Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-27

Eassett. We'd made a start, anyhow.
But It turned out that was all we'd
made. Van commenced to ask me
more about Hartley. and afore could
tell him the news about the pig race
| ana the rest, the Dora Bassett run her
nose on sand fat and there she
stuck was afraid OF that tide all
along.
I tried to get her off with the oar.
but twas no go. Then I pulled the
skiff alongside-N.e ons we'd been
towing astern-and got into that and
tried that way. But that wouldn't
work either. Finally jumped over.
board up to my waist and then l got
her off
But she stuck again afore We got
out of the cove. I splashed and
showed and worked for another half
hour or So the wind dying out and the
sg drifting in. Time got her afloat
this time and had listened to a steady
stretch of Van Brunt's lazy sarcasms,
my temper was worn to shoe strings.
Consarn the man, II didn't seem to
make no difference to him whether he
got home that night or a week from
then
We got out of that blessed cove
and into tho channel somewheres
around six o'clock. Then twas dead
beat home and the breeze pretty nigh
gone. A few minutes. and the fog
shut down on us. wet and thick and
heavy as ever ! see II. We poked
along for an hour or so more and
then twas most dark and we want
half way to Wellmouth. Lord James
in his usual position, hanging on to
the centcrboard and moving his head
from one side TO t'other as If he was
afraid of being hit when he want
looking. I'd pretty nigh scalpec him
with the boom once or twice and
now he ducked whenever the tiller
squoakcd. He certainly looked like
4 statue Of misery in a fountain. with
the fog dripping off his whskors.
Van was stretched out on the locker.
blowing smoke rngs and spouting
poetry I'd been too busy TO tell him
word about his girls being in the
neighborhood. Fact is, didn't like
the feel OF things believed there was
wind coming.
See here" says l. finally. "one OF
yon fellers' II have to go forari and
keep an eye out for shoals. We're on
the edge of the channel here and
want to be in deep water aforc a
squall hits us. carlate there's one
pretty nigh due
His lordship just stared at me fshy-
eyed and pitiful. AS for Van, he went
on reciting something about being on
the sea- with the blue above and the
blue below" He want going to stir
not him.
Look here 7 says. IF we strike
sand bar and a squall strikes us at
the same time wen go below, way
down. where it's big sight bluer
than It's here, 'cording to the minis
ter's tell Go for'ard on lookout, won't
your"
So he went, though l doubt IL he'd
have known bar when he see one
not that kind anyway.
Pretty soon the breeze give out
altogether. And then, from off in the
distance. heard noise, n rushing,
roaring kind OF noise.
"Hark," yells. DO you hear that?
Here she comes. Down with the jib.
Haul on that rope. Mr.. Van, will you?
No, no. T'other one, T'other one!
Godfrey scissors. Here you Opper;
hang on to that tiller. Keep her just
as she is
l made long arm grabbed that
valet man by the collar, yanked him
into tie stcrrshcets and damned tho
tiller into his hand. Then l took a
dying leap forard where the Twin
was trying to cast loose the peak hal
lard, having notion, il seemed. that
it ought 10 belong to the jib.
The squall struck us, The fog
split into pieces. same as rotten
topsl The Dora Bassctt heeled over
till thought size VAS going on her
beam ends His lordship turned loose
yell like tuEhcat VIII stle, lets go
the tiller and dives hcadtlrst into the
cockpit amids'iDs. AS for me. | was
swinging over the side y'ith my whole
weight on the jib dowAhaul, paving
air with my feet, and trying to got
back my balance.
That d0wnhaul was old and some
rotten 1t broke and wont overheard
with a howl and 2 splash,
went down far enough 70 begin to
see glimpses CT that blue place | was
speaking Of jUst now. Then | paved
up for air. When my hcad stuck out
Of water there Was something big
and black swooplng past it, made
a grab and caught hold. AS luck would
have it twas the sl:ih we was towing
astern.
| | climbed into that skilf like ca:
up tree Vac fun OF salt water
eyes and oll-but ] could see the Don
Basaett NcppinS ahead OF me with her
gaff halfway down her mast Seems
the Aallord had broken just after the
dowrhaul did.
reared q aputtc7inc kind of roar
And thon NanG head stuck out over
the sloops storm.
God sakeG" SAYS he. Are you
droWned?"
"DrownoG." l hol'cr2. Think I'm
a pcsky lubbcr just cause you /
had to stop hc-c % cough. was a
regular tank, as you ...i cht say of salt
water.
Good hcayons;" says Van, DO
| ,boy o,,ro,-c 20 rho,-jen,e --,rn-, ."