White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-02-09
CHAPTER I-Continued


p
The gay young patriot rolled down
the spinway like barrel Of fish and
was tumbled aboard and stored on
deck right end up with less important
merchandise. He rode at ease half an
hour or so standing erect in the dark
ness. Then he had to lower his head.
The cover down, its edges were served
with pitch. The barrel, lifted to the
gunwale. fell into the bay and began
Its tossing journey in the hurrying
tide.
He was riding in the curious craft
not more than twenty minutes, he
reckoned, although the term of his
imprisonment seemed very long, for
the air was close and his posture far
from comfortable. At last he bumped
the sand in the shadows at Winnisi-
met. He heard two voices-young and
gentle voices. They were near him.
Some person was out in the shallow
water trying to roll the barrel in with
a stick. Impatient to be released
Colin decided to take the chance of
showing himself. He pushed the head
from its place and with hands on the
chimes shot out of the barrel into the
shadows. A boy and girl little
younger than he stood near, in bathing
costumes. Daylight was coming.
"1'he girl had face and form not
easily forgotten" Colin writes. cal
though the light was dim I could see
clearly after the darkness of the bar
rel and the first thing I saw was that
shapely, beautiful girl"
"Are you bound for Cambridge?' the
boy asked with friendly smile.
eyes"
II am Emory Woodbridge and this Is
my sister Nancy. We come here every
day at food-tide for SWIM We meet
many tide-riders. Our house is yonder
On the HILL Go through the pine bush
to the road. My father will help you.
I'll take care Of the barrel-head."
The boy rolled the barrel into deep
water as Colin with his bag set out
for the road wondering at the strange
water-wisdom of Ebenezer Snoach.
Mr.. Woodbridge welcomed him and
put him to bed abovestairs where he
slept until he was called about two
o'clock for dinner, at which he sat
beside the plump, blond, dark-eyed
Nancy.
II know all about you," she said.
''You are great lover. My school
friend Pat Fayerweather, has told me
the story"
"Oh, that story" he exclaimed.
shrinking Of 1t kept me happy in the
barrel. 1t would put life in smoked
fish. It was a barrelful of happiness
that landed near your pretty feet"
They had merry visit and their
theme was mostly Pat.
He rode away with Mr.. Woodbridge
soon after dark and having arrived at
his home he made this entry in his
diary:
Nancy Woodbridge is vivid men,
-c'y and some young fellow who is
'snoached' out Of Boston will be sure
to fall in love with her"
When the young man had left them
Nancy Woodbridge said to her mother,
''What big, gentle, merry-mouthed
boyl l could love him myself"
Young Cabot spent three days with
his family, and rid his mother out for
an airing every day." Then mounting
his bay mare, he proceeded to Cam
bridge with his sword, f1relock and
pistol He went first to his friend,
President Samuel Langdon Of the ia
nous college, who gave him almost
fathers welcome, saying: II suppose
that you have come to enlist?'
Eyes, sir, and l have letter to
Washington"
II will 60 with YOU"
Immediately they set out for the
headquarters of the army in the big
square mansion, long q familiar OBJ
ject. Washington was at his desk.
The president of the college intro
duced the young man, summing up in
warm words his history at Harvard,
as If comforting an honorary degree.
"a good student, of an excellent dis
position, a born athlete, the best
WIGSllCI, IuC UcSI LClSSAS IAAO ilNClSoe
runner of his time at Harvard These
were the phrases he employed. Wash
ington listened with dignity and
benevolent smile. In letter to Colin's
mother is this description Of the per
son Of the Commander in Chief:
George Washington of Virginia.
Those words have been flying around
New England since John and Sam
Adams returned from Philadelphia.
Who has not heard of his wisdom, his
noble spirit his modesty, Of his coat
torn to rags by bullets. while horses
were shot beneath him when he fought
with Braddock7 feared 1t was like
the talk we have heard on the kings
birthday and was prepared for dis
appointment. But he has conquered
ME. am like man thrown and
stunned who is trying to think how 1t
happened. 81
HE is a big man--at guess two
inches taller than broad at the hip