Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1894-10-18


glorious March afternoon, instead Of
gathering the last Of the tomato crop,
which was expected to realize 5000.
As the boy slowly rose to return to
his work there came q sound of flying
feet, and Mateys voice was heard, call
ing in joyous tones:
Crit Oh, Grit! Mother wants you
to catch her mess Of fish and says I
can 60 with you"
The lad only answered. "All right,
sister. Come along" but sudden reso-
luton, that he did not put into words,
flashed into his mind. Two minutes
later single slsillful throw Of cast
net into the school Of sardines, always
swarming alongshore, had provided
suf1iciency of bait, and light skiff was
dancing merrily over the blue waves.
"Why, Grit! Where are you going?"
demanded Matey as the skiff was head
ed directly for the Polyanthus.
"Out to the reef after fish, " was the
answer.
"But Crit
"Never mind tho butts now, little
girl. That's where we are going, and
we're going in the schooner too. Mother
said fish, but so far as have heard she
didn't say what kind of fish, and SO, Of
course meant the best fish, such as
Spanish mackerel kingfsh, yellow tails
or drums. You know that we can't find
those shut off the reef any more'n we
can go out to where they are In skiff.
Besides, sister, it's our very last chance
for q sail in the old Poly. She's going
to be sold, or rather given away, to1nor-
row, and don't suppose We'll ever see
her again or own another boat. p"
OF course this was convincing, for
Matey not only dearly loved to sail, but
was firm in her belief that whatever
Girt said or did was right. Thus an
hour later saw the little schooner, after
glorious run across the broad Hawk
channel, anchored just inside the great
coral reef that borders the gulf stream
for more than 900 miles, and on which
hugo breakers were dashing themselves
into showers Of glistening spray. The
fishing was superb and so absorbing that
the sun was sinking into its bed Of
crimson and gold ere either Grit or
Matey thought Of starting for home.
When at length they were ready to
60 and attempted to get up the anchor,
all their strength on the windlass failed
to bulge it, A fulkc had caught beneath
some great bunch of coral, and with
boylike carelessness Grit had neglected
to provide trip line. 1t was quite dark
before he abandoned the attempt to re-
cover their anchor and said cheerfully:
"Never mind, Matey, girl. 1t won't
hurt us to stay out here overnight, and
as soon as it comes light again I'll
dive down there and sec what is the
matter. I'm not going to cut the cable
and lose that brand new anchor unless
have to, that's sure"
So they cooked supper Of fish aud
made themselves so comfortable in the
snug little cabin that they rather re-
joiced in their adventure than other
wise. So soundly did they sleep that
night that not until he was flung from
his locker on the cabin floor did Grit
awaken to tho fact that the Poly was
pitching madly and that q gale was
shricking through her taut rigging.
Calling to Matey, the boy sprang on tho
deck, where he was well nigh beaten
down by the furious squall of wind and
rain that just then hurled itself against
the schooner.
There was an instant Of quivering
strain. Then something gave way, and
Grit knew what had happened. The
tense cable had parted, and they We're
helplessly drifting at tho mercy of the
storm. For q moment even Grit's stout
heart quailed He could sec nothing
save the ghostlike forms of leaping
breakers that seemed to crow about
him from all sides. He cou' lot even
tell from which directionN.Iie squall
was blowing. Matey had joined him in
tho cockpit, with as full an understand
ing Of tho situation as his own No
words passed between them, for none
could have been heard above the shrek
Of wind and the roar Of waters They
seemed to DO driving with frightful
speed, and, as the brother and sister
stood hand in hand, waiting their fate,
they expected that each succeeding mo-
ment would sec their craft dashed in
pieces on the cruel reef
Minutes passed, and still they swept
on. Suddenly Grit uttered great cry
Of relief that was almost q sob.
"We've passed the breakers! We're
clear Of the reefl We'ro out in tho gulf
We're safe. Matey, girlv' he shouted.
To any one not a sailor 1t would have
Eeemed that they were anything but
cafe, out in the open sea, driving
through inky darkness, and with the
worst squall Of the season bowling furi-
ously about them, but Matey was a
sailor. She knew, and down in her heart
arose a fervent prayer Of thankfulness.
The next change Of scene was most
surprising. Daylight had come; tho sun
was rising. Before gentle breeze, with
all sails ct, the Polyanthus was ap-
proaching great steamship that had
struck on an outlying spur Of the reef
during the binding bewildernent Of
the recent squall.
II do believe it's wreck!" Matey
had exclaimed rapturously, when her
sharp eyes first discovered the stranded
ship.
ooh, if it only should bel" cried
Grit, who could hardly believe that so
great piece Of good fortune had be-
fallen them. Then, with anxious, beat
ing hcmts the young sailors had shaken
ont their reefs and laid course toward
the lights ihat marked the dimly loom
ing hulk.
Great Sc0ttir cried the cantlin Of
the stranded steamship as he caught
sight Of the schoslor's sails Here's
reef Wrecller alongside already. | be-