Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-11-19

oul over the crane above their heads
What-a!' roared the sailor. whose
crudely developed nervous system was
not proof against the lar of incredulitv
inuuced by this statement. Had Brand
SAID "a tiger he could not have ex-
nlDlted greater concern.
YES, a baby-and it is living. I
neard 1t cry" murmured the other. sit
ting down rather suddenly.
indeed, faint wall, suggestive of a
Kitten, now came from beneath the
tumDied canvas quite near to Jim.
But the royal navy does not encourage
neurosis. The lighthouse keeper felt
that a minor crisis had arrived. 1t
must be dealt with promptly.
The evil odor which still adhered to
the boat tod him that Brand had ex-
changed one inferno for another when
he ciambered out of the reach of the
blindly vengeful shark.
He looked up to Jones.
Lower away" he said promptly.
Swing the derrick until | grab the
tackle, and then hoist me aboard"
This was done Ungainly in his
u, u
clinging to rope, had the easy activ-
ity of a squirrel.
Now lower jug with some brandy.
He's dead beat" he added.
While Jones fastened for the spirit,
the sailor stopped and threw back the
SAIL
Lying in the bottom of the boat,
wrapped in a blanket which unavailing
struggles had rumpled into a roll be-
meath the arms, was an infant whose
precise age it was impossible to esti-
mate forthwith owing to the emaciated
condition of its body.
With the rocking of the boat the foul
bilge water washed around the child S
limbs and back. Instinct alone had
saved it from drowning. Perhaps dur
ing the first hours of vigor after aban-
donment the little one might have roll
ed over in infantile search for food and
human tendance, but the rush of salt
water into eyes and mouth must have
driven the tiny sufferer to seek instant
ly the only position in which life was
possible.
So far as the man could judge in a
first hasty glance, the child's clothing
was of excellent quality Yet he gave
slight heed to such considerations.
Jim was the father of three lusty
youngsters who were snugly in bed in
PenZance, and the sight of this for
lorn sea waif made his eyes misty.
He reached down, unpinned the
blanket, which was secured with a
IL o,,+ If nc
unpleasing environment. 1t was pite
Gus to see the way in which the shrunlk
en- hands at once Strove to clasp his
wrists, though they were all too feeble
to achieve more than a gentle clutcl
which relaxed almost as soon as the
effort was made. - =. 80
Jones' also husband and father, be
thought him when he reached th
storeroom; hence when the windlas
lowered a basket there was not Onl.
a supply of brandy within, but also
bottle of fresh milk, which reached tn
Gulf Rock, by arrangement with fish
erman, whenever weather permitted.
Jim handed the jug to his exhausted
companion.
Here, cap'n,'' he said cheerfully
o stake a couple of mouthfuls of this
It'll warm the cookies of your heart
= An the sooner you shin up the ladde
> and get them soaked rags off you tn
. better Can you manage? It's nea
thing for the kid, if not too late now
e Brand needed no second bidding
= He did not wish to collapse utterly
: and the soft breeze, rendered chilly b
bod
- somewhat
= The resourceful sailor did not al
= tempt the foolish process of pourin
~ even the smallest quantity Of milk int
- the baby's mouth. He produced hano
. kerchief, stepped twisted corner
!, the milk and placed it between til
- parched, salt blackened lips.
- This rough expedient for feedin
~ bottle served admirably. The child
io eagerness to gulp in the life giving f1ui
= was only matched by the tender car
?, Of the sailor in his efforts to appeas
!. its ravenous hunger.
~ He was so intent on this urgent tas
e that for a little while he paid no het
- to Brand. Jones, forty feet overhea
took the keenest interest in the baby
nurture.
~ Mind you don't let it suck the han
= kerchief into it's little throat he erie
Not too much, Jim. It's only your
u 'un. Half milk, half water an lun
10 of sugar. my missus says. Pore lit
H. dear, However did it come to liv
nc when that man must ha' been dead f
~ q Now, Jim, slow an sure is Il
III :. S'pose you shove it into tt
d. ba--.et an let me hoist it up here.
~ warm bath an a blanket is the ne
best thing to milk an water"
eu .sAll right, skipper. Just hold on
el' bit. She's doin' fine"
u rs it a he or a she?'
~ 81 dunno. But 1 guess it's gal
II. the duds."
The baby, in the sheer joy OF hVil
AGAIN uttered a gurgiing cry, a col