The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-16
A Shabby Trick

give the Pilgrim, Captain Burt's
Boat, small time allowance.
Everything on board the Phebe
was taut and, trim, and Captain
Warbone had fnish..- ...s o.p .,5r and
was putting away at his cigar. The
new moon was setting heyond the
hills, and the chirping of the crick-
cts and the sharp grating of the
katydids from the shore could be
distinctly heard on board the yacht.
"Well, Charlie, don't see why
we can't beat the Pilgrim in good
shape, dc you?" said the captain
We'll, cap'n, we'll have to work
hard to beat her, but think we can
do it if we have plenty Of wind. We
must put some other rigging on that
lib than them sister hooks. They
can't never be depended on, and we
don't want no break down tomor-
row."
"All right, Charlie. We will do
that in the morning. You call me
as soon as you get the decks scrub
bed down. Good night. Pm going
TO turn in
"Good night, cap'n," returned
Charlie as he went forward to keep
anchor watch. Charles, as you doubt
less have surmised, was the right
hand man on the Phebe.
On board the Pilgrim everything
was different. The captain, Frank
lin Burt, was holding q low conver-
sation with rough looking man Of
the longshore type. Every few min
utes he would push bottle across
the table SO that Dan, as he called
him, could fill his glass.
''You are sure you can do it, Dan !?
1t won't do to have any breaks made
and the trick discovered, you know"
'I can stay under water for min
ute and half, and that ought to do
the business, cap'n, cause I can
drive two nails in that time If I take
a searu, sure"
"Wen," said Burt suddenly, after
asilence, "stop drink and go ashore.
When you get the job done come
back and report"
"Aye, aye, sir. I'll do it." So
saying Daa pushed off in the dingey
and with strong, -noiseless strokes
rowed the boat down the river with
the current to where the Phebe was
anchored. He then beached his boat,
and, going into the bushes, soon
brought back a life preserver, ham
mer, nails and an empty -four bag.
He carefully put the last mentioned
articles on the life preseryer, and,
after divesting himself Of his
clothes, started to swim to the
Phebe, pushing the life preserver
before him.
Swimming around under the stern,
he tied the preserver to the rudder
post and, taking the bag, hammer
and nails, dived down under the keel
and nailed the bag to the bottom of
the sloop. The noise aroused Char
lie, for the slightest sound of any
thing rubbing against boat sug-
gests danger end puts seaman on
the alert.
Dan had risen to the top of the
water for breath and, hanging to
the rudder post, remained quiet for
some time. After looking around
Charlie thought the noise must have
been caused by log or piece of
driftwood striking the bobstay, and,
seeing nothing amiss, he went below
and slept till daybreak.
Dan pushed off and slowly guided
the life preserver to the shore.
Then, putting it in the dingey, he
rowed to the Pilgrim, where Burt
vas waiting for him. he climbed
on board and after another vigor-
GUS attack ON the bottle turned in
for nap.
When the day broke, both crews
we're hard at work washing decks,
and plenty Of water soon made ev-
erything as neat as q whistle. ALI
the ropes were coiled down and in
their: proper places. Warbona was
the first captain TO make his appear
ance on deck, and it was signalized
by the hosting Of the. mainsail. The
big club topsail was the next to go
up. The sails ehone white and daz-
zling through ths morning mist,
which was rising in small clouds
from the water.
Captain Burt was soon on deck,
and then his mainsail and. topsaila
we're hoisted. The sun. rose over
the long sandy point on the Maui
tawket side Of the river, and every
thing began to warm and dry in its
rays. On the Phebe the sister hooka
we're soon changed for strong
shackle which satisfied even the ex-
tremely particular Charlie.
The race was set for 10 O'Clock,
and every necessary thing was done
long before. that time. At about 8
o'clock the Pilgrim slipped her
mornings and went for short spin