Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-12-16
DICK RODNEY;
Or. The Adventures of
An Eton Boy.
BY JAMES GRANT

BY JAMES GRANT.

posed her crew, became for the time
the lions and oraeles of the smoking
room and porch of the UNCOVERED tay- !
erh, where II was tacitiy agreed that |
nothing could be said about Lord Dun |
can, or the licking he gave these
Dutch iubbers on the Texel." In our
grandfathers' days.
! had never seen Dutch craft be-
fore; thus the quaint aspect OF this
schooner. with her deep waist. her bow
and stern which were 80 clumsy In
their form and strength. SO exactly
alike, and tilted up till she resembied
a cheese cut In half-her leeboards, her
brown, oak planks, all bright with var
nish. and her little cabin windows en-
circled by alternate stripes of red,
green and white paint. all made her,
10 me. source OF wonder. and | was
daily on board, having obtained free
entry, after the bestowal Of some
sehnaps ii. e.. gin and waterl upon the
captain. Jan van Zeervogel. who told
me many q strange tale OF the North
sea. for he was pleasant and COM
munleaiiYe old fellow. having. as he
told me. wife and children. who kept
his farm on the isle OF wolfersdyek.
near South Beyslsnd. while he tempted
the dangers OF the ocean 10 dispose OF
it's agricultural produce.
One night. while the schooner was
still on the gridiron. but when her re-
pairs were nearly completed. | was
with him In the little dungeon which
he called his cabin. darkness had set
Ia. and the hour was laie--ls,er than
| ought 10 have been abroad-for We
Kept early hours at the rec,ory; but
the novelty OF the situation. the old
Dutehmsn's stories. the fumes OF his
me~rsrhanm. and the effect OF some
peaches. which be gave me from a
large gall pot, wherein his wife had
preserved them in brandy. rendered
| me careless as 10 how the time passed.
After a while proposed TO leave the
schooner and return home: but Capt.
i Z@sryoyel said that as he intended TO
/ sleep that night on board. and as the
/ crew were all ashore. he begged that ]
would have the kindness TO remain In
the cabin for a fes minutes until he
returned from the little tavern ~hete
they rere iaesi~d ss he hR- come or
jss % ..isa.
: -Ile tide will rise higher tonight
than usual" he added. Il must have
th- sehc made more secure by ad'
Gitlonsi earps. else there Is no know
lag shat may happen.
| could not in courtesy refuse. though
IN no way disposed to remain In thai
gloomy little cabin. but he trimmed
he lamp anew. as II to make the place
more CHEEKY and. without waiting fol
an answer. went on deck. heard hin
descend the side ladder. and, as h
PASSED away, stumbling among ;h'
lasE and CHIPS O, the little doekyard
had the unpleasant conviction OF be
lnE alone. :.
Nv watch told me 1t was now tn
time for supper and prayers at the rec
tory. from which ] had been too lon'
sb.sut. Then vague emotion
alarm came over me. as expected ev
cry instant to hear some unsccounta
bile snuna. or TO see something tina
might t.rrify me: so, TO gather Dutel
courage" very unwisely took on
q. two more of Captain zeervogel'
peaches. which. as already stated. wer
preserved in brandy. and consequently
xere more potent In effect than tn
! spirit itself.
Dearly did pay the penalty OF tina
! act OF indiscretIon'
, listened intently. but heard
Honnd Indicative OF the captains II
, turn. Once. there seemed TO come
ory from a distance. My head besa
20 asim and my eyelids TO droop. Tn
. fumes of zeervogel's long pipe, whic
. psryaded and made closer the atInof
! nhere of the little cabin, together Wit
the effect of the peaches. proved TO
I much for me.
I started to reach the companion lac
, der and ascend on deck: but my lint
| seemed 20 become powerless--to yiei
, under me. and | fell into a drows
doze. with my head and arms on III
: cabin table.
The captain never returned; and lon
, after | aaccrtained that the poor ma
! had been knocked down by some III
: ruly "navvies," that the cry l hear
: had been his. that he had been roooe
! and left senseless In the street OF u
/, village. while lay asleep in the cabi
: OF the empty schooner, with the n'o
tide rising rapidly about her.
CHAPTER II.
How | Got Adrift.