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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte una empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une teiie empreinte. , i : ;: L $ : ' 3 Un des symboles suivants appar ^tra sur la dernidre Image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole -•► signifie "- <^"'v'o«=" '« symbole V slgnifie "FIN". •A SUIVRE", le Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Stre film6s d des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Stre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 d partir de I'angle 8up6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. THE HERO OF START POINT /\ND OTHER STORIES BY / / J, MACDONALD OXLEY Author of "ArchU McKcnvc- - Bert LloyJ-. HoyhooJ. " ■' DiamcJ Rock, - " Fergus MacTa-ctih, " " In Ihc IIVA/s of the Wat Co,,it. " etc. I •5l ^^ NOV 12^«^^ 1 v>^,, ^<^/ PHILADELPHIA AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY ,^ p^ ^ yjj "^ 1896 ^-^ MWMw»4H«aMnAM*M»i»-W#^ Copyright i8y6 by the Amf.kican lUrrisr 1'iiii.ication Societv ffrom tbc Society's own press NOTE Society 7'/ii' author hcs;! lo i\v/>irss /lis ob/is^afions to Missrs. lliirpcr &' Bros., the American Baptist I'lihlimtion Society, and the pub- lishers of ''Our Youth," " I Fide Awake," "The Christian Union," " 7 he youths' Companion," and " The Sunday School Times," in whose publications many of the folUnoing stories first appeared. • J. M. O. -KgTfiT i Tn-t i \t t, i n mti } \im^m»im' I m CONTENTS TiiK IIhro ov Stakt I'oiNr, 7 A 1,1 nil. ItAY IIkkoink 19 Captain Hinnaclk's Lkctcke on Sea Terms Ashore, . 29 IIkau Downwark, 37 Caitght in Smucu-.i.kr's Cave, 4J SoMETIIINCJ AHOUT TIIK SeA-SERI'ENT, 55 Cai'iain, Crew, and Pilot too 61 Never-dying Words, 71 In the Forefront ok the Fire, 77 lilTTKN IN THE HeEL 87 Eric's Ordeal 97 Stories of Animals and Birds, loj Bright-Eyf^s, . . 119 The Puppy, the Hen, and the Big Dog, 125 MooLEY to the Rescue, 129 In the Footstei-s of Philii', 133 5 ■UMMWB tf CONTENTS llnl.li ON, IlARdin! 141 I'llK I'.MSK TKsr AM) llIK 'IrIK I49 Kai.1'11 Wki. Dun's Rkiriii, 157 TitK C»H'KA(il'. AND CuURlKSV ol' A t'llKIMIAN, . . . 165 A Crkat 1>I':ai. of Nkrvk, 173 A Pair or Skatrs and a Hi ri.kv 179 SaNDV C'AMKRON 10 TIIE Rksci'k, 191 Savki> on tiik Krink, 203 TiiK Professor's Last Skatk 211 OvKR TIIK Dam, 219 A 'I'rio of Truf. Oiiost Storif:s, 227 Dennis Donaiuf.'s Dekd, 233 TiiK Rf^sci'e of Litti-e Jud 245 1 1.\> 141 '49 •57 105 '73 '79 191 203 211 219 227 233 24s ^ /'f. *o\n!^. ^ Mnl lll.K. ; h.iw IM like to liL' a Ir'Iii ! " i'\- I laiiiu'd Saiiincl l'aii|ilr>tinc. •♦"^iP^ ■■'■/ ~'jfc| Inukiii^ u|i with llashing eyes '^■MtPr 'mp'' 11''" lii^ inotlier's face tVoin j^jt^ iIh' lioiik ill wliii li ho liad In'tii liir llu' hi^l htiiir read- in;,' aliiiiii I,(ird \el>i>ii and the' lialile nf 'rral'al.uar. " A lieid. Sam? \\li\. wtial put tlial into your liead ? " iiii|uireil liis uiotlier kiudl\'. "Oil. I want tiiliea lurn like Lord Nelson and have everyltoily lUdud of ine. ]\\>\ think, mother, how f,'rand it would he tor me to ha\e the i|ueen t;i\ing mc honors, as Kin.L; (u'or.ne did to Lord Nelson !" '• llul don't you think then' are hettrr \\a_\s ol' Wwv^ a hero than hein;,' a .ureal admiral or a lanious general, Sam? I'iieir business is to kill jieojile. and the more they kill the more renowned they hecome. Now. if I wantetl to hi' a hero and win honors, 1 think I would rather do it hy savinic peojiie's lives, like (Iraie Darling. than h\' taking them, like your famous warriors. " " Well, tluU'sso, mother," a;- • iited Sam, half regret- r s^WMb i'i 8 THE HERO OE START POINT fully. " Of course it's a great pity that 'here should be big battles and lots of people killed; but 1 can't help feeling as if I'd like to be some kind of a hero, all the same." "That's all right, Sam ; there's no harm in wanting to be a hero, and [jcrhaps you'll have the chancx' to be one some day; but don't be so foolish as to hang about waiting for the chance to come. There are plenty of heroes — and heroines too. Lucy," added Mrs. I'applestine, turning to a girl a little younger than Sam, who sat at a window, stitching busily, "that never get honors from king or cjueen, but whose lives are full of heroism, nevertheless, and who have honor in heaven though they may be (juite unknown down here." "I'm afraid I'm hardly strong enough to do what Clrace Darling did, mother," said Lucy, looking out from her window ')ver the vast expanse of wrinkled sea that stretched away before her eyes until it mingled with the distant sky. " But, Sam, I'm sure, is strong enough for anything; and he can manage a boat so splendidly." At this flattering remark Sam s])rang to his feet, drew himself up to his full height, and looked remarkably like a young rooster just about to crow, but before he could say what was on his lips his father came into the room, and they all sat down to tea, thus putting an end to the conversation. Samuel Papplestine's father was the keeper of the light at Start Point, and if you want to find where that is you must take a ma]) of England and look cnrefully along its southern shore until you come to the County OINT THE HERO OF S^ART POINT 9 that 'here should led ; but 1 can' t :ind of a hero, all I harm in wanting the chanrc to be olish as to hang There are plenty y," added Mrs. ounger than Sam, , ' ' that never get :; lives are full of honor in heaven own here." lough to do what l.ucy, looking out ie of wrinkled sea til it mingled with :, is strong enough at so splendidly." g to his feet, drew 3oked remarkably iw, but before he ler came into the , thus putting an he keeper of the to find where that ind look cnrefully ne to the County of Devon. Once you have found Devon you can't miss Start Point, it thrusts itself so boldly out into the ocean, being the list bit of terra firma visible to voy- agers outward bound and the first to those returning homeward. The Devon coast is very rocky and danger- ous all about this neighborhood, the cliffs ri.iing in some places to a height of nearly two hundred feet, their long, stern lines only here and there breaking into little bays, which make snug havens where the ocean billows may foam out their strength harmlessly ujjon the yellow sands instead of thunderins madly at the foot of the crag!^ that have been the destruction of many a stately ship and precious life. Start Point Light stands right out upon the extreme end of the Point, sending its friendly gleams that are so welcome to the mariner ftir over the ever-tossing waters of the Pjiglish Channel. So close is it to the edge of the cliff that you might almost jump from one of the seaward windows clear down to the ' ' cold gray stones," u])on which the waves ceaselessly "break, break, break." It would not be a wise thing to do, and theie would be small chance of one's surviving to relate his experience, but an active fellow, like Sam Papplestine for instance, might accomplish the feat at a pinch. In fact, there were times when Sam, standing by the open window and listening to old ocean's thunder far below him, felt half tempted to try it. Fortunately, however, for himself, and also for some other pecjple, Sam was never more than half tempted, and that of course amounts to r.othing. lO THE HERO OF START I'UlNT The top of the chff was fairly level, and bein.j covered with deep turf, made good lands for crops and cattle, of which Mr. Fapplestine took advantage lo have ([uite a fine little farm, that he worked on when liis ligiilhouse duties were performed. Sam was a great iielp "to him in looking after the farm, lor he was a big, strong, sturdy lad of fourteen now, and liked nothing better than working away with nis father after the school hours were over. Lucy too, thougii only twelve, did her share by helping her mother in the care of the dairy, the fowl-yard, r.nd the garden, so Lhat altogether they were a very busy, hapi)y, and cuuiented fami!\ At one side of the Point the cliffs opened their grim jaws to make a tiny bay that was a blessed haven of refuge to many an endangered shi)). and here Sam found the great enjoyment of iiis life in sailing or row- ing the trim little boat given him by his father in reward for his work on the farm. He always had t'he whole of Saturday to himself, his father wisely thinking that five days' work in the week was \- having his father and mother and Lucy as passengers on board his boat, and then how proudly he would row them up and down the bay and out to the narrow mouth, where they would be tumbled about a bit, rather to Lucy's alarm, by the ocean's swell. After this pleasant fashion the summer of 1866 had passed away, and autumn, with its cool, cloudy days and frequent storms, had come. The work upon the farm was nearly finished, and there were no more de- lightful Saturdays down in the bay. IVKmy a night did Mr. Papplestine spend in the lighthouse tower or pac- ing up and down the cliff-edge looking out across the angry billows for the danger signals that would mean deadly i)eril to shij) and seamen. No light-keeper was more faithful to his duties than he, none had a kinder heart or was cjuicker in giving aid tc any who might be in danger ; and so when one dark, threatening Novem- ber morning a letter came summoning him to Kings- bridge on some important business which would keep him there all night, he was a long time making up his mind to go, for he did not like the idea of leaving Sam and his mother to look after the light in that kind of weather. Had it been midsummer he would have thought nothing of it. Mrs. Papplestine, however, persuaded him to go, saying that she and Sam would 12 THE HERO OF START POINT Stay up all night together, and if they saw any danger signals would send word immediately to the coast-guard station, three miles off. So, with a good deal of misgiving and many injunc- tions to his wife and son, Mr. Fapplestine set out that afternoon, promising to be home the very first thing in the morning. Sam felt as proud as Punch at being left in charge, for of course, as the only man in the house, he consid- ered that the chief burden of responsibility fell upon him, and so when night came, with a very important face h' made many a tour of the lamps, inspecting each one carefully, and between-whiles gazing earnestly out over the water from the front windows. A storm which had suddenly come up, broke forth shortly after sundown and reached its height by midnight, the wind raging about the lighthouse tower with terrible fury and the rain pouring down like a scattered cataract. The long night wore slowly away and the darkest hour of all, that which is just before the dawn, had come, when Sam, dozing for a moment in his chair, was suddenly awakened by a call from his mother, who had been looking out the front window. "Sam, Sam, come here ! I think I saw a signal of distress." Sam sprang to his feet and rushing to the window, peered eagerly out, but could see nothing but the dark- est of darkness. " Must have been mistaken, mother," said he. •»! can't even see any lights." IT THE HERO OK ST.ART POINT 13 ;aw any danger :he coast-guard I many injunc- e set out that ■y first thing in left in charge, use, he consid- lility fell upon important face icting each one lestly out over arm which had after sundown e wind raging i fury and the :t. id the darkest he dawn, had 1 his chair, was ther, who had aw a signal of the window, ; but the dark- said he. 1 "Oh, no. I'm perfectly certain I saw a rocket or Roman candle or something of that kind," replied his mother. •' Yes, see ! There it goes again '. " And sure enough, a thin, sharp streak of flame rising from somewhere amid the tossing surges, split the dark- ness like a flash of lightning and then vanished. " That's the danger signal, mother, and no mistake," cried Sam. "The ship's coming right toward us. She'll strike on the Point before long. I must go to the cliff and see if I can make her out." "Be careful, then, Sam dear," said his mother, "and don't do anything without letting me know." Sam buttoned up his coat, pulled his cap down hard upon his head and sallied forth into the storm, which well-nigh took his breath away. But he struggled man- fully against it until he reached a sheltered nook in the cliffs, whence it was possible to look out seaward. For some time he could see nothing save the danger signals that continued to be sent up. Then, as the darkness began to lighten before the approach of day, he was able to faintly discern a large vessel lying help- lessly, upon one of the cruel ledges which jut out from the Point, while the great billows were making a clean breach over her. At first nothing could be seen of the unfortunate crew, but as the light grew stronger he made out one and then another clinging fast to the rigging, and looking more like flies than human beings. Sam knew well enough that they could not stay there long, for the vessel must soon go to pieces. He quickly de- termined what to do. Hastening back to his mother he >4 THE HKRO OF START I'OINT told her what he had seen, asked her to wake i:p Lucy and send her off for tlie coast-guard, while he himself ran to the barn, gatlicred together a lot of good strong roi)e he knew to be there, and bringing it back to the house, he and his mother tied it together, bit by bit, until they had more than a hundred feet. This they took down to the edge of the cliff, and fastening one end securely to a jutting peak, flung the other over so that it fell into the water nearly one hundred feet below. But what did all this mean ? Of what use was that rope to the imperiled men clinging for life to the bat- tered hull a full {juarter of a mile away ? Ah, Sam had not lived fourteen years at Start Point Light for nothing. He knew every ledge, rock, and current as well as he did his alphabet, and his quick eye had shown him that if the men were washed off the wreck they would be tossed by the pitiless waves against the foot of the cliff right below where he was standing, and if not rescued at once would perish miserably. Well, but how did he propose to rescue them ? Surely not by chmbing down that slender rope in the face of such a storm and helping them when they came within his reach ? Precisely. All unexpectedly the chance his mother spoke of had come, and the purposes of his boyish heart were as heroic now as any that ever stirred in the heart of a Nelson. Presently what Sam expected took ulace. An enor- mous breaker swept over the half-subi lerged hull, and tearing two of the seamen from their jilace in the rig- ging, bore them like mere chips toward the cliff. THE HERO OF START I'OINT 15 ivake 1:0 Lucy ilc lie himself )f good strong it back to the jit by bit, until 'his they took ning one end ;r over so that feet below. : use was that fe to the bat- Ah, Sam had It for nothing, well as he did vn him that if ley would be »ot of the cliff if not rescued rescue them ? r rope in the len they came xpectedly the i the purposes any that ever :e. An enor- •ged hull, and ,ce in the rig- he cliff. " C)h, Sam dear, I'm afraid. It's a dreadful dan- gerous thing for you to ilo : " exclaimed Mrs. Tapple- stinc nervously, as Sam grasping the rope, prepar* d to descent!. "Never fear, motlicr, I'm all safe. I wi)n't let go of the rope," answered Sam, as he tlisappeared over the ed^a' of the cliff and descended swiftly, holding the ro[ie tightly in both hands and bracing his feet against the rugged face of the rock. Hand over hand he went down until at length, at the bottom, he reac bed a nar- row ledge which afforded him a precarious foothold. U'itiiout the aiil of the rope he could not have stayed therv-" a moment, for the spray s])rang high over his head, and every now and then a wave would strike fiercely at him. Once, indeed, a particularly big fellow swept him clear off liis feet, and for a moment he tliought it was all over with him. for several yards of tiie wet rope slipped through his ingers almost before he knew it. Hut, gripping the her.ip with all his might, he soon checked himself, and then, taking advantage of the next incoming wave, regained his perch. He (lid so just in time, for ho had hardly '^otten a firm foothold when, looking out through the olinding si)ray. lie saw the two sailors coming toward him amid the waves. He shouted ai the top of his voice. They heard him and struck out in his direction. Then down they went into the trough of the sea out of sight. Up thev :ame again, fighting bravely for their lives. Thus sinkmg and rising they drew near until they were at Sam's feet. Here they narrowly escaped being hurled i6 TllK HEKO OF START TOFNT with fatal force upon the cruel rocks, but tl.eir sailor ninihleiicss stood them in good stead, and grasping Sam's outstretched hand, in another moment both were standing beside him on the ledge, and all three holding on to the rope for dear life. While this was going on Lucy had been speeding to- wartl the coast-guard station for assistance, l-ortunately she had not gone half-way before she met the guard hastening to the I'oint, for the danger signals had been observed by them. Pressing on as fast as they could, they came to where Mrs. rajjplestine knelt beside the TO\)c praying for the safety of her boy. "Thank dod,' you've come !" she cried, as the guard ran up. "Quick, now, fasten another rope to the rock and send one of the men down. ' ' "Aye, aye!" answered the captain of the guard cheerily. With practised speed a strong rope was' made fast, the end flung over the cliff, and one of the men sent down. Reaching the ledge he found Sam and the two sailors clinging fast to their rope and wondering when succor would come to them. "All right, my hearties !" shouted the coast-guard. "You're safe now. They'll send another rope down presently." Sure enough, down came the rope, having a sling at the end by which, one after another, Sam and the sailors were drawn uj) to the top, where Mrs. Fap[)le- stine clasped her boy to her heart with tears of joy brimming her eyes. • SIT but tl.cir sailor , and grasping iiicnt both were II three hulding ;n speeding to- e. Fortunately met the guard gnals had been as they could, lelt beside the cried, as the lother rope to 1." of the guard kvas made fast, f the men sent im and the two ondering when e coast-guard, ler rope down ving a sling at Sam and the •i Mrs. Pa|)ple- h tears of joy THE IIF.RO or START I'OINT 17 Severe as his exertions had been, .Sam was little the worse for them, and he did not leave the spot until he had the satisfaction of .seeing every one of the crew rescued in just the same way as the two men who owed their lives to him. The fame of so gallant a .leed of course (piickly spread. First of all the neigliborliood was I'llled with it. 'I'hen the newspapers took it up, and finally it reached the ears of the (^ueen of l-Jigland. l'i( turc t(j yourself, then, the astonishment of the light-keeper and his family when one f ne day a message came from Her (Iracious Majesty that slie desired to reward the bravery of Master Samuel I'applestine, a full report of whicii had reached her ears. In accordance therewith, with her own royal hands she had sent him the Xidoria and Albert medal. Ah, that was a proud day for Sam and all belonging to him. When he opened the rich morocco ( asc luid showed them the gold, oval-sliaped badge bearing the royal monogram of V and A, interlaced with an anchor and surrounded by a bronze garter having upon it in letters of gold the significant words, " For gallantry in saving life at sea," his mother threw her arms about his neck and jjressing a kiss upon his forehead said, with deep emphasis : "Sam, darling, do you remember your talk about wishing to be a hero like Nelson? Wouldn't you now, rather be the hero of Start Point than the 'k ■ 1 of Trafalgar?" "Right you are, mother," replied Sam. "But if i8 THE IIEKO OF START I'OINT Queen Victoria ever wants mc to fight for her like Lord Nelson did, I'll be ready." Many a proud moment came to Sam afterward as he would open the case and ga/e at the handsome medal. It helped to keep him manly always. A hoy who had been deiorated by his ipieen could not be other than brave and true. 'T like Lord rward as hv line medal. yy who had other than ^LITTLE BAY HFROIhf^J.M ■\. A'l'Hl'.R. I "lease let me go with you tills trip. \'oii have often promised to take me, and 1 do want so nun h to go." 'I'hns pleading, I,i//.ie I'ilgrim looked up eagerly int(j ^J the brown-bearded, weather- tanned face of Captain Tilgrim, of the Little Hay fisliing schooner, " ("od-seeker. " "Tut, Lizzie, aboard ship's not the place for girls. V'ou are much better at home. You'd only be in the way. What could you do to make yourself useftd, I'd like to know?" said her father, smiling kindly upon her. " Why, lots," rei)licd I,izzie jiromptly. "I could set tiie table, wash the dishes, make your bed, and plenty - other things. Do take me; that's -J a de.-ir, kind father I" "So you would like to be our little stewardess, eh? Just fourteen 19 20 A LITFLE UAV HEROINE years old and eager to liiro out already," laughingly said Captain Tilgiiui. "Very well, l.i//ie, since yn.i want to go so badly, you can come this trip ; but mind you, it's not the tun you scein to think it is." "You're a dear, darling lather ; that's just what you arc ! " chirped the delighted girl, giving the captain an ecstatic hug. "I'll just be the best stewardess yuu ever had; see if I don't ! And now 1 must go anil tell mother right off." Whereupon she slid over the side of the schooner to the wharf and s( ampered off as fast as her legs could carry her, her father fondly look- ing after her and saying half aloud to him; di : "She's a chip of the old block, and no mistake. She takes to the water as naturally as a sea gull." Lizzie Pilgrim hurried up the rude wharf and along the village street until she came to a cozy white cot- tage, into which she danced, shouting merrily : "I'm going with father, I'm going with father! Get my chest ready, mother. I'm going with father this trip!" Mrs. Pilgrim came out from the kitchen, where she had been making bread, with her arms floured to the elbows. "Did father say you could go?" she queried half incredulously. "Yes, mother, and I'm to be stewardess; so get my things ready," answered Lizzie exultantly. '< Well, I must say I don't quite like the idea of your going out in the schooner, Lizzie ; but since your father said you could go, I suppose you'll have to. I'm glad laughingly , since yi)u ; t)iit mind St what you .' captain an vardt'SH you Hist go and lid over the ipered off as fondly look- -•If; no mist.ike. gull." ■f and along ;y white cot- ■ily: ,vith father ! ; with father I, where she oured to the queried half s ; so get my ; idea of your :e your father :o. I'm glad A LITTLE BAY IIKKOINE 21 the weather's so good, anyway. Not much ( lumce of a storm this month." .\nd Mrs. I'ilgriin glanced out of the window toward llic bay, whose lilu«' waters lay sleeping in the sununcr sunshine as though they could never do the slightest harm to anybody. \.\/./.\c I'ilgrim was the only child who had come In the big captain and his comely jiartner, and never was daughter more dearly loved, liut she had not been s')oiled for all that, for Mrs, Tilgrim was just as sen- sible as she was affectionate, inheriting her father's sturdiness and her mother's good looks, l,i/./ie was at fourteen a very attractive girl and, thanks to her bright, haiyi)y, unselfish nature, the greatest favorite in the village. The crew of the "Cod-seeker" were delighted when they heard that the captain's lassie, as they called her, was to go with them. " I'll bet my best boots we'll take a fine fare this trip," said Yankee Joe, "for we're bound to have good luck with Lizzie on board." And so it proved, Their course was along the Labra- dor coast, and it really seemed as if the fish were fol- lowing the schooner, instead of the schooner having to follow the fish. Out in the deep water the cod and haddock came tumbling aboard, while inshore the seines again and again took hundred-barrel hauls of fine, fat mackerel. All on board were in high spirits, and none more so than Captain Pilgrim himself, who was con- stantly telling Lizzie that she had brought him the best luck he had ever known. pil 33 A LITTI-E BAY HEROINE Meanwhile Lizzi.^ had been faithfully keepi.ig her part of the bargain, as far as being stewardess was rcMi- cerned. Never w.re the dishes so clean, the tins si) bright, the table so neat, or the captain's cabin kept in such perfect order as now. And, besides all this, the little woman's eyes were always open to see how the sails were managed, the vessel steered, and the rest of the work done on board her father's schooner. She was particularly fond of watching the anchor dive with a great splash into the water when they " lay to " for a night in some cpiiet cove, and then listening to the merry "yo heave ho" of the men, and the clink-clank of the windlass as the anchor was being weighed the following morning. When the "Cod-seeker" had been out not more than three weeks her hold was almost full. Another week of the same good fortune and, with a.fiire that meant plenty of money in everybody's pockets, the schooner would be bowling merrily back to Little Bay, when she came to anchor one night in Fish Bay. The next morning dawned rather dark and lowering, but by breakfast time it had cleared off somewhat and the day looked more promising. Lizzie, who had got- ten through with her breakfast before the others, hap- pened to run up on deck for a minute, and imn-J^i- ately came rushing back almost breathless with c.n.cu^ ment, crying out : " Quick, father, quick ! The bay is full of fish ! " Captain Pilgrim sprang hurriedly on deck, followed by the whole crew vvho, of course, never thought of 1 kecpi.ig her less was coii- , the tins so L'abin kept in 1 all this, the see how the id the rest of looner. She hor dive with • ' lay to ' ' for ening to the le clink-clank weighed thfi jut not more .ill. Another h a.fiire that pockein. the to Little Bay, ih Bay. and lowering, somewhat and who had got- i others, hap- and imiiiO'li- is with cxciit ill of fish !" leek, followed er thought of A LITTLE BAY HEROINE 23 Stopping to finish their meal, and there, sure enough, half-way between the schooner and the shore, the water was fairly black w=th a splendid school of mack- erel glittering in the sunlight as they plowed the water with their pointed heads. All was hurry and bustle then on board the "Cod-seeker." The dories were hoisted over the sides, the oars and nets flung pell-mell into them, and within five minutes every man on board was ready for the fray, the captain being the last to leave the vessel, giving his dau-hter a warm kiss as he went over the side, and saying tenderly : " Now, little woman, take good care of yourself and the schooner till we come back. Don't be frightened at our leaving you, dear, for we won't go out of your sight." "Frightened, father? Not a bit of it ! I'll have too much to do watching you to be frightened," said Lizzie, as she skipped lightly to her station on top of the cabin, whence a clear view of the whole proceed- ings could be had. And what a lively scene it was ! As swiftly as the men could row, and as silently too (for the mackerel must not be alarmed, lest they sink down into the deep water), the two boats, with the seine stretching between them, described a circle around the fish leaping and playing about, all unconscious of their danger. Presently a triumphant shout announced that con- nection had been made and the circle completed. The fish were hopelessly surrounded. Dart hither and thither as frantically as they might, their beautiful sil- I ■ J. I Lml 24 A LITTLE BAY HEROINE vered scales gleaming through the water, the.e .vas no escape for them. Then, all the dories drawing near, the task of towing the seine, with its precious contents, into shallow water began. It was slow work, and din- ner time came and went unheeded by the men, too intent ui)on their toil to feel the pangs of hunger, so that it did not matter much if the little stewardess for- got her duties for once while she followed every move- ment of the boats with eager eyes. IJefore the work was half over the wind began to rise rapidly, and the clouds all came back again ; but neither the busy men nor the watching gir' noticed this until, with a suddenness that is seen only too often upon the bleak Labrador coast, a fierce squall came sweeping in from the East, and almost in an instant the bay was broken up in white-capped waves, and the schooner began to pitch and toss and tear at her moor- ing chain as though she were fretting to be fret. Quickly catching the alarm, Captain Pilgrim shouted to his men not to mind the fish but to save the net if possible, and then seizing one oar while his stoutest sailor grasped the other, he turned his dory's bow toward the schooner, a full mile away. But to his in- tense alarm he found that the light, flat-l.tain iched to the A LITTLE DAY HEROIXE ajf The other boats were treated in lii. The :n by impatient [■•hoonci. The m and, as with o his heart, he L us ivneel right yers." round him, the emotion, gave ©aptoin linriaclc'w 1^ lec>aTe oTv, I 1 ■» T i SUPl'OSK hardly any one among my readers will have the least idea what the letters B. 15. M. I. C. stand for. They are not jlV.'' * ^: i^^^i^ the mystic symbol of i\Jjf'' [ some secret society with '^'^ Most Worthy (Irand Panjan- drums, Supreme High Cocko- lorums, and other imposing officials, such as all boys delight in at one time or an- other, but they mean simply the Bluenose Boys' Mutual Improvement Club ; and with the kind permission of Will Morrow, its en- ergetic president, I am going to invite all who care to listen, to be present at one of the meetings of this very excellent society. Of course you can accept the invitation in mind only, ''o it will not matter if you fail to find the city of Che- bucto on any map in your geographies. Perhaps it does not go by that name nowadays. At all events, 29 30 CAITAIN UINNACLES LECTURIC Chebucto is a great place for boys, and the Mutual Improvement Club has among its members a number of the briglitest boys in the city, who meet on Satur- day evi-nings at the home of each in turn, and have readings, tlialogues, and debates among themselves, and once a month a short lecture from one of the old folks upon some subject in which they can all take an interest. Chebucto is a great place not only for boys, but also for shii)s and sailors. It boasts one of the finest har- bors in the world, and there are hundreds of vessels and thousands of sailors in i)ort almost all the year round ; which fully explains why Chebucto boys are so fond of the sea. and take such a lively interest in everything connected with the bronzed and brawny men who do business upon the great waters. When, therefore. Will Morrow announced that his father had asked Captain Binnacle, the commander of one of Mr. Morrow's steamers, to give the club a short lecture on some nautical subject at the next monthly meeting, the boys were all delighted, and resolved to give the cap- tain p. hearty reception. This is the meeting to which I am permitted to in- vite you, and so I will now introduce Captain liinnacle — a renowned master of ships — who has spent a life- time on the ocean, and by making good use of his spare time has become one of the best-informed, as he is certainly one of the best-looking, skippers in the mer- chant service. The captain began by saying that while everybody ON SEA TKRMS ASHORE 31 the Mutual s a number ;t on Satur- I, and have tliemsclves, L- of the old I all take an )ys, but also ; finest har- Is of vessels all the year boys are so interest in and brawny •rs. When, s fatlier had f one of Mr. rt lecture on meeting, the ;ive the cap- nitted to in- ain liinnade spent a Hfe- ; of his spare led, as he is in the mer- e everybody loved Jack, the sailor, because he was such a frank, manly, generous kind of chap, not many people knew what a number of words and phrases Jack liad in- vented and they liad appropriated, and were using every day of their lives. He thought it was (piite time lack was given his due in this maU.'r. " 'i'he first word I will take is 'mainstay.' \ou have all heard this expression, ' She is the mainstay of the house,' or, ' He is the mainstay of the business,' but ])erhaps it never occurred to you that the word ' mainstay ' has come ashore, meaning when afloat tlie great steel or hempen hawser which slants forward from the maimiiast of the ship down to the deck, and keeps the mast stiff and steady, no matter how hard the wind may blow. " Some day or other, not for a good many years per- haps, you will take a deep interest in another word lack has been good enough to invent for you, and that is 'spliced.' When two people are brave enough to get married, their friends may say they are 'spliced,' and you have only to watch a sailor making what he calls a splice to understand how appropriate the word is to matrimony. "When you grow up to be men, and go into busi- ness on your own account, I trust you will never have reason to know what it is to be ' thrown on your beam- ends.' For a ship to be on her beam-ends is to be in a very ugly and dangerous position indeed. It can only happen in some dreadful storm, and it means that instead of riding over the waves on an even keel, the 32 CAPTAIN niNNACLF.'S LKCTL'RF. unliuky vessel is lyinj; over i.n lier side until her yards dip in tlie water, and lier det k slopes worse than the roof of a house. She cannot stay in that position k.nn. The masts must be < ut away and the vessel righted, or down she \..il go with all on board. That is just the situation business men sometimes fmd them- selves in when a finandal hurricane heaves them tlown until they are almost ready to sink into the depths ot insolven.y. Another unpleasant experience is bemg • hard-up.' Probably you have all had a taste of that. For a ship's helm to be put ' hard-up.' that is, as far as it will possibly go to port or starboarnd ships are concerned, ' you can easily see the force of the phrase. «' All the ladies like sailors, because they know right well that no man has a more lively admiration for them than lack ; but there are very few of them, I'll wager, have the least idea that when they say, ' I was really quite taken aback, my dear,' they are in debt to Jack for those very expressive words A ship is ' taken aba(-k ' by a sudden change in the wind which, instead of bellying out the canvas and bowling her merrily along, chops round and bangs the sails up against the mast so that the vessel comes to a standstill. And the very same thing often happens among people. Things are la I \L. ON SKA TERMS ASHORE 33 il her yards sc tlian tlif lat position tiic vessel i>ard. That s find theiii- theni down he deptiis of ice is being taste of that. It is, as l;ir as ills that there I coining on, rancv. of an- ord does not re nowadays, Jiffunlties. so ed, ' you can L'y know right ition for them m, I'll wager, ' I was really debt to Jack lip is ' taken which, instead merrily along, ist the mast so And the very :. Things are going along smoothly when, |)iil'f — a rude remark, a sudden show of temper, and somebody is sure to be 'taken abai k,' miicii to iiis discomfort. " Tiiere are two faxorite expressions of Jaik wlii( ii every boy who has any respe( t fi^r liimself must take care never to have truthfully aiii)lied to him, namely, that he is given to being 'slewed,' and to 'spinning twisters.' To slew means to turn, and thercrfore to say that a man is 'slewed,' signifies that lie is turned the wrong way by drink, a state into wlii( h |)oor Jack is only too apt to get himself when he is ashore with plenty of pay in his pocket. ' He is a great hand at s|)inning a twister,' is a remark often made about jieople who are fond of telling long stories whii li, while not altogether lies, are so full of exaggerations as to leave very sianty storage room for the truth, and the origin of the phrase is this : I'.very ship has on board a little machine known as the 'spun-yarn winch,' with which the sailors make a small kind of rope (afled 'siHin-yarn,' which is useful in a hundred different ways. This winch twists up the yarns together, and they are then stretched along at great length, from the fo'cs'le to the poop perhaps; so that 'spinning a twister' and 'spinning a long yarn' have had the same birthplace. "Then the lawyers and the politicians — some of you lads are sure to be both later on — are in special debt to Jack also. They often speak about there being ' a hitch in the arrangement,' when some difficulty occurs in a matter they have in hand ; and it is a very good way c I' 34 CAFIAIN IllNNACr.K'S I.F.CTL'RF, of piitliiiK il. lor a liiuh is a knot c.r turn in a rope \vlu< li prevents it from traveling! or nimiint; out freely, lack has several kinds of tiiesc hitihcs, such as ' liall- liitih.' 'clove-iiitch.' ' tiinl)er-hit(:li.' and so on. eat li iiavin^; its own special use. .\fter the provoking •hit.ir in the arrangement has been successfully got- ten over, it is perhaps all 'plain sailing.' which is a landsman's notion of bowling along without any trouble, with a clear lourse, a fair wind, and nothing to do but mind the helm. There is another kind of sailing, how- ever, which is ni)t so satisfactory, and that is -sailing under false colors.' If honest Jack were invited to give these same lawyers and politit ians a bit of advice, he would perhaps say something in this wise : ' Avast, ho ! my hearties, keep a sharj) lookout aheatl ; be al- ways "above board." don't try to "sail under false (olors." and don't be always thinking how yon can "overreach your mates. ' for ten to one you will end up by "falling foul" of them, and maybe "foundering" yonrself ' "Now here, boys, is a lot of terms invented by Jack that have -stablished themselves on shore. 'I'o be 'above board' ncans to be out on the open deck where everybody can see you. and not hidden away in the cabin or forecastle. To 'sail under false colors.' is to hoist at the masthead the flag of another nation than that to which the vessel really belongs. It is often done in times of war. If there was war between Mngland and France, for instance, and a Krencli vessel on meeting an English cruiser were to hoist the Stars irn ill :i rope \\)^ out freely, sucli as ' lialf- il so on. ea< li llie provoking iccessfully got- g.' wliich is a lit any troiiMe, hiiig to ilo but jf sailing, how- that is ■ sailing ere inviteil li> I hit of adviie, wise : ' Avast, ahead ; he al- ;ail under false ; how yon can yon will end np "foundering" is invented hy 1 shore. To he the oi)en deck hidden away in .■r false colors,' another nation belongs. It is las war between a I'Vench vessel ) hoist the Stars ON SEA TKRMS .\MIORE li and Stripes, tluit would be a case of sailing under false <:olors. liy ' overri'ac !)ing ' is meant a vessel holding on too long on one ta< k. Ship^ "fall foul' of one an- other wiieii a gale causes them to drag their am hor.-i and come into ( ollision, and no one who has ever been on iioard a ship at sue h a lime, and heard the grinding of tiie huge hulls as the wavi-s bumj)ed them together, the crashing of the sjjars aloft, the shiuiting of the caj)- tains, and swearing of tlie men, will ever forget what it is to ' fall foul.' Hut ' foundering ' is still worse, for that only happens when a gallant vessel, after being beaten about by a terrible storm, opens her seams until, be- coming- full of water, she goes right down in mid- ocean, taking all on board with her to ' IMvy Jones' locker. ' "Of course, my lads, these I have giv>_n are not by any means all the words and exjjressions which lands- men owe to Jack, but I won't bother you with many more, or you will think 1 am spinning altogether too long ;• yarn myself, and be longing for me to come to an anchor. I have already told you how the ladies, the lawyers, and politicians, have borrowed e.xpressions from Jaik's fruitful vocabulary, and it is now the turn of the merchants. Suppose, Mr. President, you should ask your father how business was, and he should reply that although there had been a great falling off some time ago, it was beginning to look uj) ami getting into the right course again, he would use at least three well- known sea terms in that short sentence. A ship ' falls off when the wind draws ahead and gets in her way, 36 CAPTAIN binnacle's LECTURE as it were, ami is said to be 'looking up' wb-^n, after pointing off her course; she gradually steals round to it again through the veering of the wind, thus 'getting into the rigiit course,' that is, the straightest line for the port to which she is bound. "One of Jack's words in constant use of late years is 'crank.' A crank ship is one that has too little bal- last on board, and is conseiiuently in danger of going over on her beam-ends at the first S(piall, and as half- witted peoi)le are always ill-balanced, you can see at once how e.xpressive the term ' crank ' is. "One more word, boys, and I will come to anchor. 'I'hat word is 'brace up.' and it contains a very good bit of ad\ ice too. When we feel lazy, discouraged, discontented, or miserable about anything. ' in the doldrums,' as Jack would say, we must brace up, as ships at sea brace up their yards that they may make the most of the wind. " Hy the way of a wind-up, I will give you a half- dozen sea terms, the meanings of whi( h it will be amusement for you to find out for yourselves, namely : 'Making headway,' 'making leeway,' 'holding her own,' 'shot in tlie locker,' 'see how the land lies,' ' the coast is clear, ' look out for snualls,' ' coming to,' and 'beating about.' 'I'hat will be enough, I think. .\nd now, lads, thankin', you heartily for not getting tired of an old sailor's talk, and wishing you all a pros- perous voyage on life's ocean, I will 'avast heaving' and have done." RE p' when, after lals round to it thus 'getting ghtcst line for e of late years s too little bal- anger of going 11, and as half- iOu can see at [jnie to anchor, ns a very good r, discouraged, :hing. ' in the it brace up, as they may make ive you a half- lich it will be selves, namely : ' holding her the land lies,' ,' ' coming to,' lougb, I think, for not getting r you all a pros- avast heaving ' eK^&>fei^^^ HKN T'»d Robson ran away to sea, his ])arents sought to comfort their sad- dened hearts with the conviction that it would not be long before he would return, a wiser lad than he had gone. For one thing, he did not know how to swim, and as the good deacon shrewdly said: "A sailor that can't swim surely ain't worth his salt on board a ship, and they'll soon be finding our Ted out, and pack him home again." Ted had always been of a restless, wayward disposi- tion. He was not attracted by the idea of following in the footsteps of his worthy father, only son though he was. The fancied restraints of religion seemed to him more than he could endure. He wanted to have his fling first, at all events, to sow his crop of wild oats ; and although his parents were neither over-indulgent 37 38 HEAIl DOWNWARD nor unduly strict, even his comfortal)le liome gr>,w irk- some as he allowed himself to cherish the notion of seeing something of the world. The end of the matter was that, failing to obtain his father's consent, he made up his mind to go off with- out it, and one dark nighi in June he disajipeared, to gether with such of his belongings as could be made up into a handy bundle. .\s soon as lY-d's absence was discovered. Deacon Robson set off in pursuit, but unluckily went to the wrong seaport, there being two at about eciual distanc;; from Ebondale, and before he could corre t '.is error, his undutiful son liad stowed away on the big bark " Krl King," bound for South America with a big cargo of lumber, and was beyond the southern horizon. Ted had not been a week on shipboard before he began to re])ent of his conduct. In the first place, he was desperately seasick ; in the second, he was by the command of the captain, who had small sym])athy with stowaways, set to the hardest and most distasteful tasks ; and in the third place, the ocean was so much vaster than he had ever imagined, and even the big bark seemed such a speck upon its bosom, that the very idea of a big storm filled him with apprehension. " I just wish 1 was home again," said he to himself more than once. " If I'd only known what jioor fun there is in being a sailor, I'm mighty sure I'd never have been fool enough to stow mvself away." Despite these dran backs at the start, however, as the voyige progressed he grew more accustomed to his HEAD DOWNWARD 39 ne gT^w irk- e notion of obtain his ,'o off with- [ipeared, to Id be made ed, Deacon .vent to the ual distant;: ■t '-.is error, le big bark 1 a big cargo orizon. d before he "St place, he was by the npathy with steful tasks ; much vaster le big bark he very idea ,' to himself lat |)Oor fun e I'd never however, as omed to his new life, and as he l)ehav(„d himself well and showed intelligence, l.e was after a while given the place o*" cabin-boy, in which he had lighter work and better trealmeut. 'Ihe " I'lrl King's" course was down the eastern coast of South America, around dangerous Cape Horn, and up tile west coast as (;ir as ('o(piinibo, stopi)ing from time to time at different ports on the way. led made the most of his (ipi)ortunities to learn to row and steer a boat and other useful accomplishments ; but he knew no more about swinnning when they reached the Chil- ian coast tlian he did when they started. The bark had to delay her return to get on board a cargo of copper ore. and there being nothing else to do, the energies of the crew were directed to making rejjairs in the rigging and hull, rendered necessary by the long voyage. ( )ne morning Ted was seiit ashore as steersman of a boat to bring off some sui)i)lies. 'I'he day was perfect; the surface of the bay had hardly a ripple ; and Ted felt in higli spirits as the boat shot through the water. Ciood time was made to the landing, the stores were procured and stowed in the stern sheets, a little while was allowed for looking around, and then the heavily laden boat i)lowed her way back to the bark, ■' Kight bells" struck just as the boat got alongside, and the oarsmen being in a hurry for their dinner, clambered out of her, leaving 'led to make fast and follow after. He had l)een steering with an oar. and feeling a little incensed at the others hurrying off, he i 40 HEAD DOWNWARD gave an impatient stroke to bring the boat's sterr in to the ship. He was standin--, in the boat when he did this, and the notch for the oar being too shallow, the heavy ash blade slipped out of it. Taken completely unawares, Ted lost his balance, and shot overboard head first, his impetus carrying him far down into the translucent depths. His first 'eeling as the water closed over him was one of wild terror. He knew he coui not swim a stroke, and he rightly surmised that no one had seen him dis- app-iar, the whole crew being busy at dinner. Opening his mouth to shout for help, a suffocating rush of salt water made him nistantly close it again. He was near losing consciousness from sheer fright at his appalling situation. There came to him like an inspiration the directions that he had once read as to what should be done in such an emergency. He remembered that he must not be flurried, and that he must k< ep his arms down, and paddle as much like a dog as possible. So he set to work paddling, at first gently, but with growing vigor as the agony of suffocation increased, until he had reached the utmost limit of his strength. Oh, if he could only get his mouth above water just for a moment ! How terrible it was to be without breath. Yet, strange to say. his efforts brought him no nearer the surface. Then there flashed into his mind the thought of the oar, which had been the cause of his fall into the water, and he groped around eagerly in the hope of grasping it with his hands. But his out- si 1) g n d o it P a h e d h h li h o f( h li P u S( li HEAD DOWNWARD 41 t's sterr in to t when he did shallow, the t his balance, )ctus carrying r him was one kvim a stroke, seen him dis- ner. Opening ig rush of salt He was near his appalling the directions d be done in it he must not ins down, and ntly, but with on increased, his strength. water just for ithout breath, lim no nearer lis mind the : cause of his eagerly in the But his out- stretched fingers touched nothing save the surrounding brine, and despairing of helping himself in any way, he gave up further effort and was perfectly still. " Perhaps i will rise to the surface now," he thought. "They say that's what happens if you only keep still." No ! Instead of ascendi ig he seemed to be getting more deeply submerged, hi^ mind now became won- derfully active. His past life unrolled itself like a pan- orama before his mental vision, and there mingled with it anxious thoughts of his future. He felt the most poignant regret for his conduct toward his parents, and an awful horror of death possessed him. No grountl had he to- hope for Divine mercy. No other fate than eternal condemnation could await such a sinner as he. "Oh, if I could only be spared this time, what a different boy I would be ! " was the unuttered cry of his heart, and with such mental strength as remained to him, he vowed to serve (lod faithfully the rest of his life if he should be rescued. Suddenly there came an excruciating pain in his head, as though it would burst, that drove him to make one more desperate effort to free his face from the suf- focating water. But the effort was in vain, and after his last atom of strength had spent itself, a feeling of de- licious ease stole sweetly over his senses, soothing all physical and mental agony, and he sank into complete unconsciousness. Presently he became conscious of a curious humming sound, and of a distant murmur of voices. He be- lieved he was in another world, and made a desperate L 4* HEAD DOWNWARD I 1 I attempt to open h'« eyes. lOverytliing, however, was in a state of whirl and blur that was painful, so he thought he would wait until he grew stronger. The next moment a familiar voice broke in upon his stupor, and aroused him to make another attempt. The voice said : "Clivc him a little more of that drink ; he's coming- to all right." The speaker was the captain of the " Krl King," and instead of being in another world, led was no farther than the vessel's cabin where, surrounded by an anx- ious grouj) of his shii)mates, he was being slowly brought back to life. The revulsion of feeling was so great that he burst into tears, at which the captain said : "That's right ; that will do you good. You'll soon be quite yourself again. Hut I tell you, my lad, you had a narrow squeak for it." Ted's escape, certainly, had been nothing short of providential. It seemed that one of the men. feeling some com])unction at liaving left him in the lurch, re- turned to help him make fast the boat. Surjjrised at not seeing him. he sprang into the boat, and guessing what had happened, peered down into the water which, fortunately, was as clear as crystal. His cjuick eyes at once caught sight of poor Ted. head downward, at such a depth that he had to haul hm up with a boathook. From that day Ted was a changed boy. He felt so convinced that (lod's reason for sparing his life was that he might give him his heart and serve him for the ten ing littl the opt he did he.n froi I his was sile diri whi ran trac enc wit wai dor pra the soh he I has his aga I iiE.\n nowNWARn 43 however, was iiinful, so he 'onger. The jii his stui)or, The voice he's romiiig- 1 Ring," and as no farther I by an anx- lowly brought that he burst You'll soon my lad, you fling short of men. feeling he lurch, rc- Suri)rised at and guessing water which, juick eyes at ward, at such boathook. He felt so ; his life was him for the remainder of his days, that he at once set about obtain- ing f(jrgiveuess. From the bottom of his bag came the litde liible, his mother's gift, which he had stowed in there with his other belongings, although he had not opened it during the voyage. He read and prayed until he became known on board as " jjious 'J'td." Hut he did not mind being laughed at, for peace came into his heart, and he was strong in the strength that cometh from above. Moreover, he had the satisfaction of knowing that his influence was not lost. IVlore than one of the men was led to think of the wild life he was living by his silent exam])le. In one case he was permitted to see direct results. At one of the South .American ports at which the " Hrl King" wascomi)elled to call, Tom Coch- rane, the wild, rough s.-'i'or who had rescued 'led, con- tracted a severe illnes ; whu h, for a time, threatened to end his life. The gratitude in Ted's heart, together with the new spirit that had come to him, led him to wait on Tom as faithfully as any lorother could have done. More than once too, he heard the devoted boy praying to (lod for his recovery. 'I'his, together with the boy's tender ministry, caused him to make a re- solve to do better ; and hih young nurse believed that he would. In due time the voyage came to an end, and Ted hastened home, praying that no ill might have befallen his ])arents during his absence, and vowing that never again would he leave them without their full approval. He reached the old h -me just as his father and 44 IIKAD noWNWARIl mother wore sitting' down to their evening m«al, and bursting into the room, he threw liimself at his father's feet, crying : "Forgive me, father; I've come home, and I'll never run away again." (Ireat was the gladness of the father and mother at their son's safe return, and greater still their joy when they learned of his ( iiange of heart, for the sake of which they freely forgave him everything. ng meal, and at bis father's )me, and I'll nd mother at tlicir joy when r the sake of ^^3^^e 'S^' HARl.IK ! Wh.>> aoes that mean?" crieil Stan ("lark- son, throwing down his i)i(:k, seizing his t and nerveless as he made liis way hai k to the little group treiuiiiingly awaiting his return. They knew his answer before he spoke, and as he despondently dragged himself out of llu' water, the l)0()r little fellows who had been trying hard to < ontrol their sobs, broki' out alresii. "Come now, boys; stoj) that!" said i'lank in a commanding but not unkindly tone. "Crying won't help matters. Tliere's nothing for us but to wait here until the tide goes out again. Let us go back to the end of the cave." 'I'hereiipon tliey all made their way to the farthest recess of tlie long tunnel, dug out by the persistent waves, and, putting down their lights, gathered close about I'Vank for comfort and direction. 'i'heir situation was one of sufficient danger to ajjpall the stoutest heart. The party consisted of a dozen boys, ranging ir. age from ten to fourteen years, all of them pupils at Chebucto .\cademy. .Among the many legends of the sea current in Chebucto, was one to the effe(-t that a certain cave, which penetrated deep into the side of Sambo Head and bore the name of Smuggler's Cave, although no smuggler had been known to make use of it for generations past, was one of the hiding i)laces where Captain Kidd had bestowed a portion of his ill-gotten gain. This legend every boy at the academy devoutly believed, and i vas a frecjuent subject of discussion among them, although no attempt had ever been made on their part to test its accuracy r 48 CAUGHT IN SML-GGI.UKS CAVE until I'raiik Alhirton, one of those boys who always take till' li';ie a plan of the interior of the < ave, and to indicate the precise spot where Caplaiu Kidd had made his deposit of bullion and jewels. The boys gathered eagerly about I'rank as with knitted brow he studied Men Sculpin's mystic scrawl. Kvideiitly he found it no c.isy task to identify its indi( a- tion. But at length his fi ■■ light-'ucil. lie thought he had caught the clew all right, and soon under his di- rections the whole party was toiling away vigorously in a corner of the cave that certainly looked a very fitting hiding place for pirate treasure. So heartily did they work, inspired by hopes as splen- did as they were vague, that they took no thought of time until their stomachs hinted that refreshments would be in order, when they knocked off for half an hour, ate their lunch, had a little rest, and then re-commenc cd with undiminished ardor. After another hour or so, however, signs of weariness began to show themselves, one of the first to let uji being Stan Clarkson, who was a lazy kind of c:hap at any time, and it was while rest- ing on his pick that his .[uic k ear caught the sound of waves bi'criking softly upon the sand which caused him i> ^f^ m i LMII Ii lH I J. . i"i u ii i.».!f SO CAUGHT IN SMUGGLER S CAVE to rush toward the mouth of the cave witli the result already described. When the bo>.s realized that they were prisoners until the tide should fall again and set them free, their first thought naturally was, did the tide fill the whole cave, or did it leave sufficient space at the far end for them to await in safety their deliverance ? Hy common consent they referred this question to Frank Atherton, and his prompt answer, given in a cheerful, confident tone, was : " We'll be all right, boys. Uon't get scared. We'll have to stay here a little longer than we expected to, that' sail." His companions tried bravely to imitate his com- posure, although their spirits were sinking fast, and under his directions they sought around the walls for ledges and other projections which would enable them to get as far out of the reach of the water as possible. In doing this some of the lights were extinguished through being dropped or overturned, which mishap heightened their growing terror until thjy were on the verge of a panic. But Frank diverted their thoughts for the moment by scolding the clumsy ones very vigor- ously and bidding the others be more careful, and soon all, except himself, had secured some sort of a foothold on the walls wh'ich raised them above the level of the cave's floe. There, in anxious uncert-^.inty, they awaited the coming of the tide. As gendy and playfully as thcagh incapable of harm, the dark water stole up o^e'^ the sand in wave after rtith the result prisoners until free, their first le nhole cave, nd for them to nimon consent erton, and his onfident tone, scared. We'll „' expected to, itate his corn- king fast, and d the walls for i enable them er a.s possible, e extinguished which mishap .,'y were on the their thoughts ines very vigor- reful, and soon rt of a foothold e the level of icert-^.inty, they pable of harm, 1 in wave after CAUGHT IN SMUGGLKRS C.WE Si wave, waxing higher inch by inch. The soft ripples seemed to be chasing one another in innocent merri- ment for, although the wind blew briskly outsit.e, none of its violence was felt witiiin, and the tide a