Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-11
CHAPTER xiv.
Tho Voyage Of tho Merry Widow.


IT II had stopped raining entirely now.
and the south wind had become II
II warm and welcome reality.
went down To ihc cove AS had
rather expected. found Hill johnson
there with his motor Scow. the Merry
Widow. with her nose driven up on the
beach.
BilIS father was Danish. | believe,
and his mother was Il French Cana
dian. His speech Is II combination OF
pntois that he heard at home
"Quitc Il sea out there" indicated
the lake.
'Shc shall run pretty high" replied
Bill, "hut not so high like she do
awhile ago"
Just come out for the rdc?" |
qucricd.
"Nn. Tie Merry Widow she bring
over young man. Il newspaper Teller
He say he give me three dollar or
wouldn't. ny yimminy Christmas. do
it. No, Sa.c, not or two-lifty even
Shan't do H." Thea he added. with II
slight wink. "lhc sen she ain't SO hiy,,
now rs | make hi!l ,!:nk"
"l>o YOU know where llunt.uw,,on's
island is:' | inquired. vague plan OF
action formulating itself in my brain
sure | know him. She set over yon
bout three mile. maybe four or two
and II half"
swell, the young man YOU brought
over here has decided to stay for mn
hour or SO. While YOU are waiting |
want YOU to take ne over to Hunting
don's and get Mrs. Green"
Mrs. Green! What she do by Hunt
ingdon's?"
I'll tell YOU later after l think up
some interesting explanation. At pres
cNt shouldn't be able to do the sub
-. ,.saHC. IovnGl'Uut TT Win yo,l
take me over thcrcf'
He hestnted.
Heres dollar" said. "Thc
storm Is Quieting down II good deal,
and, anyhow, YOU know the Merry
Widow Is the best sen boat Oh the
lake"
The flattcry won him. What owner,
even of the vcrlcst motor monStrosity,
IL not susceptible to praise bestowed
upon his darling.
Il guess SHE shall run all right. One
waive she Shan't work yust so good ms
she ought, but | got some wire. fix
him up"
| helped him shove off. and Bill tin
kercd with The on" cylinder machine
gun which propelled the barge until he
induced 1t to bark at Irregular inter
walls.
Have forgotten to mention that the
Merry Widow is an open boat with no
Sul'erStrlcturc or canopy OF any sort?
lf | have, let me state here that her
lines are very dccollcte. and Il large
wave meets with little obstruction save
the passengers when it starts to travel
from the Low to The stern
"Shc shall be, by ymminy Christ
mas. sure choppy," Bill commented
"Thc wind she shall haul TO the south
and make cross waves"
He was absolutely correct. AS soon
as we left the mouth OF the cove we
went through some cvolutions which
| would have said il was absolutely
impossible for Il man Of my build TO
perform. | WAS favorably considering
the idea OF being ScaSick when n
larger wave than usual washed over
ana struck the engine. 1t expired
peacefully on the spot.
"Nhat has happcncd?' / asked, with
landSinan's Justified terror.
"The engine has stopped" Bills
calm statement of the obvious cxas
peratcd me.
"Of course II has stopped. Can we
ever start it again."
'Surc. She shall run some moro.
The wave, she short circuit the
spark. See" Bill pointed, "shc all
wet His enthusiasm as a lecturer
on the gasoline engine made him for
get the lake outside
1t was brought to his attention by
large wave which tipped us on our
beam ends and dropped Bill and my
self In an affcctionate group into the
stern Of the boat, where we were join
cd presently by collection of oil
cans, Wrcnchcs, grease cans and other
marine impcdimcnta.
Bill removed his elbow from the pit
OF my long since hopeless stomach and
scrambled to the engine.
"She hain't hurted bit" he an
nounced. LEND me your handkcr.
chief"
| silently passed him the article he
desired. He carefully wiped off Il
large part Of the engine with it be.
fore be offered 1t back to me. de
cllned and told him to consider 1t my
contribution to the equipment Of the
boat.
"Now, sarc," he directed, "you must
hold the coat over the spark 80 she
shall not get, by zee Viz, again wet"
He showed me how to protect tn
engine from the elements by interpos-
ing my coat and my shivering body