The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-12-28

s.. 3
II don't want any more oranges"
she said, when he was near enough.
"but perhaps you may have other
fruit?"
He came up to her and put down his
basket. II have bananas, but perhaps
you don't like them?"
ooh, yes, dol" she answered.
But, without Offering to show her the
fruit, Dickory continued: There's one
thing don't like, and that's the men
on board your ship"
What do you mean?" she asked,
amazed.
Speak lower" he said; and, as he
spoke, he bethought himself that it
might be well to hold out towards her
a couple of bananas.
They're bad, hard lot of men," he
said. II heard that from more than
one person. You ought not to stay on
this ship"
"And what do you know about it,
Mr.. Impudence?" she asked, with brows
uplifted. II suppose my father knows
what is good for me-"
But he is not here" said Dickory.
| Kate looked steadfastly at him. He
did not seem as ruddy as he had been
And then she looked out upon the for
ward deck, and the thought came to
| her that when she had first noticed
these men it had seemed to her that
they were, indeed, a rough, hard lot.
Kate Bonnet was brave girl, but
without knowing why she felt little
frightened.
Your name is Dickory, isn't it?" she
said.
He looked up quickly, for it pleased
him to hear her use his name. "In-
deed it isl he answered.
We'll, Dickory," said she, II wish
you would go and find Ben Greenway.
should like to have him with me I'M
til my father comes back
He turned, and then stopped for an
instant. He said in clear voice: Il
will go and get the shilling changed"
And then he hurried away.
He was gone long time, and Kate
could not understand it. Surely the
Sarah Williams was not so big ship
that it would take all this time to look
for Ben Greenway. But he did come
back, and his face seemed less ruddy
than when she had last seen it. He
came up close to her, and began
handling his fruit.
II don't want to brighten you," he
said, "but I must tell you about things.
could not find Ben Greenway, and
asked one of the men about him, feign:
ing that he owed me for some fruit,
and the man looked at another man
and laughed, and said that he had been
sent for in hurry, and had gone
ashore in boat"
Il cannot believe that" said Kate;
"he would not go away and leave me-"
Dickory could not believe it either,
and could offer no explanation.
Kate now looked anxiously over the
water towards the town, but no father
was to be SEEN
Now let me tell you what found
out" said Dickory, you must know it.
These men are wicked robbers.
slipped quietly among them to find out
something, with my shilling. in my
hand, ready to ask somebody to change
it, If l was noticed"
We'll, what next?" laying her hand
on his arm.
ooh, don't do that!" he said. quick
ly; better take hold of a banana. i
spied that Big Sam, who is sailing
master, and black-headed fellow TAX
ing their ease behind some boxes
smoking, and listened with all sharp
ness. And Sam, he said to the other
one-not in these words, but in Ian
gnage not fit for you to hear-what he
would like to do would be to get off on
the next tide. And when the other
fellow asked him why he didn't go then
and leave the fool-meaning your
father-to go back to his farm, Big
Sam answered, with good many
curses, that if he could do it he would
drop down the river that very minute
and wait at the bar until the water was
high enough to cross, but that it was
impossible because they must not sail
until your father had brought his cash
box on board 1t would be stupid to
sail without that cash box
"Dickory," said she, 81 am fright
ened; want to go on shore, and |
want to see my father and tell him
these things
4 But there is no boat" said Dickory;
EVERY boat has left the ship"
But you have one" said she, look
ing over The side.
| 1T is a poor little canoe" he an
swered, land l am afraid they would
not let me take you away, having nc
orders to do So"
''Dickory," said she, what shall ]
do? Shall scream and wave my
handkerchief? Perhaps they may see
and hear me from the town.
NO." said Dickory, 81 would not dc
that. The night is coming on, and the
sky is cloudy. And besides, if you
make a noise, those fellows might dc
something"
"Oh. Dickory. what shall l do?"
You must wait for your father" he
said; ''he must be here soon, and .ne
moment you see him, call to him and
make him take you to shore You