The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-02-07

the path over which she had come. The
thousand hues of the sky we're reflected
in the water, and the level rays glanced
redly from the vessels wake as if she
sailed over q sea of blood. Sho Mai
was enchanted by the picture and she
Toasted her eyes upon it as she passed
aft to where the captain stood. He was
tall, squarely-built man with face in
which stormy sort of boldness was the
leading characteristic.
"Well, young man" said he, "you are
aboard my ship, as you perceive. Now
the question is how long shall you re-
main aboard her"
81 beg of you do not set me on shore"
said Sho Mai, earnestly. IT was wish
ing with all my heart that you would
take me with you when your men
brought me on board. l want to go
with you to the end Of your voyage
wherever it may lead, and l will work
hard to pay for my passage"
A look OF wonder overspread the
captains face and then he burst into a
loud laugh.
"Well, of all things that are extraor-
dinary!" he exclaimed. 81 thought to
see you weeping and begging me to take
you back to your loving parents. and
instead of that you are as satisfied
as if in your fathers house; and as
cool, too" and he fell to laughing
again. Then he turned to man by
his side who seemed to be an officer.
What do you say? Shall we take the
boy with us?"
why not?" replied the officer. "He
is plucky fellow, and he can do no
harm here. I don't begrudge him his
rice, SO let's k eep him aboard the junk
instead of sending him to feed the
fishes"
The thought that such fearful idea
had been in their minds sent Sho Mails
heart into her mouth, but since she had
won the first point by courage she was
quick to see that weakness would be
fatal.
1.-The fish will do very we'll without
me, no doubt" she said, though hei
voice almost stuck in her throat; land
if they don't, why, let them starve
then, or feed on towards"
The two men exchanged glance o.
wonder and admiration, and in it Sh6
Mai read the guarantee of her safety.
LET the cook see that the young fell
low has his supper" said the captain
for upon the honor Of my father ht
deserves it,"
From that day on Sho Mai was treated
with kindness by all on board. Thu
readiness Of her wit appeared to be |
source of endless delight to the bluff
captain, who spent many hours talking
with her, and would laugh immoderate
ly at her quaint comments upon VIVA
she saw. She was not slow to perceive
her advantage, and she studied he
words that they might fit the humor o
the man in whose hands she saw tina
her fate now rested
No work was required of her, and sh
spent all her time in listening to an,
judiciously applauding the captain
wondrous stories of the sea, and il
studying the river banks as the junl
pursued her way. In particular, he
reckless disregard of the future dc
lighted the skipper, who predicted 70
her glorious future when she shout
grow up and command a vessel of he
own In response to his questions sh
told preposterous story of her past life
and he seemed all the more please
with it because he evidently recognize
it for clever and interesting falsehoot
She wondered much concerning tn
nature of that cargo which the captai
had so much feared that she had see
s when the great box had fallen upon tn
pier, but no word in explanation of thu
}, occurrence could she win from any on
r by such questioning as she dared to ven
g ure upon.
Q One day the river widened before hs
d eyes. The banks receded till the
i wholly passed from sight, and Sho Nj
b knew that she was at last upon th
@ bosom of the ocean. They sailed nortl
b ward before favorable winds, and undt
Q skies cloudless by day and night. Thu
d for several days, and then came an af
l. ernoon when lifeless and sullen cal
pressed heavily upon the sea. The a
8 grew heavy, and in it there appeared
|, be strange pulsation which was NJ
q unlike the roll of the CLASSY pillows u
n der the ship. In the west the 81
10 dropped behind belt of copper bordert
r, with lead, which rose with slow ar
IL LeTTlDlt pTcClSlOus udl hohihS VIC De
more and more. The captain and q
;" the sailors cast anxious looks at II
" broad belt of cloud in the west, and WHIT
the sun sank into it they lowered all Il
h sails but very small portion scarce
to larger than a shawl.
d. "a great gale will soon break np'
. u.s." said the captain. SIN all my ii
le upon the sea ] have never seen mo
ly threatening sky"
a The cloud rose higher and Sho M
ne watched it with curiosity. which h
DIS much fear in it. Still, she had new
IN seen a storm and did not know VIII
d. waves can be when they raise the
crests against vessel.
w Suddenly upon the dull surface OF
an cloud appeared white fieck as |
l light vail, twisted and drawn out. we
vi flung diagonally across it. AS Sho N
is gazed at this apparition it began
move rapidly toward the zenith. T
great cloud sprang up higher. Ono
this canopy white streak was trac
.ai upon the water. From afar came
: a whisper, then moan, then the gre