The herald., 1894-08-22

my hold, and want to try something
else before hedging" answered the cap
tain. "Who is captain of this craft?"
II am, sir. ="
"You?" cried tho other, regarding
the lad incredulously. "Well, then,
where is the crew?'
There, sir" replied Grit, pointing
to Natey
well, am blessedr' gasped the
captain. "a boy and grill Even the
babies in arm turn wreckers on this
coast. However, he added, "perhaps
you'll do as well as an older Can you
diver
"Of course I can, sir" answered Grit
promptly.
"Are you afraid of sharksT'
Il should say not" was the con-
temptuous answer.
well. my men are, and cunt even
swim, much less dive" continued the
captain, "but want o diver to go down
and tell me just how my ship lies l
have plan that am anxious to try, if
things are as think. II you'll help me
carry it out, I'll give you $500 for an
hours work, provided we get this ship
off within that time Is 1t bargain?"
Put 1t in writing and have it wit
messed, cap'n," replied the cautious
Grit, "and I'll sign the paper. 1t only
holds for one hour, though. Then, if
you're not afloat, we'll make a new
bargain, and if she's to be lightened
I'm to be wreokmaster and take charge,
cause mine Is the first schooner here.
Is that rightf"
"Yes, that's right" smiled the cap
tain grimly. II reckon you've taken
part in wrecks before?''
ga few" laughed Grit.
By the time the paper was made out
and handed to Matey for safe keeping,
Grit was ready to perform his share Of
the bargain. He dived from the bows of
the schooner and was gone nearly q
minute. Then he came up for breath
and almost Immediately dived again. He
repeated this operation four times with
out telling what he had discovered
Meanwhile the passengers and Grew Of
the steamship crowded the rail, and
leaning over watched his operations
With breathleSS interest.
Finally the young diver olambered
aboard and related to the captain that
his ship had struck, we'll forward, ON a
narrow ledge with deep water on both
sides, and that she was af1oat, with the
exception of space 10 feet long near
her bow.
"That is just about what / gathered
frem soundings," replied the captain.
Nov, I want you to go down again,
taking a lead line with you, and locate
some good sized hole or crevice as near
the bottom Of the ledge as you can get
Leave the lead behind to mark the spot
where you come up"
Grit wondered at this strange order,
but did as directed, and after several
descents into the clear water finally To-
Gated deep flssure nearly 30 feet be-
meath tho surface.
"Is the hole large enough to hold
this?" asked the captain when the young
wreoker again came ON board the schoon-
er. AS he spoke the former held out o
square tin canister to which was at
taohed o reel Of slender copper wire.
Eyes, sir" replied the boy. "It's big
enough to hold me-"
Very good. Now, if you will go
down once more, taking this can with
you, and thrust ii as far as possible into
the hole. / will not ask you to go into
the water again..
Grit cast curious glance at the cap
tain's face to SEQ If he could detect any
indication of madness, but the only
signs he discovered were of perfect in
telligence and an indomitable will
Still, as the boy again stepped over the
side ready to descend into the crystal
depths and the canister was handed to
him, his suspicion of the captains san
ity was revived by the latter's parting
instructions
Take care of this can as you would
of your own life," he said earnestly
Don't let it hit against anything, and
place it gently as far in the crevice as
you can reach. 1t holds your life and
fortune as we'll as mine
These words were so strange and the
whole business was 90 different from
the usual proceedings in connection
with wrecked ship. that even as Grit
worked at his novel task far beneath the
blue surface the one thought that filed
his mind was, "He is as crazy as crazy
can be-" However, he carried out his
instructions, and when he regained the
sehooner's deok he found it occupied by
oil the passengers Of the stranded steam
ship.
Take them off on five minutes
cruise" ordered the captain as with
his own hands he cast off the lines
holding the schooner. Then he swung
himself up the steamship side and dis
appeared in bis own cabin,
AT the end of five minutes the Poly
anthus was nearly quarter Of a mile
away, and her young skipper, who was
trying to answer hu06red questions at
once from the bewildered passengers,
was also wondering what he should do
next. All at once it was noticed that the
propeller of the great ship was working
furiously backward.
Then came the most surprising thing
that has ever happened in all the annals
Of wreoking on the Florida reefs, There
was q heavy vibratory explosion, ac-
companiea by a mufied roar. To those
who happened to be looking toward the
ship at that moment she seemed to be
lifvcd bodily from the water. The next
instan. ahc was onvoloped and hidden