Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-24

ard rather ride in a common old. hat.wheeled char
lot with a conductor who washed last week than try
to butt into Paradise in sections In that of yours
You drive too fast for You come too hitting
things! am just as comfortable in your
would be tied up in front Of mad bull with
friend trying to by shooting the ropes off"
Banbury just opened his plentiful mouth and
laughed until couldn't hear the exhaust Of his
engine After that he kept right stopping for me,
and each occasion he had a insult
Get in, Sam" he would say: I've just had the
engine taken out She works with a spring now.
You'll like her better"
Or, Come on SAM I'm going to take Blaine's
little boy up, too and he'll hold your hand If you're
afraid"
Or, Jump In, SAM "I'll run the hill the slow
speed and get you sack Of fudge on the way II
you'll come"
told Jason Jones, my next-door neighbor, about
these insults Sunday while worked on our
motor boat We owned n twenty-four-foot, semispeed
model boat with sxhorse engine, that could kick it
along nine miles hour at nine hundred revolutions
and every Sunday worked together on our craft
Motorboating is the best of all sports. There is
arrogant, dissgreeabe burnpousness about it, You
do not run people, get arrested for speeding
mange yourself in any Of dozen different ways
Serenely and happily the motor boatist waows
the waves, nhaes wind and weather instead Of dust
and small insects and the worst that can happen to
him Is to get into trough OF with his ignition
drowned and nothing sustaining than rubber
boots in he can't bale fast the river comes
aboard. Motor boating is n glorious and gentle sport
It is enjoyed by nature lovers but automobiliss
It. There is nothing to scare but the turtles.
Jones and l 90 down early to the dock each Sun
day work boat Sometimes get it ready
to before night and sometimes we don't; but we
always enjoy ourselves to the core. 1t was while
sitting the gunwale, after having cranked the
engine eghtynine times at sretch-a record for
him--thst Jones heard wall and conceived his
brilliant idea.
"Ill tell you what we'll do" he said "Ive suf
fered from Banbury, you have. He got
in one night and took eighteen miles out TO
country club, in twenty-four minutes and nnetysix
jolts. I'm laying for him, too Suppose we inyegle
him into the Pcggy next Sunday. He doesn't know
any more about navigating than he does about the
golden rule. We can break down and let enough
water in through the plump intake TO keep him work
Ing for his life for hour two while we tinker
with the engine. Or maybe It will be rough
aud the trouble Ten to one we will have
him praying for help before two hours Then
take him bcne and tell him what nervous little
pussy cat he is when he isn't soaring people In his
ow particular way. How does that sound?"
"Jonesey- said I, rising up soemnly and swapping
a handful Of grease with him, you're the genius Of
the age. 1t sounds like Revenge with valenciennes
she feeling punk, anyway-and went home to
get out the working plans for the plot
1t was as easy as electlng the worst man in city
election. Banbury just shifted and said no clam
chasing for him. SIX horsepower In an ex-mud scow
presented about as much attraction for him nice
glass of bread and milk after a hot ball game.
Then l spoke my little piece. had been rehearsng
1t all morning
every well, Banbury" I said, "sorry you won't
|
know; but there's no real danger. You're safe as
you are in your If 1t would make you less
afraid we could tow skif after us"
That was enough After Banbury had decided not
to slap my around where 1t could sneeze into
my ears he promised earnestly to do at first he
declared that he going to navigate with us next
Sunday.
''Do what you like and go as far as you Ike" he
roared. but don't let hear any more Of this
nervous talk. When / get nervous about navigating
a catfish slough in horse trough, with built
separator for engine, I'll let you know but
don't feel insulted If bring along the Northwestern
Christian Adrocdte to read I've got 10 nave some
excitement during the day"
| went to Jones and we fell on each others shout
ders Then we put in a fierce week the Peggv
We took her apart from fly wheel to propeller, cleaned
her up and turned her until she would start with
single twist Of the wheel every time. Then we filled
the stern OF the boat suggestively with life pre-
servers, and waited for our prey,
We had an Idea that Banbury didn't know much
about the glorious art of navigation. We overesi
mated it by that word "much." He didn't know any
thing at all about it. When he got down to the dock
on Sunday morning the river full Of white caps
In answer to our prayers, and the Pe0ay, lying
hundred yards out at her anchorage bobbnl
"howdydo" Enthusiastically Banbury looked at her
and | could see relief breaking out his face
80 you're not going after all he said cheerfuy
That's too bad. / hoping 1t would be better
weather ! had sort of set my heart this trip"
What makes you think we're not going" de
manded Jones.
well you've got your boat in and It looks prett!
squally." began Banbury.
Say what do you think we run--a ferryboatI
said l. II was my turn Mt bat I'VE row out TO on
boat whom we want hor and whs there isn't sol
enough on to make the trip Interesting, we're goih
TO do the best wo can for y~u." I throw sapsa oar