The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-04-18
The Cabin oy.

wouldn't refuse to trust myself. We were
bound to Liverpool, and nothing unusual
happened until the eighth day out, when we
ran foul OF small iceberg. II was early in
the morning, before sunrise, and not above
six or eight feet of ice was above water, it
having nearly all melted 10 the warm waters
OF the Gull Stream. did not think we had
sustained much injury. for the shock was
light; but | WIS very angry and gave the
lookout severe punishment, without stop
ping to inquire whether he could have seen
the iceberg in time to escape it.
My cabin boy was named Jack Withers.
He was fourteen years of age, and this was
his first voyage. had taken him from
widowed mother, and had promised her that
| would see him we'll trested-that was, IL
he behaved himself. He was bright, quick
intelligent lad. ! soon made myself believe
that he had an awful disposition. I tancied
that he was the most stubborn piece Of hu-
manity had ever come across. ! made up
my mind he had never been properly gov.
erned, and resolved TO break him in. told
him I'd curb bis temper before had done
with him. In reply he told me might xiii
him II liked and fogged him with thu
end Of the mizzen.top.gallaDt hallisrds till
he could hardly stand. asked him II he
had got enough, and he told me might fig
him more il wished to. I felt q strong in.
cIination 10 throw the boy overheard, but at
that moment he staggered back against the
mizzen. mast from absolute weakness, and
LETT him to himself. When reasoned cal
ly about the boys disposition, | was forced
to acknowledge that he was one of the
smsrtest Ond most faithful lads [ had ever
seen. When asked him to do anything he
would be off like rocket; but when l
roughly ordered him to do it, then came the
disposition with which found feult.
One day, when it was near noon, spoke
10 him and told him to 60 below and bring
up my quadrant. He was looking over the
quarter rail, and ! knew he did not henr me,
and the next time ripped out an oath, and
intimaied il he didn't move I'D help him.
81 didn't hear ye," said he with an inde-
pendent tone.
mo WORDS" said I.
81 spose can speak," he retorted, NOV.
ing slowly toward the companion wNy.
HIS loose words, and the slow, careless
manner in which he moved. fired me in a
moment, and srasped him by the collar.
"Speak TO me again like tnat, aud III fog
you within an inch of your lie," said |.
"You can f,g uwoy," he replied firm and
uudaunted as rock.
Aud | did Aag him. cnught up the end
OF the rope. and beat him until my arm iair-
ly sched but he never even WINGED.
"Huw's that 7" said |.
"There's a little more lite you'd better
fog out" was the reply.
And l beat him again. beat him till he
sank from my hand against the rail aud
then sent one of the men for my quadrant
When it came and had adjusted it for my
observation, found that the sun was already
past the meridian, and that was rou late
This added fuel to the fire Of my madness
and quickly siezing the lad by the collar,
led him to the main hatchway and had The
hatch taken off. I then thrust him down
End swore | would keep him there ill hi;
stubbornness was broken. The hatch was
then put on, and went into the cabin.
suffered good deal that afternoon, not witt
any compunctiOns Tor what had done, bu
with my own temper and bitterness. L
made ME mad 10 think that could not con
quer that boy-that could not break dowr
his cool, stern opposition "But l will d,
it," said to myself, "by the Heavens above
IN s,arve him into it, or he shall die in the
operation"
After supper went TO the hatchway ant
called out 10 him, but he returned me no an
swer. So | closed the hatch and wen
away. At ten O'Clock I called again, ant
again got no answer. I might have though
that the fogging had taken awsy his senses
had not some of the men assured me tina
they had heard him, not on bt ur before, talk
ing to himself. did not trouble him agair
till morning. After breakfast went to tn.
hatchway and called out to him once more
I heard nothing from him, nor could see
him-I had not seen him since put hin
down there. called out several times, bu
he would make no reply-and yet the some
men told me they heard him talking tho
very morning. He seemed to be calling or
them for help, but he would not ask for me
I meant TO break him into it. "He'll bes
before he'll stsrve," thought. end so deter
mined to let him stay there. l supposed
that he had crawled forward 10 the fore
castle bulkhesd, in order to make the sailors
: hear him. Some of the men asked leave t.
} 20 down and look for him.. but refused.
threatened to punish the first man that dared
to 60 down.
Al noon went again, and as he did no
answer me this time, ! resolved that hi
J should come to the hatchway and ask io1
me ere ] went any more. The day Paoset
away. and when evening came again begar
to be startled. thought Of the many goo'
!, qualities the boy had. end Of bic Widowed
|, mother. He had been in the hold thirty.si
J hours, end all Of forty without food or drink
y He muat be too weak to cry out now. l
was hard for me to give up, but II he die