Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-08-01
wb1ch was expected to real1ze ssuu.


feet, and Matey's voice was heard, call
ing in joyous tones:
"Grit! Oh, Grit! Mother wants you
to catch her mess of fish and says l
can go 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 skillful throw of cast
net into the school of sardines, always
swarming alongshore, had provided
sufficiency of bait, and light slSiff 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 Grit''--
''Never mind the 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 I have heard sh
didn't say what kind of fish, and so, Oh
course, meant the best fish, such as
Spanish mackerel, kingish, 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 a skiff.
Besides, sister, it's our very last chance
for sail in the old Poly. She's going
to be sold, or rather given away, tolnor-
row, and don't suppose Veil ever see
her again or own another boat. -
Of course this was convincing, fol
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, afte.
a glorious run across the broad Hawk
channel, anchored just inside the great
coral reef that borders the gulf stream
for more than 300 miles, and on which
huge breakers were dashing themselve
into showers of glistening spray. Tht
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 t,
go and attempted to get up the anchor,
all their strength on the windlass failed
to bulge it. A fuke had caught beneath
some great bunch Of coral, and with
boylike carelessness Grit had neglected
to provide a 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 III
dive down there and see 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 ant
made themselves so comfortable i'll the
snug little cabin that they rather re-
joiced in their adventure than other
wise. So soundly did they sleep that
night that hot until he was flung fron
his locker ON the cabin floor did Gri,
awaken to the fact that the Poly was
pitching madly and that a gale was
shrieking through her taut rigging
Calling to Matey, the boy sprang on tn
deck, where he was well nigh beatel
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, anC
Grit knew what had happened. Tht
tense cable had parted, and they were
helplessly drifting at the mercy of the
storm. For moment even Grit s stout
heart quailed. He could see nothing
save the ghostlike forms of leaping
breakers that seemed to crowd about
him from all Sides He could not even
tell from which direction the squall
was blowing. Matey had joined him in
the cockpit, with as full an understand
ing of the situation as his own. Nc
words passed between them, for none
could have been heard above the shrek
Of wind and the roar of waters. They
seemed to be 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 see their craft dashed in
pieces on the cruel reef
Minutes passed, and still they swep,
on. Suddenly Grit uttered a great cry
of relief that was almost a sob.
''We've passed the breakers! We're
clear of the reef! We're out in the gulf
We're safe, Matey, girl'' he shouted.
To any one not sailor it would have
seemed that they were anything but
safe, 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 2
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; the SUI
was rising. Before gentle breeze, with
all sails set, the Polyanthus was ap-
preaching a great steamship that had
struck on an outlying spur of the reef
during the binding bewilderment OF
the recent squall.
81 do believe it's wreck" Matey
had exclaimed rapturously, when her
sharp eyes first discovered the stranded
ship
"Oh, if it only should bel" cried
Grit, who could hardly believe that so
great a piece of good fortune had be-
fallen them Then, with anxious, beat
ing hearts the young sailors had shaken
out their reefs and laid course toward
the lights that marked the dimly loom
ing hulk.
"Great Scott!" cried the captain of
the stranded steamship as he caught
sight of the schooner's sails. ''Here's a
reef wrecker alongside already I be-
heve these fellows live at sea and can
smell a wreck hundred miles!''
''Hello, there!' he shouted a few
minutes later as the schooner drew
near. 'Take line, but don't you dare
come aboard I'm not in hunor to give
up my ship to you pirates yet. So stay
where you are, and I'll come to you.
Don't you want your cargo Ii ghtened,
sir, or anchor carried?' inquired Grit
anxiously as the captain slid down a
rope and sood Oh the Poly's deck
''No I'm not in hurry to break out
my hold, and want to try something
else before hedging" answered the cap
tain. ''Who is captain of this craft?'
81 am, sir :"
"You?' cried the other, regarding
the lad incredulously ''WeIl, then,
where is the crew?''
''There, sir, replied Grit, pointing
to Matey.
ssyYoll a,x, 1,1o.,olt,, ..,a,,oJ H.