The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-01-24

~ 0NDER goes Antonio to try his
luck again!"
His luck will be something to boast
of if it brings him back alive"
Right, Pietro! None but a young
featherpate like him would venture out
with that white cloud in the sky. And
yet. it is pity, for he is fine lad, too. "
So muttered group of Italian fisher
men, who were standing with their
brown hands arched over their keen
black eyes, watching the progress of
the only boat that had dared to put out
under the shadow of the coming storm
There had been long and hard
nights work for all the men who be-
Ionged to the queer little cluster of htts
of broken stone or driftwood which
formed the village" of San Carlo.
Their master, the prince of Monte
Rosso, was about TO marry his only
daughter to a Sici!ian count, and had
proclaimed that any fisherman who
could bring him good-sized turbot-
without which no Italian dinner was
thought complete in those days-for
the wedding feast, should name his
own plice for it. But, although they
had tished industriously from sunset
till dawn, no one had been lucky
enough TO secure the prize.
Tired as they were, the fishermen
had no thought of giving in, for such
chance of profit did not come every day.
But 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
"A 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 boat, 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-
bic 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
10 DO this, he was now running a risk
from which his boldest comrades
shrank
He's making for the 'Wolf's 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"
"If he can't, Heaven help his poor
mother!" answered a woman's voice,
pityingly.
Then came a dead silence, while all
strained their eyes to watch the race
for life between that 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.
Ear Out 10 stdWdru, line OF Wn1te
foam was seen flying over the gloomy
waters with the speed of an arrow.
Then, through the still air, came fear ,
ful sound. half moan, half roar, and
they had barely time to cover down
behind huge rock for shelter. when all 7
around was dark as night, and the !
spray was rafting on the pebbly beach +,
ike shower of shot. and over them ,
swept the white squall with the rush of /
, charging army, whirling far away in {
and the foam which it had torn from y
he surging waves. e
When the sky cleared again, An /
onio's boat was gone.
Poor lad!" said old Battista, compass +
this comes of being too ven n
uresome. The goat that feeds on a
'esuvius must needs be burnt up at n
asst q
but who is TO tell his mother?"
sked one of the women. 4