Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-08-11

by surprise. he sat GOWN on u I's7' luoh on
his cap, wiped his wet forehead, looked at
her douhtingly a minute, then be spoke
I'm taken all aback, Kit l dun know
what to say | can't do it--its too much,
its too hard You didn't ought to ask me,
Fit, it amt right | can't put money in
that mans pocket-he don't deserve it. We
wouldn't ask me if We knowed. Tain't like
We, girl tatn't like ye. Ask me anything
else can't do that What's more, dun
know't | could find her now. She may a
heeled over, tides may a shifted her, she may
a settled deeper, somebody may a run over
her and broke off her topmst."
''Cap'n TaSs" she said, pleading, as for her
life. "Capn Tass, remember your old mess
mate. Do We think John Grale would have
let his pride stand in the way, if YOU were in
deadly peril and he could save You Ivy any
meansi Are You going TO send me back to
him TO see him going day by day, till one
day we'll miss him, and God knows what
well tindr She shuddered and wrung her
hands. '.Oh, Cap'n Tass, you won't, you
can't"
He stood up before her, rubbed bis forehead
thoughtfully a minute, then threw his hand
kerchief into his cap and put it on tight,
There was settled purpose in his face and
gesture
"4od forgive me!' be said II didn't look
at it SO. Poor jack Poor jack Wen save
| him vet. Kit. you an NEWELL save him Yet
There's no time to spare Wen go now. 1t
is low water at four fifteen Wen need our
| time. Go down to the Bess, Kit, and wait
| for me"
He went over to the house where he wae
stavins. Kit unfurled the Bess' sail. run it
up and set it taut Then Marlin came down
with a Jug of water and brown paper
| parcel. shawl and couple of coats over
his arm. lie slowed them under the deck,
forward, and threw off the line. The boat
drfted off, swaved round before the wind
Take the tiiler, Kit he said This i;
your cruise. You're cap'n. I'm only pilot
The wind had hauled INTO the southeast
still veering southwark. The clouds had
cleared away, The sun shone bright ant
| warm The breeze was fresh, the boat fiieC
away before IT, went bowling down the har
hor with the wind on her starboard quarter
The green hills dropped beeind-,lark woods
houses here and there. projecting points am
| little shaded coves. Kit steered, Old Ias
trimmed sheet
|
astern KIT sees the light on the bar, tn
long reach of water stretching away towart
home She wonders how things are gettin
on there, The worrying thought frets he
sorelv
} Let her stan close for Goose Neck Pint
, Kit says Tass, and trims sheet a litti
! closer
, On, across the broad bay, hreezily no'
along the shore of the point; then the nee
. drops behind, they are clear of the lan'
The boat rises and falls on the tumblin
waves Of the open sound
| "Luff, hit, huff little There, stidd,
/ keep her so,' says Marlin. Run your ey
Y along the line O the keel Ye see that VIII
= spire on the north shore, east of the hit
t village, on the hill, with the woods behind l
t keep her nose to that mcctin' house"
4 The wind veered steadily round throue
g the southern quarter, blowing fresh al
q steady On went the Bess before it, crow
it ing ahead dancingy, making way swift
t, drawing the northern shore on nearer al
', palmer.
ia They ran in to within couple of miles
N the shore; the wind very nearly west, t
r. sky clear.
|
II her go about"
n The boom swayed over, Tass slipped t
IA sheet.
= so, Kit-keep her thera Square afo
r the wind"
nj They ran down the coast mile or so.
II Port again, kit--hard a-port-thel
he Pint her up a leetle more-stiddy-so-o
re You see Goose hight kitl Keep her NJ
m | square for the tower Its nigh onto de
h low tide now. We keep the line tween t
IN church an the light, an if we're lucky W.
n, sight about four foot o yeller spar. tn
IT. amt much of any drift, an | think we'll
cd it. Their amt no need to look out till Il
| ERE clump O cedars on the rocky pint thu
U to the west bears square abeam TO wind a
nv AFTER that, look sharp"
MT They held on half mile or so, on the So
nv course, sailing close on the wind Then
n cedars drew on, gradually, until they ste
, a Off right abreast.
hit Now then" Tass sung ont, "hold
ce. stiddy an keep your eyes about ye"
,er On they foamed, straight for the lie
en- four keen eyes searching intently. But Il
I'm saw no spar. Only the tumbling way
,m seething, sunit and tipped with foam
they went. Kits heart sank No mast
led sight on either hand Presently Ma
yss turned.
A ''Luff, Kit" he said "hard a-leel Put
he about We missed her that time Guess
ed must "a fell off to loo'ard, sailin' so clu.
the wind. Wen hev a better chance afort
Now, then, full fur the spire, an don't let
fall off, kit-if anything, huff her a pint
she The boat jibbed round and filled away
fore the wind on the port quarter. As
i'd they searched keenly, anxiously They
led no spar; on they foamed Kits HI
weighed like lead, and full of fear
Won clump of cedars drew on only too swift
can Another quarter of mile, and they will
abreastl She stood up in her excitem
/. 7 strained her sharp eyes-oh, how cage
, of She forgot the helm one moment; the bt
no head fell away to lee. Tass did not mo-
Suddenly he saw.
ass. "Luf, Kit" he shouted-"hard a
Hard, l sayi you're of the course t
nv p'ints"
the She seized the tiller, but she did not
1ter She jammed it hard to port Her face
An ] radiant us an angels. She laughed
Cat Daintpd east