The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-06
PULL AWAY, MATT" SAID THE MAN.

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gull. AWAY, MATT" SAID THE MAN.
low and narrow: the hair coarse and
sandy: the beard coarScr and sander
still. He might have been about fifty
years of age. His dress was curious,
consisting of a yellow Southwestern, a
pair of seaman's coarse canvas trousers
and blue pilot-iaclSct, ornamentcd
with brass buttons which bore the in
sigma of her majesty's naval service.
Presently, without turning his eyes
again from the far distance. the man
spoke in a husky, PARKWAY whisper:
Matt, do you see summat ut yon-
der?''
Matt strained her gaze through the
dazzling sunlight, but failed to discern
any object on the light cXpanse of wa
ter.
''Lool> we now" continued the man:
lit may be drifting weed or it may be
n wreck: but it's summat. Look again"
"Summat black. William Joncs?"
Eyes. Coming and going Now it
comes, and it's black: now it goes. and
the water looks white where it was.
If it isn't wreck, it's weed: if it amt
weed, it's wreck. And the tides flow
ing. and it'll go ashore afore night at
Caldron point, if l wait for it. But
shan't wait" he added eagerly, go
and overhaul it now"
lie looked round suspicious. and then
said:
Matt. did you see any of them
cOast-guard chaps as YOU come along?"
No, William .Iones.'
Thought not. They're up Pencrocs
way. fooling about: so theresa chance
for an honest man to look arter his liv-
ing without no questioning. You come
along with me. and if it is summat I'll
gle thee tuppence some o these fine
days"
As he turned to go. his eye fell for
the first time on her attire.
Whats this, Matt? What are Won
doing in your Sunday clothcs?''
The girl was at loss to reply She
blnshed scarlet and hung down her
head. Fortunately for her the man
was too absorbed in his main object of
thought to catechise her further lie
only shook his fat head in severe dis
appreciation and led the way down to
n small creek in the rocks. where a
rough coble was rocking secured by
"A rusty chain.
Jump in and take the paddles. I'll
sit astern and keep watch
The girl obeyed and lcaped in: but
before sitting down she tucked up her
dress to her knees to avoid the dirty
water in the bottom of the boat Viii
.9iam Jones followed. and pushed off
with his hands. Calm as the water
was. there was a heavy shoreward
swell. ON which they were Immediately
npliftcd with some danger of being
swept back on the rocks. Matt handled
the paddles like one to the manner
born, and the boat shot out swiftly on
the shining sea.
The sun was burning with almost in
suiferablc brightness. and the light
blazcd on the golden mirror of the wa
ter with binding rcfracted rays.
Crouching i'll the stern Of the boat.
William Jones shaded his eyes with
both hands. and gazcd intcntlv on the
object he had discovered far out TO sea
Now and then he made rapid motion
to guide the girl in the rowing, but he
did not speak a word.
widclcss waves! For some time Matt
pulled on in silence. but at last she
could bear 1t no longer and rested on
her oars. with the warm pcrSpira ton
streaming down her frcclllcd face.
Pull away, Matt" said the man. not
looking ut her. You amt tired. not
you
With long drawn breath Matt drew
in the oars. and. swift as thought,
peeled of her jacket and pulled of her
hat, leaving her head exposed to the
burning sun.
Now, the silk gown she wore had
evidently been used by its original
owner as fcstal raimcnt for it had
been cut low. and had short sleeves.
SO Matts shoulders and arms were
perfectly bare, and very white they
looked in contrast with her sun
frechled hands, her sun burnt face and
her warm brown neck. Her bust was
as yet nndevelopcd but her neck and
shoulders were fine, and her arms
beautifully nodded. Altogether, her
friend the painter, could he have seen
her just then, would have regarded her
with increasing admiration.
Freed from the incumbrance of her
Jacket, she now pulled away with
easy grace and skill. Further and
further the boat receded from the
shore, till the promontory they had
left was a couple of miles away Sud-
denly William Jones made a sign to
the girl to stop, and stood up in the
boat to reconnoiter.
The object at which he had been
gazing so long was now clearly visible.
tconsistcd of something black floating
on CLASSY stretch of water and sur