The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-12-04

/ 80 Perfectly harmless, captain, !"
continued uncle, who had now recover
ed his usual good nature. Perfectly
harmless-unless you wet it. Then
look out!''
1.-The cook made a sort of dumpling
for dinner and a great lot of it remain
ed. Uncle John took mass of this
dough, for it was little else, squeezed
it until it was quite dry, and moulded
it into a ball. Come with me,'' he
said, land, Arthur, bring plate of
that dough with you" He took the
cans and we followed him to the deck.
There he carefully covered the ball of
dough with the powder and going to
the rail threw it as far as he could out
over the placid sea. AS the ball struck
the water there was loud explosion
and the spray was thrown high into the
air. The crew, who had been hanging
over the port rail forward, turned and
rushed over to see what was up. Uncle
John made another ball and threw it
with like result.
"Oh, honly torpeters, growled
one OF the men, and they turned back
to their places. Uncle John now evil
IDENTIFY anxious to give us thorough
proof OF the value of his compound was
for throwing more balls, when the boat
swain. rolling aft, touched his hat and
said to the captain:
F''Please, sur, there's big shark
as has showed his fin hoff the port bow,
and if so be that the doctor II wait a
bit with his torpeters Well show i'm
some fun a catchin' of it,
'''All right, bo'sun," said the cap
falT md all Al
rail.
''There he is,'' said the captain,
pointing to sharp, black thing that,
rising just above the water, was cutting
quietly through it. THAT is his fin,
and there's big shark under it or I'm
much mistaken
eagerly. The cook handed up a big
chunk of meat. Wipe it as dry as yo3
can" said uncle, land tie it firmly to
the rope" When this was done he
sprinkled the powder from the can
carefully over the meat, then he car
ried it cautiously 10 the rail- The shark
was cruising back and forth. Uncle
lowered the meat slowly into the water
right in front of the monster. He saw
the bait and darted at it. and then
there was tremendous report and the |
spray flew into our faces as we leaned
over the rail. The next moment we
saw the big fish floating motionless on
the water.
Blessed if e 'asn't blowed is |
'ead clear of, " said the boatswain.
"1t was so. That terrible compound !
of Uncle Johns had needed only the |
impact of the sharks teeth to explode |
it with deadly effect. ,"
''Oh, it's only a fish story" Edward !
Fawcett interrupted when Prof. Smith,
who is an expert elocutionist, had spoken
thus far in the assumed character of |
the dead man.
ut is lovely story" Prof. Smith
went on, with no lapse from his imper-
sonation of the solemnly speaking
spirit of Hartley. '.'Our vessel was
plundered and abandoned by mutin-
GUS crew. Only Helen, whom 1 madly
loved but who had never yet confessed
she loved me, was left alone on board
with me. Days of famishing and fever
ensued. One afternoon Helen was
lying motionless in the shadow of the
companion hatch. / threw myself |
down by her side. She put out her
hand and grasped mine and a Hush
crossed her face. 1 was too weak to
speak, and thus hand in hand we Law
for don't know how long Gradually
lost consciousness, perhaps in sleep.
At all events my spirit was not free.
The frail body still had strength enough
to retain it. was aroused by some
thing dropping on my face. As con-
sciousness came back / saw that the
sky had become overcast; that cool
breeze was blowing and that gentle
rain was falling. Helen was sitting
erect, and with parted lips drinking in
the grateful rain-laden-air. I tried to
rise, but could not. She was much
stronger thanI and at my direction
went below and brought blankets and
clothes, which she spread on the deck
that they might catch the falling drops.
She seemed quite vigorous, and al
ready felt my own strength coming
back. Soon she was able to squeeze
water from blanket into little can
which stood by the mast. We were in
90 great agony of thirst to think of
small matters of neatness. She offered
he can to me-
g Drink yourself, Helen,'' l said.
mo she answered, with a smile
mo, you need it most" And kneel-
ng by my side she slipped her arm
inder my head and with her other
land held the water to my lips.
''1 drank eagerly. The draft was
ife to me. Never had water such
trength-giving power. hardly no.
ticed that it had left such queer taste
upon my lips. l sat erect. Helen,
with her arms still around my neck,
drank what remained in the can. Then
she looked me full in the face There
was new expression in her lovely
eyes. A deep flush was on her brow
as she spoke. Arthur she said, and
there was tremor in the rich, deep
voice, "Arthur, l love you! Oh. love
you! My darling, my noble, faithful
darling! Oh, Arthur, Arthur
"'She threw herself upon my breast
with burning face and streaming eyes.
The blood leaped through my veins
She raised her sweet face and our lips
met for the first time There was an
awful crash and our freed spirits took
their happy flight together. We had
drank from the can that had contained
Uncle Johns explosive. A little of the
powder had clung to the can, f1oated
0n the water, and adhered to our lips
when we drank. The impact of that
first elastic kiss had exploded the COM
pound and our heads were blown from
onr shoulders. That's all. ~
And Prof. Smith smiled, as one does
when one is thoroughly satisfied.
The Village Big Man.
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