Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-12-14

over TINS nole IN the elde ana try IL
with double-reefed jlb.'
You'll 60 down, boss, sure.
Theo expostulated.
How can she sink il we throw
ont the ballast 2 Harry asked. IF
she fills she'll still float. She'll be
as good rs raft
you don't know what a sea il
breaking on the Nassau shore =
Theo argued.
No. said Harry. 'but | know
what a thirst is killing us here.
Give me hand witt, these planks,
and we'll get the ballast out
'Oh, boss, don't you try it y
Theo cried. 1t would be the same
as numbering you to let you GO
To let me go " Harry exclaimed.
you have nothing to do with it.
You can't prevent me from going.
Stand back, if you are afraid. and
I'll take the ballast out myself
It's not that boss Theo an-
swered. IF you 60, Theo goes.
But it is sure death. There might
be some chance here
Harry picked up the end of one
of the planks that formed the false
bottom for the boat. under which
the ballast lav, aud Thco. seeing it
useless to expostulate. seized the
other end AMI the plank was thrown
over the side.
Harry did not stoop to lift an
other plank. Something lay there
In the bottom of the boat that his
eyes fixed upon. lie looked and
looked as though fascinated. and
drcading to move lest he find il all
a mistake.
Whats the matter, boss 2 Theo
asked at length.
What is this boat ballasted with.
Theo 2
Lead pipe, Theo answered. 1t
was better than sand bags. because
it took less room. We bought it
out of the big Spanish steamer that
was wrecked IA year ago
And didn't l. Harry's throat
was so parched and he was so ex-
I,cited that he could not speak.
What is it. boss? That plank
must have been too heavy for you.
Sit down few minutes and rest
'Oh, I'm all right Didn't see
a teakettle in the locker =
Yes; We ALWAYS bring that cop
per teakcttle along. Most boatmen
like coffee, but we like tea
Before he had finished Harry had
jumped out of the boat and was
waving his hat Practically. 'Hur-
rah Water. Water Oh, | can
taste it already
The fever's took We, boss said
Theo. following Harry out of the
boat and grasping his arm.
Nonsense = Harry shouted. 1t
is water. tell YOU We shall have
all the water We want inside of two
hours. Don't think I'm crazy;
I'm all right. Lead pipe and a
teakettle Don't you know that
lead pipe aud a teakettle are as
good as a living spring: Go and
rouse SAMSON and get to work and
you shall soon have all the water
you can drink
Theo walked off toward Sansom.
but not without looking doub'fully
over his shoulder at Harry. whose
sudden excitement he could not un-
derstand.
Mighty queer he said to him
self. Must be fever, for what's a
lead pipe and copper teakettIe got
to do with our getting water: II
the boss loses his head we're all
gone
Harry climbed back into the boat
and drew ont a piece Of half-inch
lead pipe about II feet long. lie
went into the little cabin and found
the copper kettle, big enough to
hold two gallons.
Now. Sansom.' he cried. as the
colored boy approached, you want
water: You shall have some be.
fore you're an hour older if you Il
work for it. You take the hatchet
and get plenty of firewood-a big
pile-enough to last all night.
Theo will stay here to help me-
SAMSON took the hatchet and
started for a thicket, keeping within
the shelter of the rocks that shielded
him from the fury of the hurri.
cane.
Harry looked carefully at thu