The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-01-12

Archer he seen 'em, too, an watched
fer long time. Then he turns to me
an says, 'Cap'n, the CLAWS.
"Thats just what he called it, the
CLAWS.
ga trim little craft, Cap'n,' says
he. To do i'm credit he knows a good
boat.
" Il don't like the lines O. her body,
sir, / ventures.
cat that he kind o. smiles an says: !:
Il means the lady
"He was right, there, too, fer a
trim enough craft she looked, with
her white duck suit an sailor hat,
though I couldn't see her face. was
just gittin' me eye fixed on that part
o. her hull when Mr.. Archer jumps
up, run for'a'd to the mast an stood
there like he was sightin' land after
a month adrift on a raft
"Cup'n, kin you run leetle
nearer that craft? / know her. he
calls.
"'In this win'?' 1 asks.
"'Pole, he yells.
"T could pole, l says, he'd I a
pole, but / hain't.
"He give a long groand an set
down on top O. the cabin yander an
KEEP pippin his eye throo the glass at
the other boat that was foolin' around
bout mile off our bow.
"By an' by, he says, 'Cap'n, there's
a breeze comm
"'I've been watchin' it, sir, says I,
an / ups with me anchor an sail.
"It caught the other feller first,
an of a sudden her canvas filled an
she begin to cut throo the water on a
beat up the bay. l had the tiller
ready, an it warn't a minute till we
was movin', too. 1t was slow at first,
but we soon had to reef, an went
tearin' throo the water to beat steam
la'nch. The clouds had brought a
regular hurricane an was pilin' up
aloft an roarin full O. thunder. You
otter "a seen Mr.. Archer then. He
KEEP runnin' from bow to stern an
back, forever askin' whether thought
we was gainin'. Now, I'm proud o.
this here Miriam O. mine. I'll back
her agin anything on the bay but
shat there strange boat Why, that
craft slipped throo the water like she
was illed, We KEEP up pretty well,
though, an might o. caught her if the
rain hadn't come an us lost sight o.
'em. l wanted to put back, but Mr..
Archer he wouldn't have it, an KEEP
runnin' up an donw, pipin' his eyes
this way an that way an usin' bad
language till it come dark an the
storm had passed. Then he th'owed
himself down in the cockpit an lit his
pipe an says, Home, Cap'n!' That
was all-iist Home, Cap'n.'"
1 had thrown aside my lines, for
Levi Skullcarp's account of the ssnti-
mental man had awakened my interest,
and when he had finished his recital ]
had turned my back on the water, my
feet were dangling in the cockpit and
my eyes were fixed ON the bayman.
Didn't be explain why he was Sc
anxious to see her?" / asked after q
silence of some minutes.
In reply the Captain clambered iatC
the cockpit and, bracing himself
against the end of the tiller, fixed the
long glass to his eye. / followed his
gaze to where it rested ON a small
white sail that was moving across the
bay about mile away.
"I'll be blowedp he cried. There
was pause and then he muttered
"Small jib, white duck dress, spooney
bow, white hull, black hair-Tn
blowedw
This exclamation was accompanied
by loud rattle as he closed the glass
"Git TO win ard, quickw he yelled
The boom swung around, allowing
me just time to dodge it, and before
1 had fully recovered from my surpris,
we were moving through the watel
under the fast freshening breeze.
"Where are you going, Captain?"
asked in a tone of remonstrance.
He gave the sheet a few turns abou
a cleat, tucked the tiller comfortably
under one leg, filed and lighted hi
pipe, and when the smoke was rising
in great volume from the bowl auC
trailing astern in clouds that mus
have made our boat at distance pre-
sent the appearance of small steam
ship, he exclaimed again: "I'll b,
blowedl"
Then 1 arose in my wrath and, sup
porting myself by grasping the center
board and facing the obdurate mariner
cried; "See here, Captain, was un
der the impression 1 had hired thi
craft, and"
81 m goin' fer Mr.. Archer; yam
her, he said in firm, solemn ton
that brooked no triAing and forced M
TO submission.
Hardly had the Miriam touched tn
dock when Levi Skullearp was ashore
and after giving me hurried admo
milton to be all ready 10 push off on hi
return, he clambered into a rieket'