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- even though soine of t!
August 5, 1882.
—teszGOLDEN DAYS:se +>
555
CHAPTER XXIII.
TO KEY WEST.
It is “just barely possible that during
that night of watehing, after a hard day’s
work, some one of the. boys dozed at his
post; but all intended to keep awake,
and it their heads nodded now and then,
it was because of sheer inability to keep
them straight.
But whether they slept at ‘their posts
or not, no harm came of it. The men
whom they feared did not show them-
selves, and the few sails they did see
about sunrise were outside tho line of
reefs.
‘here seemed every probability that
they would pave another day’s uninter-
rupted work, and this fuct had a great
deal to do with making them forget the
soreness and lameness which they felt
in every join’
Kirk had stood the watch froin three
until five in the morning. When he
ealled his cousins, he had ahearty break-
fast all prepared and placed on one of the
coal-bunkers in the engine- sroont— since
it was no longer possible, owing to tl
cargo, to get into the mess-roo!
‘All hands on deck!” he shouted, as
he “shook Solomon, who had fallen
asleep by the stove. “ We must get to
work early, for we can‘t expect to have
fair weather allthe time, and we must
try to take | on board the balance of our
load to-~
There was no need of @ second call,
for IJarry and Joe were on their feet at
onee, fully recognizing the necessity of
being at work as early’ as possible. _
The breakfast was soon eaten, and,
leaving Joe toclear away the dishes at
the saine tone that he stood watch, Kirk,
Jarry and Solomon started for the
wreck,
The little darkey was still disgusted
with wrecks, and all pertaining to them,
since there were at least adozen barrels
inore for him to tow to the yacht; and it
was not until Kirk had spoken to him
quite sharply that he went to work.
Then he rowed in such an injured,
leisurely fashion that it was evident his
job would last all day.
The boys broke out the cargo rapidly,
no longer stopping to exainine the con-
_ tents of each box, but placed them on
the raft, conte: o wait until they
should land before learning just what
they had save
Ss nearas they could judge, there were
fully twelve lowds for the Sprite in the
hold of the wreck, but a certain portion
of it was so soaked with water as to
render it hardly worth the salvage.
During that forenoon one raft- Joad was
taken on board, in addition to the four
_ barrels Solomon pulled out, and it was
stowed away before dinner, loading the
little craft so deeply as to show that but
one more cargo could be taken, under
any gircumstane eS,
“We shall be etty low in the
water,” on Kirk, as the went out in the
small boat a short distance, to see how
the yacht was. itimmed, “but we shall
robably hav air day to-morrow, and
guess we can Smale Key West safely
enough.’
Solomon was the only one opposed to
taking on more cargo, and he had agreat
deal to say of the danger of sailing about
the keys so heavily la aden. But no one
aid any attention to his protests, save to
insist upon his working fuster than he
had during the forenoon.
On reaking out the. second raft-load,
the bulkhead to the cabin was partially
uncovered, and again Joe stoutly insist-
ed that a search of the interior should be
made. Bat Kirk was as strongly o
posed as ever, urging that if they were
delayed by such work it would be im-
possible to have a full load on, and start
the following morning.
Then came the question as to whether
- they were to leave the. wreck alone
- while they went to Key West, and this
Was a inatter which had been troubling
Kirk considerably. He knew as well as
the others did that if they conld leave
Some one in charge of the derelict, they
could legally hold their claim of salvage,
he regular wreck-
ers should .come that way; while to
leave it alone, even though they had
been at work on her, would be to lose
the prize, if any one else should dis-
cover it,
“Til tell you what I think we'd better
do,” said Joe, decidedly, as the last load
that could be taken was put on the raft,
and they were ready to start for the
Sprite. You won't be aw: ay more than
three or four days, an ve itis only
about eighty niles to’ Key West, you
and VWarry can run the yacht without
Solomon and Now, we will take the
tent ashore, and stop here. We can be
floating some of the goods to the beach,
for if a storm should come up the wreck
might float away, or go to
Kirk liked the idea, and yet he hesi-
tated about leaving the two there alone,
“ Suppose our pilots should come this
way?" he a:
“You will be in more danger of see.
ing them than we shali,” Jaughed Joe.
“Tt they are anywhere around here,
they will be sure'to see the yacht as sho
goes out, and will follow her rather than
come here.”
The argument was a good one, and
since Solomon appeared to be quite us
willing to stay as Joe did, the only ques-
tion was as to whether Kirk and Harry
could run the yacht alon
nonet do you think “ot it, Marry?”
asked Kirk.
“eT tink Joe had better stay. We can
get along all right without him, and if
We choose we ean hire some one at Key
West to help us when we come back.”
Thus it was decided that Joe and Solo-
mon should remain on the key to guard
e wreck, and while Kirk and Larry
were hoisting aboard the goods from the
raft, the other two were taking on shore
the tent, guns, ammunition, provisions,
blankets and water,
Sinee the Sprite might not return to
Buchanan Key for several days, quite a
large amount of stores were needed on
shore, and the work of taking the differ-
ent icles out of the yacht was hardly
finished before the task of taking on
board the raft-load had been accom-
plished.
During his watghes—for all hands re-
mained on board of the yacht. that
night—Joe cooked sufficient provisions
to last his cousin during the run, and
otherwise did all he could to lighten
their labors next day.
at was Harry’s laxt watch that morn-
ing, and just at daybreak he not only
had breakfast prepared, but had steain
, ready for the start. The meal
eaten hurriedly, and before the sun 1
Kirk had rowed Joe and Solomon ashore,
after which he and Marry hove the an-
chors in,
oe serew began to revolve, obedient
the power of the steam. ‘The little
craft forged slowly ahead, and a parting
salute was blown to those on the shore,
who stood watching the steamer as she
was got under way.
jay was as calmas could have
becn desired, otherwise it would have
been imprudent to put to sea, for the
Sprite was loaded down until her decks
were nearly level with the water; and,
although there was a steatn pressure of
nearly 1 fifty pounds, she moved through
the water at not inore than two-thirds
her regular rate of speed,
r the key was so far astern that it
was no longer possible to see the boys
on the beach, Kirk ealled through the
tube to know how matters were pro-
gressing in the engine-room,
“Weare making about six miles an
hour, I think, and the engine works
like a charm,’’ replied Marry. “We
cought to be there by six o "clock this
evening, if the wind don’t spring up,
and the next load we take ought not to
be so heavy, for tho risk is too ‘great.”
There was no chance for anyarguinent
on tbat point, for Kirk was of the same
opinion, and he watched the sky and the
barometer closely during that day’s run.
Kirk made a direct course for the
group of keys known as Bahia [fonds May
and when the Sprite was well up t
them she was hauled sharply around
for tho sea, leaving Sombrero key Light-
house on the port-hand, following close-
ly the line of beacons down the reefs.
When ‘beacon No. 5 was reached, the
yacht was" haule: din again, heading di-
rectly for Key West Light. The run
outside had been as smooth as was that
in the bay save for the long, easy roll;
but pl 8 the waters were, ‘they caine.
in through the scuppers from time to
tiie, as the yacht) rolled on the swell.
Ilarry’s calculations as to the time. of
the run were very ciose, for it was ex-
actly six o’clock ‘as the Sprite stean: ed
up to one of the piers at Key West—the
day’s cruise ended.
“That's what 1 call pretty good ron-
ning,” said Harry, as, Jeaping ashore,
he made the hawsers fast, while Kirk
swung out the fenders,“ We can—
id not finish the sentence; for,
turning just then, he was confronted by
the r red pilot, who came down the
pier as if he had been on the look-out dor
them, (ro BE CONTINUED.]
=
°
ANECDOTES ABOUT BOYS.
—In New York there is a certain
boy named Jake, who is known to
many persons as “the little Polish
match-peddler.’”’? One afternoon, about
Amonth ago, Jake had an adventure
that ought to teach him a lesson. He
had sold all of his matches except eleven
boxes, which were in a bag slung ucross
his back. Instead of walking home, or
paying his fare, Jake slyly leaped upon
an open car, The conductor was busy,
as there were inany passengers on the
ear, and so he did not see the match-
peddler, But as “iniurder will out,’ so
wrong-doing generally comes to light.
Jake was so busy watehing ibe move-
ments of the conductor failed to
@ fat pu taseniger siueesing along out
from his seat. did the “tat passen-
ger, who was in a ‘hurr ‘y, see Jake; and
when he came down with all his weight
upon Jake's foot, away went the L
heels over head. It so happened that
Jake fell squarely upon his back, or ra-
ther upon the bag of inatches. When
the matches struck the stones there
were several crack, crack, crack sounds,
which the passengers and other specta-
tors did not understand. But Jake
knew what the matter was. He knew
that his matches had ‘“struek,” an
withascream he aa toward a police]
nan, shouting: ‘I’m a-fire! I’m a-tire!
unstrap this bagp? The officer soon com-
prehended the ‘state of affairs, and, w hip-
ping out his jack-knife, severed the
strap that held the burning matches to
Jake's back, Part of the coat was burn-
ed, and the shoulders were singed badly
enough to make them smart, but other-
wise no harmful result followed. Jake
paid dearly for his ride.-
—Some years ago, a gentleman who
was fond of chess, noticed that a ragged
little newsboy liked to stand ata window
and look in while games were going on.
The lad was a bright-faced little fellow,
and at that time sold papers near Fulton
and Nassau Streets, in New York. One
day, while he was watching the pieces
with boyish interest, the old gentleman
beckoned for him to enter. The gentle-
tleman offered to teach the boy the
moves. The latter learned very rapidly,
and in a few weeks could play mueli
etter than his teacher. The ‘boy phe-
nomenon” began to be talked of among
the chess-players in New York. Some
one gave hia money to go to school, and
frou a newsboy he became an educated
man. ‘This man is now second in the
Vienna match for the chess champion-
ship of the world,
—Frank Flournoy, a boy of ten years,
lives with his parents, in Columbus, Ga.
One afternoon, during June just past,
Frank was sailing alittle tin tub in a
large tub of water at the well belonging
to his father’s house. For some reason,
he elimbed upon the well-wall and fell
down into the deep, dark hole. He pro-
bably would not have been missed for
half an hour, bad not athunder-stornt
been coming up. When it began to rain,
Mrs. Flournoy ¢alled for Frank to come
in the house, and receiving no reply, be-
gan anxiously to search for Phim, Frank's
little sister remembered that she had
t seen the boy at the well, and the
mother, running thither, was horrified
to see the little curly head away down at
the bottom. She called, and Frank
shouted, in reply: “AIL right; hurry
up!” The bucket was at once lowered,
Frank got in, and in less than a tine
the boy was in his mother’ * arins, ‘T
well was sixty-five feet deep. Pranic
had not been hurt by the fall, and had
been kept afloat upon the tin tub, which
went down with him,
—A farimer’s boy, whose home was at.
Marhamehurch, in England, recently
climbed a tree, for the purpose of break-
ing upanest of owls. The birds had
been inaking raids upon the barnyard,
earrying off valuable poultry, The boy
reached the nest, and bore the young
wis away in triumph. Some daysatter-
wards, while he held one of the young
in his hand, showing the prize toa
frend. one of the parent-birds suddenly
pounced upon him, and struck him
heavily npon the head. He dropped the
young owl, and seized astick to defend
himself, but the old owl attacked again.
The father, who saw the strange nek
dent, hastened to help his son, when t
owl fought him also. The hoy was badly
hurt, aud bud to be taken toa hospital for
treatment. The young owls were killed,
but the old birds escaped.
strange incident occurred, not
long ago, near the village of Copenhagen,
in Alabama. While asmall lad was at
work ina com-feld, a large eagle swoop.
down and thrust its sharp talons into
his clothing. The boy fought and
and shouted, and at the eagle ren
Jeased him. Whether the screams
frightened the bird or the blows beat it
olf the lad is unable to say. Several
men who saw the attack were hastening
as the eagle flew tothe topofa dis-
teat tree. When it is remembered that
these strong creatures of the air flyaway
with young lambs, it is no wonder they
sometimes attack children. Fortunate-
ly, children can offer resistance, while
the little animals mentioned are com-
paratively helpless,
NICKNAMES.
** Little-boots,” or ‘* Bootsy,” is acomi-
cal naine for a great emperor, but that is
he meaning of Caligula, and Caligula
was the ruler of the whole civilized
world, The nickname was given to him
when he was a little boy, by the soldiers
of his father’s army, as soon as they saw
him come into camp wearing a pair
militi $ made to suit his dlminu-
tive si It stuck to hii, and took the
lace of bis real name, and he is known
yy it now, after more than eighteen hun-
dred y ears have away,
But his nickname was not quite as
ridiculous as that of another famous man
of ancient Rome, who also bad to adopt
itas his regular title.
Nasica, which means, “Scipio Long-
ose.”
A great many celebrated men are
known in history by their nicknames,
but most ofthese nicknames were given
tothem when they were older than lit-
the Caligula.
The Emperor of Germany who is call-
ed Barbarossa, or ‘Red-beard,” must
have been first called so when he was
old enough to employ a barber, though
it is not likely that he ever did give one
of them a job, unless he let bin cut his
hair, or blee him, for the old-fashionéd
German barhe a Breat
bleeding, cupping and leeching.
King Edward I, of Enaland: probably
received his nickname of Long-shan ks”
after he had gotten his full growth; an
Edmund _ Ironsides, Ethelred the Un-
ready, Richard Lionheart, John Lack-
land and Edward the Black Prince all
gained theirs after they had Lecome men,
Rut Harold Harefoot may have earned
that title by beating his” playmates in
foot-races, and Henry Beaucler in-
ly won his honorable nickname by ‘nets
ally learning to write his own name,
which was considered a very wonderful
thing to do in his time,
‘Asso many of the French kings were
named Louis, it is very convenient to
have nicknates to remember them by,
and it isa great deal fusiee to tell Louis
the Fat from Louis the Bald or Louis
the Saint than to Keep ‘the run of their
numbers,
Many of our own surnames must have
been given to our ancestors just as boys
nicknaine each other at school, ittle
and Long, Short and Tall, Bluck, White,
Green, Brown, and a dozen other colors,
all began as nicknames, and a great
inany of us are now called by the names
ef animals or birds because some of our
forefathers: were thought to look like
such creatures,
Such names as “Barebones,’’ must
have been lied to rather strange-
looking people, and their descendants
would Sue excusable for having them
changed by act of legislature
When we see a very thin ‘gentleman
rt lady named Stout, or a very short one
named Long, it seems as if there must
be a mistake Somewhere. But the great
American poet, who died in Issz, was
tall enough to make the name of Long-
fellow a very appropriate one.
t is not often, nowadays, that the
nickname takes the place of any one’s
real surname, but a great many people
have them put before their last names,
and are nearly always called by the two
lozcther. This is the case with * Stone-
wall” n, who is very Sellom call.
ed anon Jonathan” J
erhaps some boy who ends | this pa-
per may become a fuinous. man, and be
called everywhere by a nickname which
he hasn’t yet received, We Wee.
This was Scipio“