A Runaway Brig;

ter being thrown so violently against Walter that both rolled to the floor, an

apor so dense as to be almost stifling, and for several moment

shouts of inquiry which he uttered in rapid succession; and before the first bewilderment, cause

What's the matt

seems as if the tug ha

ied testily, and from the sound of his voice

econd, an' was awakened by bein' k

uld be seen coming from the engi

the rock. Somebody must help draw the fires, fo

is way toward Joe, who had retreated aft to free hi

of bewilderment. "My eyes couldn't have been shut more'n a

ne while I see if Jo

s like one dazed. Master Libby remembered having seen the lead-line under the port rail forward, and but a short search was necessary to find it. Fully expecting they were

e pulled in the cord until the weight could be f

teen feet, we can count on your havin' slept prett

n closed many minutes instead of one, and was well aware that

ven if Bob don't use up a rope's end on my back I'll know that

ed, in a trembling voice. "My business was to stand wa

okout. I wish Bob would turn to an' give me the worst whalin'

ig off somehow?" Wal

m very likely, an' everybody will say I cast

, as if this thought might give his companion some

rrible punishment for their almost criminal carelessness; but no blows, how

even had he been so disposed. Matters in the engine-room required immediate attention, and Joe was read

your mouth," the engineer said, thrusting a roll of

ng their faces covered as much as possible they were able to continue on, groping their way amid what would have seemed like a dense fog but for

ry the engineer should lead the way, and after no slight trouble they suc

ob so far aided in this that five minutes later the glowing coals were in the a

d ten seconds after the task had been accomplished the two were lea

le to see where Jim's carelessness had brought the brig and tug. The steam had thinned down until it hardly obstructed

hree hundred yards distant in either direction. Had Jim tried to steer her into this sheltered spot he could not have done it more exactly; and the fac

e everywhere around, while Joe and the old sailor stood on the after deck

kon both crafts will be tied up here till

suppose we a

ywhere near the spot we oughter be which shows up like it, an' that is the Florida reefs. We couldn'

be near a

les away, an' seein's how I can't take an observation, we wouldn'

with a laugh; "but I guess it's only

kily; how can the engi

han the blowing out of a tube I wi

Jim!" he added, raising his voice, "cook the best breakfast y

oughly surprised at the friendly tone that he lost no time in obeying this order, and, as a partial atonement f

doing full justice to the unskillfully prepared food, and the table had been rel

chor out aft so's the brig can't work further inshore." Bob said to the engineer. "If you can

a case of blowing out one

ixed without

nd of bother until it is repaired properly. For a job like pulling the Bonita off the mud

water agin we can lay here a day or two to get things ship-shape. Perhaps so

et you

human voice rang out on the still air, and in obedience

ahoy!

when they came below, all his superstitious fears were aroused by the cry. Just for an instant he hesitated, as i

ause alarm. On the shore stood three men, and when the old

shore," h

away leaving us here, and we've been

us to take you aboard. We

n' pretty bad," the man on shore crie

ter 'em; but somehow I don

y n

stop here long enough for her crew to go ashore; an'

Wind's yawl with as much alacrity as if some one in sore distress stood in n

e sand with the air of persons who are conferring rather than receiv

just a shade of anger in his tone, and the man in the bow leaped ashore

ch occurred, but saying nothing until the boat was near enough to

n't wonder Bob says they haven't got the sailor cut. I wo

isagreeable type, while the third was unmistakably a Mexican; a

icise them, however, since the boat was rapidly

over, an' then set about ge

he second as the new-comers stepped on board and halted near the mainmast to gaze