Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-25

ent and scientific of landlubbers
After several busy days of calculating.
measuring, buying and packing, the good
ship Eta" of half a ton burden left the
fiourishing port of Washington Wednesday
night with three souls on board. II was
ebb tide, and, according to the weather
wise. a mild Northwestern was due. which
would take the yachtsmen to Marshall Hall
by midnight But alas for the vanity of
human wishes! Hardly a breath of air
stirred. and for three long hours the party
drifted in and out Of the Eastern branch,
On and off the fats. and across the riyer
and back, making, assit seemed to the dis
pirited landlubber. losing tacks" both
ways. Each Cne was secretly hoping that
one of the others would propose going
back, but no one dared to show so little
spirit as to speak of il first. On the con-
trary, about 1 o'clock at night after they
had fortified their spirits with a biscuit
apiece the doctor got up and announced in
ms rich bass voice that he was going 10
reach Marshall Hall that night IL he had 10
row there!" The others applauded and so for
the whole of that night a man was kept al
the helm, while the other two sat around
with hong faces, watching for wind, or tried
10 get a cat nap, reclining on the hard
benches When the sun rose next morning
the bold mariners had mana ged to get their
gallant ship two miles below Alexandria
Rage and disgust was on every face.
They Were Hungry.
The judge had a particularly lean and
hungry" look. the Il ptain seemed to have
that tired feeling" and even the doctor
would have lost his reputation for manly
beauty could his lady friends have seen
him just then. The anchor was cast the
cooking utensils and provisions brought out
of the hatch. and preparations Were made
for breakfast with the grim eagerness Of a
soldier hofnra ha hale
which seemed like four, they fell TO with
Keen appetites, and the breakfast of bis
cults, bacon, cheese, coffee, fapjacas and
strip disappeared as If by magic. The doc
tor finished first by a neck, the Judge sec
ond and the captain half a length behind.
Breakfast over, the judge, who at home
eats his orange with a spoon and demands
a ringer bowl afterward, was set to washing
the dishes, which he did by rubbing them
with piece Of soap and then dipping them
in the river. letting the air dry them.
Shortly after breakfast a pleasant breeze
sprapg up from the southwest and contin-
ued all day. Although he had to tack all
day, the captain made fairly good time and
managed to pass all the small craft on the
river, not a few of which in the exuber-
ance of his spirits he hailed with the pass
ing inquiry, will that boat run rabbits?'
He suddenly stopped. however when an
old man whom he thus addressed Jumped
out OF his punket into a rowboat and rowed
with lightning stroke to the Eta, and
threatened to wipe them all of the face of
the earth"
Indian Head was reached that night sew
eral stops having been made on the way.
The boat was brought up and anchored I'm
a cove right under the head, and every
thing was made trim and snug and supper
prepared on the boat and eaten with a rel
ish. Smoking materials We're then brought
out and the boys settled themselves down
s to admire the prospect pros 1t was az,
risen. To the south of them was the dark.
frowning head, to the west was the mellow
stream of moonbeams reaching across the
broad river. Several steamers, all lighted
up, passed up and down the channel They
now felt well repaid for all the trials and
hardships of the past night and day. They
sang annie Laurie and several other old
songs, and the judge recited .Al Quiet
Along the Potomac Tonight" after which
the tired wanderers retired to their hunks
and fell asleep.
In Search of Water.
The next morning they were up before the
sun and sailed against a brisk wind, reach
ing Quantico about noon. By this time
they were in brackish water. and the Judge
was sent into the town with a bucket for
fresh supply. After lounging around on
shore for several hours during the heat of
the day, they started of again, reaching
Maryland Point about dusk. Here the doc
tor with his eagle eye spied several houses
on the hill. and after supper was sent
ashore for fresh water and anything else
he could GET He had on a bathing suit,
coat and SLOUGH hat. and with the bucket
on his arm and gun on his shoulder, he
made very interesting figure walking
down the beach He stayed away nearly
an hour, and returned with several green
apples, but no water, reporting that the
houses were all deserted and crumbling to
the ground. He was deprived of the APP
pies and left to watch the boat. while the
captain, followed by the Judge. set out in
different direction, the former singing gaily
ha a q
ter walking inland half a mile in the
darkness stamping his toe several times
and getting plenty of thorns in his feet his
song died away. A farmhouse was at last
found, and after filling themselves and the
bucket with water. the boys started back
to the boat. but 1t was the Judge this time
who walked ahead.
As soon as they reached the boat a brisk
breeze set in, the first fair wind they had
had The yacht was got OF in a twlnkling
ard Immediately began to fly down the
river. When the vessel was at its greatest
speed and the bow was ploughing far I'M
der the water. the doctor suddenly cried
out, Look out aheadr' and crashi went
the bow of the boat. The Judge Immediate
had struck a rock, but the skilled eye and
arm of the captain had, the very instant
of the accident, seen and averted the dan
ger. 1t was one of row of large stakes
reaching over mile from the shore, and
the boat was going so fast II was i'm
possible to see them before the vessel
struck The captain pulled the rudder
down with a jerk, the boat swerved to one
side and in a couple OF seconds was again
flying down the river with no damage done
| and the stakes far behind. The boys were
all thankful for having been saved from
| watery grave. They slept that night of
Cedar Point
visit TO Colonial Beach.
Colonial Beach was reached the third day
| out They took a stroll on the board walk
| of the resort looking for all the world like
| three tramps. and then went winding
through the tents. criticising and being
critised. At one tent there was a golden
haired little girl sitting on a lounge eating
| q large slice Of bread and jam. She gave
| one look up at the wanderers, her slice of
bread dropped to the ground. and she i'm