The Savannah morning news., 1900-11-25


know its our mishun In life 20 plow che
seas and We both are sorry that We could
rot wait ull after Thanksgiving, but ~
was such a good chance to find ship
when mother sent US co the city. and
what's turkeys 70 freedom when me
end Frank comes back again. ! mean
20 bring dad gold watch and you dia-
mond earrings and sis everything she
wants II she'll write me 60 Calcutta where
we're going tomorrow and new barn.
Please send my dog ROwdy after me
iou'l have to express him becos dogs
cent 20 By mail Franks homesick but
we are absiloutly determined 10 go 20
sea and We have found a nice man whose
Ike Heckles 20 get W. ship.
when the boys had written thus to their
distracted kin. on a greasy table ia the
hack room Of a shabby boarding house
Mr. Heckies' announced that. as they
would have to 90 aboard ship early. ~
would De well to retire. He was a fatherly
ola chap, this rcd-faced big-fistod fellow.
who was 80 like the bosun Of the Boy
Commodore" lie insisted upon the lads
having bite 60 eat and drink before go
ing 70 bed. and when they had done that.
they went 20 sleep ON their feet going
upstairs 50 tired we're they.
So tired-yet they had gone 60 bed al
most every night OF their open-air lives
Just as tired without feeling 80 queer
and dizzy as they did when they We're
now aroused II was not morning No
body was knocking at their door or cry
ing upstairs the familiar warning Boys.
boys. boysi DO YOU know what time IL
ls?" In . dazed way they realized that
they were standing on bare floor In
the strange boarding house and a most
extraordinary row outside the door had
disturbed their sleep Voices. in the corri-
dor. loud. hoarse. furious voices OF dread
FOL strangenoss. we're raised IN din OF
rage. Chairs and tables were being upset
and banged about Heavy feet were rush
lug and crushing desperately. The sudden
ness Of their awakening and the buzzy.
dizzy brains OF the lads made the boys
stupid ana hindered them from realizing
that. whosever the quarrel was. 1t was
not theirs.
"Firei" Rod gasped.
Burglars" Frank choked.
These we're the only two alarms they
could imagine as occurring in a decent
house They stumbled. In night attire. 40
the door. which was unlocked. ana then
across the hall. The door OF another room
was half open. and they halted at the en-
tfance-uttorly amazed. dumbstricken. aud
horrined Inside were three men VINO
we're al 20 busy 20 notice the would-be
sailors They were the causes OF the dis
urbance. There were the table. overturn-
al. and the chairs. one hopelessly smash
Cd. which had been banged about But
the most dreadful thing 60 the mind or
the boys was the sight OF their friend.
Tie looked no more like tho faithful
honest blun old Heckles Of the entranc-
lng story book lie looked. instead. per
sonifed diabollsm. Ills rosy checks were
nvid white; his humorous eyes glared like
thcse of panther. MS pleasant tongue
vas reclng out most terrifying curses.
and his big. tarry hsts we're hammering
hard at the face Of most dllapidated
stranger.
you swludle me Robbairei Fiof' Crimp,
Youave take my money! Give me my
money! An. tr-rllt0r-from behind. Fight
fair! Ur-r-rhV 80 screamed the stranger.
I'm afrald-Im afraid They've never
been away before and-anf I loved them
50. on. DO you think they can have done
ID. and gone away 20 sea- They were al
ways talking of the sea.
Hope uot-hope not" said che farmer.
ri they have they'll mighty soon wish
themselves back. Listen. No. ] thought
twas steps la the lane
While these good hearts waited ana
watched and feared and hoped. Rod had
a dream that be was IN a row boat, and
the stranger who had been Knocked down
was lying beside him under The seats.
ana hls blood was wet on Rods hand.
The dream was 80 real that he noticed
the cioudcd moon high over his face. and
the ripple OF water aud the splash %
oars. aud saw the face OF Heckies in
the stern. steering. But he was 70 sure
e was dream that he went more soundly
asleep. when be- awoke 10 was stlll dark,
and what had walked him was the hurt
from tumbling out OF an evil smelling
berth Ia a vessel which seemed 60 be sail
ing altogether on the ribs Of one side.
He sat 40 on tho floor ard found Frank
sitting no beside him rubbing his eyes
and ynwning.
"JiminyF' said Frank. "A fen out OF