Left on the Labrador: A Tale of Adventure Down North

more to his liking than a hunting camp in the wilderness, particularly in frosty weather and flying snow. He could not keep his shoes properly polished, nor crease

enjoy the comfort of a hotel in idleness. That the hunting trip might prove too strenuous for Charley had not occurred to Mr. Norton until the suggestion came from Mr. Wise after their arrival in St. John's.

ps, he admitted, Mr. Wise was right, and if he took Charley with him, and Charley found the trails too

r. Norton was a man of his word. Charley had looked forward with keen anticipation to the hunting trip with his father, and had asked innumerable questions concerning it, and talked of little else sinc

ton received with satisfaction the suggestion that Charley be sent upon the Labrador cruise. This, he was satisfied, was a solution of his difficulty. A cr

o the chagrin and disappointment of the latter gentleman, who was forced, how

coast along which the mail boat cruised, and to explain them and point them out to Charley. In g

was going to make this voyage, which had been thrust upon him, as pleasant for himself as circumstances would permit. He pleaded sickness, and, as Charley had complained

ied in it that he failed to hear or respond to the noonday call to dinner. When, an hour later, hunger called his attention to the fact that he had not eaten, he rang f

llenge the doctor to a game in the smoking room. It was not until the six o'clock evening meal that

was through lighted a cigar, and, prompted by compunction perhaps, looked into Charley's room. It was vacant. A sudden anxiety seized him, and nervously and

ute search of the ship was made, but nowhere was Charley to be

arley had also come to him and asked permission to go ashore in the ship's boat at Pinch-In Tickle, but as there was no room in the boat, permission had been denied. The men who manned the boat were then ques

had seemed most unhappy and lonesome, and complained that Mr. Wise had done little to make the voyage a pleasa

e positive they had seen Charley leaning at the rail during the

ing, he had supposed that Charley had a touch of seasickness and had preferred not to eat. H

d in a voice trembling with apprehension and fear. "Will you look for him, Captain? Yo

e look?" asked

nch-In Tickle, or whatever you call it!

for the lad to go ashore but by the ship's boat, and 'tis plain he didn't go ashore in the boat at any p

. Wise excitedly, springing to his feet. "He'

e been searched from masthead to hold, and he's not on the

at-sea?" and the terrified W

Captain Barcus

ded Mr. Wise, again on his feet in a frenzy of exci

ore, 'twould be a fool's job to look for him in the sea. No man kn

s elbows upon his knees held his head in h

ischarge me! He'll think I didn't look after the boy!" an

harge you likely. I would," sai

Tell him something that will clear me of any charge of neglecting the boy!"

last seen leaning over the starb'rd rail. That he was not at dinner nor at tea, and that you didn't miss him till after tea and long after dark, though 'tis likely he was lost overboard before

true report of what apparently had happened, and the account that was finall