The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-10-24


treacherously out under the surface
of the water are menace to coast YES
sells. and effectually isolate the fisher
men from the outside world. But the
people are contented and happy, and,
as far as they know, prosperous. Ihey
have fish and CLAIMS and Holsters to eat,
and rough clothing enough to keep them
from freezing. And, if sometimes they
90 hungry, they are sure to forget IL
in the feast of tomorrow, or the next
day, or the next, or in that exhilarating |
time when schools of fish return to the |
coast. Often there are weeks OF contin-
ual rough weather, when the WINDS
Shrek, and the waves lash themselves
against the rocks; and at such times
the fishermen haul their boats above
tide-water and utilize the hours In
mendipg seines and in making lobster
pots and traps.
1t was during such week as TINS
that the pleasure yacht Explorer lost
her course and went to pieces on the
rocks south of Wellington island. The
sea was high from long-continued gales,
and the air was thick with snow and
frozen particles of spray; but the first
signal of distress brought the fishermen
out in their boats, and though one OF
them never returned, all the passengers
of the Explorer were brought safely to
land and apportioned among the house.
holds of the little hamlet.
The next morning these rescued pas
sengers went down on the beach In
storm-coats and listers and gazed out
across the boiling expanse of water to-
ward where the yacht had been, and
then looked at each other with dis
uuieted faces. There was little left of
the Explorer now-only few broken
and twisted planks along the beach at
tide-mark-and they had learned that
the wilderness of snow-coyered hills
end valleys behind them were impassa-
bic at this season.
well" said short, fat man, lugu'
briously, "it is clear case of mistaken
charity. If there is choice between
drowning and an unmixed, UNMARRIED
indefinite diet of fish, it is most assur
edly against the fish. What do yor
say, myilord?"
The person addressed, tall. hand
some man, of middle age, and evident
ly the head of the party, looked down in
diligently
1T is sad thing, doctor, to meet !
case OF utter subsection to appetite,
he said "For my part, prefer fish die
to being diet for fish. And really, !
seems almost too bad that these Draw
fellows Should have gone to the trouble
of rescuing you last night. All! but
was a grand sight, though" his eye
kindling. II have led forlorn hopes OF
the battle field, but never where tn
odds were so terrible as that kissing
whirling, laundering sea. And that re
minds me, we have not yet thanked tn
grand. old white-haired man, who wa
the guiding spirit of the fishermen.
have a shrewd idea that but for hiI
we would not be here now"
He turned to boy who was watchin
them with big. round eyes.
''Can you tell me where the old ma
is, my lad--the one with the long, whit
hair?"
big John. He likely out feeshin'."
'Not in this sea?"
The boy nodded.
she don't mind it." lowering h
voice; where other folks drown,
go. There's plenty think him spelled
"What?"
"Spelled-by ha'nt, you know. e.
he have the spell he no fear bein' XII
But who are your" bluntly.
Robert Esleigh."
1.-THE fat man called you my lord.'"
'Oh, that is just name they ca
come of the people in my country. b,
come, ladies and gentlemen" to h
party, this weather is too harsh fl
unnecessary exposure. Suppose you 7
turn to shelter, and leave me to wand
about the village awhile. wish to me
and thank each of the fishermen
last nights work, and, If possible,
make some arrangement for our
parture."
He stood for few moments long,
gazing out at the raging sea, then, wi
the boy accompanying him, walk
down the beach to where several fish
men were hauling a seine which til
owned in common.
He walked from one to another, ia
ing about the work, abou. the wealth
about their struggle of the previo
night. And little by little he learn
that there was scarcely point on I
whole Newfoundland coast as lon,
as this BAY of Exploits; that the fish
season had been good, and that the 81
ply, salted down, would be amply su
Gent to keep them all until behring's
turned; that it would be discourte,
TO offer payment for their enterta
ment; aud lastly, that they might h
to remain week, a month, two mont
according to the weather and the adv
OF the mailboat. During the sunni
this link with the outside world
pcared every two weeks. but in
weather, as one old boatmendcr So