The Irish standard., 1893-08-26


owner as festal raiment, for it had
been cut low, and had short sleeves.
So Mats shoulders and arms were
perfectly bare, and very white they
looked in contrast with her sun
freckled hands, her sun-burnt face and
her warm brown neck. Her bust was
rs yet undeveloped, 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 adpiration.
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 mixes away. Sud-
denly William Jones made 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.
It consisted of something black floating
on CLASSY stretch of water, AMI sur
rounded by fragments of loose scum or
foam; it was to all appearance motion
less. but was, in reality, drifting wear
lily shoreward on the flowing tide.
William Jones now evinced increas-
ing excitement, and urged his compan-
ion to hurry quickly forward-which
she did, putting out all her strength
in series of rapid and powerful
strokes. Another quarter of an hour
brought them to the spot where the OBJ
ject was floating. Trembling with
eagerness, the man leaned over the
boats side with outstretched hands.
AS he did so, Matt turned her head
away with curious gesture of dread.
''What is it, William Jones?" she
asked, not looking at him. cit isn't
YOU know-one o. tkem?'
''No, it amt" replied the man, lean
ing over the side of the coble and tilt
ing the gunwale almost to the waters
edge. s'Too early for them, Matt. 1t
they comes it won't be till Sundays
tide. They're down at the bottom now
and amt yet rose. Easy! Lean t'other
way! So there-look out!'
As he spoke he struggled with some
thing in the water, and at last, with
an effort which almost capsized the
boat, pulled it III. Matt looked now
and saw that it was a small, Hat,
wooden trunk, covered with pieces OF
Shiny weed. Floating near it were
several pieces of splintered wood
which seemed to have formed part of
boat These, too, William secured
and threw down on the footboard be-
meath him.
i cts box, that's what it ISL cried
Matt.
cts box, surely" said Jones.
"And it's locked, too. And, look ye
now. I misdoubt there's nowt inside,
or mayhap it would have sunk. How
somever, we'll see!''
After an unavailing effort to force it
open with his hands, he drew forth a
large clasp-knife, worked away at the
lock. and tried to force open the lid,
which soon yielded to his efforts, as
the action of the salt water had al
ready begun to rot the wood. On be-
ing thus opened, the box was found to
contain only a couple of coarse linen
shirts, an old newspaper, two or three
biscuits and half bottle of some dark
fluid.
After examining these articles one
by one William Jones threw them back
into the box with gestures of disgust,
retaining only the bottle, which he I'M
corked and applied to his lips.
ssRum!'' he said, smacking his lips
and nodding at Matt. Then, recork-
ing the bottle carefully, he returned it
to the box. and, standing up, recon-
noitered the sea on every side. But
nothing else rewarded his eager search;
he threw himself down in the stern
of the boat and ordered Matt to pull
back to shore.
AS they went he closed one eye
thoughtfully, and unused aloud:
'sNight before last it blew half gale
from the southland. This here box
came awash from the east coast of Ire
land. Maybe it was a big ship as was
lost; them planks was part OF wes-
sells long-boat. More's coming if the
wind don't come up from the nor
rard. The moons full tonight and
tomorrow. I'll tell the old 'un, and
keep sharp lookout off the Caldron
pint
Matt rowed on steadily till they came
within a quarter of a mile of the
shore, when William Jones stood up
again and reconnoitered the prospect
inland.
"Pull in, Matt!'' he said, after min
ute, ''all's square,
Soon afterwards the boat reached the
rocks. William Jones sprang out and,
running up to the platform above, took
another survey. This being satisfacto-
nv, he ran down again and lifted the
box out of the boat, carrying it with
ease under one arm.
''Make the boat fast,'' he said, in
husky whisper; land bring them bits
O. wood along with you for the fire.
I'll cut on to the cottage with this here.
It amt much, but it's summat; SO I'll
carry it clean out O. sight before them
precious coast guards come smelling
about
With these words he clambered up
the rocks with his burden, leaving
Matt to follow leisurely in his wake.