The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-09-11
BY ". ". JHcoss.
fCopyrIght, 1907.

THE master of the schooner Harebell
came slowly towards the harbor
accompanied by his mate. Both men
had provided ashore for voyage which
included no intoxicants, and the dignity
of the skipper, always salient feature
had developed tremendously under tbs
influence of brown stout. He stepped
aboard his schooner Importantly, and
then, turning to the mate, who was
about to follow, suddenly held up his
hand for silence.
''What did / tell you?r he INQUIRED.
severely, as the mate got quietly
aboard.
The mate listened. From the fo'c's'le
came the low, gruff voices of men.
broken by the silvery ripple of women's
laughter.
well, I'm a Dutchman!" said the
mate, with an air of one who felt he
was expected to say something.
After all l said to EN-" said the
skipper, with weary dignity. "You
card what said to 'em, Jack ?'
Nobody could ha' swore louder" tes-
titled the mate.
An here they are" said the skipper.
in amaze, '.defying of me-"
They've been and gone and asked
them females down in the fo'c's'le apin.
You know what said I'd do, Jack, if
they did,"
said you'd eat 'em without salt,
quoted the other, helpfully.
''I'll do worse than that. Jack" said
the skipper, after moments discom-
future. whats to hinder us casting
off quietly and taking them along with
us?'
IF you ask me-" said the mate. 81
should say you couldn't please the crew
better"
well, we'll see," said the other. nod
ding sagely; ''don't make no noise,
Jack"
Aided by the mate, he cast off the
warps which held the unconscious Wis
itors TO their native town, and, the wind
being off the shore, the little schooner
drifted silently away from the quay.
The skipper went to the wheel, and
the noise of the mate hauling on the
jib brought rough head out of the
to'c'sle, the owner of which. after a
cry to his mate below, sprang up on
deck and looked round in bewilder-
ment.
Stand by there!" cried the skipper.
as the others came rushing on deck. |
shake 'em QUIT"
Beggin' your pardin, SIR" said one
of them, with more politeness in his
tcnes than he had ever used before
"but--
Stand BY" said the skipper.
Vow, them shouted the mate, sharp |
ly, lively, therel Lively with III"
The men looked at each other helm
lessly and went to their posts. as a
scream of dismay arose from the fair
beings below, who, having just begun to |
realize their position, were coming on
deck to try and improve it. /
What" roared the skipper in pre-
tended establishment. what! CELLS
aboard after all / said. 1t can't be; /
must be dreamiugl"
take us back" walled the damse,s
the sarcasm, stake us back.
NO, can't go back" said the skip
per. You see what comes o. disobedi-
ence, my CELLS. Lively there on that
dye hear?"
I'VE won't do it again. cried the
girls, as the schooner came to the
mouth of the harbor and they smelt
The dark sea beyond. Take us back"
1T can't be DONE" said the skipper.
Its agin the lor, SIR said Ephraim
Biddle, solemnly.
"Bosh." said the skipper. "They're
itowaways, and l shall put 'em ashore
II the first port we touch at-Ply-
Mouth"
AheartTending series of screams from
he stowaways rounded his sentence. f.
screams which gave way TO sustained |,
as the schooner, catching the
Wind, began to move through the wa
err.
YOU'D better get below, my gals"
aid Biddle. who was the eldest menu
eF Of TIE crew. copsolipalY, i