The Republican journal., 1897-05-20
''She's gone behind the island" he

They rested on their oars. The sea was
purple and gold, but they had no eyes for
that. Dave looked troubled. After ten
minutes the craft showed her sails, NOV
ing away to the eastward.
Guess she's pleasurer,' said Dave.
"Don see ne skitf what she had, - re-
marked Tim.
''She mightn't had none"
"Thought I'seen il"
"We'll play off leetle, anyhow"
They kept off until nine o'clock. The
water was tree of small boats; and their
suspicious at rest, they pulled a strong
stroke for the island. a mile away the
smack was awaiting them. She, too, was
evading the law, and took no chances.
Dave had been promised fifty dollars for
the car. The venture now seemed safe,
and as he bent to the oars, he sang aloud.
In answer to TIM look of surprise, he
said, 'Seems | hain't laughed nor sung
for months. | hahn felt safer all sum
ner. The smack II pay cash for the lot.
Both Il us needs boots an oils; wet feet
an wet skins hain't good fer renatiz.
The woman hain't gut moth n what's tit
fer wear; an the child en- with school
comm on needs things"
They roved under the lee of the island,
and easily dlifted to where the car was
sunk in deep water. The bold shores
cast heavy shadows, and the massive
! rocks floMntd upon them. 10 roman
tic boy the situation must have suggested
smugglels and pirates; but lin was hard
ened into a man at fourteen. The ocean
had no poetry tor him. He was interest
ed only i'll the hard struggle for bread.
Once OF twice Dave peeled cautiously
into the darkness, but the regular beating
OF the wares treasured him.
/ They tloated the caI in silence Open
ing the tral i'll the top, Tim began to
transfer the short Holsters to the dory,
While Dave kept the boat clear of the
rocks.
III my count right, thele's nigh onto
thousand, . whispered Dave,
1t was SLOW work; but, steadily dipping,
the doly was at last loaded
'.We'u make two trips on it, Tim.
Guess well let the car float. Tain
likely nobody'll be roun' here this time
q night, with the wind stiff min, too.
Honest folks is all in bed-hey, Tim?"
Dave laughed at his little joke, while
lighting his clay pipe for comfortable
smoke on the way to the smack.
They rested a few minutes, Dave put
| fling great clouds of smoke, while looking
about him in every direction. Satisfied
| ol safety, ne sdIu, Sodsl Cieal, an L
guess Wen git going Wouldn't the
dep'tv laugh to see us row." Dave
chuckled at the thought. But he haint
here; we be masters of the sea tonight. -
He pushed the tobacco in his pipe with
his great thumb, making the sparks fly as
| he pulled the draft clear, and then took
| I'd the oars. The stroke was anested by
an unfamiliar sound. Both turned i'll the
direction of the rocks, out Of whose
shadow they had dritted.
Hist, Tim
The DEVIL responded the boy.
| ''Thunder,'' groAned Dave.
A small boat shot out of the darkness
directly towards them. 1t was too late to
do anything; they were caught. Some
thing that cleaned in the moonlight gave
force to the voice OF the deputy as he cal
| led to them to surrender. In moment
| the boat was alongside.
| Dave and Tim were struck dumb. They
ot1el ed no resistance. he hopeless situa-
ton tied their tongues. The deputy step
| ped into the doIy, linn taking his place IN
the boat with the assistant. No force was
necessary. Dave took up the oars and
steadily pulled the loaded ooly homeward.
| Once lie found his tongue to reply to a
remark: Its hald luck. | own that
we've gut me, but it's mighty hard. The
Holsters is mine. The laws agin the
right. It's mighty hand, sill.
AS the dory touched familiar bottom in
front OF the house, Dave looked at the
light in the window; then. tuning to the
| tiicer he said: The Nomen's up for
us. it Il kill her, this comm home.
I'm 90 to the house with you, we
must be at the Harbor by midnight, and
we shall have 10 go in the doly." The
officer spoke kindly as he followed Dave
up the path to the house.
They entered the small kitchen together.
The wife turned from the hot supper that
she had in waiting. She glanced from
! Dave to the tficer, then sank to the bare
! floor without wold. There was some
thing in Dawes throat as lie lifted her in
his strong arms. ''Poo, Sally, She 5 all worn
out with worry, an has heart pains, this II
kill her, he said. as if speaking to lim-
self. Then, turning to the officer, his
the floor with long strides: ''Ye see the
sill. God mighty gin us the ocean
The laws no rights takin' what l
git frum the sea. It's mine an it's hon
est work. ] say damn the law what's
agin Justice | believer right, man
atween man; wrongs wrong, laws or no
| laws
He stood before the officer in a threaten
ing attitude, the pale face of his wife
white against his brown neck and arms.
Don't threaten, Dave; you are in my
power,' said the man quietly.
'I'm not in your power; IN in the
power of the law, an the laws agin the
right Numbered Dave. '"The laws
agin God mighty. If ye be law, I'm agin
We, for We hain't no rights takin' the
bread outen the mouth of the woman here
an the six as is sleepin'. Pll take God
mighty fer judge. He's not agin the
poor; he'll take han in this, sir. Not
that I've sarved him always, but he'll
take han mark me-"
The fainting woman chung to Dave like
frightened child; but he put her off,
rough even in his tenderness.
keep things goin', Sally; What S with
the hens an clans an founders p'r'aps
yen weather. l can't pay no fine, an
yer know what they'll do; men Tim'll
both go up
He stepped to the door. The children
talked in their sleep, and the baby nestled
in the cradle. Dave covered his face with
his great red hands, ashamed of the tears,
as he left his door for the first time in
| Snrrow and diSurana