Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-03-28
CHAPTER XVII,

extending along the whole of
the southern horizon. On the third
morning, however, came a sharp
breeze, and they drew rapidly away
from land until 1t was but a vague,
dim line which blended with the cloud
banks.
81 am frightened about my father,
Amory," said Adele as they stood to-
gether by the shrouds and looked back
at the dim cloud upon the horizon
which marked the position of that
France which they were never to see
again.
"What do you mean, Adele? My
uncle is hale and hearty, and he will
accustom himself to this new life"
"If it only could be so! But fear, l
fear that he Is over old for such a
change. He says not a word Of com
plant, but / read upon his face that
he is stricken to 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. I saw it
upon the crest of a wave"
He looked in the direction in which
she pointed, but 1t was 70 far from
him that he could make nothing Of 1t,
but sharper eyes than hS had caught a
glance of it. Amos Green had seen the
girl point.
Captain Ephraim," said he, there's
a boat ON the starboard quarter"
The New England seaman whipped
UP his glass.
"Aye, it's a boat" said he, but an
empty one Maybe it's been washed
off from some ship or gone adrift from
shore. Put her hard down, Mr.. Tom
linson. for it just so happens that l
am in need of a boat at present"
Half a minute later the Golden Rod
swiftly down toward the black spot
which still bobbed and danced upon
the waves, AS they neared her they
could see that something was project
ing over her side.
ITS a mans head!' cried Amos
Ereen.
But Ephraim's grim face grew grim
,er. ITS a mans foot" said he. 81
think that you had best take the gal
below to the cabin"
Amid a solemn hush they ran along
side this lonely craft which hung out
so sinister a signal.
She was a little thirteen foot cookie
shell, very broad for her length and
so fat in the bottom that she had been
meant evidently for river or lake work.
Huddled together beneath the seats
were three folk, a man in the dress of
a respectable artisan, a woman of the
same class and a little child about a
year old. The boat vas half full of
water, and the woman and child were
stretched with their faces downward,
the fair curls Of the infant and the
dark locks of the mother washing to
and fro like water weeds upon the
surface. The man lay with a slate
colored face, his chin cooking up to-
ward the sky, his eyes turned upward
to the whites and his mouth wide open,
showing a leathern crinkled tongue
like a 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 un~fortunates were
soon conveyed upon deck. No particle
Of either food or drink was to be found
or anything save the single paddle and
the open Bible, which lay across the
small mans face. Man, woman and
child had all 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 to be l~ifeless,
but Amos had detected some slight
fiutter Of his heart, and the ~faintest
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 a
few drops of rum every few minutes
between his lips until the little speck
OF life which still fingered In him
might be famed to q fame. Mean
while Ephraim Savage had ordered up
the two prisoners whom he had en-.
trapped at Honfeur.
VERY sorry, captain" said the sea.
man, 'but either you had to come
with MS. dye zee, or we had to stay
with you. They're waiting for me over
at Boston, and 90 In truth I couldn't
tarry. Which would you prefer. to go
on with rs to America or to go back
to Francef"
Back to France. II ! can find my
way, II only to have q word with that
fool of a gunner"
We'll. we emptied q bucketful Of
water over his linstock and printing,
dye see. 80 maybe he did all he could.
But there's France, whore that thick
ening ID, W yonder."
II 9 It; I zee II! All. II my feet
were only upon 1t once moret'
There Ii a boat beside US, and you
may take It..