, 1852-09-11
FIisGOrlunes OF Jack BecIIcr.

Dfazh tracer On lne evening oil the 2oth
of August, 1899, the Am LA arrived off
Rio, and was Immediately noted Tor quar-
antin9. Jack was one of the midnight
watch on that evenlful night The weather.
was calm and beautiful, and Jack leaned
over The forecaslle hammock nettings, con-
lamplating the moon which was just setting
in the west Presently be saw a canoe
glide out from the shore, and he thought he
heard moans proceed from it, The persons
in the canoe threw over light body in the
water, and Immediately started back. Jack
kept his eye ON the spot. The tide was
rapidly running out. Soon this light body
came to the surface within few rods Of
where the Amelia lay, and from a gurglmg
sound which proceeded from it, Jack knew
that it was human being struggling for
life. He hesitated not, but plunged inte
the sea, and was soon enabled to secure tho
drowning GIL, for such indeed was the Inys-
terious object. He brought her alongside
the rudder of the vessel, and succeeded in
getting with her into one of the cabin win
dows, which in that hot climate arc almost
always open. Assisted by the captain and
Crew, the poor girl was soon restored TO life.
She was but thirteen years old, and her un-
happy sobs induced the captain Of the
Amelia 10 allow Jack TO venture ashore with
her-alIhough going ashore from vessel in
quarantine was a crime in Brazil which en-
tailed li.e's hard labor in the mines But
Jack venturod with his interesting burden,
nevertheless, and took the girl home 10 her
mother, who proved to be a rich and noble
lady. He arrived at the parents mansion,
which was near the sea, before daylight, and
unmolested by the police.
The result of this romantic adventure is
a curious illustration Of the gratitude of the
Brazilian character The young girl had
been seized by some negroes within a stones
throw Of her mothers house She was
gagged and robbed of her necklace, brace
lets, rings, &c, and then for fear of detec-
tion, the black villains determined to throw
her into the aea She had lainled in their
hands, and this fact accounted for the ab-
senee Of further serious violence. Jack
Becker, with a true Irish heart, had plung-
ed into the water and Rescued her, at the i'm
mediate risk Of drowning, Or losing his life
by sharks, which ravenous FISH may always
b. seen in those attitudes. And what was
Jacks reward ? He was delivered 10 the
police on suspicion of being an accompice
of the negroes, and when this was disproyed,
and it was found that he belonged to a ship
in quarantine, which had Just arrived, he
was decreed to suffer ten years. hard labor
in the diamond mines for having infringcd
the sanctuary laws Of Brazil. He was fas-
tened by his wrists to some negro conyicts,
and driven huudreds Of miles into the inte-
rio., on foot, under broiling tropical sun.
AS soon as Jack got well settled at the
mines, and had mastered the Portuguese lam
guage, he became great favorite among
the keepers of The convicts. Even the Cow
ernor himself was highly delighted with
Jacks genuine Irish humOr, and witty re-
partees. He therefore allowed the Irish
sailor many privileges not accorded to other
convlcts. Jacks most frequent recreation
was climbing into certain palm tree to in
hale few fresh mouthfuls of air, as he
said. When am up that tree," argued
Jack, " it seems like was at the mast head
of the poor Amelia; but she'll never see
the likes Of poor Jack Becker at her fore
top again" 1t was singular circumstance,
however, that Jack always climbed that
-ame tree for fresh air. He was never
known to attempt the ascent of any other of
the numerous palms that grew around his
abode. The cause of this mysterious liking
for one particular tree will be shown in the
sequel.
Years rolled on, and Jack himself became
an overseer of the convicts. From pris-
Oner he had been promoted to a comfortable
mode Of life lie even married a beautiful
mulatto girl, whose parents lived eight or
ten miles fiom the scene Of his Imprisonment.
Jack was happy and contented; but yet he
would OCCASIONAL y indulge himself by climb
ing up the palm tree " for a fresh mouthfti
Of air." At length the ten years rolled
around, and Jack was set at liberty. His
conduct had been 80 meritorious, that the
Government furnished him mules for both
himself and wife to re turn to Rio. The
day of their departure at length arrived -
The girl-wifs cried and did not want to 20
so far from home; but Jack talked to her
until she consented to go. Just as they
were about to start, Jack declared he would
have shilalah from lis favorite tree, g Just
to keep away the witches, or larrup the lazy
mules, as it may be wanted" said he. So
lie climbed up to the top, and cut off good
stout limb, which he trimmed neatly into a
staff, such as he required, and of started the
happy pair for Rio in company with a gov
ernment train.
In order to appreciate fully Jacks inge-
nuity in oil his movements at the Brazilian
diamond mines, it should be understood that
the convicts are searched and physieed in
every possible way to prevent the conceal
ment Of the precious gems about or within
their bodies. Indeed, Jack declared that
he took physie enough, during the last week
Of his stay to last him all tho rest Of his life