The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-10-16

lily falling for an hour. 1t was almost
a minute before the lazily-filling sail
drew on the opposite tack Capt. Nabb
looked anNiously 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.
His 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, ahoyi 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-
peated. But as if the echoes, circling the
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. Nabb's face beaRled with de
light, and, tiller in hand, he leaned over
the big compass and sailed away on
starboard tack ''Give us n song, nv
heartiesi" he cried. gayly. to Benny and
Carl. Then, Strengthening himself up.
he roared n stanza of a roIlicking 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. ''Seel we are
in the swamp-grass."
''Shiyer 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
W
the ballast. including the captain. the
two deck hands, and the nautical in
struments, pitched forward and brought
up in a heap in the bow.
We'll, Welt" painted Captain Nabb.
as he finally struggled up on thwart.
That's the first time / ever lost nv
reckoning"
'And it's the first time / ever lost
toothi" sputtered Benny, as he leaned
over the side of the boat.
Dear me! That's too badi" said the
captain. Il don't see how il 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 n fact," cried the
old tar. Il 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 a new
course. This at length brought them
into one of the two large brooks, but
which one they could not tell, as the
water was dead, and it was impossible
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 sail
ing, as ii seemed, for hours. these night
explorers found themselves in the slug
gish mouth of the other brook. quite
as uncertain as before which end of
the pond they had arrived at.
Thereupon Capt. Nabb seized his
speaking trumpet and beloved again.
and this time he sent forth less def
mite and confident hail:
''On shore. Ahoy!"
"Ahoy yourself, Don't deef-en a fell
low. What do you want?" came gruff
reply out of the darkness, not so yards
away.
Capt. Nabb lowered his trumpet rather
sheepishly. I'VE have lost our reckon
ing, friend" he said, addressing his re-
marks to the unknown in the darkness.
'Will you kindly give us our bear
ings?'
You're just ten rods up Dead creek, =
replied the hoarse voice of the unknown,
and l wisht you'd back out and quit
soaring the pouts."
Dead creek! Why. that's way al
the further end of the pondi" ex-
claimed Benny. ITS mile from here
to the wharf, and don't believe you can
ever sail us there in the world, cap
tain
Right you are, youngster!" cried
the navigator, heartily, though it was
sore blow to his nautical pride.
Cant We find your way hon,e ?" came
the voice out of the darkness.
''Noi" replied the globe-girdler and
the two boys, in mournful chorus.
I'm 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 a
the stars, then at the shivering boys
LAY aboard,'' be said, shortly.
Half an hour later Benny and Car
were crawling gratefully into bed, ant
Capt. Nabb was packing his big blacl
chest. moved by sudden, inextinguish
able longing for the open sea.-Outlook
Camels In Spain.
Camels have domesticated themselve.
in southern Spain-the only spot in Eu
rope where they may be seen in wilt