The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-10
FOOling the HarbOr Thieves

ing after long tow down the river,
lay at the end of the B. & S. wharf.
The water was tapping musically
around her bow, and steam hummed
drowsily in her boiler. The night was
dark, cold, foggy; very good night
for any sort of craft to be fast to a
wharf.
All hands were on shore except Cap
tain King, the commander and part
owner of the boat, and his son, Ralph,
who had just passed his, sixteenth
birthday. For the last two years,
Ralph had spent all the time he could
on the boat, and he was always teas
ing his father to take him on perma-
nently as one of the crew.
But the captain would not be per-
suaded by the boys arguments: 1t
seemed to him that a capable "hand"
could not have grown up in the short
time since Ralph was only fat little
toddlsr, in danger of falling into the
water or down into the fire-roOm
Why you're only a boy yet, the
captain would say and it takes a
man with mans strength and a mans
grit for our business.
But I'm almost as tall as you,
daddy, and just feel of my muscle
Feel of your muscle Ho Ho !!
! might as well try to pull the tail Of
an, oyster"
Yes, dGdy, YOU always make fun
Of me, but why don't you give me a
chance the next time sou need new
man don't know OF anything very
hard to do on the Rogers"
"Of course You think it's all fun
How about hauling in water-soaked
tow-lines in frosty weather when they
come in all coated and stiff and icicles
freezing in clusters on your fingers ?
| guess you would be wimpering'
II guess not daddy.
We'll, don't bother any more, now,
Your day will come hope you'll al
ways be as anxious
Some such dialogue as this had Just
passed between father and son in the
warm, eo2y engine room OF the Rogers,
where they had taken refuge from the
driving damp and fog. Some one on
the wharf shouting Hey. Cap Cap
tain King :" called them outside. On
the edge OF the wharf above them
stood a man who greeted the captain
famiiiarly.
Halo, captain , Just heard YOU
were here, ne said. say Logan wants
to see YOU about o job tending MS
dredgcg up in Bucks Inlet Can you
come up right away He's waiting
Capt. IN King reached for his long
ulster and co9. I'm be right up, tell
I.JGan." he rented stirring round with
husinessiike buEtie You're moi
afr ID TO st8y hero alone. are you "
be 4eEfH Etl1' l-Nfs4 r a. was rrHdt Q.
climb on the wharf
What should ! tc alraid o. "
v, lob replied e little Indignantly
3Cu' believe III fo gcr.
Ions gnid tEe coptain aH f" N ira
aw,y up tho wbari sud w,a lo.l 'a
ire uiEht ANA ag.
Ralph turned back into ,.c ui" u.
warmth Of tic enRiag-raow, closed t1#
door, nd iaw down on gH' long. C''E.
toned scat wl.h h.a bands under aia
heed Tie t BRASS ig1'rW uH,nH
just over ..e cylinders swung lgZ'ls
w't eHa ala0Ht ImnnJreputlc mo
ton o5 lra ruil, rr# cess, d.u.lun rn-
Gc.I.aua un Nuu red polished ar-
fsra ut Na engines. rgE UgrHHu
nnag ar Sd. IN lc Ralph thg .at
tftuhtaa .uraga h. Eerr8 Gaurs cps
rE aslE Hri ~ 500 H.N|lHa
lH ta..a 0r K soon aa oud a3
~ 20 Hera ono n ,Hu Dos. crew
A hand H#nI tra l.la. ta.aneiue-
r.. 3.ar .u UnHi aW .ri f.r UHI-
bon auaa .irnl. ,an. art ius'y
STRANGER. with utnU greeting r....
rcd iu ou. aE tan a.asHa ru. .wu..
.a close st. aaa- .elH1, roi .ua .un
g ta -UHn. ga aa. aot'..a aa
uast. OF t.a mems oudur. aH
f ari.r ug.at.
Dad night outeiao. r.r" gii taD
newcomer .,Hr round gd raggd-
fue kgDh aeraiy wdr Busbs
bfowa.