The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-21
ALIGHTsHIp AnRIFT.

| A L1CTGt1soE1IE ADfsic lr
 "At this very moment" said the mas ter of the Banshee, I've got t expan- sion of a idea ats goin' to put money into both your pocket an mine, an make you able to marry that girl you've set your heart on
 "How?' Inquired the mate.
 l NTn gein' seekin',' said the master Now, to go seeking in the North Sea lis to steam away and at large, picking up anything that may be dereliet ol wanting help. ,:.
 we've tried that dodge often enough am it's never brought anything except loss O time an money said the mate
 "Ah! But this time I'm goin' seek ling something at isn't lostt' rejoined the master. This thing at I'm goin to find at isn't lost is a lightship.
 Its where the idea of expandfrl' comes in; this 1iglltship is in Windyland river, ready for towin' to the Thames She's to be brought out O that river an set adrift. s.. .ss3. "set adrift,'' repeated the master; "ar when she's loose the Banshee'll pick hel lup an bring her into Peterborough an then we'll get our just reward. It'll be ia case O. salvage s ss.s.s | "An' who's goin' to set her adrift?'' asked the mate.' .s. 5.
 You are,' the master told him. l "Tll do it." said the mate firmly, for the sake O Jennie Jenkins" When the mate reached Windyland he found that fortune favored him. Tn casual way lie walked down to the Champion and went on board. He was ready with his story about a deceased uncle, garnishetl with the addition that his presence in London was imperative as the late relatives fortune awaited 1 him. But Jack, the skipper, was in nc mood to listen.
 Yes said lie, ''hut I'm afraid you wouldn't find the trip very profitable
 You see--n :. I "Donst worry about wages iflterrup- ted the mate. T want to go to London an if you'll grub me we'll say no more about it. I've got q uncle there ats 1 left me a bit o' property. an as I'm go 1 ing to marry Jennie Jenkins it'll come l in useful. I hate the railway-stu thing besides, the fares 'ud be three 1 pound.'' #
 It's real good O. you,'' said Jack. 'EVerythingss readg--there a lot o' chaps on the lightship filters. an 50 on --an' there's been so much trouble ifl colleetin' .ena already at goodness knows Wfierf Ha should get teIn together again if they got ashnre.'' j
 The Champion with her new mate got out to sea with the lightship in tow. She was, a powerful, tWo-funneled tug, Bad weather to the Champion was nothing, but the lig1itship pitched and rolled like colossal cork. At times she rushed toward the tug with a veloc- 1 ity which threatened to destroy them both. and at other times she plucked al the stout haWser with q sayageness that gave promise of snapping it.
 1 F don't like the weather q Bit,' said Jack. Shell ha' to pull a sight 'arder nor that to get away. But, by George! If, she did get adrift she'd take some picking up. Catchin' weasel asleep 'ud be nothing to it: Now, you go be- low an get some dinner"
 'No, I'm not hungry" said the mate firmly. ''You can go an leave me tt look after tllings.t' S~ The skipper, with feigned reluctanee left the bridge and descended to the cabin, where the cask of beer had been laslled to locker. By way of solacing his feelings he drew as supply Il a quart can, and the engineer helped him, to drink it. .$ An hour passed, and the tin vessel had been many times replenished. @.-. 1 The mate oil the bridge felt neither thirst nor hunger. The Castle Hill was looming large to the south, a nasty fog was driving ilp the coast and the light ship was jumping and rolling ill @ cross sea. Coming up from the south was a steamer. which the mate recognized as the Banshee. We're both keepin' our appointments to a. T,'' muttereds the mate. Now for it, as soon as it's dark an L get the chancei" .. The skipper, rubbing, his eyes, ap- peared from. below.
 | I1S ttiC SouIpV% ul IttC Shess Gislu | the two ships stood farther out to give the coast wider berth.
 "You go below an get some tea said | the skipper. You'll find the cake near the cask. There's no hurry to come up Iagain--you've, had a long spell. Don't spare the barril.''
 l The mate descended from the bridge and went aft. He loolsedf astern. The 1 lightship was invisible, enveloped in a rolling cloud of mist No one was watching from the Champion. With two or three hacks of his knife at the tow rope the mate cut through a strand completely and weakened others. "The snappin' Il do the rest,' he told him. self, and guiltily hurried below.
 | There was a sudden leaping forward of the tug like some savage beast springing, as a big wave rushed past and lifted her up. Then the cries of startled 1nen-fron the lightship as we'll as the Champion. There was the scur- ry and scuffle of feet overhead and the below of voices in the darkness. The mate jumped from the locker, cast himself on the floor and slammed sleep. x | A great hand seized and shook him, and a. loud voice baWled in. his ear: