The Forrest City times., 1896-09-18

f"o' ioi heu the outiet OF the pond. IL
would be hard to say which was which
(for neither brook had any perceptible
currently, unless you observed the sur
rounding shores. On the whole, Duck
Fond was not pretty; but it was use
full, for it was full of pickerel and bass,
and in the shooting season the marshes
teemed with wild fowl and plover.
Capt. Nabb showed the boys how to
tack and jibe, how to come up into the
wind, how to reef and cast anchor, how
10 handle the helm and stow ropes, tie
sailors knot, ballast the boat. and
steer when meeting, passing or cross
ing the bows of another craft. He had
the whole nautical code at his tongues
end, and the practice of seamanship in
his finger-tips; and il the boys did not
learn all he had to teach them, 1t was
because the limitations of catboat
made it impossible
why. bless my eyes." exclaimed
the captain. suddenly. as he finished an
exciting tale about walrus hunt among
the icebergs Of the North sea. whats
become of the SUM-"
Its set" replied Benny Boardman.
II saw it go down behind the pine hill.
half an hour ago."
"Are you sure?" cried Capt Nabb,
leveling his five-jointed telescope to-
ward the pine hill. "It can't be more
than four O'Clock"
"But l heard the whistle blow for six.
long ago" ventured little Carl.
"Bless me! the boys are right" ex-
claimed the old navigator as he pulled
out huge silver watch. almost as large
as saucepan. 'We must be getting
under way for home at once. Now then
-all ready to go about!"
The captain threw over his helm.
and the little boat came slowly up into
the light breeze, which had been stead
lily falling for an hour. 1t was almost
minute before the lazily-filling sail
drew on the opposite tack. Capt. Nabb
looked anxiously to windward. Con
found your land breezes.' he said,
somewhat testify. Il believe we are
going to have dead calm
And so it proved. In ten minutes
more the little sailboat lay becalmed
in the center of the pond. Slowly the
twilight gathered, yelling the distant
hills, and obscuring the outlines of the
marshy shores. The old seaman fumed
and fretted. He placed his big COM
pass on the thwart in front of him, and
fixed the homeward course by the needle
as well as he could, after studying vari-
Gus fading landmarks with his glass.
Els lips were shut very tightly, lest
any strong nautical language should
escape them in the presence of Benny
and Carl. But finally, as darkness closed
around, the necessity for utterance so
grew upon the old man that he seized
his speaking-trumpet, and, in tones that
made the shores reverberate, roared
out:
'Topsham. ahoy! a-h-o-yi"
The boys listened in awed silence,
but there was no reply to the stentorian
hail, though thrice and four times re-
pond, had stirred some sluggish cur
rent of air and set it flowing again, a
slight breeze began to stir the sail of
the Mermaid, and she moved slowly for
ward in the darkness.
Capt. Nabbs face beamed with de-
light, and, tiller in hand, he leaned over
the big compass and sailed away on
starboard tack. 'Give us song. my
heartiesl" he cried, gayly, to Benny and
Carl. Then, Strengthening himself up.
he roared a stanZa of q rollicking sea
ballad, beginning:
oh. Nancy was a sailors lass.
As fair a lass as e'er knew!
The captain was about to start up
the chorus, when there came a swish
ing sound across the bow of the Mer-
maid.
Look out, captain! We are running
ashore!" cried Benny. See! we are
in the swamp-grass.'
"Shi,er my timbers!" shouted Capt.
Nabb, in amazement. He jibed the
Mermaid, and she rushed through the
shallow water and the bending marsh
grass till finally she brought up on a
muddy spit and stuck fast, while all
the ballast, including the captain, the
two deck hands, and the nautical in
struments, pitched forward and brought
up in heap in the bow.
well, well!" painted Captain Nabb,
as he finally struggled up on a thwart.
That's the first time / ever lost my
reckoning"
"And it's the first time l ever lost
a tooth!" sputtered Benny. as he leaned
over the side of the boat.
Dear me! That's too bad!" said the
captain. II don't see how it happened.
According to the compass we should be
in clear water. steering a straight course
for the wharf"
But, captain, you must remember
! that the pond is crooked suggested
Benny.
'Bless me, that's a fact!" cried the