Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-09-22
CHATTER XVII


at the dim cloud upon the horizon
which marked the position OF that
France which they were never 70 see
again
What DO you mean. Adele7 My
uncle is hale and hearty. and be will
accustom himself to this new life"
III II only could be so! But fear.
fear that he IS over old for such a
change He says not a word OF com
plant, but ] read upon bis face that
he Is stricken 20 the heart"
De Catinat was about TO suggest that
the voyage might restore the mer-
chants health. when Adele gave a cry
OF surprise and pointed out over the
port quarter,
Look she cried. There Is some
thing floating upon the sea. saw II
upon the crest Of a wave"
He looked IN the direction in which
she pointed. but Il was so FAR from
him that he could make nothing OF Il.
but sharper eyes than his had caught
glance OF IL. Amos Green had seen the
girl point
Captain Ephralm," said be. there's
The New England seaman whipped
up bis glass.
aye its n boat" said he. "but an
empty one. Maybe it's been washed
OF from some ship or gone adrift from
shore Put her hard down. Mr. Tom
hnson, FOR Il just SO happens that
am 81 need OF n boat st present"
Half n minute later the Golden Rod
had swung round and was running
swiftly down toward the black spot
which still Sobbed and danced upon
the waves. As they neared her they
could see that something was project
ing over her side.
It's mans headr' cried Amos
Green.
But EphrniuSs grim face grew grim
mer. Its a mans foot" said ne. Il
mlnk that you had best take the gal
below 20 the cabin"
Amid a solemn hush they ran along
side this lonely craft which hung out
30 sinister "A signal.
She was little thirteen foot cookie
shell very broad for her length and
80 bat in the bottom that she had been
meant evidently FOR river or lake work.
Huddled together beneath the seats
We're three folk. a man IN the dress OF
q respectable artisan. a woman OF the
same class aud n little child about n
year old. The boat was half full or
water, and the woman and child We're
stretched with their faces downward.
the fair curls OF the infant and the
dark locks or the mother washing 10
and fro like water weeds upon the
surface. The man lay with n slate
colored face. his chin cooking up to-
ward the sky. his eyes turned upward
20 the whites and his mouth wide open.
showing a leathern crinkled tongue
Ike rotting leaf. In the bows. all
huddled in a heap and with a single
paddle still grasped In his hand. there
crouched a very small man clad In
black. an open book lying across his
face and one stiff leg jutting upward.
with the heel OF the foot resting be-
tween the rowlocks.
A boat had been lowered by the Gold
en- Rod, and the unfortunates were
soon conveyed upon deck. No particle
OF either food or drink was TO be found
or anything save the single paddle aud
the open Bible. which lay across the
small mans face. Man. woman and
child had ali been dead a day at the
least and so. with the short prayers
used upon the seas. they were buried
from the vessels side. The small man
had at first seemed also 70 be nfeless.
but Amos had detected some slight
81 81.
haze was left upon the watch glass
which was held before his mouth.
Wrapped in a dry blanket, he was laid
beside the mast. and the mate forced
few drops OF rum every few minutes
between his lips until the little speck
or life which still fingered IN him
might be famed 10 a flame. Mean
while Ephraim Savage had ordered up
the two prisoners whom he had en-
trapped at Honneur
VERY sorry. captain" said the sea
man. but either you had 10 come
with as. dye see, or we had TO stay
with you. They're waiting for me over
at Boston, and 30 in truth / couldn't
tsrry. Which would you prefer. TO go
on with us to America or TO go back
"
Back TO France. IL 1 can fnd nv
way, II only TO have word with that
fool OF a gunner"
Wei, we emptied a bucketful OF
water over his lnstock an5 printing.
dye see, so maybe he did all he could
But there's France, where that thick
ening is, over yonder."
Il see 1t; 1 see IL! All. II my feet
were only upon ii once moreg'
There Is a boat beside us. aud you
may take IT,"
MY God, what happinessi Corporal
Lemolne, the boatl Let US push Off at
once"
But you need a few things first
Good Lord. who ever heard OF a man
pushin' OF like that7 Mr. TcmIlnson.
Just sling a keg OF water and a barrel
OF meat and OF biscuit into this boat.
Hiram Jefferson, bring two oars aft