White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-04-11

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likewise, noblesse oblige. I understand
that thing little better, now"
well then, Tom, I've learned lot
more about Yankee nerve and resource
and your curious slant on things. Can't
we come to an agreement about this
business?" y
UNLESS there's some error, which I
can't see, I should say you held all the
trumps, Bob.'
There is no error at all, Tom. I've
thumped dipsey lead on the bottom
OF the old bark"
ION the bottom?"
Right. She's lying bottom up. But
we haven't all the trumps, because Sc
bastien holds few"
"Then why hasn't he gone to 1t,
Bob?"
II think that boat of his did really
open up, and he thought he'd better
get her tight before he had his CO.
He mayn't have thought there was such
devilish rush. But there is, you see."
"Have you got her buoyed?'
mo need. You can almost see her old
carapace at ebb tide. doubt you ever
before we go any further, you might
tell me what you feel your claim am
cunts to-"
what I said this afternoon can
stand, Bob. All I ever counted on was
her guns; but if she's bottom up, like
you say, it would be some job to get
them out from under her Scarcely pay
the shot, or shots, because we'd have
to dynamite her, and she's probably
petrifled by now"
"Then why not fix on money COM
pensation, Tom? That, of course, pro-
vided that we can give friend Sebastien
the slip some way"
Tom pondered this a little. They
were by this time off Pemaquid point,
Beginning to round that formidable
bastion of the coast that can be so
fearful to the inshore pilot under thick
and stormy conditions of weather
Even now, still as it was, a great
ground swell was humping up dis
turbedly as it's long skirts caught and
were impeded by the shoaling bottom.
THAT would depend great deal on
the prospective amount, Bob" Tom
said presently. "You see, haven't the
least idea how much you expect to
haul doWn-or rather up. But it seems
to me that if were to stave off Sebas-
ten I'd be entitled to third-after
all costs were deducted, even to your
expense in coming out here, of course"
"Well. think so, too," Robert said.
II don't believe Sebastien has the least
idea we're on the ground, because he
would naturally expect us to come here
in some such boat as his and get di-
rectly at work. There would seem to
be no reason for our doing otherwise,
since we've known from the start pre-
cisely where to find, or at least to look
for the old hooker"
''Well, then, why the deuce didn't
you?" \
Because we hadn't the re1notest idea
that Sebastien knew what we were up
to and was taking measures to let us
down. Papa and 1 got fearful knock
down when you mentioned another
crew that looked like Miquelon men,
Before that we had thought we might
as we'll reconnoiter a little before
spending any more money We made
the usual French mistake of trying to
cut down the overhead, as your mine
sweeping chaps used to say when they
cut loose mine. I was with them
when they were based on Lorient"
"Sebastiens apt to find it out at
any minute, now" Tom said, eff he
hasn't already learned it,
you're right. We haven't an hour
to lose. That's why I'm making you
this offer 1t ought to prove goodish
Bit unless that old duck, my revered
ancestor, was dippy."
by gum, believe you Bob. Well
then, we'll agree to split three ways,
and here's my fist on it,
YOU'RE on, Tom" And they clasped
hands.
Roberts trained eyes, better far than
Toms, because they had not been fire.
quently tormented by a typewriting
machine Immediately picked up the
dark splotch on the smooth surface
about furlong ahead and the same
distance inshore of them. He perceived
also something that Tom had missed
against the Opaque background of
rocks and trees.
II say, Tom, that boat is yawl rugged
Tom was able to see then, as the
boat came abeam, that Robert was
right. The fact was significant, as ex-
cept for yachts and the larger fishing
vessels, sail had become a relic of the
past for the small craft of that coast. |
Even when used, the rig preferred was
almost always that of sloop or schoon-
err. But the Canadians had stuck to
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