Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-04-29

! crew, tWenty-siX.
For the first two or three days all
went well, but trouble was marching
upon us. We got into light easterly
winds; about that time, also, the
weather got slightly foggy. Scarcely
any OF the passengers were about as
yet; the majority of them were below
with sea sickness. and not one Of the
women had put in an appearance on
deck. The fog beginning to increase,
and continuing to do so, a sharp look
out for land was kept. We had been
out now ten days. and l observed that
the skipper was getting anxious.
Neither was easy in my mind. We
were in the vicinity OF dangerous rocks.
not laid down as yet in the charts.
and the fog, growing thicker and thick
er, made our position more perilous.
For myself, l had no fear Of death, but
a heavy weight was on my mind with
respect to my old mother at home; and
the desire to see her once more, and
make amends to her for my harshness,
grew stronger because of the danger we
were in.
1t was at this time that l made the
| oS4uoAhtohCc Vi lWO VI Jul phoaCu6cio,
they were children. boy and a girl.
I was standing near the lookout. strain
ing my eyes to the eastward. where we
supposed rocks to be. when. looking
down, saw those children by my side.
They were about the same age. nine
years old maybe. Iplaced my hand on
the boys head. and. STOPPING. gazed at
the little fellow. He returned my look
frankly.
"well. my man." said I. "and what
may your name be?"
Bob" said he.
His voice startled me. and gazed
more searchingly at him. A beautiful
face was his. with fair. curling hair
and bright blue eyes. that made mine
dim. and caused my heart to beat more
quickly. All the old memories flowed
back upon me like a strong tide: and
but that felt such supposition would
be akin to madness. might have en-
couraged the thought that by some
miracle my own son was standing by
my side.
"And yours, my little maid?" l said
to the girl.
Pearl" she answered. in voice
clear as bell. and which to my fancy
resembled Bob's.
Then" said l. with strange palpi-
tation, Bob and Pearl are brother and
sister,"
"oh. no." they both replied in one
breath.
But you ought to be-" said l, kneel-
ing by them. so that my face might be
on n level with theirs. Bob has blue
eyes. and so has Pearl: and you have
light hair. too. both Of you.'
They stood with their arms round
each others waists, Bob being the shyer
Of the two. We prattled together for
as many minutes as l could spare from
my duties. and l learned that they
were In no wise related. Both their
mothers were on the ship. they told
me.
81 haven't seen them on deck" said
"oh, no." said Pearl; they have
been i'll. and are not well yet. I hate
the seal hate it, And the little maid
stamped her foot, and tears came into
her eyes.
"And you. Bob?" asked. DO you
hate the sea?"
I'm fond OF it," said Bob, land /
want Pearl to like 1t. but she won't.
| She SAYS she wishes there wasn't any
sea in the world. That's foolish, isn't
It? But l wish 1t wasn't SO dark"
Stronger and stronger grew the spell
upon me.
would you like to be sailor. Bob?"
81 should" he replied, IF 1t wasn't so
dark" ...
l kissed the bright little fellow. and
he kissed me. Wrapped up as was
In him. saw that Pearl was hurt be-
cause l did not offer to kiss her.
would have kissed her then. but she
kept me on.
NO" she said. petulantly. you love
Bob best"
had no time for further parley.
rose to my feet. and. taking the chill
dren by the hand, told them 1t was not
safe for them to be on deck, and that
they must go below.
I'VE crept up" whispered Bob, glcc-
fully. without anybody knowing. Pearl
was frightened, and I didn't want to
come, till made her. But then Pearls
girl. and I'm little man-so mother
says"
The whole of that day no figure but
the figure of Bob was in my mind. and
I INDUCED In the maddest speculations.
II my boy lived, he would be Of the
same age as this little fellow; and
Robert was my fathers name. l should
have asked Bob further questions about
his mother. but that I was afraid to
shatter the unreasoning .ope which a
wild fancy had engendered. l saw no
more of him or Pearl during that day,
and when next saw him All. me.
let me not think of It. I must tell my
story straight.
The weather got worse instead OF bet
ter, and at night-it was four bells In
the first watch-"Land." was called.
I was in the watch below at the time.
and we were summoned on deck at
once. The course we were steering was
cast by north, wind being northwest.
orders we're at once given to square
away tn, yards. to clear the vessel for
the land, and then for about half an
hour we hove away southeast. and after
that hauled up again to the eastward.
In less than forty minutes. however.