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Just an old Barge.

No I think not for when I saw the Barge for the first time it was trim with everything in its place even the odd coils of rope were stashed away tidily the decks had been scrubbed and the old barge looked really ship shape. The side of the barge rubbed against the side of the bank. Something is wrong on the barge and without further thought I jumped on to the deck.

Jumping a couple of times to make a noise with my feet I listened to seem if I could hear anyone on board. All was quiet. I went from deck to deck. Not a soul was on board, Where was the Barge’s Captain, where was his wife and two children. The whole thing was very strange indeed. Taking the mooring ropes I tied the Barge to the bank and called the Police.

The Police looked over the ship and they too found no one aboard. I officered to stay on board until news was found of the Barge Captain and his wife and children. I heard a strange noise and looking at my watch I saw it was quarter past ten, it was fairly dark just one mooring light that I had found was alight. Then a scuffle on the deck suddenly a small shape sprang up into my arms. It was the small dog of the Captain of the Barge. I gave it food and drink. It then settled down between my feet every four hours a Policeman came by to enquire if all was well. Nothing has happened this end just the Captains small dog turned up. I gave the Policeman the time that the dog had jumped into my arms. He rode off on his bicycle. The dog in my arms I leaned back and spent the rest of the night dozing. I could not call it anything else.It must have got around the town that something was strange about the old barge. The owner and his wife and child had vanished overnight most suspected that they had been killed. All was well until the newspapaers appeared. Dozens of them not only asking questions but wanting to inspect the whole of the Barge. I would not allow this and put a call into the Police. All that had no business on board were sent off the barge. Now I had company a Police officer shared my keeping watch or should I say a Policeman a small dog and I stood watch. Now people walked along the banks of the river trying to hash a view of the Barge.

The Policeman saw them first the Captain with one of his children in his arms, his Wife and the other child. The Captain called out to nobody in particular There she is, There she is. Both were surprised at seeing the Policeman and myself on board. The Policeman took out his note book and he and the Captain went to the front of the ship. The policeman filled out page after page. Then the Policeman saluted and went from board. The Captain and his wife now told me over a cup of steaming hot sweet tea what had happened. The eldest boy had asked his Dad if he could tie the boat up for the night. Dad was rather busy and he told the boy to make sure that things were really tight.

The family went to bed and rain way up stream had loosened the ropes. The barge had travelled miles before I found it apparently abandoned. The dog was the family member that had found the barge.I was invited to travel with the Family next holiday and I must say that I am looking forward to travelling around the country on a Barge. Bern.