Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-07-24

with the rocking of the boat the foul
biIge water washed around the childs
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
brooch, and lifted the infant out of its
unpleasing environment. 1t was pite-
Gus to see the way in which the shrunk-
en- hands at once stroye to clasp his
wrists. though they were all too feeble
to achieve more than gentle clutch
which relaxed almost as soon as the
effort was made.
Jones, also husband and father, be-
thought him when he reached the
lowered q basket there was not only
a supply of brandy within, but also
bottle of fresh milk, which reached the
Gulf Rock, by arrangement with fish
erman, whenever weather permitted.
Jim handed the jug to his exhausted
companion.
"Here, cap'n," he said cheerfully.
"Take a couple of mouthfuls of this.
It'll warm the cookies of your heart.
An the sooner you shin up the ladder
and get them soaked rags off you the
better. Can you manage? It's near
thing for the kid, if not too late now"
Brand needed no second bidding.
He did not wish to collapse utterly,
and the soft breeze, rendered chilly by
his wet garments, had revived him
somewhat.
The resourceful sailor did not at
tempt the foolish process Of pouring
even the smallest quantity Of milk into
the baby's mouth. He produced hand
kerchief, stepped a twisted corner in
the milk and placed it between the
parched, salt blackened lips. go =
This rough expedient for a feeding
bottle served admirably. The child's
eagerness to gulp in the life giving fluid
was only matched by the tender care
of the sailor in his efforts to appease
its ravenous hunger.
He was so intent on this urgent task
that for little while he paid no heed
to Brand. Jones, forty feet overhead,
took the keenest interest in the baby's
nurture. $50. tf'
Mind you don't let it suck the hand
kerchief into its little throat he, cried.
"Not too much, Jim. It's on'y young
'un. Half roil.,. half water an a lump
Of sugar. my rlissus says Pore little
dear! However did it come to live,
when that man must ha' been dead for
days? Now, Jim, slow an sure is the
motter. S'pose you shove it into the
basket an let me hoist it up here A
warm bath an a blanket is the next
best thing to milk an water"
''All right, skipper. Just hold on a
bit. She's dom fine.''
''Is it he or she?"
81 dunno. But I guess it's q gal by
the duds."
The baby, in the sheer joy Of living
again, uttered gurgling cry, a COM
pound Of milk, happiness and pain.
There! told your shouted Jones
angrily. you think every kid is q
hardy young savage like your own.
You're overdoin' it, say
"Overdoin' wot?' demanded the sail
or. you don't know who you're talkin'
to. Why, when I was on the West
this way"
Soon these firm friends would have
quarreled-so unbounded was their
anxiety to rescue the futtering exist
ence Of the tiny atom of humanity SO
miracuiously snatched from the perils
OF the sea.
But Stephen Brands dominant per-
sonality was rapidly recovering it's nor
NAL state.
"Jim," he said, "AIr. Jones is right
The child must be made comfortable.
Her skin is raw and her eyes sore with
Inflammation The little food she has
already obtained will suffice for a few
minutes. Send her up"
The "Mr. Jones' was a gentle re-
minder Of authority. No further pro-