The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-19

poor dumb woman, the creature and witness
OK many cruel scene, ignorant or uncer-
tain OF tho warning given her by the master
she loved, had fallen, and thus added ap-
other to his long list Of victims.
The doctor only waited long enough to
select n few necessary articles from the
heterogeneous heap before him. and then,
with the child still clinging contentedly to
his shoulder, he returned to the chapel.
CHAPTER XXI.
Tnr ARK rHATJAcK BUILT.
The land wind sighed aud murmured;
the sea-breeze waited its rufflinR influ-
ence over the waves: tho long swelis broke
over the ledge; the inlet flowed pure and
limpid; and the gulls and sea-mews fioated
gracefully over the reef, as il a hurricane
had never poured its baneful wrath upon it
or the lonely island
Day by day, and week by week. the man
anil the boy, getting each hour stronger and
better, worked and worked; he with his
great arms hewing and saving, and the
child attending upon him like shadow. BY
great toila exertion the doctor had sue
ceeded in placing some Of the timbcrs Of
tho lefty together as launching ways, aud
on the cr0dle he had laid the wreck of the
old boat. Then, with nm old saw aud some
tools, he found near the site of the mat
sheds by the cove, he began to build the
frail ark which was to carry him and the
child from the hated island. From the
store house, too, he obtained plenty of pro-
visions to supply their wants. and old sails
and ropes he found in abundance Babette's
collection of worldly wealth provided them
with linen and clothing; together with uten-
sis for eating and drinking; and he had
made their dwelling IN the little chapel clean
and hAbitable, Here they slept by night on
M cid sail, and soundly too, the sleep of
repentance aud innocence, With the early
morning the man and the boy arose and
took their way to the cove. The little fell
low was clean and tidy now, dressed in a
little loose calico frock and queer contriv-
ance Of an old bonnet fashioned out of Ba-
bette's gear, and on his feet were q pair Of
little canvas slippers stitched for him by
his protector. Aftnr n bath in the basin of
the inlet, the fire was kindled and tie SIM
pie breakfast prepared. Then, while the
strong man hewed and sawed and hammer
ed beneath n temporary awning which COW
cred the open work shop, the boy would
pick up shells along the cove, or. with lit
tie rod and line, seated an fiat rock near
by, jerk out fish from the basin to serve for
dinner. Sometimes he would wander about
in search of nails and spikes for the boat,
or gather sticks for the fire-but never out
of hail, and never beyond the watchful eyes
of his friend. Yes! those watchful, kind
eyes followed his slightest movements; and
while the hammer was going in vigorous
blows OH the planks, 'or the axe chipping
awaya timber, his pleasant voice sang Gro
ole songs to the child or, encouraged his in
noccnt prattle. 4 loaded musket which,
with some ammunition. he had dug ont from
the wreck of his old quarters, stood leaning
against an upright post under the shade,
md woe to the man or beast that might have
dared approach the boy! In the burning
heat of the tropical day the labor ceased; and
the child either lay on his back on the soft
sand beneath the awning, kicking up his
little legs, Watching the small gulls as they
skinned across tho basin, or, with his
brown, curly head resting ON the doctors
knees, slept sweetly. Happy and content
ell he was, too, with the return of health
and strength; and if his buddin. memory
looked back to her he had lost and the rec
election of his faithful Banou, it was only
for amoment, and, like childish dream it
passed away.
Every evening ut sunset, when The work
was done for the day, tho doctor, with Henri
i'll his arms and the musket on his shoul-
der would climb the crag and peerall around
the island; but never Il sail did he see from
the hour tho pir.te schooner spread her
canvas. while he lay helplessly bound OIL
the trestle with the green moose around his
neck. As the twilight faded, the sole hu-
man occupants of the island returned to
the chapel, and when they had said sim
pie prayer, they laid themselves down on
their canvas bed to rest till the dawn.
Manga silent hour in the watches Of the
tedious night did the doctor lie awake. while
the cool, sweet breath Of the child famed
his cheek rs he lay nesting beside him,
bordering and wondering on the fate Of
his charge. He knew absolutely nothing
about his history, save that lie had been
pitched overheard from the brig the pirates
were robbing; but what was tho name or
nation of the vessel, where from or whittier
bound, he was in utter ignorance. He had
questioned the leader, Gibbs, on that oc-
casion after the chase by the corvette, after
he had Topped off the brutes leg; but what
with suffering and drink, the ruffian had
either forgotten the briggs name or feigned
to, but all he could impart was the belief
that she was an English trader. Even from
the boy, too, the doctor could elicit moth
ing Of importance, though day by dry he
tried everymeans of leading the child 8 mind
back to tho past; but always with the same
result,
"Oui ma chere maman! Bon Banou!.
and Ma petit cousine Rosalie!" These
were the only words the little fellow had to
link his fate with the future; and even they
became fainter and fainter on his mind and
tongue as the time passed on. With this
delicate web around the destiny of the
child, and that he spoke French, and had
ox,r ont 1ty1 ,oa fan. 10,
tor was forced to be content.
Well, so the DAYS and nights went by, and
SO the work went on, and the little ark be-
gan TO assume u wholesome look, and to be
capable OF ploughing the distant main.
Then, when she was planked up, with
gunwale Oh, and half-docked over forward,
she was caulked and the seams paved with
pitch. When already for launching early
one morning the doctor and the boy went
daily down to the cove. There, as the first
golden rays Of the rising sun shot athwart
the inlet, Henri stood up in the bows, and,
with large pearl she'll Of pure spring-wa.
ter. he waved his tattered bonnet round his
curly locks. and with childish delight, MS
the vessel began to move, he emptied the
shell Of its sparkling treasure, shouting as
she slid off the ways into the basin, ana
petite cous,ne Rosalie!" The builder, too.
took of his hat and shouted, in his deep
bass. till the rocks gave back the echo Of
Rosalie! Rosalie!
Thus was the ark launched and named
by her captain and crew. and there she rode
on the basin little pinnace Of about ten
tons, which had been once used to carry
cables, anchors, and stores about tho har.
Dor. A week or two more md she was
fitted with SINCE mast. stepped we'll in
the bows, with jib and one square lug sail.
Then ballast in bags of sand was laid along
her keelson, and n couple Of breakers Of
fresh water got Oh board. together with
quantity of cooked salt meat and hard bis
cult slowed away under the half-leck for.
ward--where, too, was cosy little nest OF
spare canvas with nm oakum pillow for the
boy! Yes, There lay the good ship Res.
alie, outward bound, with sails bent md
gear rove, cargo on board, and waiting for
wind.
Meanwhile the doctor had tried her un-
der sail, and satisfied himself that every
thing worked WE'LL aud that she was in pro-
per trim. Then he lnoored her within q
fnthom OF the shore, and waited for moon
to light him on his voyage. Whittier? "
Carefully too-like one who had passed
q lifetime on the ocean, from the China
seas to the broad Atlantic, under the suns 81
the tropics as we'll MS in the dim gloon, OF
high latitudes-the doctor studied tho
clouds and watched their course, noting the
flight Of the birds in the Dir and the track Of
fish in the sea. At Inst the trade breezes be-
gan to blow regularly and steadily: tho land
winds, too, in che grey Of the morning,