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He said also that many of those sponges
that came over in the ship with him had
been treated in the same way, and the
dishonest trader had made a good deal of
money by his trickery.
1 am sorry to say that I afterward
heard that, when the captain found out
about the way in which he had_ been
cheated, he was very angry, and. sold
those sponges that were weighted with
sand tosome men who cut them up and
used them for the stuffing of mattresses,
Indeed, I pitied my poor friend very
. much, for, although he was rough, yet
that was not his fault, aud I am sure he
deserved a better fate. Think of being
shut up tightly where one never can get
into the water and must grow musty and
full of dust! . -
My lot is much happier, for IT sometimes
have all the water I want, when I go into
, the bath-tub.
The rest of the big, coarse sponges that
had no sand about them were sold for use
in the livery stable, and so we all parted,
never to see one another again.
Although, no doubt, look homely
enough, hanging on this nail behind the
bath-tub, yet you must not think that
none of the members of our family are
handsome.
Ve live-in all quarters of the globe;
but hot weather agrees with us better
than cold, so that we esteem those of us
the most fortunate who live nearest to
the equator.
. Some of us are no larger than an egg,
while others are as big as a man’s head;
some are flat, and look like a fan, and
some are called ‘ glov
they branch out in all dire \s
fingers of ahhand. Others form a kind of
carpet over rocks, and others are called
by the fishers “sea-nests,’’ because they
are the shape of a bird’s nest. Some
. braneh like trees or shrubs, others grow
in the form of elegant cups and goblets ;
some form vases, and there is one queer
sponge, found on the coasts of Portugal
aud Japan, called the ‘ glass-rope,’’ be-
eause it looks like a rope spun out of
la: Indeed, so much does it resemble
this that when this sponge was first dis-
coyered some wise men thought that it
was no sponge at all, but that some Ja-
nese were trying to deceive people, and
had inade it themselves out of spun glass,
‘Then there is another beautiful sponge
called Venus’ flower-basket, found near
> the Philippine Islands. This sponge forms
_ akind of cornucopia from six to fifteen
inches high, looking as if it were made of
delicate lace, or of glass formed in beau-
tiful patterns. “It looks as though it was
so fragile that it could be broken by just
taking it up, but it is really quite strong.
This sponge is the most hospitable of
our family, and usually has a lodger in-
side—a little hermit-crab, that lives there
and lets the sponge grow all over him
I have been told that the first. time one
of these tlower-baskets was discovered,
people thought it was a very rare kind of
sponge, and. sold it for one hundred and
fifty dollars ; but now they have learned
better, and the price has fallen to only a
few dollars.
There is one kind’ of sponge that we
honest sponges all despise. It is called
the “boring sponge,”’ because it attaches
itself to the shells of oysters and grad-
ually eats inside, killing the rightful own-
ers of the shells, - .
You see, by this time, that I have been
quite a traveler, and nave had a good deal
of experience in my life. Now Iam quite
contented to settle down herein my old
age and try to be useful in the world...
Sones
MONKEYS NOT MIMICS, AFTER ALL.
Dr. Felix L, Oswald declares that it fs all
nonsense to look upon monkeys as such
remarkable mimics. He says:
‘I have owned monkeys of at least twen-
ty different species, and have never been
able to discover the slightest trace of that
supposed penchant for mimicry. A boy
may take off his coat and turn uw thousand
somersets, Jacko will watch the phenome-
non only witha view to getting his fingers
ditference, unless a more emphatic repeti-
maneuvre should make him
duck his head to dodge an anticipated
blow,
“He has no desire to follow any hnman
precedents whatever, an@ the apparent ex-
ceptions from that rule are, on his part,
wholly unintentional and merely a natural
result of anatomical analogies,
“An angry hamadryas baboon, for in
stance, will Strike the ground with his fist,
not because any Christian visitors have
- m that bad example, but bi
the Tath on the rocks of the Nubian
highlands, -
‘much about staying. The fre has made
<teiGOLDEN DAYS+e—=
“A capuchin monkey will pick huckle-
berries with his fingers, not in deference to
civilized customs, but because his fingers
are deft and long, and his jaws very short.
Nay, that same capuchin monkey. admit-
ted to @ seat at the breakfast-table of a
nctilious family, would be apt to show
is Contempt of court by sticking his head
in the pudding-dish.” . .
( This Story began in No, 48.)
INVOLUNTARY CRUISE
~The Steam Yacht Mermaid”
BY JAMES OTIS,
AUTHOR OF “THE TREASURE-SEEKERS,”
¥TC., ETC., ETC,
CHAPTER XXVII.
TEDDY’s TRIUMPH.
Teddy was quite well aware that his
adversary only desired to prevent him
from giving an alarm, and he also knew
that unless he could free himself within
avery short space of time, it would be
too late, for already could he hear, far]
away in the distance, the splashing of
water which told that Denis and Rube
were coming dangerously near the
yacht. -
It was only with the greatest difficulty
he could breathe, for Ira held him tightly
by the throat, and his strength was fail-
ing him so rapidly that in a few seconds
more it would be impossible to offer any
further resistance.
This knowledge, as well as the thought
of what would be the result if. Denis
should succeed in gaining the deck, gave
him strength to make one desperate ef-
fort ”
t.
Throwing all his weight upon Ira, re-
gardless of the pain caused by the move-
ment, he pushed his adversary before
him down the sloping deck, until both
struck the port rail with such force that
the enemy’s hold was partially broken,
and this Teddy took advantage of
striking the spy a stinging blow in the
face at the sate time that he_eried, in a
folce which was far from being strong or
loud:
“Help, Dick ! help!”
Tra did not wait to learn the result of
this appeal. had a weil-grounded
fear as to what his punishment as a sp:
might be if he was eaptured, and, mak-
ing one fierce rush at Teddy to conceal
his real purpose, he leaped over the rail
into the water almost at the same instant
tliat Dick and Walter came running for-
Jt was some moments before Teddy,
who was breathless, panting and nearly
exhausted, could give his two compan-
ions any clear idea as to what had oceur-
red, and in that time Ira was lost to view
i darkness, while those who had
een approaching in response to his sig-
nals could no longer be heard.
“That settles the whole question, so
far as_they are concerned,” Dick said,
when Teddy’s story was concluded. “We
have tried to act square with them, even
after all the wrong they have done us;
but now things shall be different. We
won’t show the least kindness, no matter
what their condition may be, and if, when
we leave here, they want to be taken on
board, it shall be only as absolute prison-
rs.”*
This resolution of Dick’s had the un-
qualified approval of Teddy. He beliey-
ed that much leniency had been
shown the thieves, when severity was the
only treatment which they could thor-
oughly appreciate, and it was perfectly
safe to depend on his carrying out this
new course of procedure to the letter.
“We must keep a sharper watch than
ever,”’ Dick said, after a pause. “ Now
they understand that we can float the
yacht, they will make every effort to pre-
vent us, and itis our business to be ex-
pecting them at any moment,”
“But what about landing on the
istand ?” Walter asked. “We must have
a look at the cave, and to do that we have
got to drive them away.”
“T don’t fancy they will care very
it a mighty “uncomfortable camping
ground, and while they remain in this vi-
cinity they will probably hunt up some
more agreeable place.”
“It strikes me that our business just
now is to get some sleep, so we shan’t be
obliged to waste any time to-morrow,’
Teddy said. ‘I don’t know whether my
watch is up or not, but I'll go on duty
again, if you fellows will liedown.”
But Teddy's “ wateh” it was found had
expired, and Dick took up his station in
the bow, while his companions went att
to seek repose.
During the remainder of the night the
glare from the conflagration rendered the
sentinel’s duties comparatively easy. The.
waters covering the shoal were lighted up
so that it would have been impossible for
Denis and his gang to come within a mile
of the yacht unobserved, and standing
watch was nothing more difficult than re-
maining awake. :
Nearly half an hour before the sun rose
on the following morning, the boys had
eaten breakfast, and the labor of taking
out coal was begun. The,work was car-
ried on rapidly and without cessation un-
til high water, when a halt was called for
dinner and to haul in on the cables, which
now had a very perceptible slack,
Fortunately Teddy had interrupted Ira
before he had sueceeded in cutting even a
single strand of the rope, so the task of
floating the yacht had suffered no inter-
ruption because of the spy’s nefarious at-
tempt.
‘The hearts of the boys were very light
as they pulled in nearly two fathoms on
each cable, and the Mermaid gave positive
proof that the time of her release from
the shoal was not far off. And she was
slowly righting, too, for the port rail was
three inches higher out of water than it
had been, and the difference in inclination
was plainly apparent as one walked across
the deck.
he coal was now nearly all out, and.
the lighter had sunk hardly more than a
couple of inches, thus showing that it
would Dear up and float all the weight
which the boys might find necessary to
put upon it.
“There were yet the movable articles, in-
cluding spare machinery, provisions,
water, cables, tools and things of such
like nature, remaining on board, which,
so the crew confidently believed, would
raise the steamer to an even keel.
“‘ While you fellows are getting dinner,
I'll go below and put on the eock which
was blown off the morning we cam
5
“ashore,” Dick said, when the cable had
been hauled taut once more, and the con-
dition of the yacht critically examined.
“We must have the engine in. perfect
working order by the time the screw is
lifted out of the sand, for steam will do a
great deal toward helping us off of this
place.””
Then the young engineer went into the
fire-room, where for an hour he: busied
himself among the machinery, and when
he came on deck, after haying been called
several times by the impatient cooks, he
had repaired all the defects. .
“lean get steam on now whenever we
want to use it,” he said, as he attacked
the bountiful meal spread out before him
like one whois confident of having earned
the right to all he desires. “When our
cargo is out we'll work the screw, and
pull in on hawsers at the same time. .
After that has been done for an hour, we
shall have as much water under the keel
as is needed.” :
At five o’clock in the afternoon the last
bag of coal had been taken from the hold.
The spare pipes and fittings were the
next articles to be transferred to the raft,
and before it was time to cease work for
the night, fully one-third of ‘these had
been hoisted out.
The boys had kept strict watch, so far
as they could without interfering with
their work ; but Denis and his party had
given no signs of being anywhere in the
vicinity, so'the erew of the Mermaid could
only conjecture that land lay further to
the southward, and that there had the
thieves established their headquarters,
On this evening the watch was set as
soon as dark, for bo precautions must be
neglected when their work was so near
completion.
Dick stood at the bow, while Teddy and
Walter prepared supper, and, when the
meal was ended, the young engineer said :
-“ TE won't be Jong now before we shall
be trying to find our way back to New
York, ani itis of tre utmost importance
that we know where we are, if, indeed,
that is possible. Now, while you fellows
stand guard and clear up the decks, I'm
going into the cabin. There must be
some charts on board, and if we get hold
of them, I think we can form a pretty
Boot ilea of, where this sand-bank is lo-
cated,”
With the exception of the time when
they had been searching for arms, the
JANUARY 1, 1887,
boys had not paid a single visit to the cab- «
in. It seemed asif the contents of that
portion of the yacht belonged more par-
ticularly to Mr. Maitland, and it appeared
very much like a theft to take anything
from either the saloon or state-rooms.
On this oceasion, however, the safety of
the steamer demanded that some idea of
where they were should be gained, and
Dick went below, carrying one of: the
largest lanterns. | ‘
His belief that the search would be
more likely to be rewarded in the sailing-
master’s state-room than anywhere else
was correct, for there he found the chart-
ease, which had been thrown carelessly
under one of the berths,
‘o take this into the saloon, and light
the swinging lamps, was Dick’s next
moye, and then he pored over the queer-
looking sheets, covered with figures and +
yellow spots, until he found the series de-
picting the Atlantic coast south from New
York to Cuba.
“We sailed pretty nearly in one direc-
tion from the time we started,”’ he said to
himself, ‘and all Lhave to do is to find
the nearest land on a southerly course
from Sandy Look.”
‘The chart he needed was the Jast in the ,
series, and, after looking at it, he was not
Jong in making up his mind as to the posi-
tion of the Mermaid.
‘Here's where we must be, fellows,”’
he cried, as he rushed on deck with the
printed shect and the lautern, spreading
the former on the mattress, aft. “The
Bahama Banks are very nearly on our
course, aud we are on the northern end,
somewhere around that little line of keys,
or cays, as they are called here.” ~
Teddy came yery near neglecting his
duties as lookout, as he joined his com-
panions in the effort to decide exactly
where the yacht was lying, and, after
some considerable discussiun, the boys
came to the conclusion, from the depicted
formation of both Jand and shoal, that
they were among the Double Breasted
ys.
“It’s the only place on the chart where .
you can see an island on the shoal, with
deep water just beyond, and other cays +
all around,”’ Dick said, as he rolled up the
broad sheet. “At any rate, we'll assume
‘that we are on the northeastern portion
of the Bahama Banks, and shape. our,
course accordingly when we start.”
One who has never been similarly situ-
ated can have no idea what a satisfaction
and sense of relief the: boys experienced
when they thus came to believe that they
knew the exact location of the yacht. ‘
To be on or near well-detined land, with
no knowledge as to where it may be situ-
ated, is in the highest degree depressing,
and being thus able to faney, even though
such might not be the case, that they
were at a certain point, raised the spirits
of the Mermaid’s crew more than any-
thing save the actual launching of ; the
steamer could possibly have done. lag TS
The chart which had caused them’ so
much and such great. pleasure was ear-
tied back to the cabin as carefully as if it
had been some living thing; the :saloon
lights were extinguished, and two tired,
but happy boys ‘gave themselves up to
the pleasures ‘of rest, while the third
looked forward to the end of his watch,
when he also could indulge in sleep,
which seemed such a boon.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, :
The remainder of the steam-fittings oc-
cupied the attention of the crew as the
next day's task was- begun.
ssary to take up the long pipes by
hand, as they could not be stowed in i
meds nd Dick passed them from below to
eddy, who in turn pus r
mene Waleel! pushed them over the |
le could not always receive the long~
pieces as fast as his companions were able
to pass them to hia; but whenever Ted-
dy showed an inclination to stop his
york that WV alter might have time to
8 he tubes proper! e.
eal at, sharpiy perly, the latter would
“Don’t bother about me. Til take
them nearly as fast as you can push
them out, and if you do happen to be
ahead now, itis only forthe moment. I
be the one who wi ’ yait i
vou don't work nhs, Will have to wait if,
Being thus urged to greater exertions
every time he appeared disposed to lag,
‘eddy was taking the long, heavy. tubes
from “Dick, and balancing them on the
rail, where his impatient companion could
on
@
y
4
al.