The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-04-25
Continuation Of
CHAPTER VI

NO udu JdhSh PldN
in the side at which we usual
boarded her, and we pulled roun
to the further side, where a maj
velous sight awaited us. A hug,
rent appeared, the decks and bu-
warks were torn open, the waite
was covered with floating wreck
age-all seemed in ruins; and tn
compartment where the pinnac'
rested was fully revealed to view
There sat the little beauty, to al
appearance uninjured; and the
bovs whose attention was takeE
m with the melancholy scene 0.
ruin and confusion around them
were astonished to hear me shout
in enthusiastic delight: "Hurrah.
she is ours! The lovely pinnace
is wont we shall be able to
launch her easily after all. Come
boys, let us see if she has suffer
ed from the explosion which has
set her free"
The boys gazed at me for a mo
ment. and then guessing my Sc
cret, "You planned it yourself,
you clever, cunning father! Oh,
that machine we helped to make
was on purpose to blow it up"
cried they; and eagerly they fol
lowed me into the shattered OPP
ening. where, to my intense sat
isfaction, l found everything as |
could wish, and the captive in
no way a sufferer from the vio-
lent measures I had adopted for
her deliverance.
The boys were deeply interest
ed in examining the, effects of the
explosion, and in the explanation
I gave them of the principle and
proper way to manage a petard.
1t was evident that the launch
could now be effected without
much trouble; I had been careful
to place rollers beneath the keel,
so that by means of levers and
pulleys we might, with Il united
strength, move her forward to-
ward the water. A rope was at
tached by which to regulate the
speed Of the descent, and then,
all hands putting their shoulders
to the work, the pinnace began
to slide from the stocks, and fl
nally slipped gently and steadily
into the water, where she floated
as if conscious it was her native
element; while we, wild with ex-
element, cheered and waved en-
Enthusiastically. We then only re-
NAMED long enough to secure our
prize carefully at the most shell
tered point, and went back to
Tentholm, where we accounted
for the explosion; saying that
having blown away one side OF
the ship, we should be able to OBJ
tain the rest of its contents with
a very few more days work.
These days were devoted to
completing the rigging, the mount
ing of her two little brass guns,
and all necessary arrangements
about the pinnace. 1t was won
derful what martial ardor was
awakened by the possession of a
vessel armed with two real guns,
The boys chartered necessarily
about savages, fleets of canoes,
attack, defense, and final annihil-
Of the invaders.
I assured them that, brilliant as
their victories would doubtless be,
should have good cause to
thank God if their fighting pow
ers and newborn yalor were new
err put to the test.
The pinnace was fully equipped
and ready to sail, while yet no
idea Of the surprise we yer pre-
pairing for her had dawned upon
my wife, and l permitted the
boys, who had kept the secret so
well, to fire a salute when we
entered the bay.
Casting off from the ship, and
spreading the sail, our voyage be-
gan. The pinnace glided swiftly
through the water. I stood at the
helm, Ernest and Jack manned
he guns, and Fritz gave the word
Of command, "Fire!" Bang! bang!
ratified out a thrilling report,
echoed and re-echoed
among the cliffs, followed by our
and hurrahs.
The mother and her little boy
hastily forward from near
the tent, and we could plainly
see their alarm and establishment
but speedily recognizing us, they
waved joyfully and came quickly
to the landing place to meet us.
BY skillful management we
brought the pinnace near a pro-
Of the bank, and Fritz as
his mother to come on
where, breathless with
haste and excitement, she exclaim-
ID, you dear, horrid, wonderful
shall l scold you or praise
rou? You have frightened me
,ut Of my wits! To see a won
Ierful little ship come sailing in
startling enough, for l could
.ot conceive who might be on
GARD, but the report Of your guns
lade me tremble with fear-and
ad I not recognized your voices
1911 as+or chAnId haNa rim ii