Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-07-23


mo. sir: but / worked for Mr.
Church. the surveyor, and he SAYS
that navigating and surveying are
pretty much alike; leastways, the
figuring IA. the boy continued.
Il reckon" said the captain.
shrewdlv. after a moments delibera-
ton, "that you're one Of those boys
that's run away from home an expects
10 be captain of a clipper ship IN three
months You better go back home 20
yer ma and pa aud get a good eddica-
ton. an perhaps when you're a man
you II own big ship.
& never had any parents. anil /
haven't had a home for year. said
the boy. sadly. Then by way Of ex
PLANTATION. lyon see. l was found
floating In my cradle when l Wa. e
baby az the time OF the big Hood. AMI
they coulGn't lind ont who I belonged
e.. So Miss Rvle took care of me AMI
sent me 90 school until year ago.
and then she died. and her relations
from ont West came and took her
property. There didn't seem o. he
any place for me after that, and SO Mr.
Chase gave me my board for helping
so Thought ] would try and get some
thing 10 do.
The captain meditated for some
time over this long explanation
"Well. / expect 70 go out to the Banks
this winter. an I'll need COOL.
bright boy that amt afraid Of work
l expect 10 put IN here again IN about
two weeks, an If you'll happen around
I'll ship you. What's your name"
My names George Ryle. sir, but
can't You let me go with you now"
NO. said the captain. decidedly
''you can't come now"
The boy felt too much disappointed
TO tell the captain that work was a
necessity 90 him at once. and that all
he had 20 live on for the ensuing two
weeks vas two sandwiches and a bot
tie of homemade root beer that kind
hearted Mrs. Chase had given him
with his car fare 10 the city.
While he was trying 20 think 90 a
way out of the difficulty the idea Of
becoming "A stowaway on the schooner
popped into his head This did not
seem honorable. but the longer he
meditated ON the subject the stronger
grew his conviction that there was 40
other road open 70 him.
II had now become quite dark, and
George moved cautiously toward the
schooner 20 reconnoitre. To his dis
may he saw a sailor in the act Of cast
ing on the hawsers that bound her 20
the wharf Too late-too late. Ii
was indeed day of disappointments.
Very slowly the stern OF the vessel
swung around with the current, and
ray Of light from the cabin of a near
by steamer flashed under her counter.
revealing. for brief space, her name.
THE Happy Thought, Bath. " read
the boy, as he walked to the end OF
the pier Hello, They've left their
6ory behind them" The words were
hardly uttered before he was IN the
boat and pulling rapidly toward the
slowly disappearing schooner. Then
another idea seized him, and b,
stopped rowing.
'Of course. he said To himself. '.the
captain will be glad 70 get his dory, bu
he will have me put back on shore
won't be any better of then than
was before I'm going TO return thi.
dory and I'm going TO get on tina
schooner at the same time without be
ing seen. Then. noticing that the
vessel was no longer drifting, he drew
cautiously nearer and saw TO his sur
prise that all was activity on boar,
and that a large lighter was bein;
rapidly unloaded into the schooner
hold. 4 moment later a boat shot on
from the shadow of the lighter an,
came rapidly toward him. Quick as
fash lac dropped quietly into tn
water and swan rapidly away for
few moments; then, turning, swan
under the schOoner's bow Seeing a
opportunity, the boy pulled himsel
up by the anchor chains, and, grasp
ing the bob. stay and fore stays
swung himself over the bulwarks Oh
pOsite TO where the crew was watch
ing the approach of the yawl. He ra
to the hatchway and dropped into il
A moment later he had slipped into a
aperture and was safe from discovery
Seeing no one In the hold, he ereI
out of his retreat, and soon found
much more secure hiding place.
1t was tedious work lying there d,
ing nothing, and he soon fell aslseI