Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-07-19
Before a Word Could Be Spoken, He
Took Flying Leap.

Took Flying Leap.
"But suppose you'd hit the water In
stead Of the deckl"
what Of itl Can't one swimT"
Il guess you're all right. young
man." said Charlie, softened; "but
well, we're not taking passen-
gers"
The words had a familiar sound.
They were the very ones | had used
to Tobias, as he stood with his hand ON
the gunwale Of the Maggie Darling
1 rapidly conveyed the coincidence
and the difference-to Charlie. II
struck me as odd, I'll admit, that our
second start, in this respect, should
be so like the first. Meanwhile, the
young man was answering, or rather
pleading, In boyish way:
Don't call me a passenger; I'll help
work the bost. I'll tell the truth. /
heard-neyer mind how-about your
trip, and I'm just nutty about buried
treasure. Come, be a sport. We can
let the old guv'nor know, somehow
and 1t won't kill him to tear his
hair for day or two. He knows
can take care Of myself"
swell said Charlie, after thinking
awhile in his slow way, 'we'll think II
over. You can come along TIL the
morning. Then ! can get good look
at you. If don't like your looks wen
still be able to put you off at West
End; and II l do-well-right-ho
Now, boys" he shouted, "go ahead
with the sails"
Once more there was that rlppling
Of the ropes through the blocks, as our
malnsail rose up high against the
moon and filed proudly with the
steady northeast breeze we had been
waiting for.
So two or three hours went by, as
we plunged on, to the seething sound
Of the water, and the singing of our
sails, and all the various rumor of
wind and sea. After all, 1t was a good
music to sleep to and, for all my scorn
of sleeping landsmen, an irresistible
drowsiness stretched me out ON the
roof Of the little cabin. wonderfully
rocked into forgetfulness.
NV nan came 10 nm end suddenly.
as though some one had flung me out
through door Of blue and gold into a
newborn world. There was the sun
rising, the moon still ON duty. and the
morning star dlylnely naked In the
heayen.
And there was Charlie, his broad
face beamlng with boyish happiness,
and something like a fatherly gentle
ness In his eyes, as he watched his
companion at the tlller, whom, for
half-asleep moment Of waking,
couldn't account for. till our start all
came back to me. when realized that
II was our young scapegrace Of over
night. Charlie and he evidently were
on the best OF terms already.
Old Tom had been busy with break
fast and soon the smells OF coffee and
freshly made "johnny-cake' and fry
ing bacon competed not unsuccessfully
with the various fragrances Of the
morning.
Breakfast over. Charlie filled his
pipe, assuming, as he did so, judicial
aspect. filed mine and our young
friend followed suit by taking a silver
cigarette case from his pocket and
striking a match on the leg of his
khaki knlckerbOckers with profes-
slonal air.
"All setl" asked Charlie, and. after
a slight pause. he went on;
"Now, young man. you can see we
are nearing the end of the island. An
other half-mlle win bring US to West
End. Whether we put you ashore
there. or take you along, depends on
your answers to my questions"
'FIre away" answered the youth.
blowing n cloud Of cigarette smoke in
a delicate spiral up into the morning
sky; "but I've really told you all |
have to tell"
"No; you haven't told us how you
came TO know OF our trip. what We
were supposed to be after, and when
we were starting"
That's truei" flushed the lad. mo-
mentarily losing his eomposure. Then,
partly regaining It sIs It necessary to
answer that question:
Absolutely answered Charlie. be-
ginning to lock really serious.
'Because, II you don't mind :.
well, I'd Just as soon not"
For that very reason | want to
know. We are out on a more serious
business than perhaps you realize. and
your answer may mean more to US
than you thlnk."
"rm sure II cannot be Of such impor-
tance to you. Really, It's hardly fair