The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1899-06-02

chance OF profit did not come every day.
But a little after sunrise they espied
something which made them scurry
homeward like flock of scared sheep.
Far in the distance the clear, bright
blue of the sky was marred by one
small, round, white cloud, very much
like puff of smoke from the mouth of
cannon; and the experienced seamen
knew only too well the fatal forerunner
of the white squall."
But, while all the rest were flying
shoreward, the youngest of their band
was standing boldly out to sea in his
little beat, all alone.
Antonio had, indeed, good reason to
try his utmost for the promised reward,
for one-half the money which he might
expect for the precious fish would ena-
Bile him to buy himself a new boat and
set of new nets, which he very much
needed.
And so, on the chance of being able
to Go this, he was now running a risk
from which his boldest comrades
shrank.
Hes making for the VOLTS Teeth"
said an old fisherman, pointing to the
two huge, black, pointed rocks, which
rose gauntly up out of the sea, close to-
gether about five miles from the shore.
IF he can get right in between them
before the storm bursts, he may escape
yet"
III he can't, Heaven help his poor
motherl" answered a woman's voice,
piiyingly.
Then came a dead silence, while all
strained their eyes to watch the race
for life between tha- small sail and the
advancing whirlwind.
The little white cloud that had
warned them was now spreading fast
over the whole sky, and, as it spread, it
grew darker and darker.
Far out to seward, line of white
foam was seen flying over the gloomy
waters with the speed of an arrow.
Then, through the still air, came fear
full sound, half moan, half roar, and
they had barely time to cover down
behind "a huge rock for shelter, when all
around was dark as night, and the
spray was rafting on the pebbly beach
like a shower of shot, and over them
swept the white squat with the rush of
a charging army, whirling far away in
land the foam which it had torn from
the surging waves.
When the sky cleared again, An
tonio's boat was gone.
Poor lad!" said old Battista, compass
siouately. this comes of being too ven
.uresome. The goat that feeds on
Nesuyius must needs be burnt up at
last
But who is to tell his mother?'
asked one of the women.
To that question there was no reply.
The group melted silently away, one
by one.
Two hours later, however the de-
jected villagers were shouting and
rushing down to the shore like mad
men, all pointing eagerly to a small
boat, which had just glided out from
between the VOLTS Teeth.
cts Antonio's boat!" cried Battista,
as she nenred the land. 81 know her by
the patch in her sail; and see, he's wav-
ing his cap TO u.s."
"Wel. comhdes," cried Antonio,
from the boat. "T've got something
more than shelter from the VOLTS
Teeth. Look here!'
And he held up to their wondering
gaze the finest turbot they had ever
seen.
Wasn't that worth risking a wet
Jacket for?" asked the lad, triumphant
~. "They may well say that those
rocks are good place to fish just after
a squall. Now, I'm going straight up
TO the castle with this turbot of mine.
and we'll see whether his highness
won't think him worth paying well
for
Antonio was as good as his word.
Tired though he was, he started off at
once up the hill, on the summit of
which the dark gray battlements OF the
princes castle stood out above a huge
mass of sandstone cliff, from which the
domain of Monte Rosso (Red noun
tain) took its name.
The hill was steep, the way dusty, and
by the time he reached the castle gate
Antonio's dust-begrimed face and tum-
bled hair, added to his tattered red shirt |
and bare feet, made him anything but |
a presentable figure for a drawing |
room. So evidently thought the burly |
hall porter, who eyed him from head to
foot, with a most supercilious sheer.
what do you want?" snapped he.
1--WE don't allow beggars here"
81 am not beggar," replied Antonio,
as quietly as he could. 81 bring his
highness the turbot that he ordered.
Show it to me-"
at is for the prince, not for you"
said our hero, somewhat roughly, for
his hot Italian blood was beginning to
i'll : ~ clyax-'s in science.