The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-12-01
THE LEAP FOR LIFE.

written by Nm Leggett, Esq, formerly officer
in the U. S. Navy.
Even on board our vessel, a degree of
stiffness unusual for man-of- war prevailed
, among the crew. 1t was the hour of their
evening meal and the low hum that came
from the gun-deck had an indistinct and
; huzzing sound, which, like the tiny song of
bees, of warm summer noon,rather Height
ened than diminished the charm of the sur
rounding quiet X \
On the top of the boom cover, and in the
full glare Of the level sun. lay black Jake,
the jig-maker of the ship, and a striking
specimen of African pecuiarities, in whose
single person they were all strongly devel-
oped. His fiat nose was dilated to unusual
width, and his ebony cheeks fairly glisten-
ed with delight, as he locked up at the gam
bols of large monkey, which, clinging to
the main-stay, just above Jake's wooly head
was chattering and grinning back at the
negro, as if there existed some means of
mutual intelligence between them. 1t was
my watch on deck, and had been standing
several minutes leaning on the main fife
rail, amusing myself by observing the an
tics of the black and his congenial play
mate; but at length, firing of the rude
mirth, had turned towards the taffrel, to
f gaze on the more agreeable feature of that
scene which have feebly attempted to de-
scribe. Just at that moment a shout and a
merry laugh burst upon my ear, and looking
quickly round, to ascertain the cause of the
unusual sound on a frigate's deck, saw lit
tie Bob Stay las we called our commodore's
SOM standing half way up the main-hatch
ladder, clapping his hands, and looking
aloft at some object that seemed to inspire
him with deal of glee. A single glance
to the main-yard explained the occasion of
his merrment. He had been coming up
from the gun-deck when Jacko, perceiving
him on the ladder dropped suddenly down
from the main-stay, and running along the
boom-cover, leaped upon Bob's shoulder,
seized his cap from his head, and immedi-
ately darted up the main topsail-sheet, and
thence to the 5unt of the mainyard, where
he now sat, picking threads from tho tassels
of his prize and occasionally scratching his
side, and chattering, as if with eXultation
for the success of his mischief. But Bob
was a sprghtly, active little fellow, and
though he could not climb quite as nimbly
as monkey, yet he had no mind to lose his
cap without an effort to regain it. Perhaps
he was the more strongly melted to make
chase after Jackc, from noticing me to smile
at his plight, or by the loud laugh of Jake,
who seemed inexpressihly delighted at the
: occurrence and endeavored to evince by
tumbling about the boom cloth, shaking his
huge misshapen head, and sundry other
gretesque actions, the pleasure for which he
had no words.
Ha, you d-n rascal. Jaco, hab you ne
more respec' for de young officer, den to
steal his cab We bring you to de gang
f way, you black niggar, and glib you doz-
en- on de bare back for tef."
The monkey looked down from his perch
as if he understood the threat of the negro
d and chartered a sort of defiance in answer
g fla, ha Massa Stay, he say you mus
ketch him fore you fog him: and it's nc
SO easy for midshipman in boots to ketch
monkey barefoot"
A red spot mounted to the cheek oflittle
Bob, as he cast one glance of offended
! pride at Jake, and then sprang across the
, deck to the Jacobs ladder. In an instant
he was half way up the rigging, running
E over the ratlines as lightly as if they were
0 an easy fight of stairs, whilst the shrouds
; scarcely quivered beneath his elastic motion
Q In a second more his hand was on the fut-
d tocks.
"Massa Stay'' cried Jake, who some.
> times, from being a favorite, ventured tt
take liberties with the young officer, Mas
sa Stay, you best crawl through de lubber',
hole-it take a sailor to climb the futtocl
shroud."
But he had scarcely time to utter his pre-
4 tended caution, before Bob was in the top
+ The monkey in the meanwhile had await
: ed his approach, until he had got nearly NJ
o the rigging, when it suddenly put the caI
on his own head. and running along the
yard to the opposite side of the top, sprang
up rope and thence to the top mast back
stay, up which it ran to the top-mast cross
trees, where it again quietly seated itself
and resumed its work ofpicking the tassels
> to pieces. For several minutes | stood
watching my little messmate follow JACKIE
= from one piece of rigging to another, the
. monkey, all the while, seeming to exert only
so much agility as was necessary to elude
= the pursuer, and pausing whenever the lat
ter appeared to be growing weary of the
chase. At last, by this kind of maneuvrine
the mschievous animal succeeded in entic
= ing Bob as high as the royalmast- head wher
springng suddenly on the royal stay, it raj
T. nimbly down to the fore-top- gallant-mas
head, thence down the rigging to the fore
top, when leaping on the fore-yard, it rur
out to the yard-arm, and hung the cap OF
the end of the studding sail boom, where
taking his seat, it raised loud and exult
! ing chattering. Bob by this time was com
pletely tired out, and, perhaps, unwilling t.
return to the deck to be laughed at, for hi,
= fruitess chase, he sat down on the royal
cross trees while those who had been at
IS tracted by the sport, returned to their usua
I, avocations or amusements. The monkey
IL no longer the object of pursuit or-attention
g remained but little time on the yard-arm
but soon taking up the cap, returned in to
wards the sings, and dropped it down upoI
- deck
Some little piece of duty occurred at this
moment to engage me, as soon as which
n was performed walked aft, and leaning
my elbow on the tafffel, was quickly lost il
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