Page 234 - Adventures in shadow-land

** Come, child, it is time to go home,” said the

colonel, loftily.
Anna Jane rose and took her father’s arm.

Master Torrey followed them out of the shop with­
out looking back or saying good-bye to his old

friend. In a strange passion, Job caught up the
axe and looked at the wooden nymph as if about

to dash it in pieces, “ What an old fool I am i”
he said, tcShe ain’ t only wood, and I ’ll get my

pay for her. Creation! it does beat all how con­
trary things turn out in this world 1”
The figure-head of the Sea-nymph was carried

through the streets in the midst of an admiring

throng and fixed securely in its place 011 the beau­
tiful new brig. A few days more, and the ship
was launched and slid swiftly and safely into the

sea. That night it was bright moonlight. Silver-
gilt ripples wrere rising and falling along the coast

and all over the bay. Now and then a fish would
jump, scattering a shower of shining drops. Ev­

erything was very still around the Sea-nymph.
She lay quite by herself at some distance from any

other craft. There was no one on board but an
old watchman, who was fast asleep. If he had