The Opelousas courier., 1893-07-22

they stood on the quarterback of his
fhip, the Flying Arrow, which was
standing along past the coast of lower
Guinea, Africa, IN her way to the Cape
Of Good Hope.
"Aye," said the mate, CHANGING to-
word the pretty wife, who sat not far
nff, talking to her SOD, a little boy of
six years. "But in spite of what you
Say, I have no doubt she has courage.
Her accompanying you n sea voyage
proves that"
"Couragei She has none at ell. ]
have known her to be frightened by o
mouse! You yourself witnessed he,
terror in the storm we had q few days
ago"
Il think I have heard you say she is
4 good shot with the rife"
Eyes; all habit. Her father was a
great sportsman, and he taught her not
10 be afraid of a gun. But she would
tremble at the thought of shooting o
bird-that I know, She could never
be persuaded to fire at anything Int q
wooden target"
In case OF anemergency, however"
Nonsense, mani" laughed tie cap.
tain. "She would be as women ALWAYS
nre in time Of peril-too 1urried-toc
excited to do anything, how much 60.
ever she might have the wish to be
otherwise. But / like her none the
less for this feminine failing" added
Bertram, who, being a strong, power
ful, decided man, seemed an excellent
match for his fraillooking, gentle part
ner.
"But persons like her sometimes
show more real courage than larger
end more masculine women"
can bosh! People say that, but they
seldom really think So"
On the day after this conversation. q
gale from the west drove the ship to.
ward the coast, compelling the captain
to anchor within q hundred yards of
the land, in q small sheltered bay, to
cave his craft from going ashore.
By the next morning the gale had
subsidized, but the breeze soon fell away
to q dead calm, preventing the skipper
from sailing.
He had lowered his gig to enable
come Of his men to repair certain dam.
age which the cabin window had sus.
tsined during the tempest.
At night, the men not having yet
flashed their work, the boat was left
~sstern, with the warp attached to q pin
aboard. Little Thomas, the captains
six-year-o1d son, IVES III the cabin just
after the men left the boat.
The night was very dark, and none
Of the occupants Of the craft observed
the movements of the youngster, who,
when the cabil was deserted, opened
the window, seized the warp of the
boat, and, drawing the latter close to
the vessel, got into it
An hour later, Mrs. Bertram, missing
her LITTLE. boy, went on deck to look
for him.
Bat che could not find him.
The captain and his men joined in
the search, but it was soon evident
that he Yves not aboard.
ct length it was discovered that the
Goat which had been left astern was
gone. The pin to which the warp had
been fastened was found broken. shove
ing that the boat had got adrift.
Il see, said the captain. teThomas
must have got into the boat, and be-
gan pulling on the rope, in this way
the pin"
MY boy! MY boyl" cried Mrs.
B~ertram, in anguish. stWhere is he9
Where can he be?"
The captain tried to laugh away her
ears.
The bont has drifted ashore" said
le. The current sets that way.
Don't worry, Lily; we viii soon have
lim back" /.
lie lowered O boat, and was soon
making for the shore, with q good
rev, q Of the men standing in The
holding up q large lantern, which
brew 9 broad CLEAN across the water.
The sailors werek soon ashore. bui
nothing of the boat.
They shouted the little BOYS name
gain and again, but there came nc re.
ponee.
Far along The shore they pulled, but
hey discovered no sign either OF the
oF on the GIG.
For hours they vainly continued the
sarcn.
What surprises me, said an old
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