The Washington herald., 1914-04-26
4 BY Helen Harrington

to dash back for long pole that lay BY wait for
the log and mount it astride, jus, it passed by The
spot where he had been sitting He propelled his i'm.
provised boat by of the POLE using the ends oi
it alternately as canoe is propelled by alternate
paddles.
Just at the momen, that lingo put out from til.
shore, one Of the younger monkeys. prompted by
morse had stolen back to ask his forgiveness for they
are really of most lovabe nature.
When he the strange thing that lingo was doing
he became filled with CONSERVATION and rushing up the
bank, gave the alarm sound Down the mon
keys IN crowds, and. as they quickly realized what
their unkindness had driven their beloved corade to- in
agony they bent their heads the ground slightly pro-
truding the tongue to side which is their deepest
expression of remorse and appeal for forgiveness.
Proud indeed. would lingo have felt if he could
havesseen himself for from the distance at which the
monkeys were watching him, the waving branches of
the cOcoanut tree looked like a huge, fluffy tall and
as he sped proudly over the each monkey said
within his own heart that never had he behcld thing
beautiful. Their own tails now seemed to them
but limp miserable strings compared with the beauty
of his.
He was vindicatedl
The Pretty Leocadia" had the reputation of having
the neates deck the happest crew. the staunchest
and the most gallant young captain of any sailing ves-
sci that ventured into Oceana
Late afternoon of glorious day the captain and
mate were standing together the deck. They were
sailing the vicinity of about 10 degrees north $50
longitude which is dangerous spot in bad weather
but the calm, and things going easily, so
the mate telling the captain the story of mermaid
that his father had encountered hereabouts. The
glasses when suddenly he leaned forward and said -
That's pecuiarP
What is il? -
LETT" '' N ''''''S '''' '1' '''|ie Vic
"Damme I dol" said Ben Heydecker. the sturdy mate
1T can't be whale; whale wouldn't float with
much OF its surface to the water said the captain
The raised his glasses studied the object care
fully for moment and exploded:
We'll, shiver my timbers but it beats mel There
strange things in the deep besides whales, he said,
with touch of superstition.
After another survey of the object the captain blew
his whistle in response to which the tars came running
like cOckroaches from all of unexpected places
until the deck alive with them. The object could
be ndstincty with the naked eye and they
watched it, into the minds OF every mothers son OF
them came the superstition that will not be downed-
1t was mermaid!
As the thing nearer, however they looked in
vain for the soft swelling of the breasts and the in
ward curving at the waist for mermaids are noted
throughout the land for their beautiful figures This
had broad square shoulders and hard muscles
It's man at sea-, said the captain Rescue him.
lads!"
A lifeboat quickly manned and they put to the
oars they called cheerily:
STEADY. comrade. we're coming"
Paddle this way"
Don't ge, excited. we'll get YOU all right old man.
they called
But as they drew nearer to their amazement and
CONSERVATION he began padding iercey and with the
dextery OF water fowl steered his bark in the oppo-
site direction.
They succeeded at last in getting hold Of him. Two
of the took him by the and drew him back
ward the side of the boat As they had him almost
landed like fish he slid of their grasp and sprang
back into the but caught just he touched the
water. With much labor they managed get him to
the vessel, which anchored and dragged him BY
main force to the of the deck that the captain
and mate might question him.
The mate. with friendly sympathy tried question
HIM but failing in all his efforts ard becoming more
and more puzzled, being devout he turned aside
made the sign of the and sent up silent prayer
for help in this strange situation.
Silently the captain also turned, for moment his
heaven. Drayed he
given him to how to deal with this poor. benighted
creature that had come into his
Gradually his genteness began to have a quicting
effect on the poor creature In caressing way he
place his hand on the boys shoulder and in
purple which hung around his neck He quickly ex-
anined it. and inside he found piece of yellow and
weather-worn paper on which were the words:
10th parallel north. $50 longitude. We sinking
In a few minutes shall disappear We 10 the
Almighty and to the waves, our dear child, Saturnn
Farandoul
"Sophie-Barnaba Farandoul Captain of the
Dauphin,' Sailing Ship from Marseiles."
The waves had driven him hack almost to the very
had sunk.
Captain Lombrico las. succeeded in getting him to
come with him to the cabin Immediately entering
it. he became frightened again, and sprang to the
back of chair he would to the limb of a tree
The captain blew his whistle, and the who
waiting at the head of the stairs with proper clothes
with which to cover him down. and the captain.
by gentle gestures, persuaded him allow them puf
them on. For moment he partly yielded. but when
muscles. he became terrified again. and once more
dashed wildly up the stairs and he was
dragged back.
One OF the sailors handed him a cap to see IL he
would know what to do with it. Some ancient blood
of ancestor must have stirred in him, for their
delight and amusement without hesitation he placed
it on his head.
Poor 1nadrnan" said one of the sailors. Better
have left him in the He'll never be any good on
land, and"-here he pufed his chest slighty-"a man
must have natural talent to be sailor"
The captain commanded the men to stand away from
him. while for one moment he looked searchnsy into
his face The lad returned his look and gradually a
new expression came into his wild face Suddenly
with the Impulse Of child, or of wild thing
that has at last been tanned he 'prans forward,
waist and ga.ed at him with look of complete
The men did not quite understand this, but what the
captain had the first faint glimmer of dawn
Ing soul,
$50 you think he'll do any good in the world"
he said wait and see'
Ito be contirusd)