Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-07-23

critically. ever had any experience
in sailing vessel?"
"No, sir; but I worked for Mr..
Church, the surveyor, and he says
that navigating and surveying are
pretty much alike; leastways, the
figuring is" the boy continued.
81 reckon" said the captain,
shrewdly, after moments delibera-
tion, "that you're one of those boys
that's run away from home an expects
to be captain Of a clipper ship in three
months. You better 60 beck home to
yer ma and pa and get a good eddica-
tion, an perhaps when you're a man
you'll own big ship"
~ never had any parents, and I
haven't had home for year" said
the boy, sadly. Then by way of ex.
planation: "You see, L was found
floating in my cradle when 1 was a
baby at the time of the big flood, and
they couldn't find out who I belonged
to, so Miss Ryle took care OF me and
sent me to school until year ago,
and then she died, and her relations
from out West came and took her
property. There didn't seem to be
any place for me after that, and so Mr..
Chase gave me my board for helping
him survey. He's not very busy now,
so I thought I would try and get some
thing to do"
The captain meditated for some
time over this long explanation.
"Well, I expect to go out to the Banks
this winter, an I'll need a good,
bright boy that amt afraid of work.
I expect to put in here again in about
two weeks, an if you'll happen around
I'll ship you. What's your nameP"
my names George Ryle, sir; but
can't you lot 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 to him at once, and that all
he had to live on for the ensuing two
weeks was two sandwiches and bot
tie of home made root beer that kind.
hearted Mrs. Chase had given him
with his car fare to the city.
While he was trying to think of 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 no
other road open to him.
1t had now become quite dark, and
George moved cautiously toward the
schooner to recOnnoitre. To his dis.
may he saw sailor in the act of cast
ing off the hawsers that bound her to
the wharf. Too late--too late. 1t
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, p" read
the boy, as he walked to the end of
the pier. "Hello! They've left their
dory 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 he
stopped rowing.
"Of course" he said to himself, "the
captain will be glad to get his dory, but
he will have me put back on shore. ]
won't be any better off then than
was before. I'm going to return this
dory and I'm going to get on that
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 thht all was activity on board
and that large lighter was being
rapidly unloaded into the schooner s
hold. A moment later boat shot out
from the shadow of the lighter and
came rapidly toward him. Quick as a
flash lie dropped quietly into the
water and swan rapidly away for a
few moments; then, turning, swan
under the schooner's bow. Seeing an
opportunity, the boy pulled himself
up by the anchor chains, and, grasp
ing the bob stay and fore stays,
swung himself over the bulwarks op-
posite to where the crew was watch
ing the approach of the yawl. He ran
to the hatchway and dropped into it.
A moment later he had slipped into an
aperture and was safe from discovery.
Seeing no one in the hold, he crept
out of his retreat, and soon found a
much more secure hiding place.
1t was tedious work lying there do
ing nothing, and he soon fell asleep.
A crash directly overhead awoke him
with start, and he could see in the
dim light that heavy bale of cotton
had been placed directly over his hid
Ing place.
They can't find me now, he
said exultantly to himself. 81 am
safe now-safcr than need be, per-
haps," and the story of stowaway
who had found himself imprisoned
under the cargo OF vessel and lived
on box of sea biscuit for over a
week came into his mind. "If that
fellow dug his way through the cargo
of steamship in week, ought to
be able to get through a bale of cot.
ton in day. My, but I'm thirsty
I'm mighty glad that I've got some OF
this root beer left" There was no,