Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-25

and. buoyant as the dory was, sne
occasionally took in water over her siue' ~ a.
uuiring considerable bailing from tiihe w
time.
Not thing could Fred find that had even
the semblance of an edge to it, by whicn W hWe
might sever, OF even chafe off, the heHpen
trace by which his boat was drawn, ana hs !.
went back to his steering oar with oeciueu
uneasiness.
He ate his lunch and drank some water
from the bottle in the stern, watching VIII
feelings of more than apprehension the unuL
minished speed Of his ocean courser, whicn
was taking him further and further Iroh'
shore.
Thus an hour-and another-passed
"This will never do!" exclaimed Fred, des-
perately, as he went forward again.
There was no hope of loosing the hall -hitches
where the line was made fast in the DOW
the Gordian knot never was drawn INTO d
more hopeless shape than was this, through
the great strain. Suddenly Fred clapped his
hand on his knee. 49,,
"What fool" he said. "Oh, what fool!
It is not unlikely, from the action whlch
followed, that his remark had very persona
application. Stumbling eagerly back to the
stern, he hastily broke his water bottle, ana
with one of the sharp fragments sawed across
"snap," it parted, and away went the black
fish and iron, with the line streaming far be-
hind. Fred drew long sigh of relief.
"To think that l should have been such
dunce!'' he remarked, audibly, as he settled
down to his oars IL wonder Hello!
What's this?'
For. as he pulled his dory's head around,
Fred saw very large steamer coming toward
him-a larger vessel than he had ever seen in
his whole life, though he had more than once
gazed at the ocean steamers which ply be-
tween Portland and Liverpool.
"She must have come directly from the
other side," Fred muttered to himself, resting
on his oars and watching her with breathless
interest as his light dory rose and fell on the
beaving waves. "Now, where can she be
bound heading-let me see-about nor'west r
He well knew that it was not common for
such large vessels to be found SO far inshore.
keep outside of Monhegan and Seguin Islands,
unless they are bound directly in to a harbor.
In a very few moments the steamer was
directly abreast of Fred, so that he could
plainly see the captain and one or two gold
faced officials on her bridge.
While he was spelling out the name Gin
bria' on her quarter boards he noticed with
surprise that she began to slow her engines,
and in a moment or two was rising and falling
majestically on the bosom OF the ocean.
val rigs, and the notes OF boatswain's whis-
tie were heard almost continually.
"Come you to alongside" shouted a stem
torian voice from the bridge. "We buy your
feesh."
Obeying the order in great bewilderment,
Fred was soon Tending his little boat off from
the iron plates of the steamer with one hand.
while with the other he filed a basket, which
was sent down by line to him, with the
shining fish.
I bo En;a II
ladder being lowered, while at the gangway an
officer, whose blue coat was eruptiye with
buttons, beckoned him to come up
Making his dory fast to the bottom round
he quickly assembled, and, in obedience to an.
other sign, followed his conductor to the main
deck, where, to his CONSERVATION and surprise
he was ushered upon the bridge itself.
Here stood the commander, a stern-looking
middle-aged man, with the fercest of gra,
m:ae mqstaehes "a and Ian an eye 4t like gimlet.
seemed to be consulting chart which lay OF
q stand before them.
The commander growled something which
sounded like 'volley of sneezes and ended
with SKI" at which the younger of the grouI
said to Fred, who had pretty much regainet
"You is Amarican boy?"
Eyes, sir" Fred answered, involuntaril,
Strengthening himself as he spoke.
"And you Ii along dere| pointing to th'
distant shore line.
Again Fred answered in the affirmative.
"Can you read printed book maps. eh?" con
tinued his questioner.
81 should hope SO" was Fred's indignan
reply; "and let me tell you, sir, there are no
many boys of my age in America who cam
read-and write, too"
Here the commandant seemed to want Il
know what Fred had said and upon its bein
translated to him, he at first frowned fear
fully-for l believe they're bit slack on edu
cational matters in Russia as compared witt