Gilpin observer., 1899-03-23
CHAPTER Iv.-(Continued.)

On perceiving that l was awake, a
hand bell was rung by the captain, and
hot coffee, accompanied by the last
slice of shore bread that remained, was
brought to me by Billy, the cabin-boy,
and then, after a time, l was requested
to state what craft that was from
which l had been taken, my name, and
so forth, that Mr.. Hislop might enter
all the particulars among the ere
marks" in his log-book
/ soon satisfied them as to all this.
And where am / now?" l inquired.
Pretty far out upon the open sea,
my lad" replied the captain with a
smile, as he threw the end of his che
root into the empty CRATE.
The open sea-still the open seal"
reiterated with dismay, which l cared
not to conceal.
Yes; we saw the last glimpse of the
rugged Start on the day before yes
terday, and this morning, just an hour
before picking you up, we bade good
bye to old England, for the Lizard
Light was bearing-you had the dead
watch, Hislop; how did it bear?"
About twelve miles off, on the
weather quarter"
How shall return homer"
They both laughed as l despairingly
made this inquiry.
BY the way you left it, l suppose;
. that Is by water" said Capt. Weston.
You spoke of the Start; what is
that?"
"A cape of the Channel, on the
southeast coast of Devonshire, about
nine miles to the southwark of Dart
mouth" he replied, while casting cas-
ual glance at chart which lay on the
table
l had thus. before being rescued so
providentially, drifted more than a
hundred miles from Erlesmere, and it
was marvellous that the schooner had
floated so far unseen.
We'll, what is to be done now?"
asked the captain. 1--WE are bound for
the West Indies, but we may put you
aboard the first craft that passes us,
homeward-bound; or you are free to
remain, If we cannot do better for
you."
| thought of my mother, my father
my two sisters; and my heart was so
full of gratitude to heaven for preserv-
ing me to the end, that 1 might see
and embrace them all again, that had
no words to reply. After time l ex-
claimed:
Home, home!-let me go home to
esmere!"-weeping as l spoke, for
the thought of them all made me a very
child again.
The captain and mate exchanged
glances of inquiry.
Its no use piping your eye now, my
lad" said the former. coming toward
my berth; "but answer me quietly You
said that your name was Rodney"
"Yes."
And you spoke of Erlesmere; are
you a son of old DR.. Rodney, the rec
tori"
do you know my father, then?" I
exclaimed.
Cant say exactly that l have the
honor OF being known to him; but /
know of him, right we'll. Why, Master
Rodney, have sailed your uncle's
ships many time, and know his
gloomy old office in the city, as well
as the buoy at the More: SO you are as
safe and as welcome aboard the Eu-
home"
This was pleasant intelligence. at all
events; but my earnest desire was to
return-a design which was not fated
to be speedily gratifed.
For several days we passed only out
ward-bound vessels, or others which
were at such distance that the task
of signaling and speaking with them
would have delayed the Eugenie longer
than Capt. Weston could risk. Two
that passed near us, when we showed
our ensign. replied by displaying the
tricolor OF France or the red and yell
low bars of Spain; so there was moth
ing for me now but to remain content
sdly on board the Eugenie. which was
bound for Matanzas with solid cargo
OF steam machinery and coal.
The master had no doubt of getting
\ return freight direct for London;
thus six or eight months might elapse
before l could return to Erlesmere.
/ gradually became reconciled to the
novelty OF my situation; / looked for
ward hopefully to the time when the
sorrow OF those had left behind would
be alleviated. and began to enjoy to
the utmost the prospect of voyage in
n spanking brig to the shores of Cuba
CHAPTER v.
The Voyage to Cuba.
racplypd mot N bo ~, iJIa, -, foh