The Voyage of the Hoppergrass

f the building a moment, and q

ered, "so there'll be nothi

over one side of the yard, and we kept in this shadow, as we stole toward the fence. A short alley ran down the hill on the other side of this fence. In a moment

we reached the open space near the water. There was the tent, white and still in the moonlight. We looked

in a low tone, "sleeping like babes

htly louder voice, prodding t

n, sitting bolt upright, and looking about hi

excited. Keep quiet,-don't bubber any more. We're hunted cr

irred slightly,

u? Rescued from

ything. Got out by our own valor and ingenuity. Tunneled through fifteen feet of living rock. Now, get

other one, however,-the one who had wakened uttering gibberish- cr

gue it out to your heart's content. Come out of the tent, now'. We're going to get u

ith him. Mr. Daddles and all the rest of us set to work pulling

able, just the same. I inquired and found that he is. The arrest was perfectly legal. You had much better stay in jail unti

t a blow on the cocoanut that will damage that legal mind of yours. These are my friends and fellow-criminals, the alleged

listen

" leaving him floundering under waves of canvas, and tangles of rope. "Never mind him," said Sprague, "two of

. The "Lord Chief Justice" (whom they called "Chief," for short) crawled out from under the canvas, and we began to fold up

ils, while Ed brought back the boat. This time he carried the tent, and then came back for the pillows, blankets and cushions. All this took more or les

etting into the boat, someone sp

said

to the moonlight, and adv

nder sudden

walked still nearer. Then he

escapin', didger? Consider yerselves under arrest. I apprehend yer in th

, either," sai

. They grabbed the little man, each by an arm, a

doin'? Lemme be! Lem

e, I te

hattering and protest

ut you'll have to come, if you don't keep quiet

elp!" he

and I pushed off, and climbed in over the bows. In a minute we were alongside the yacht. Mr. Daddles and Sprague jumped on board, and Pete handed Gregory the

l yer! I'll have every last one of yer in State's Prison for this

of burglary, breaking and entering, and banjo-playing after 10 P. M. We won't any of us live long enough

ging at the yard-arm to our list of accomplishments. I would have you know that we are desperate men. This person"- pointing to the Chief, "i

exchange legal chit

here," ad

re to call for help. At this, Pete and Sprague seized him and gently led him down into the cabin.

aid Sprague, "it's

moment I expect to see Eb

chfork," adde

and the boat began to

but two short tacks

inquired the Chief, grave

t care. I should like to go to sleep. And I should

" we all

stand watch," said Pet

t's a gre

r, and gazed up toward the moon. Suddenl

e cried, "we've

ave a snort

e going-"

o!" shouted Sprague,

Positively," he said

il the boat," replied Pete, "h

way, and taking the wheel himse

n?" asked M

y attention to

" exclaimed Pete, "can you s

rd, and was peering ahea

, here he comes! Well, what do you t

gull, moving toward us. We were running before the wind and soon were near enough to get a good view. It was a bird of some kind.

uck!" sai

, "we got him at Duck Island, too. It

answered Sprag

eached over and lifted the bird into the boat. As soon as it was set on deck the duck shook its fea

hink that of us, did you? But you had started out to overtake us, hadn't you? That shows what a good

n in the center of a coil of rope. Once more we turne

ry the Gauger had stopped thumping and everything was very pleasant and restful after the jail, and the other exciting events of the night. Except for the

bre-toothed tiger down there. We made a great mistake, boys, in not slitting his weasand th

he's up to now

tling the ship," su

ory had lighted the lamp and was calmly engaged in examining the c

hat air clock?" he

ra

answered him, "what

fair. What does a c

the other furnishings of the cabin. Sprague asked him if he

im," Mr. Daddles whispered t

oppan stretched himself out on a bunk and went to sleep in no time at all. Ed Mason and I picked out p

re, was deserted by the boat that rescued me, and left stranded in Bailey's Harbor, been scared pink by an old cow, committed burglary, scared again by a snoring policem

trailed off i

Sprague and Ed Mason didn't seem to mind it,-they lay still, and were evidently asleep. I hitched ab

y in the stern. The Chief was again at the wheel. I found some canvas, part of a sail-cover, and stretched myself out on a seat, with the canvas over me to keep off the dampness. In a minute or

the mainsail was down, and they were taking in the jib. I heard

wake? How

ht. Wher

now. Unkno

e trees, and two or three small cottages set amongst the trees. I heard someone talking on the other side of the boat, and I looked up forward to see Spragu

Bailey's Harbor,-hey, what? She wouldn't get her little banjo there

t poem?" asked Pete, w

h I could remember it! 'An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!'

e be you fellers goin' to put me a

all in good time. Watch t

came up thirty feet away, and commenced to float, facing

e yacht, before I climbed out again. One by one the others came up from below, and they all jumped over for a swim, except Gregory and

for food. Get out the frying-pan, Chief, and the coffee-pot! Move about more briskl

irt, which he had put on wron

olls left,-I'll match you for yours, Squire. You

r!" returned Gregory, "I'll ma

moonlight world had gone and given place to one of sunshine. A breeze rattled the halliards against the mast, and ruffled the blue water of the bay in little patches. We hurried in

e is Simon? Has he had his morning swim? … Oh, there he is, -paddl

breakfast except baco

ie

dded Pete, "what more do

ee rolls. Some of us wi

if you've got any of them on board. I've never s

kers," declare

glad to get 'em. I might be gnaw

"we were going to get some, and some

the sufferings tha

" began

d that's more than four apiece, and there is

o keep us all supplied with fried eggs, until two skillets

" remarked Sprague, as he helped

below, and soon ca

," said he, "you do, in

eard that the habit lingers of eating pie for breakfast.

s youth he often saw his father do it. We are over civilized, but if there should be any great nation

in one hand, "my poor grandmother has often told me about it, and I did hope

one after the

observed Gregory the Gauger, lo

in evident delight. Gregory at

some

held out

ejum,"

e of the "Hoppergr

Jimmy Toppan, "but we can't go there at all. We'll h

e-what's its name? Squid

e to him by the ca

id Mr. Daddles, "for it would never do

hat he will come b

ut it's the most likely t

n on this trip," remarked Ed Mason, who was

e in on our

Squire tells us, is Briggs's Nose. Probably the man who gave it that name perished long ago,-slain, no doubt, by the residents. At any rate, it is so far from the nearest town on the mainland that we believ

s disposed to grumble

all be put into your purse. Many a ship's crew would ha

d and a beaker of wate

ldn't find a beaker on board,-and woul

ue gave the prisoner some money for steamboat fare, and Mr. Daddles presented him wit

Jimmy Toppan, the Chief, and Sprague went below to consult a chart, while the rest of us

port i

sport?" a

n on the mainland to

y To

ink you'd better

gue, lying down on a seat, with his banjo. And he added

nd the 'Hoppergrass' a

Mas

ll do a little sleut

you inqu

ain, or I will sing 'Rocked in the C

w sloop-yachts and cat- boats were at anchor in the river, but none of them was the "Hoppergrass." Old and dilapidated wharves ran down to the river, some of them deserted, and

all of us, except our skipper, went ashore. Half way up the wharf we found a man, painti

n," remarked Pete, "we've g

lk in single file, and the curb-stone, as Mr. Daddles put it, was made of wood. There were a few shops, but a

quare, and toward this we made our way. An aged Italian sat behind it, reading a newspaper. He sold us peanuts, and exchanged facetious remarks with Mr. Daddles. As we left the peanut man, we heard a

d a man, who stood in the door of

an gr

town-crier

. Daddles, "I didn't know

an, "except this one. He

announcement. Stopping in the middle of the street he solemnly rang his bell two

ngell-from-Mulliken's Wharf-yesterday-afternoon! Reward -will-b