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just previous to the gale； and nothing had been heard 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；
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 could not 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 Pointthe
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
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The Cruise of the Dolphin
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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