The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-10-15
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: A SEASIDE INCIDENT (:
BY EDWARD MlNTURN. :
tCopyright.)


chased a beautiful cottage and littl
homestead on the lower part of Slater
Island, where he could look out on oil
ocean at all times, and take sail Il
:. pretty little yacht that he kept II
a creek just below the house-a boa
quite seaworthy, yet so small that h
could manage it alone when he chose
though he generally had his man o
all work. Toby Ditson. with him whel
he went out.
But in very pleasant weather Harr.
generally went out with his mate
pretty Flora Neskit, who wore wed
ding ring on the proper finger, which
he had placed there three years be
70 -e, and which looked brighter ant
bI lighter to him every day Of hi
welded life
One day last fall, when the coas
was lined with ducks, Harry made vi
his mind to have short duckint
cruise, and preached the subject t
Flora at the breakfast table.
"Oh. yes" said Flo. And I'll go tt
be boatkeeper. You can take Tob.
along to row the skiff when you wan
to go into the creeks and marshes
he isn't good for much else
Don't run Toby down. said Harry
with a laugh. Remember that HI
came from the Hub But get ready
dear one-Tm ia a hurry to be off
The wind is light this morning. bu
will freshen this afternoon. The SIX!
is 'mackerel'' and full of mares tails.
There you are with your horrit
sea signs again, Harry. I'll be read.
as soon as you are
"All right" cried Harry, and h,
started to rouse Toby Ditsor from his
usual lethargy to put guns and provi
sions aboard the little sloop.
An hour later and the yacht, will
Harry at the helm, Flora tending main
sheet, and Toby forward to look ou
for the jb, was standing down The
bay.
west as they stood on, making the fas
sloop skim over the smooth water a
lively rate, for running up close un
der the land there was no sea OF
worth noticing.
Inshore the ducks were very plenti
full, and Harry soon began to look TO
a landing place.
Running up near a small creek, tia
made far inland on its winding way
Harry told Toby to let go the ancho
and haul down the jb.
There was no need to lower th'
mainsail he said, for he would sooI
be back
AS Flora had a book to read, she Sd
down on the nicely cushioned rea
seat, and made herself comfortable a
soon as Harry and Toby showed off II
the skiff 10
Once or twice Jhe looked shorewar'
when she heard the report OF Harry
gun, Knowing that he was doinl
havoc among the ducks.
At last she got drowsy, and lyin,
back on the soft cushions, with thu
breeze tanning her white forehead, sh'
fell asleep.
How long she slept, poor Flora di'
not know, but her waking was yer.
rude, for 1t came by immersion.
A huge surge OF salt water, dashinI
over the quarter OF the boat, drenche'
her from head to foot, and as sh
sprang to her feet. she found that tn
boat, already out of sight Of land, wa
driving stern first to sea, heading wit
the mainsail set, to a furious north
west gale.
Oh, where was Harry now to set tn
other sail and head for harbor?
This was Flora's thought, and thel
came the prayer from her lips:
Heaven help me, or I am LOST
The day was far advanced, and 500
night would be upon her-night, in
gale, drifting out upon the rough Al
lantic.
Flora dared not lower the sail
Well, indeed. was 1t for her that sh
did not do 1t. This kept head to win,
md sea, the boat rode easy, 49,
though taking In little water nov
and then aft, whence it ran off by tn
scuppers, was yet very safe.
ooh, what will Harry do when h
finds am adrift!" sobbed Flora. 8
know he will follow me to sea In tina
tiny skiff, and he will be LOST
Flora was right. Harry did folloN
her to sea in that tiny skiff. Toby Di
son was too cowardly to risk the voy
age, and he was left ashore when Hal
ry started to follow the sloop whe
he saw her adrift.
1t was a terrible task for Harry t
row out over the rough water afte
the fast-drifting yacht. With blstere
hands he struggled on, and Just befor
dark he got within hall. so nearly e'
hausted that Flora barely heard hi
cry to lower the mainsail, or he coul
not reach her.
Fortunately she had seen him do 1
and she sprang to the halyards as sh
heard his cry.
The sail soon came tumbling dow
by the run, and in a minute afterwar
Harry was aboard, with Flora's arm
around him.
Quickly he had two reefs In tn
mainsaIl the bonnet of the jib an
the vessel heading in west by nortl
as close to the wind as he could hol
her.
All night at the helm Harry sat p'
tiently, while Flora made hot coffee
the little cabin for both.