the win
dow Of a neat and tastefully kept cottage
sat buxom rosy-cheeked girl, the young
bride OF a week, whose husband was
among the missing. Her head.was buried in
her hands in an attitude Of deep grief, and
she seemed all unconscious Of the uncheer-
full landscape outside, Of the robin that
carolled his merry song on the roof edge,
of the warm sun that streamed through
the polished glass over the Towering ger
aniums beside her and on to the back of
the great glossy grey cat that sat purring
cOptentedly on the hearth in front of the
glowing peat fire. She seemed unconscious,
too, Of the kindly eighboring woman
who had come in for company, and who
maintained a silence too delicate to in
trude upon the exclusiveness Of her sor-
row. After long stiffness, broken only
by the purring OF the cat and measured
beat Of the clock on the mantelpiece, a
soft utterance OF the neighbor- woman
caused the girl suddenly TO raise her head
and lock out through the window in the
same direction in which the other was al.
ready looking, at some object Of deep and
growing interest, and presently her look
Of apathy gave place 10 one Of absorbing
concern. She was looking seawards as If
she would fain probe the mystery Of the
treacherous ocean depths.
Two boats appeared cutting across the
bay with the land breeze full in their sails
towards a point some miles to the north
of where the object had been seen yester-
day floating on the waves, and on looking
closely this object still appeared in line
with the boats, like a speck near the hori-
zon rim. From the window groups OF
villagers were visible watching the boats,
all with eager interest. The mystery Of
the floating object was now to be set at
rest. Interest increases as time passes
and the boats draw nearer their goal and
intensifies as they seem to have reached it
and lower sail. Then there is a period of
suspense during which they appear to be
engaged with it, and soon they raise sail
and appear 10 be returning home. They
are moving more slowly, however, ap-
parently from ths drag Of the inverted
boat, which they seem TO be towing be-
hind them, and they are bearing some
points to the north, as If to get the wind
full in their sails to reach shore before
nightfall