Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-11-13

shores rrvcriW rate. ruarcd ont:
"Tnl,ham, ahuy, a-h-n-y,'
The boys listened in awcd silence
but there WAS no reply to the stem
torian hail, though thrice and foul
times repeated. But a if the echoes
circlin" the pond. had stirred some
sluggish current of air and set it ilow-
ing again, Il Slight breeze began to stiI
the sail OF the Mermaid, and she
moved slowly forward in the darkness
Capt. Nahh's face beamed with de-
light, and, tiller in hand, he leaned
over the big compass and sailed away
on >tarboard tack. "Give us song
my hcartic~.' he cried, gaylv, to
Benny and Carl. Then, Strengthening
himself up, ne roarcd stanza OF roll
licking sea ballad, beginning:
Oh. Nancy was a sailors lnss
A. iair Il lass as { or ! knew.
The captain was about to start VI
the chorus, when there came a swish
ing sound across the bow of the Mcr-
maid.
"Look out, captain. We are run
ding ashore cried Benny. "Scc! we
are in the swamp-grass.'
"Shvcr my timbcrsw shouted
Capt. Nlbb i'll amazcmcnt. He jibcd
the Mermaid, and she rushed through
the shallow water and the bending
mar>h-grass till finally she brought up
on muddy spit and stuck fast, while
all the ballast, including the captain,
the two deck hands, and the nautical
instruments, pitched forward and
brought up in a heap in the bow.
"Well, we'll" painted Captain Nabb,
as he finally struggled up on a thwart.
"That's the first time l ever lost my
reckoning"
"And its the first time l ever lost
a TOOTH" suffered Benny, as he
leaned over the side of the boat.
"Dear me! That's too badw said
the captain. al don't see how it hap
pened. According to the compass VIC
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
old tar. az never thought of it,"
They all got out into the shallow
water, and after much pushing and
hauling, floated the Mermaid again.
Then Capt. Nabb took an observation
of the stars, replaced his compass on
the thwart, and ventured upon new
course. This at length brought them
into one of the two large brooks, but
which one they could not tell, rs
the water was dead, and it was impos-
sible in the darkness to tell anything
of the surrounding country.
Then the great navigator, who had
been around the world, scratched his
head and made another calculation;
the result of which was that, after
sailing, as it seemed, for hours. these
night explorers found themselves
in the sluggish water of the other
brook, quite as uncertain as before
which end of the pond they had ar
rived at.
ThereupOn Capt. Nabb seized his
speaking trumpet and beloved again,
and this time he sent forth less def.
mite and confident hail:
con shore! Alloy"
"Ahoy yourself! Don't deef-en a
fellow. What do you want?" came a
gruff reply out of the darkness, not SO
yards away.
Capt. Nabb lowered his trumpet
rather sheepishly. awe have lost our
reckoning, friend" he said, addressing
his remarks to the unknown in the
darkness. "Will you kindly give us
our bearings?"
"You're just ten rods up Dead
creek" replied the hoarse voice of the
unknown, "and wisht you'd back
out and quit soaring the pouts."
"Dead creek! Why, that's way al
the further end of the pondw ex.
claimed Benny. otis a mile from
here to the wharf, and I don't believe
you can ever sail us there in the world
captain"
Right you are, youngter" cried
the navigator, heartily, though it was
sore blow to his nautical pride.
"Can't we find your way homer
came the voice out of the darkness.
"No" replied the globe-girdler and
the two boys, in mournful chorus.
"I'll come aboard and sail We there
for IS cents" The proposition was
mercenary but practical, and had q
welcome ring of assurance in it.
Capt. Nabb hesitated, looked up al
the stars, then at the shivering boys
"Lay aboard" he said, shortly.
Half an hour later Benny and Car
were crawling gratefully into bed, and
Capt. Nabb was packing his big black
chest, moved by a sudden, inextin
guishable longing for the open sea.
The Famous County OF Pike.