Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-10-04
A CLOSE SHAVE.
BY f. W. THOMSON.

Last summer, in the club house of
the Kenoutchcwan bait f,hers, well :
known Canadian lawyer told the follow
ing story:
''somc years ago, whilc out for an
afternoons fishing with my son Harry,
who was thea tea years Old, anchored
our sklif off the northeast or lower end
Of Gomcguk island, whoro one divisio ion
Of the St Llwrencs runs in a deep
groove, much frequented by channel
catfish.
'Steamers seldom p1ssc through the
channel where VIC floated, though the
wash of upward bound boats dlsturbs
the surface slightly as they swing haf
around, about three hundred yards
down river, to enter the southern and
straighter, though shallowcr, channel,
w,ica most pilots prefer.
Harry found the occasional rocking
by steamboat waves a pleasant varia-
ton from the scarcely preceptibc mo.
tion with which We driftc cl-only one
Of our sixty pound weights being out
as a bow anchor-against the gentle
current, under the pressure OF breeze
up stream. The sharp stern of tie skIfT
floated free, and, riling with forty feet
Of line out, she swaycd from side to
side of the deep water, which never
furnished me with better sport than on
that day.
the big, dun backed, yellow
bellied, strong. clean, teataclsd fish
took my minnows eagerly, and fought
in highly satisfactory minacr for their
own lives. so it went on, till HarIFS
who had c5me out with emphatic az
seyerations that he woull gladly fish
till midnight, disclosed a. kecnog Gu
thusiasm for something to eat about
tca-timc than he did about the fl h l
was catching, and often inquired a1x-
iously when | intended going home.
Il fingered, however, for gust one
more bite, taking four fish by the d.
lay,-ti!l the sun sank slowly behind
the island. Then glancing under my
eyebrows at Harry whi,c STOPPING to
impale new miunow, his woe -bcgonc
little face gave me q more distinct
thrill of compunction, and, finging
away the bait, said: We'll, small
boys mustn't be made too hungry,
suppose. We will go home now,
Harry
II was rather astonished that his
ace, which hal frightened with my
words suddenly clouded, as he looked
keenly down the river. Then the ex-
PLANTATION came, -.-.....s.
4" Oh, there's another steamboat
coming up, fatherr he cried. 3D. stay
little longer! wish yoa would stay
till we get her swell.
at was to me a striking illu,tration
of how curiously and wonderfully boys
are made Here was a lad too hungry
to enjoy the deep and philosoph pleas
urc OF fishing, but not hungry enough
TO forcgo an obsurd dcligh. in being
rocked by half a dozen steamboat
rollers However, his request conceded
with my inclination, and, putting on a
new bait, Iengaged again in the most
,oul-satisfying of human pastime'.
Il sat in the bow, with M face up
stream, Harry watching, with big eyes,
the oncoming steamer, the intermittent
rumble of whose paddle wheel became
momentarily more distinct, till the slap
and thrust of each float could be heard
close behind. Suddenly my little boy
jumped up and excla mel, in tone of
much surprise:
Why, father, look at the steam
5oatr
81 turned to see in the twilight the
big, white Theban, not three hundred
yarls distant, not swinging into the
outh channel, but coming, at about
half speed, straight at where we lay
I ''Dazed, I sat Silent for d moment,
then roared at her. 'Ahoy, Theban,
ahoyP with all my power Of lung,
searching my pockets at the same time
for my clasp-knlfe to Gu. the anchor
rope. There was no time to haul in the
weight; to cut away was the only chance
Of escape.
"The channel of the river, as knew
well, was too narrow for the big boat
to give US more than the narrowesi
berth, and there was no sign that heI
pilot intended to yis.d us any. could
see him dimly in the wheel house, and,
apparently, not another soul was on
! beard.
''She did not slow down in the least,
though continued to yell madIy. The
roar of her paddle wheels was terribly
.oud.
"Harry's childish treble shrieked
through my hoarse shouts. but there
was no sign that we y ere seen or heard;