The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-17
copyrisht. 1908. by the Bobbs-r1errill co.

we puts this gent aboard a vessel
name O. Allytheer afore she styles at
torn o. tide"
In the boat the man with the bailing
can turned up an impassive counte-
nance. Coon down" He clinched the
bargain and set about shipping the
sweeps.
Bows swinging downstream. the
boat shot out from the shore.
"How's the tider' demanded Kirk
wood. his impatience growing.
"on tn turn. sir" he was told.
For long moment broadside to the
current. the boat responded to the
sturdy pulling Of the port sweeps. An
other moment and II was In full
swing. the watermen bending Justify
to their task. Ship after ship was
passed. and In keen anxiety lest he
should overlook the right one Kirk
wood searched their bows and sterns
for names. which In more than one
case proved hardly legible.
4 The Alethea was not Of their num-
ber.
In the course Of some ten minutes
the watermen drove the boat sharply
inshore. bringing her up alongside an
other floating stage. in the shadow Of
another tenement, both SO like those
from which they had embarked that
Kirkwood would have been unable TO
distinguish one from another.
In the bows old Bob lifted up STEM
torian voice. summoning. one William.
In answer TO the third ear racking
hall q man. clothed simply In dirty
shirt and disreputabie trousers. showed
himself in the doorway above. rubbing
the sleep out Of a red. bloated counte-
nance with a mighty and grimy nst.
"'Eilo." be said surlily. "wot's tn
rowr'
900" interrogated old Bob. holding
the boat steady by grasping the stage.
"was tn party wot engyged yer larst
night, Billf"
.Party name o. Allytheer." growlcd
| the drowsy one. "w'yT
PARTY 'ere's lcokin' for i'm. Where
Will I nnd this Allytheerr'
BEST look sharp r yer won't nnd
'im," retorted the one above. -'E was
at anchor on Bow creek larst night"
Kirkwood's heart leaped In hope
-what sort Of vessel was sheT' he
asked. half rising In his eaeerness.
"Brigantine. sir"
And again the boat was flying down
IN midstream. the leadcn water. shot
with gold Of the morning sun. parting
sulienly beneath It's lows. Hugging
the marshy shore. they rounded the
Blackwall point. the boatmen pulling
hard. Young william looked TO Kirk.
wood. caught his eye and nodded.
"Herey-
Kirkwocd rose. balancing himself
against the leap and sway Of the boat
"sumwhere's long o. ere"
From right 10 left his eager glance
swept the rivers widening reach. Yes
sells were there In abundance. but no
brieantine. no sailing vessel Of any type
The young mans lips checked a cry
that was half q sob OF bitter disap.
pointment- He sat down suddenly.
-she's goner' he cried In hollow
gasp.
The tired boatmen eased upon their
oars. and old Rob stood mp In the
bows. scanning the riverscare with
keen eyes shielded by level palm
The boat drifted listiessly with the
current.
Old Bob painted. "Dawn't-sec-naw
thin'-o' 'er." He resumed his seat.
-There's no hope. supposeY
The elder waterman shook his head
"'Carn't sye. Might be round-nex'
bend = might be = passin' Purdeet
Point Is-me an young wilyum ere
--carn't do no more'n we 'as. We be
wore out"
EYES," Kirkwood assented. disconso-
late. you've certainly earned your
pay" Then beye revived. He was
very young In heart. you know. Cant
you suggest somethingi I've got to
catch that ship"
Old Bob warged his hehd in slow
negation: young William lifted bis.
There's ryiewye runs by Wool
wich." he venturcd. "yer might tyke
tryne an go 10 sheerncss. sir. Yerd
be positive o. passin' 'er II she didn't
syle afore Ugh tide. Ire boat at
sheerness an put out an look for 'er."
"1iow far's woolwichr' kirkwood
demanded instantly.
MILE" said the elder man. "Tyke
yer for ive bob extry."
"Doner'
Young William dnshed the sweat
from hIs eyes. wiped his palms ON his
hips and fitted the sweeps again to the
wooden tholes. Old Bob was as ready.
With an inarticulate cry they gave
way.