The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-04-05

out to cca. but segging more and mor
TO lceward with every attempt. Aud nj
last a wavelet, n trife hustler than
those which had gone before, hove her
high and dry upon the beach from
which she had started.
But Alec's model was I'm n different
plight. with never n shred of canvas
shivcring she reached out over the
mimic pillows, never swerving from
her course by n handsbrcadth, groov-
Ing her slanting path UP the watery
hills and slipping down into the valleys
with her decks as dry ms the burning
sun above could make them.
Though smarting with defeat, we
could but admire the power of this new
sea engine. She sailed some seven
points closer to the wind than any
craft we had hitherto clapped eyes on,
her speed was incontestable. and In
anything like moderate weather two
hands could put her about with ease.
Still, though she might be as agile as
a panther, we were by no means in
love with her rs n battleship and rain.
ed nj objections in n perfect storm.
To these Alec listened gravely enough
Mt first, but presently his eye lighted
up, and he answered with an amount
Of irritation and heat which was unu-
sual In him.
"To the ship breaker with your clum-
sy apple bowed floating fortresses!" he
cried. "Noah's ark was not more un-
hnndy In n sea. Look Mt my beauty,
how she sits the water like a duck.
Note her fine entrance. See how neatly
the waters close behind her delicate
stern, leaving no heavily dragging
wake. And as for lofty sides being a
protection against b%oarders, l shall ma
neuver so that no enemy car ever get
near enough to lay me aboard. And
the lower your freebonrd the smaller,
remember, is the enemy's target. You
ask where are my castles on bow and
stern. Why, you unobscrving dolts,
did you not hear before we left Eng
land that Captain Hawkins Of Plym-
outh was razing them from all his
ships as n lubberly incumbrance fit
only for land loving towards who could
not fight except from behind a stock
adeT
And so he ran on. decrying every
point In our ship and sticking up for
the innovations on his own SO tiercely
that, losing my temper somewhat, !
ventured to demonstrate. But before
ten sentences had passed my lips the
old nan Interrupted.
"Oh, no, hov' chuckled he. empty
headed Jack, what n pity you're no Il
| S%paniard, for surely a more mulish
bigot never stuck to n foolish cause,
| Why, good numskull, you're always
prating of your hatred FOR the dons and
here you are trying In your Grass igno'
rance to bellttle the most cunning
scourge that was ever made to swing
against their idolatrous backs. l tel
you, Jack, and you, my masters all,
tell you-I, who have thrown you q
dozen or 10 of true prophecies before
l tell you that yon ~outlandish craft
which Is now working her way almost
In the eye of the wind shall work
deed the like of which no English bark
like manned, has ever worked before
She shall fight a single handed tigh'
with n great galleon and capture her
and there shall be spoil such as thu
greediest of you scarce dare dream
about.
And so Off cap every one Of you t.
your captain and follow his bidding
without more Of your ignorant ques
tioning. oh. no, no! Ills a merr!
world, but peopled with FOOLS"
ITO be continued next Friday.l