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night's work。 Twelve sail of the Gloucester fishing fleet had gone down
with every soul on board； just outside of Whale's…back Light。 Think of the
wide grief that follows in the wake of one wreck； then think of the
despairing women who wrung their hands and wept； the next morning； in
the streets of Gloucester； Marblehead； and Newcastle！
Though our strength was nearly spent； we were too cold to sleep。 Once
I sunk into a troubled doze； when I seemed to bear Charley Marden's
parting words； only it was the Sea that said them。 After that I threw off the
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The Story of a Bad Boy
drowsiness whenever it threatened to overcome me。
Fred Langdon was the earliest to discover a filmy； luminous streak in
the sky； the first glimmering of sunrise。
〃Look； it is nearly daybreak！〃
While we were following the direction of his finger； a sound of distant
oars fell on our ears。
We listened breathlessly； and as the dip of the blades became more
audible； we discerned two foggy lights； like will…o'the…wisps； floating on
the river。
Running down to the water's edge； we hailed the boats with all our
might。 The call was heard； for the oars rested a moment in the row…locks；
and then pulled in towards the island。
It was two boats from the town； in the foremost of which we could
now make out the figures of Captain Nutter and Binny Wallace's father。
We shrunk back on seeing him。
'Thank God！〃 cried Mr。 Wallace； fervently； as he leaped from the
wherry without waiting for the bow to touch the beach。
But when he saw only three boys standing on the sands； his eye
wandered restlessly about in quest of the fourth； then a deadly pallor
overspread his features。
Our story was soon told。 A solemn silence fell upon the crowd of
rough boatmen gathered round； interrupted only by a stifled sob from one
poor old man； who stood apart from the rest。
The sea was still running too high for any small boat to venture out； so
it was arranged that the wherry should take us back to town； leaving the
yawl； with a picked crew； to hug the island until daybreak； and then set
forth in search of the Dolphin。
Though it was barely sunrise when we reached town； there were a
great many people assembled at the landing eager for intelligence from
missing boats。 Two picnic parties had started down river the day before；
just previous to the gale； and nothing had been beard of them。 It turned out
that the pleasure…seekers saw their danger in time； and ran ashore on one
of the least exposed islands； where they passed the night。 Shortly after our
own arrival they appeared off Rivermouth； much to the joy of their friends；
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The Story of a Bad Boy
in two shattered； dismasted boats。
The excitement over； I was in a forlorn state； physically and mentally。
Captain Nutter put me to bed between hot blankets； and sent Kitty Collins
for the doctor。 I was wandering in my mind； and fancied myself still on
Sandpeep Island： now we were building our brick…stove to cook the
chowder； and； in my delirium； I laughed aloud and shouted to my
comrades； now the sky darkened； and the squall struck the island： now I
gave orders to Wallace how to manage the boat； and now I cried because
the rain was pouring in on me through the holes in the tent。 Towards
evening a high fever set in； and it was many days before my grandfather
deemed it prudent to tell me that the Dolphin had been found； floating keel
upwards； four miles southeast of Mackerel Reef。
Poor little Binny Wallace！ How strange it seemed； when I went to
school again； to see that empty seat in the fifth row！ How gloomy the
playground was； lacking the sunshine of his gentle； sensitive face！ One
day a folded sheet slipped from my algebra； it was the last note he ever
wrote me。 I couldn't read it for the tears。
What a pang shot across my heart the afternoon it was whispered
through the town that a body had been washed ashore at Grave Point…the
place where we bathed。 We bathed there no more！ How well I remember
the funeral； and what a piteous sight it was afterwards to see his familiar
name on a small headstone in the Old South Burying Ground！
Poor little Binny Wallace！ Always the same to me。 The rest of us have
grown up into hard； worldly men； fighting the fight of life； but you are
forever young； and gentle； and pure； a part of my own childhood that time
cannot wither； always a little boy； always poor little Binny Wallace！
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The Story of a Bad Boy
CHAPTER Fifteen
An Old Acquaintance Turns Up
A year had stolen by since the death of Binny Wallace…a year of which
I have nothing important to record。
The loss of our little playmate threw a shadow over our young lives for
many and many a month。 The Dolphin rose and fell with the tide at the
foot of the slippery steps； unused； the rest of the summer。 At the close of
November we hauled her sadly into the boat…house for the winter； but
when spring came round we launched the Dolphin again； and often went
down to the wharf and looked at her lying in the tangled eel…grass； without
much inclination to take a row。 The associations connected with the boat
were too painful as yet； but time； which wears the sharp edge from
everything； softened this feeling； and one afternoon we brought out the
cobwebbed oars。
The ice once broken； brief trips along the wharves…we seldom cared to
go out into the river now…became one of our chief amusements。
Meanwhile Gypsy was not forgotten。 Every clear morning I was in the
saddle before breakfast； and there are few roads or lanes within ten miles
of Rivermouth that have not borne the print of her vagrant hoof。
I studied like a good fellow this quarter； carrying off a couple of first
prizes。 The Captain expressed his gratification by presenting me with a
new silver dollar。 If a dollar in his eyes was smaller than a cart…