Ronnie s Adventures At St. Ives.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

Ronnie s Adventures At St. Ives.

(By .Tovee Trowern, 45 Hillsborough Rd., Mount Rosklll.) (CrintiniiPil From I.,nst Week.) A tear lingered in the corner of Ronnie's eye*, then ran down his cheek. He quickly brushed it away and bit his olightlv trembling lips. No he musti't lx< frightened. Wasn't he nearly nine? He had always wanted to be a sailor and now lie was going to be one with his beloved Old Don. Yet what would Mummie and Daddy be thinking? They would Ik- up now. Had they noticed hie disappearance? His little bed was much warmer than the rope. "No," he said firmly to himself. "I'm going to have an adventure." The strotlg sea breeze refreshed him a little, so he straightened ■himself and peered out on to the deck. He couldn't see Old Don but he could still see the land in the distance. "I'd better wait just a little longer." he thought to himself, "until we are too far away to turn back." Ronnie thought of Old Don as he had seen him many times, with hia pipe in his mouth and his bltie eyes looking out to sea. a.s if longing to be back. "I bet he's pleased," thought Ronnie. "T wonder if he'll be angfry when he finds nie here." He felt ft little hungry so he pulled a 'biscuit out of his pocket and nibbled it. He had taken a few biscuits from the pantry before he left home, so if Old Do- did not find him ho could wait until b/iieh time before he need come out of his hiding ploee. All that he was a little frightened about was the possibility that Tom, who generally accompanied Old Don, might find him before they had gone, far. In that case they would tiirn around and take him back. He could see Tom going down to relieve Old Don. Ronnie felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Old Don would come lip on deck to his nets. 110 would be sure to find him

Now that the time had arrived, Ronnie began to feel frightened and to wish that he had not come. He heard steps, then h" saw Old Don coming towards the coil of rope. If only lie didn't touch the tarpaulin. But that Was what Old Don was going to do. He pulled it off and began to pull the rope from the top of the pile.

Then he saw the frightened little face of Ronnie looking up at him. "Well, well, well," he said and stared bard at the small boy. He didn't look angry but the twinkle wetit oitt of his eyes. Ronnie climbed otit of his hiding »iaee and looked at the old man.

"Don't he angry, pleaee, I'm gorry," he stammered. *Comc, come, Ronnie. I'm not angry, but wTiafc will your mother and father be thinking about their little boy. They'll be worried, Ronnie." "I didn't think of that," replied tho little boy, and he began to cry. "Come along and have some lunch. I'm going back now m you'll soon be home." "You're going back?" Ronnie a«ked, amazement in hia eyes. "Aren't you going to London ?" Old Don laughed. "I've decided next to gv> till Monday. I've Just taken the 'Corallee* for a run. Look there's good old St. Tvos again. I'll toiss it when I go f o London. But I'll oolne .back Ronnie. I'll runic back: In a fevr months I'll bfe telling you some more atones." Ronnie's face lit up. That night a little Cornieh lady tucked lier little red-headed 'boy into bed. The tired freckled face broke into a smile. "Anyway," he said, "Old Don is to take me to London when I'm a little older,' lie r-;ii<l sleepily.