The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-22


apparently about 10 years old, was neat
ly dressed in blue knickerbockers and
white shirt waist and said his name was
George. There were no oars in the boat
and the tide had carried it out about three
miles from shore.
After her little guest had refreshed him.
self Mrs. Carnegie asked him where he
lived, where no got the boat and how he
happened to be out in 1t so far from Shore
George thought for a time and then calm
ly replied as follows:
Il lived in London with my parents
right down near where all the big ships
come in. A few months ago my father
and mother died, and ran away from my
uncle and went on board big black ship
that had mean, gruff captain on her.
After we were out few days the captain
beat me with big stick and had me
locked up in a dark room for nearly
week. When he let me out, we were some
place on the gold coast of Africa Big
black fellows, with funny beads of gold
around their necks and elephant tusks
through their ears, ran around without
any clothing on, yelling. The captain put
me ashore and said, Go, now, you young
devil, and be eaten alive Then he put
me in small boat with only gun and
a knife with curved, sharp blade.
LAS tho ship sailed away, with the men
yelling at me, / turned toward the shore
and saw thousand black grinning devils
preparing to jump in the water and come
out to me. Turning once more toward
the retreating ship, I hurled o mighty
curse at the brute Of captain, who stood
on the bridge chuckling at my predica-
mont. Then, resolutely facing the savages,
who were by this time swimming out to-
ward me, saw that their number was too
great for mo to fight single handed, so
picked up my oars and pulled with long,
steady stroke down the coast. At first
some of the savages tried to follow, but
when l raised my rifle and sent the fore
most into eternity the rest turned around
rapidly swan to the shore. Then l pro-
ceeded on my way farther down the coast,
where landed and made my way inland.
For Is days lived on nothing but lion and
tiger flesh. My trusty rifle never failed
me, but could find no water at one time
for three days, and had to suck the blood
from the game 1 killed to quench my
thirst. shall not dwell upon these hard
ships, though, but will bring you at once
to the time when reached Cape Town.
"When 1 reached there, there was
ship lying in the harbor which was to sail
that day for the United States. l took
passage, paying with some gold 1 had
found in tho forest. had an uneventful
voyage to this fair country, but when We
were coming into the place where you
found me 1 saw beautiful girl in that
boat you found mo in. l saw she could
not reach the shore, so l went to the cap
tain and told him. Tho brute exclaimed:
Let her perish. / can't bother with every
one l see in boatp At this / became
furious, I tried to argue with him, but
he would not listen.
my blood fairly boiled with indigna-
tion. How could |, a man, stay in safety
and see beautiful girl perishS No, no;
1t would be cowardly. So, tightening my
belt around me, leaped into the surging
waters, and with apowerful effort reached
tho boat. The girl had swooned away.
She lay there, beautiful creature, with
long golden hair and face like an angel.
Long dark lashes covered pair of eyes as
blue as the deep sea, and her skin was as
fair os lily. bathed her face with wa
ter, and as she slowly opened her eyes and
touched me with her soft tapering fingers
l was thrilled to my innermost soul"
At this point one of the ladies in the
party which surrounded the boy laughed
softly, and the men began to look little
uneasy. At the sound Of the laugh George
seemed to awake as if from trance. His
flashing blue eyes resumed their natural
expression and blush came on his cheeks.
With timid movement he backed toward
Mrs. Carnegie's seat, and when she reach
ed out her hand and took his he turned
around and hid his face in her lap. The
party were rather surprised at this, and
besides all of them had become intensely
interested in the story, They began to
question him as to what had become of the
beautiful girl, but George steadfastly re-
fused to say another word
Some time.afterward, when he seemed
to have recovered his composure, Mrs.
Carnegie asked him, "What is your last
name, Georgie'"
"Georgie Bennett is my whole name,
madam" replied George, resuming his
Chester1eldian air.
And where do you come from, Mr..
Bennettf' his questioner continued.
"Danbury, Conn, madam. My father
keeps furniture store there at Terrace
place."
After much coaxing he was induced to
explain that he had run away from his
aunt's homo. He was going to row out
on the ocean, get picked up by some big
steamer and then go to Europe.
When the yacht reached New York, Mr.
Bennett,wasAtelegraphed for and came to
claim his son. He told Mrs Carnegie
how he and his wife had sent the boy.