The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1908-11-27

scared, don't say word. Not scared
COR myself. you understanding. in
deed. When l get drowned, with
tight plank under me and a pair OF
oars In my hand, 'twon't be in the bay,
III tell you that. But was scared for
Van Brunt and his lordship in the
Dora Bassett. They didn't either of
'em know the jib from the rudder,
and the valet was too crazy frightened
to be Of any use IL he had.
But Van was sure to be cool enough,
and the broken gaff would act like
double reef, so that was some COM
fort And the squall want going to
amount TO nothing-'twas only a fair
breeze even now-so If Van had sense
enough to keep the tiller straight and
let her run they'd fetch up some
where's alongshore, judged. And, to
make me hope still more, the squall
had brought a complete change OF
wind with it; now twas blowing back
up the bay instead of out TO sea.
So | squared my shoulders and laid
to the oars, heading for where, judg-
ing by the wind, the land ought to be.
Twas darker than a black kitten in
nigger's pocket, but l carlated to be
able to hit the broadside of the United
| States somewheres. / got aground on
the flats five or six times, but along
towards midnight l butted ashore at
the little end of nowhere where there
was nothing but bushes and sand and
pines, no sign of civilization. And by
this time twas pouring rain.
After a couple of years of scratch
ing and swearing and falling down l
come out of the scrub into kind OF
clearing. Then / discovered a barbed
wire fence by hanging up on it like
sheet on a line and located the back
of barn by banging into it with my
head. Then a nice laxative dog come
out of the barn and located me, and
! things commenced to liven up.
While me and the dog were con-
! Quoting our experience meeting, a
! light showed in an upstairs window
little ways off and somebody sticks
their head out and wants to know
what's the matter.
who are you?" he says.
my names Pratt" says I.
where are you?"
well" says, -" judging by the feel
and smell I'm on top of the pig-sty.
But l amt real sure. l can tell you
where your dog is, if you want to
know"
What are you doing round here
this time of night?" he says.
l told him as well as l could. The
dog was having a conniptiOn fit, trying
to bark itself inside out, and / had
to say things over three or four times
SOS body could hear. But the Teller
at the window want satisfied even
then. never see such a wooden
| head.
What Pratt did you say you was?"
he hollers.
l told him my name and where
hailed from.
"Sol Pratt?" he says cot Well
mouth? What are you doing way
over here?"
"Blast it ALL" l yells. IF want
half drowned already | should say
was getting wet. Turn out and let a
Teller into the kitchen or somewheres,
won't you? And tie up this everlasting
dog"
That seemed to wake him up some
and in ten minutes or so he comes
poking out with a lantern. l knew
him then. Twas Ebenezer Holbrook,
Hubby Ann Scudder's sisters husband,
who lives over in the woods on the
line between South Eastwich and
West Ostable. There was another
man with him and blest if it didn't
turn out to be Nate Scudder himself
Him and Hubby was visiting over
there, same as he said they was going
to.
Nate had more than a million ques-
tions to ask. Ebenezer tied up the
dog-the critter pretty nigh broke
down and sobbed when he found
want to be fed to him-and We went
into the kitchen. Then Mrs. Holbrook
and Hubby Ann, rugged up tasty and
becoming in curl papers and bed quilts,
floated downstairs and there was more
questions
When Nate found out that one of
his dodgers was cast adrift in the bay
he was almost as worried and upset
as l was. But Ebenezer agreed with us
that there was a good chance of the
sloop's getting ashore safe. He said
why didn't l turn in on his setting
room lounge for the few hours be-
tween then and sun-up, and in the
morning me and Nate conld take his
yawl dory and cruise al1agshore and
hunt. So ! done it. though twas pre-
cious little sleep / got.
About six o'clock we started. l
thought first I'd go up to Eastwich
village and telegraph to Hartley. Then
| thought I'd better not; no use to
scare him till had to. Nate had
heard about the pig chase and Hart
ley's doings over there and he pes
tered the life out of me with questions
about that.
Queer that boy should turn out to
be his brother, want it?" he says.
Whose brother?" says /, leaning
| ont ovar tho vawl'e side and watch.