Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-11-23
BEFORE THE WIND.

If may be allowed the simile. My fa-
miliarity with yachting is equal to my
personal acquaintance with prehistoric
man, and the more endeavor to master
the subject the more hopelessly in
volved l become. But that does not
detract in the least from the pleasure
enjoy while upon yacht, nor
does my ignorance embarrass me.
have stood upon the sail yards and Won
dered why the sail didn't come down.
have sought to hoist the ensign to the
peak and left the rope - halyard,
should say-so slack that in few min
utes the flag was dropped to halfmast,
and every captain in the harbor has
called to express his regret at the sad
occurrence. l always throw cigar ashes
and such things over the wrong rail and
receive the words of the skipper re-
gardlng the matter with Christianlike
humility that well becomes Inc. In
fact, l have the true love Of yachting at
heart and lightness of spirit that rises
superior to the difficulties with which a
lubber has to contend and the sarcasm
that is freely poured out to him. This
explanation is necessary, because the
yachtsmen who read this story will
laugh at the easy way in which l get
things wrong, but i write not for the
yacht race, for yachts and races are
subordinate to the little romance in
which took hand.
Our heet-that is, the feet Of the
Deep Bay Yacht club-was on its an
nual cruise up Long Island sound. Twas
a guest upon the sloop Dawn, and had
the captain and owner not been great
friend of mine fear that might have
been put ashore early in the cruise and
left to get home as best could. A race
straight away across the sound was ar
ranged for the second day, and the boats
all lay at anchor in Blacktish harbor
off the little town of Nutmeg, same
state. There were but two 40 footers
in the feet-the Dawn was one and the
Foam the other-and between the two
captains strong friendship and an in
tense rivalry existed. Until late in the
night we were discussing the race be-
tween our two boats, and heavy odds
were laid on each. There was a good
breeze blowing early on the day of the
race, and we all tumbled upon deck
about o'clock in the morning. may
be allowed to state Just here that the
crews of the boats were all amateurs,
and as | was superlative in that degree
! did land duty whenever it was neces-
sary, so that about half past went
ashore to replenish the water barrel.
The skipper rowed me over to the land
ing place, where he was joined soon aft
er by the captain of the Foam, while
took man in tow to get the water.
While working thus, in very ordinary
clothes. horse and buggy came flying
down the road, and when the driver
saw me he mistook me for a boatman-
have since paldoned the mistake-it
was balm after being SO loug assailed
as lubber.
II say" he cried. pulling up his
horse, have you boat? want to get
over to Long Island right away" And
as he spoke he glanced nervously up
the road.
well, no." I answered. II am
aboard u yacht"
do you see him?" interrupted a
sweet voice from beneath the hood of
the buggy, and for the first time no.
ticed a girl within.
Mono, the man replied soothing
ly, and then he turned to me.
"Can you lot aid me?" he asked. II
am er-er"-
saw it in moment. The pair had
eloped, and papa was probably close be-
hind. A thought flashed through my
mind. and | first ventured to ask, "Do
you want minister"
YES" the man answered, "bdt 1
must get into Long Island first-the
old man is too near for fun. ("
"Oh, Henry" called the girl, and
hearing her voice again decided me.
Come" said. this waJ," and in
moinent the pair had left the buggy
and were following me to the dock.
Charley, our skipper, stared as came
up, but motioned the two in the boat
and in a moment had told him of the
case. It was just as | knew, and he
tumbled in after me, leaving the cap
tain Of the Foam to ask, More passen-
gers?" It was the way he said it that
hurt me, and frowned at him as he
stood smiling on the pier. As the yawl
reached the Dawn a gun, which was
the signal to get ready, sounded from
the flagship, and in minute the elop-
ing pair were in the cabin, while we
were occupied with raising the anchor.
The sails were hauled up, and just as
they filed saw the captain Of the Foam
rowing out with a stranger. gave the
matter no thought, but busted myself
with the minor duties of coiling rope,
etc., which had been assigned to me.
until suddenly | wondered whether the
old man, the father of the girl, had
not been taken aboard the other yacht.
All the boats were under way by that
time, and looking toward our rival |
saw gray head poking out of the cabin
door. Charley was at the wheel, and
whispered my suspicious and brought
up the would be bridegroom to inspect.
As he saw him he grew pale, and his
eyes flashed.
II know / cannot get ashore now, !"
he said, turning to Charley. 'Do you
think you can beat him over to the 9TH
or shore?"
"Yes, sir" answered our skipper,
"we can and will, or else lose the mast, !"
and aaw that hA noaa~t -