The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-11-10
By....
CHARLES CLARK MUM


outing on the yacht we must make up
q gander party
That suits NE just as we'll as, and
in fact better than, the other plan," re-
Piled Albert consolingly. "If we have
a lot of ladies along we must dance at
tendance upon them, and if not we can
fish, smoke, play cards, sing or go to
sleep when we feel like it. l tell you,
Frank he continued, evidently desir-
ing to cheer up that young man, "girls
are all right as companions at home or
at balls and theaters, but on yacht
they are in the way"
A week afterward, and early one
bright morning, the Gypsy, with
skipper, crew and party of eight
jolly young men on board, sailed out
of Boston and that night dropped
anchor under the lee of an island in
Casco bay. She remained there one
full day and the next ran to Booth
bay and found shelter in a landlocked
cove forming part of the coast line
! OF Southport island. It was after din
ner next day, and while the rest of
the party were either playing cards or
mapping in hammocks under the avn
ing, that Albert Page took one of the
boats, his pipe and sketchbook and
rowed down the coast mile to an in
let he had noticed the day before. The
outer point of this was formed by a
bold cliff that he desired to sketch, and
pulling the boat well up behind the
inner point, tying the painter to a
rock and taking the cushions along,
he found shady spot and sat down.
The sloping rock he selected for a
seat was little damp, but he thought
nothing of it, and lighting his pipe be-
gan sketching.
| He worked for an hour putting the
weed draped rocks and long swells
! that broke over them into his book.
and then, lulled perhaps by the monot-
onous rhythm of the ocean, lay back
on the cushions and fell asleep The
next he knew he was awakened by a
| cold sensation and found the tide had
| risen until it wet his feet Hastily
getting up, he took the cushions and
returned to where he had left the boat,
| only to find it had disappeared. The
| rising tide had lifted the boat and
painter from the rocks, and it was
nowhere to be seen
There must be some road back up
on the island he thought, 'that will
| lead me near the cove where the
Gypsy u.s." and, still retaining the
cushions, ne started to find it. But
he was stranger to Southport island,
and the farther away from the sea he
got the thicker grew the tangle of
! scrub spruce and briers. 1t was too
| thick to see anywhere, and after a
half hour of desperate scrambling the
afternoon sun began to seem about due
east. He had long since dropped the
cushions, and finally, in sheer exhaus-
ton, he sat down on rock to collect
himself
1T looks as though I'm billed to stay
here all night he thought as he noted
the lowering sun, "and nobody knows
how much longer! There must be
road somewhere, though, and I'm 60
ing to find it if the light lasts long
enough"
He started once more and had not
gone ten rods ere lie came to ono. and
then he treathed easier. His clothes
were torn, his hands and face scratch
ed by briers, and to sage himself he
couldn't make it seem but that the sun
was setting in the east lie sat down
to think. All sound Of the ocean was
gone, and a stiffness that seemed to
crawl out of the thicket was around
him. He rested few moments more
and then suddenly heard the sound of
wheels and presently saw, coming
around tie curve, an old fashioned
carryall, worn and muddy, and. driv-
ing the horse at a jog trot. man as
dilapiGated looking as the vehicle.
GladGened at the sight, he arose and,
holding up his hard as signal, halted
the team. Excuse me, sir,'' he said
to the man, who eyed him curiously,
but will you tell ne where amp
"Waal," was the answer in a slow
drawl, we're on Southport island an
bout four miles from the jumpin' off
place: Whar might We be goin'? Ye
looked bushed.''
Il ann answered Page, land badly
pushed too. lost my boat over back
here on the shore and have had a
cheerful time among the Mohawk
briers. belong to a yacht that is
anchored in cove of this island,
can't tell where, and If you will take
me- to her I'll pay you well.''
The man in the wagon laughed.
Say, stranger he observed with a
chuckle, you mind me O. the Teller
that got full an wandered round for
: a spell till he fetched up to house
an sed to the man that cum to the
door, If you will tell me who I am or
whar l am or whar want ter 60 I'll
give We dollar'''
Page had to laugh in spite of his
plight, for the humorous twinkle in
the old mans eyes as he uttered his
joke was Infectious
I'D like ter 'commodate ye,' he add
ed, but as I'm carryin' Uncle Sans