The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1897-07-23

in--sail-halfway. Repeat-w
said," Bob shouted. The answer came
back like an echo.
"Go-a-head!
Slowly and laboriously the poor,
frightened girl pushed the tiller to star
board with her knees and pulled in the
sail with both hands. 1t seemed to take
an age, but at last it was done
"Sail-go!" Numbered Bob. holding
out his arm in the direction of Mashnee
Point.
The "Petrel" was now going more
slowly and on a course that would cross
that of Bob's sharpe. AS the boats
neared each other the girl cast fright
ened glance at the sharpe which seemed
almost upon her.
INSTRUMENTATION. Go-a-
head'' shouted Bob.
He dashed his tiller-a desperate thing
to do when the boat was dead before the
wind in heavy sea-seized a long coil
of rope, and, rushing forward, hitched
it quickly round the mast. Then he
jumped back, barely in time to save the
boat from yawing far enough to iibe the
sail. The boats were now almost to-
gether, the sharpe just crossing the
"Petrers" stern. In trice Bob had the
tiller dashed again, and hurled the coil of
rope square aboard the "Petrel."
"Fasten the rope!' he shouted.
"Readyr'
"Y-e-sr'
Bob glanced at the growing distance
between the boats, which were tearing
through the water as if possessed by
fiends. The rope was long; there must
still be slack. Then Bob took desperate
chances. He swung the head of the
boat to windward, thereby losing mo-
mentum but enabling him to haul in the
sail. A deft twist undid the halyards,
and down came the canvas. Bob had
just Roadway enough left on the boat,
and just time enough to bring her into
line with the "Petrel's" course, when
the rope snapped taut with such force as
to throw the occupants of both boats off
their feet.
1t was but a seconds work for trained
hands to tie the sail down. Bob worked
with fiendish energy, for soon the ''Pet-
rel'' would be on the rocks off Mashnee
Island. By hauling might and main on
the rope that held the two boats together
he got the bow of the sharpe up to the
stern of the ''Petrel." Then, tying the
rope short to the mast so that the boats
would be about twenty feet apart when
he let go, he jumped and barely made
the stern of the "Petrel.''
In moment more Bob had the "Pet-
rel' headed back for the black buoy,
while the girl, overcome by the strain
she had undergone, lay in faint at his
feet. His heart gave bound as the
boat neared the buoy, and he could see
Mr. Brown still clinging to it. He wore
up as close as the heavy sea permitted ; |
fo|y OH ha nj q anil of /
long, slight rope spinning through the
air straight against the stake. The I'M
fortunate, or perhaps fortunate, owner
of the ''Petrel'' grabbed tor it wildly,
caught it, and was pulled aboard his
own boat. Then, with two boats in
charge-one of them larger than he had
ever sailed before-and two exhausted
passengers aboard Bob tackled safely in
the heavy sea and put for port.
AS they stood on the shore, Mr. Brown
recounted the story of the rescue to an
anxious group of listeners. When it
was over Captain Percy slapped Bob on
the shoulder.
my boy he said kindly, Il guess
yer needn't work out the hire of that
sharpe; it's paid for already. Yer
credit to the town Of Bourne. z Bob
blushed at such unexpected praise from
the gruff old tar, who. however, unblush-
ingly turned 60 Mr. Brown and remarked
TITS yer turn mex, I'm thinkin'-' .
so ii is. 2 replied Mr. Brown, quickly,