The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-25
THE TALE OF A FISH.
Fror the Ne,e York Press.

barren way, as a summer resort.
An early morning stroll took me to this
weather beaten old hut. A group of ancient
mariners, who spend their summers in row.
ing visitors from the city and doing general
nautical jobbing on a small scale, was gath
ered idly about Among them was a griz-
lied salt who had three or four years before
commanded a bluetishing expedition of
which had been a member. He recog-
nized me, and greeted me with heartiness
that at once gave me the confidence of his
companions.
1t was seldom, they told me, that so
many OF them gathered at the shsnty in
the summer time; but in winter, when there
was little to do, they passed most of the
long days sitting on kegs aud boxes ABOUT
its red-hot stove, spinning yarns and smok-
ing.
Some very remarkable yarns had been
spun in the past, but the record OF last
winter surpassed anything previously
known. There always had been mid
rivalry between the story tellers, and
the mild rivalry was famed into fierce
battle ,st fall by the act or a Bos-
ton dry goods merchant. He spent several
weeks on the cape last summer and sue
ceeded in doing what feW strangers had done
before-he gained the complete confidence
of the story telers and was admitted to
their symposiums. OF course these summer
gatherings were far from as brilliant as
those Of winter, out they were bright
enough TO dazzle the merchant, who wasn't
used TO that sort OF thing.
He learned that Capt Jared Macky was
taoitIy acknowledged TO be tue Stanley or
these explorers of the land of fancy, and
ona day last October, after the merchant
had returned to Boston, Capt. Jared re-
ceived little package by mail. Upon
opeuiug it be found a silver medal
neatly engraved and accompanied by a
letter from the merchant donating the
medal to the man who told the best story,
merit TO be decided by a committee Of
three, the winner to hold the medal until
some one told a story better than the one
previously winning. No man was to be
allowed to vote on his own story. II the
story-teller happened to be member of the
committee he must resign and his place be
filed before a decision was announced.
D ring the first part of the winter the
medal Cd nged hands often, b { when Jan
uary ended the contest had narrowed down
to three men-Capt. Jared Macky. Capt.
Lige Smith and Capt. Peleg Abercrum. In
another month Capt. Smith had dropped
out Of the race. Capt. Jared and Capt
Peeg were going it neck and neck, so to
speak One night Capt. Jared would get it,
bat at the next meeting Capt. PeleX was
sure to be voted winner. When March sp-
preached Capt. Jared nerved himself for
desperate attempt. He I'D q story so vivid
so thrilling and so original that all the list
eners shook their heads when, few nights
sfterward, Capt. Peleg began to talk.
HUH Guess Cap'n Jaret's gotohy this
time, Cap'n Peleg," was the substance of
the universal comment
And it was true. All of Capt. PeIeg's eff
forts to win back the medal were voted
futile by his critics and Capt. Jared smiled
with grim Subtraction.
Early In May the last regular meeting of
the winter was held. When the mild days
of spEing came, boat painting and general
tinkering made sad inrOads on the
time devoted to social intercourse.
But OF this morning all the
old salts we're on hand except Capt. Peleg.
His absence was not noted at first, but when
small boy came around and asked for him
and the her captains learned that he was
in none OF the several places where he was
wont to tarry, some anxiety was felt.
Pretty soon some one discovered that his
dory, which he had newly painted for the
season, was also missing. The day passed
and nothing was heard OF Capt. Peieg. An
other and another went by, until a week ad
gone. Capt. Peleg was given up as lost by
most OF the village folk; but the CAP
tains hoped bravely on. One day, how
ever, Capt. Jared, his face looking very
sad announced that he "wIsut Cap'n
Peiegd won the pesky medal" Then the
last yestige of hope went by the ard.
Two more weeks dragged slowly along.
Tha:e was no msrriment in the sna1ty. 1t
is even said that some salt water was dis
covered on the face Of one or the captains
which had not come from the ocean. At last,
one evening after they had all been sitting ST.
lenty about the shanty for an hour, pUffin z
their pipes in gloom and sadness, Capt
Jared solemnly rose and, taking the medal
from its place ON his wooden shirt, quietly
nm he, barr NH a. 4 81
ways sat upon in the good old days. There
was no word of explanation. None was
needed. The captains rose as enc man and
each IN turn fervently pressed Capt. Jared's
hand and passed out. The medal was left IN
disturbed on the keg. Every time the cap
tans entered the shanty they glanced at
Iectlonately at 1T, and thought with sadness
OF the absent one whose place it occupied.
Imagine their surprise, therefore, when
on Tie morning that marked the sixth week
OF Capt. Peleg's absence they dropped into
toe Shanty for their after breakfast smoke
and found Capt Peleg, the missing one,
pale, ragged, tired looking but calm. sitting
on bis ks AID smoking as if nothi & had
happened. AS Capt. Jared entered Capt.
feleg rose and handed him the medal.
"4ornin', Capt. jared" he "a d. 81
iouh' this lynn en- my kaig when I came
H. Guess lou must a dropped it"
Capt Jared took the medal and restored
~ AVS pace on MS shirt Win luC WORD.
Each Of the captains in turn as they en-
tefed pIied Capt. Peleg with questions, but
ne replied evasiveIy until all were present.
Al last every me was there. Capt. Peleg
looked calmly around and began:
SIX weeks ago this mornin'-it wuz
cont 'cock-I got thinkin' about that
medal till l couldn't sleep. Fin'y got
up an come down T. the beach. I'd ben fig
germ an figgerin' as to how cd beat
Iap'n Jared's ysrn-that wuz u good yarn
o. yo1rn, Cap'n Jared-but I'll be gosh
OLinel or cd make out.
Reckon twuz about O'clock when
Jumped iuto the dory and pulled out Always.
me sea wuz OF fat as a cain down
Wy IN liue. Well, sir, I'd ben rowin'
aoun' fer len or fifteen minutes, when,
n oil Nv sud len, Their come the rack
shashintst bump on the botto II o. tn
Il w an she c'reened over to port an then
70 Har6rd, and up and down an every gee
4 "a'k'd which way till Thought I'd lit on
tue hsad Of durn lively water spout that
all Owed out in midocean an wuz just a
e'Ihlh up. But couldn't see nothin' 'bove
"aVtr = Indicate What it wuz.
4 An hen, all va dden, she commenced
81 tg-the dory, mean. J-e-el rushy i,
w" she did DlnW waterl right