The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-10-12

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 scottp' cried the captain Of
the stranded steamship as he caught
sight Of the schooner's sails. Here's
reef wrecker alongside already. l be-
lieve these fellows live at sea and can
smell wreck hundred milesr'
Hello, therep' he shouted a few
minutes later as the schooner drew
near. Take line, but don't you dare
come aboard. I'm not in humor to give
up my ship to you pirates yet So stay
where you are, and I'll come to you.
"Don'ty you want your cargo lightened,
sir, or anchor garfield inquired Grit
anxiously as the captain slid down
rope and sood ON 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?"
Il am, sir. "
"You?" cried tho other regarding
the lad incredulously. "Well, then,
where is the crew."
"There, SIR" replied Grit. pointing
to Matey.
"Well. am blessedr' gasped the
captain "a boy and girl Even the
babies in arm turn wreckers on this
coast. However, he added, perhaps
you'll do as well as an older. Can you
diver"
"Of course can. sir. answered Grit
promptly.
"Are you afraid of sharks?''
81 should say not" was the con-
temptuous answer.
"Well, my men are, aud can't even
swim, much less dive" continued the
captain, but l want diver to go down
and tell me just how my ship lies. |
have plan that l am anxious to try, if
things are as / think If you'll help mo
carry it out, I'll give you $500 for an
hours work, provided We get this ship
off within that time. Is it a bargain?"
''Put it in writing and have it wit
messed. cap'n," replied the cautious
Grit. land I'll sign the paper. 1t only
holds for one hour, though. Then. if
you're not afloat, We'll make new
bargain, and if she's to be lightened
I'm to be wreckmaster and take charge,
cause mine is the first schooner here.
Is that right?"
Eyes. that's right" smiled the cap
tain grimly. 81 reckon you've taken
part in wrecks before?"
"a few" laughed Grit.
BY the time the paper was made out
and handed to Matey for safe keeping,
Grit was ready to perform his share of
the bargain. He dived from the bows of
the schooner and was gone nearly a
minute. Then he came up for breath
and almost Immediately dived again. He
repeated this operation four times with
out telling what he had discovered.
Meanwhile the passengers and crew of
the steamship crowded the rail, and
leaning over watched his operations
with breathless interest.
Finally the young diver clambered
aboard and related to the captain that
his ship had struck, well forward, ON a
narrow ledge with deep water ON both
sides, and that she was afoat, with the
exception of space 10 feet long neal
her bow.
THAT is just about what gathered
from soundings,' replied the captain.
Now, | want you to go down again,
taking lead line with you, and locate
some good sized hole or crevice as neal
the bottom of the ledge as you can get
Leave the lead behind to mark the spo
where you come up. "
Grit wondered at this strange order,
but did rs directed, and after severa
descents into the clear water finally 10
Gated a deep fissure nearly 90 feet be
meath the surface
us the hole large enough to hole
this?" asked the captain when the younl
wrecker again came on board tho schoon
er. AS he spoke the former held out ;
square tin canister to which was at
tached n reel of slender copper wire.
Eyes, sir, replied tho boy. ''It's biz
enough to hold me. "
VERY good. Now, if you will g
down once more, taking this can will
you, and thrust it as far as possible int,
the hole. l will not ask you to go int
the water again.
Grit cast q curious glance at the cap
tain face to SEQ if he could detect an,
indication of madness, but the onl,
signs he discovered were of perfect in
telligence and an indomitable will
Still. as the boy again stepped over tn
side ready to descend into the crysta
depths and the canister was handed t
him, his suspicion of the captains san
ity was revived by the latter's partin
instructions.
''Take care of this can as you woul
of your own life, T." he said earnestly
Don't let it hit against anything, an
place it gently as far in the crevice a
you can reach. 1t holds your life an
fortune as well as mine.
= These words were so strange, and th
whole business was so different fror
the usual proceedings in connectio
with wrecked ship, that even as Gri
worked at his novel task far beneath tn
blue surface the one thought that file
Q his mind was, "He is as crazy as Graz
! can be-" However, he carried out hi
instructions, and when he regained tn