Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-05-06
PETE'S PULL WITH THE POWERS.

PETE'S PULL WITH THE POWERS.
On the dry, sun parched crest of the
mountain. four thousand feet above the
desert dust. rcposed the Nymph. the "Sea
Nymph," little seow schooner, twenty
tons burden, Pete Nicholson, master;
master and builder, mate and owner, crew
and cook, in one. The ships cat alone
shared watch with Pete She was
crouched on the end of the bowsprit,
alertly Watching bcvy of quail.
scratching in the shade of the prov.
Suddenly she pricked up her ears, her
eyes dilatcd, ard without further hest
tatipn she scrambled aloft, upsetting in
her fight a stack of survey maps. Pete
was mcndins sails by the cabin door.
Whats ahoy, Matilda 2" he cried.
whats ahoy?"
Then he listened He caught the sound
Of schools on the hinty rocks. He
heard the cracking of a twig, and then
the cracking of a saddle. The next in
slant a cowboy rode into view.
Hello, there, captain. Seen any stray
steers up this way ?"
Nary a steer, Antonio nary steer.
How's things down the canyon?"
Hotter than ever Water holes all
dry except old OLA Grady's lost thirty
head in the last week.
1t won't last, it won't last Mark my
word. Antonio, we'll have water; plenty
of it."
You've preached water for the last
FIVE years, and it's getting scarcer all the
time"
Antonio slid off his horse, tied it to a
tree, and clearing a space on deck among
the scattered papers, he sat down to a
chew with Pete.
Good tobac, that Got any more in
the hold?"
Plenty, so long as it lasts"
The two chewed in silence for a while.
Pete continued his mending. his strong
frame bent to the task, his brown hands
deft with the needle Antonio tipped
pebbles at the eat till she came down and
disappeared aft.
Say, Pete, what's the use wasting
time on them sailsI"
Wasting time, You call it. Well, I'm
not going TO be caught with torn sails.
Ports the place to get ready in. I've
been laid up here for five years waiting
for favorable breeze, and it'H come.
mark my word it'll come"
Breeze enough, captain. but don't you
think you need little moisture; lust
little?'
Pete shifted his tobacco uneasily. spat
overheard and replied:
That's just it, Antonio. You've struck
it right. | was telling Matilda last night
that was all was lacking for smooth
sailing. And wen get it, too"
His eyes grew bright with enthusiasm.
We'll get it," he continued. That
blasted hole of a desert down there was
once the bottom of the sea, and what
Was once is going to be again. God Al
mightys too economical to waste Il good
basin Ike that. We're partial to water
He and !. Didn't He make three quar-
ters sea and only one-quartcr land?
That's proof enough, Antonio. He's
mighty partial to oceans, and He won't
waste such chance as that" waving
his hand toward the hazy desert. His
face was glowing with conviction.
so, you see, keep things ship-shape.
ready to sail"
We'll. good luck to you, Pete. You
don't want water more than we do down
GOT
a pull with the powers Pete have il
fresh. IS better Tor drinking purposes. y
Antonio remounted, and rode down the
steep. shifting trail. leaving the bright.
eyed captain sewing indu,uious}y in the
sunlight.
Poor old luny" said the COWBOY Ia
nm~eIi. Hes too smart to he wasted.
WHAT WITH has surveying and planning.
lac might bc OF some use Must he
/ mighty lonesome up there. alone; cuonah
/ to turn any mas brain
/ lie ~pmred his horse and hurried ON
toward the ranch The boy, were There
ana they We're not lurv.
A few days latter they were aft NJ
"Je3Nta~t ia the adobe out house. Al thar
carry hour the sunshine gave promise Of
intense heat to come The mir was s};j
and sitting, Occasionally the bnar.a
/ believing OF a thirsty COW mingled with
'ne Wttlng of tin cam, and plates. and n
smell al yucca blossoms mixed with flo
. taeou fumes. Over the rocky shoulder nf
I'' mountain great white cloud an.
pvacaI 'i'
said Antouio. ''''''-''
Maybe. ii it don't change IFS mind -
sand another. The clouds ain blow al,av
this year" '"'''
mt one, coming all right. Hear il
'ioud after cloud massed in the blue
great soft pulls Of white. until. covcripo
HE sun, their glory changed to somber
say. deepening on the horizon - violet
FLASHES OF lightning streaked the blacE.
ness and distant rumbling blended with
nearer reports.