Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-08-02
Cruise Of The White Dove
by Charles MOrcau Hargcr.

w MaISOIU boys WuSn inc Ia ITOat
gang reached the edge of the prairie
claim. For days. almost for weeks.
the SLOW approach Of the laborers had
been watched. First. just above the
horizon. then creeping across the level
paint seemed tina; they would never
come.
Rob, Tad and roly-poly Link stood in
lire. gazing curiously as the wielGers
of pick and shovel crossed the boundary
of the farm.
"Wart ride, bubs?" called one of
the men. motioning toward. the fiat
push car standing on the newly laid
track.
Course we do" and the three boys
soon sat ON the long car. their six bare
brown legs hanging off, while the men
trundled them along the track toward
the Pile; OF rails and ties.
That was the beginning. The men
stayed Tor a long time Oh the MangolG
claim for there We're along the creek
bluffs. and hills to work through. The
boys fairly lived beside the track and
pushed the now little used fat car back
and forth. enjoying the novel play
thing.
wish we had an engine" remarked
Tad one summer day. gazing away to
the north; "i,'s such hard work push
ing"
There We're no grades on the line
from the bluffs nor, Inward. ard the
boys richly earned all the rides they
secured.
Rob. wide-hatted and brown checked
lac Of IA. had an idea. Perhaps it came
because Of seafaring ancestors back in
Maine. the family's native state.
81 know" he exclaimed; ''lets put
up sail..'
A shout arose from the trio, and
council was held as they sat on the
edge of the battered car platform.
what can we make it Of. and where
can we get ito" asked Tad, rather in
definitely.
Rob thought minute. Then he
whispered something to the others.
and series of chuck,es and leg-s.ap-
pings followed. The three hurried
through the prairie grass homeward.
Father had gone to the county seat
town 90 miles away: mother was pa
tient,y finishing the weeks ironing in
the summer kitchen.
Cautiously Rob led the way to the
little Imprinted granary where were
kept the implements and tools be-
longing to the farm. Over the plows
and binders he crawled until he came
to pile of brown sacks-long. close
woven and soiled. When the sheep were
sheared in the spring the tleeces We're
down by Rob's bare feet. y few of the
sacks had been left and were tossed
on the granary floor, forming one of
the favorite resting places of the three
boys.
Just the thing" declared Rob"
holding one high in the air and when
Tad had joined him they quickly ripped
the stitching and had before them sew
eral large squares of bagging.
'Now for mast" Nothing is quite
so scarce on the prairie claim. long
miles from lumber lard. as stick of
timber. But the granary itself was
resource. Climbing among the rafters.
Rob found Il long narrow board which
he thought would DO and could be
spared. Down it came Gathering to the
floor.
Days of labor followed before the sail
was completed With a picture from a
magazine as a guide. with some cord
and wire for fastenings. Rob measured
and sewed. and dreamed of the sea- al
most making himself believe that he
was to guide an obedient sloop over
blue waters.
When it was ready he lifted the odd
apparatus against the granary wall.
There were three timbers-the up
right mast and the cross pieces hold
ing the big and nearly square sail.
We'll call it the White Dove" an
nounced Rob.
''But it amt white" protested Tad.
"Never mind-that was the name
of grandpa's boat. and he sailed to the
Newfoundland banks in it,"
So the white Dove" it was. Next
was to come the launcning
The hills and a curve in the rail
road made opportunity for the young
navigators One day. when father
was again in town, they toiled toward
the track-Rob blrdcned With the sail
rolled tight and Tad laboriously drag
ging the timbers.
Up and down the track they looked
to the southwest it WOUND into the
bluffs where the men We're making the
dirt fly: to the north it stretched
straight away until it was lost in the
shimmering haze of the horizon.
Quick. Tad. bring it on were
Capt. Rob's orders, and the equipment
of the land sloop began. The task
was more difficult than they had
thought. but patiently they labored
and contrived. all the time forgetfu
Of their surroundings or of danger
Of being discovered
Little Link had been left behind.
Big tears made white paths through
the dirt on his round checks but he
was loyal to the adventures. who
had told him that he would be in the
way at the launching. but might go
some other time. He crawled among
the plows and binders to the remain
der of the pile of sacks and sobbed