The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-03-03


answered John Bates. YOU'RE his un-
Gle; don't be too hard on the boy"
Thomas Garth, the first speaker,
made no immediate answer. He shifted
his pipe, looked out over gray sea
streaked with foam, torn with wind,
and then sat down again under the
weather side of wall upon Perranpol
quay.
Its like this, Bates; Mike Trcgaslis
had his evil way before he left near
eighteen years ago. And this boys the
risen ghost of his father"
DO Dick know about his father?"
I'm a manner of speakin' yes. Dick
knows lis father left Mary; an e ses 'e's
goin' to roam the world some fine day
and bring Michael 1regaskis back to is
mother"
The speakers We're two grizzled Cor
nishrnen, and the boy whom they dis
eussed now interrupted conversation,
for he came brisllly along the quay.
Dick was smooth, brown-faced lad
froward enough, as his uncle declared
but well put together strong, ener-
getic when he liked, and n splendid
sailor. He had wanted to go into the
royal navy, but his mother could not
nerve herself to let him go. So he
stopped at Perranpol, in mischief most
OF his time, the cock of the walk
amongst t.le youngsters of the neigh
borhood. He was a wild hawk of
boy and rislleJ his life from morn till
night, on the sea, on the cliffs amid the
gullis nests. or where any spice of dan
ger lurilet. He loved his mother with
all his heart and caused her world OF
mingled terror and joy. Nobody ever
knew what Dick would do next. Some
times, though less often as he grew
older, he vowed to go ont into the
world and find his father and bring
him home to Perranpol, but with years
the determination waned. The world
was big place, Dick discovered, and
all that was ever known of Michael
1regasl1is in Perranpol. after he went
away, amounted to rumor that he
had gone as sailor to foreign parts.
Dick came down the quay to where
old Garth and John Bates We're smolS-
ing their pipes. He stopped and spoke
abruptly to them:
II been up on the head. 'Tis wicked
work brewing to the east'rd-a black
gale blowin' up. The airs stingin with
ii Already"
Like enough, boy.
''Hows the Devils Teeth DiclS?'
asked Bates.
The Devils Teeth" was ridge of
suni.cn rocks that showed a jagged,
serrate edge above water at low tide.
1t lay to the east of the little harbor
OF Perranpol, about half mile from
shore.
"0ld Nicls's shown EN-" answered
thc-la d. He's champin' the water to
frotl with em. Lord! there's n ugly
tumble out there tonight! I'd like to
see summat come down on that lee
shore"
''out on you, boy." swore his uncle.
"You--you as dwells with fisher folks
to wish that Are you daft? Mayhap
God Almighty II drive you on lee
shore fore 'e's done with you. Your
'arts 'arder an blacleer'n Cornish
rocksl''
II don't wish no 'urt to none, uncle"
answered Dick, looking out into the
on-coming night; but It's this way:
Long Dykes laid by with some ill
that's took i'm in the loins, an I'm
next-next for the life-boat. I've got
the cap'n's word for ii. lie seed me
pull in the regatta to Falmouth last
summer. and e Civ is word. That's
why I'd not cry if so be there coined a
wreck on the Devils Teeth"
"'Iis true" said Bates; Long Dykes
in dock with lumbagey an the boys
next"
do your mother know, Dick?'
NO Time to tell 'crwhen I've gone
an come back again"
They strolled to the breakwater
which jutted ut right angles across the
mouth of the little harbor. The gloam-
ing was full of u wailing wind; the
smoke blew down from the black cot
tages that clustered against the cliffs;
to their ears. with increasing sound,
came the hoarse cry of white water
breaking in foaming, swirling layer
upon layer over the wide sands of Per-
ranpol bay Still visible. snug under
the cliffs. and distant few hundred
yards from the village. stood the red
rooted lifeboat house, high above high
water mark. Night was beating up
fast on the rough wings of heavy
gale from the east. The great shore,
such as could be seen. stretched rock
studded and unutterably desolate, un-
der lowering January sky that
already hid the crowns of the cliffs in
tattered mist. Aloft one gray gull
hung motionless against the wind,
then, wheeling, fled before it. scream
ing the first notes of the storm.
"a dirty night, an goin' to be q
blamed sight dirtier. I'm for home.
said John Bates.
The trio turned, and as Dick, with
his uncle, reached their cottage. perched
halfway up the little winding street
the hoy spoke:
'Doan.'e name the life-b boat to moth.
err rr
NAY, not me. God send no call tc
name it to none"
The storm that night was trcmen
ionk Few Of the oldest men in Per
ran pol could remember worse Wher
thu tide turned and camc high. ths
night glimmered with ghostly gra,
4 light Of white water. breaking in sheet,
ov cr the quay; the Wind shrielscd ane
Allied Perranpoi with flying brine ane
lashing rain. But dawn trembled into til,
chaos at last. aud just after the eariies
Z dim tfnch OF IT, Dick, sleeping restless
ly enough. heard = sunnd that brouRh
asa