The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-22
1.-THE THREE WAVES"

fishing boat at Deva. The captain
and proprietor OF the boat was my
paternal uncle, Thomas, who had
taken me to his family at the death OF
my parents. Twas IS, and my fish
ing comrade was Il boy of 15, named
Bilinch.
Rough and stern as my uncle was,
he had the noblest and most rener-
GUS heart one can imagine. lie had
married a young oma whom he
loved with thedeepest tenderness, and
they hada daughter Of about my age,
as sweet andsas good as an angel.
That year we hadthe most eytraor-
binary i'll luck fishing. In vain we
were the first on the suitable spot;
our nets took nothing but dead fish,
small and ONO value, while other boats
at ourside were obliged to throw over
board all their ballast to make room
for their fish. 1t continued thus the
whole season, day after day. 1t vas
impossible to blame the boat, which
couldno have been better; or the nets,
which were chosen with the greatest
care; or the crew, which vas composed
OF h most famous fishermen between
Michicaco andthe Cape OF the F'iguier.
We were in despair.
One night Bilinch and I were on the
ietty at Maspe, making ready for the
departure of the boat, which usually
took place at O'Clock in the morn
ing. When everything was ready we
saw that we still had a long time to
spare, and we lay down in the boat.
fell very soundly asleep. Sudden
ly ! was abruptly awakened by my
companion, who was pulling my arm
violently. ] was about to teach him
gentle manners when | was struck with
terror by the deep fear | saw printed
on his face and by the mexpressible
anguish that contracted his features.
"What is the natter" / asked
anxiously.
odd you not see them? Did you
rot hear them?" he murmured, his
eyes starting from their sockets with
fright.
aWho9 Who?"
"Marie-and the other. Fly Thomas,
and do not look at them!"
Not understanding his words | was
about to ask more explanation, when
the hour for IA setting out struck. l
was obliged to postpone my questions.
"Come away! come away" scream
ed my companion. "Bestill, Thomas;
they are waiting for u.s."
Thecrew vas already on the ietty,
but, before the boat had touched,
Bilinch sprang ashore and began to
run toward the village. He met Uncle
Thomas and threw himself on the
ground ut his feet, crying: "Icannot!
! willnot! l am not going to seal"
a sailor raised him up, took him by
the a and forced him to enter the
boat.
What is all this?" asked my uncle.
This lazy fellow wants to fish for
birds today" replied tie sailor.
But the poor boy writhed at
the captains feet, begging to
be put ashore. The sailors, seeing
nothing in it all but trick to avoid
work, made sport of him. But l, still
under the impression OF the strange
manner in which he had interrupted
my sleep, went to my uncle and told
him quietly that | was anxious in re-
gard to the boys health. My good
and thoughtful uncle quieted the men
and spoke gently to Bilinch.
"Now, be calm, my boy, and tell ME
why you do not want to fish to-day"
"Oh, master. it is impossible for me
to tell you, but l swear that / cannot
and must not 90 with you"
"But it is not enough. You are
bound to me for the season, and you
cannot miss a single day unless you
have 81 good reason to give"
~ have one, sir; | have been told
that if | sailed to-day | should be
drowned without pity"
But how?"
'In shipwreck."
"Then if you drown the whole crew
will perish with you"
Eyes, and for that reasonyou ought
not to go out to-day
Come, boy, this is not serious.
Either you are fooling US, oryou know
something important which we all
ought to know
"But I cannot tell it."
every well; you will run no greater
risk than the rest of US
"For heavens sake, MASTER"
"Be still, you coward. Your life is
worth no more than ours"
And taking the helmmy uncle grave
" gave the orderfor setting out.
Thirty oars dipped at the same in
slant, and the boat leaned forward.
She had gone a good distance when
Billnch begged the captain again to
stop, adding that he would tell them
all.
My uncle gave the order, the sailors
lifted their oars, and the boat paused
gently opposite urazandi. The cap
tain sat down and said to Bllinch,
who was weeping bitterly:
"Come, Bilinch, be quiet, and tell us
what has happened"
II Wilde so, master, and God grant
that no evil befall us!"
This morning at2 o'clock, Thorn
as and | had finished III appropriations
for to-day. We stretched ourselves
out on the deck and in afew moments
Thomas was soundly asleep. would
not have been long in following his ex-
ample if / had not been suddenly
aroused by the presence OF two wom-
en-, who seemed to have dropped Ioin
the clouds. / was mute with fear,
motionless and hardly dared to
breathe. That saved me, for leaning
over us and examining US attentively
they thought me asleep like my com
parion. The elder one said: "Let
them sleep. This is what we want.
They shall not awake now until l per-
NIT them.
Immediately 1 felt that the boat
was taken up and was passiugt through
4ha ni. Affnr FIXING ALONG quite a.