At the Black Rocks (Musaicum Christmas Specials). Edward A. Rand

Thus overpowered by a sensational manifestation they would be plastic to your hands, whatever you might wish to mould them into. Dick did not hesitate to attack any fort, scale any mountain, or cross any sea--with his tongue. When it came to the using of some other kind of motive power--legs for instance--he might be readily outstripped by another. Among the boys at Shipton he had made quite a stir at first. His bluster and brag made a sensation, until the boys began to find out that it was often wind and not substance in Dick's bragging; and they were now estimating him at his true value. Dave Fletcher was little known to any of them save small Bartholomew Trafton; but Dave's modest, efficient style of action they had seen in the saving of Little Mew, and they were destined to witness it in another impending catastrophe.

      "Uncle Ferguson, who owns that old schooner off in the river?" asked Dave one day, as he was eating his way through a generous pile of Aunt Nancy's fritters. It was the craft to which had been tied the Great Emperor.

      "Why, David?"

      "Because some of us boys want to go there and stay a night or two. We take our provisions with us, and each one a couple of blankets, and so on, and we can be as comfortable on the schooner as can be. Would you and Aunt Nancy mind if we went?"

      "Mind if you went? No; I don't know as I do.--What do you say, Nancy?"

      Uncle Ferguson was a middle-aged man, with ruddy complexion and two blue eyes that almost shut and then twinkled like stars when he looked at you.

      Aunt Nancy was a plain, sober woman, with sharp, thin features, and bleached eyes of blue.

      "Don't know as I mind," declared Aunt Nancy. "If you don't git into the water and drown, you know."

      "Oh, that's all right," said the nephew.

      "Only you must see the owner of the schooner," advised the uncle.

      "The owner?"

      "Yes; Squire Sylvester. He is very particular about anything he owns."

      "Oh, I didn't know the thing had an owner," said Dave, laughing. "It seems to lie there in the stream doing nothing. The boys didn't say anything about an owner."

      "Squire Sylvester is very particular," asserted Uncle Ferguson. "He got his property hard, and looks after it."

      "Yes, he is very pertickerler," added Aunt Nancy.

      "Well, we will see him by all means. We boys--"

      "Didn't think; that is it, David. Now, when I was a boy we always asked about things," said Uncle Ferguson.

      "Well, husband, boys is boys, in them days and these days. I remember your mother used to say her five boys used to cut up and--"

      "Well," replied Uncle Ferguson, rising from the table, "this won't feed the cows; and I must be a-goin'. I would see Sylvester, David."

      "All right, uncle."

      Dave announced his intention to Dick half-an-hour later.

      "Well, go, if you want to. We fellows were not going to say anything to anybody. Who would be the wiser? The thing lies in the river, knocking around in the tide, and seems to say, 'Come and use me, anybody that wants to.'"

      "If we owned the schooner we would prefer to have it asked for, if she was going to be turned into a boarding-house for a day or two."

      "I suppose it would be safer to ask. If we didn't ask, and the owner should come down the river sailing and see us, wouldn't there be music?"

      "We will save the music, Dick. I will just ask him."

      As Dave neared Squire Sylvester's office he could see that individual through the window. He was a man about fifty years old, his features expressing much force of character, his sharp brown eyes looking very intently at any one with whom he might be conversing. Dave hesitated at the door a moment, and then summoning courage he lifted the latch of the office door and entered.

      "Good-day, sir."

      The squire nodded his head abruptly and then sharply eyed the boy before him.

      "We boys, sir--"

      "Who are you?" asked the squire curtly.

      "David Fletcher. I am visiting at my uncle's, Ferguson Berry."

      "Humph! Yes, I know him."

      "We boys, sir, wanted to know if you would let us--"

      "What boys?"

      "Oh, Jimmy Davis, John Richards--"

      "I know those."

      "Dick Pray---"

      "Pray?"

      "He is visiting his cousin, Samuel Whittles."

      "Oh yes; I've seen him in the post-office. Curly-haired boy; struts as if he owned all Shipton."

      "Just so."

      "Well?"

      "John Richards's brother--that is all. We want to know if you will let us stay out in the old schooner for a while. We will try to be particular and not harm the vessel."

      "How long shall you want to be gone?"

      "Oh, two or three days and nights."

      "Humph! Well, you can't have any fire on board. Got a boat?"

      "Yes, sir."

      "Of course, for you can't wade out to her. Put it out there on purpose so folks couldn't paddle and wade out to her, such as tramps, you know. Well, if you have a boat you can cook on shore."

      "Yes, sir."

      "You may have a lantern at night. No objection to that."

      "We will remember."

      "All right, then."

      "Oh, thank you! Good-day, sir."

      "Good-day."

      The squire's sharp brown eyes followed Dave as he went out of the door, and then watched him as he tripped down the street laughing and whistling.

      "Like all young chaps--full of fun. Rather like that boy."

      Dave announced the result of the conference to several boys anxiously waiting for him round the corner.

      "Got it?" asked Dick Pray.

      "Yes; tell us what he said," inquired Dab Richards.

      The boys pressed eagerly up to Dave, who announced the successful issue of his application. A burden of painful anxiety dropped from each pair of shoulders, and the boys separated to collect their "traps," promising to meet at Long Wharf, where a boat awaited them. Did ever any craft make a happier, more successful voyage, when the boat received its load two hours later and was then pushed off?

      "Everything splendid, boys!" said Dick. "Won't we have a time while we are gone, and won't we come back in triumph?"

      The return! How little any of the party anticipated the kind of return that would end their adventure!

      "There's the schooner!" shouted Dave. "I can read her name on the stern--RELENTLESS. Letters somewhat dim."

      "She is anchored good," said Dab Richards. "Got her cable out."

      "Anchor at the bottom of it, I suppose," conjectured Jimmy Davis.

      "We will find out, boys, won't we? We will just hoist her a bit, as the sailors say, and see what she carries," said Dick, in a low tone.

      "Nonsense!" said Dave. "Sylvester has our word for good behaviour."

      "Oh, don't you worry!" said Dick, in a jesting tone. "Let's see! Shall we make our boat fast round there? Where shall it be?"

      The best mooring was found for the boat, and then a ladder with hooks on one end was attached to the vessel's rail, and up sprang the boys eagerly.

      The Relentless was an old fishing-schooner. She had been stripped of her canvas, and portions of her rigging had been removed. There were