The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-08
The Sailor and the Convict.

at the snip, witnesseo an accioehI- Ahe crew
were engaged furling sail. The topnan,
whose duty it was to take in the starboard
upper corner of the main topsail, lost his bal
ance, he was seen tottering the dense throng
assembled on the wharf of the arsenal utter
ed cry, the mans head overbalanced his
body, and he whirled over the yard, his arms
outstretched toward the deep; as he went
over he grasped the main ropes, first with one
hand and then with the other, and hung sus-
pended in that manner. The sea lay far be-
low him at giddy depth. The shock of his
fall had given to the main ropes violent
swinging motion, and the poor fellow hung
dangling to and fro at the end of this line,
like stone in sling.
To 60 to his aid was to run frightful risk.
None of the crew, who were all fishermen Of
the coast recently taken into service, dared
attempt it. In the meantime the poor top
man was becoming exhausted; his agony
could not be seen in his countenance, but his
increasing weakness could be detected in the
movements of all his limbs. His arms twist
ed about in horrible contortions. Every at
tempt he made to re-ascend only increased
the oscillations of the main ropes. He did
not cry out for fear of losing his strength
All were now looking forward to the moment
when he should let 90 of the rope, and, at
instants,all turned their heads away that they
might not see him fall. There are nome nts
when ropes end, a po,e, the branch of a
tree, is life ITSELF and it is frightful thing to
see living being lose his hold upon it, and
fall like ripe fruit.
Suddenly man was discovered clambering
up the rigging with the agility of wild cat.
This man was clad in red-it was convict /;
he wore green capt was convict for life.
AS he reached the round top, gust of wind
blew off his cap, and revealed head entirely
white-it was not young man.
In fact, one Of the convicts employed on
board in some prison task, had at the first
alarm, run to the officer of the watch, and,
amid the confusion and hesitation of the
crew,while all the sailors trembled and shrank
back, had asked permission to save the top
mans life at the risk of his own. A sign OF
assent being given, with one blow of ham,
mer he broke the chain riveted to the iron
ring at his ankle, then took rope in his
hand, and flung himself into the shi ouds.-
Nobody, at the moment, noticed with what
ease the chain was broken. 1t was only
some time afterward that anybody remember
ed it.
In a twinkling, he was upon the yard. He
paused a few srcvuIs, aid seemed 10 meas
ure it with his glance. Those seconds, dur
ing which the wind swayed the sailor to and
fro at the end of the rope, seemed ages to
the lookers-on. At length the convict raised
his eyes to heaven, and took step forward
The crowd drew long breath. He was seer
to run along the yard. On reaching its ex
treme tip, he fastened one end of the rope he
had with him, and let the other hang at full
length. Thereupon, he began to let himsel
down by his hands along this rope. and ther
there was an inexpressible sensation of ter
ror instead of one man, two were seen dan
Cling at that giddy hight.
You would have said it was spider seiz
ing a fly; only, in this case, the spider va
bringing life, and not death. Ten THOUSAND
eyes were fixed upon the group. Not or!
not word was uttered; the same emotion
contracted every brow. Every man held hi
breath, as if afraid to add the least whispe
to the wind which was swaying the unfortu
nate men.
However, the convict had at length man
aged to make his way down to the seaman
1t was time-one minute more, and the mai
exhausted and despairing, wsuld have falle
| into the deep. The convict firmly secure
, him to the rope. to which he clung with or
hand while he worked with the other. +
nally, he was seen re-ascending the yard, an
c hauling the sailor after him he supporte
s him there an instant, to let him recover h
L strength, and then, lifting him in his arm
, carried him, as he walked along the yard,
: the cross-trees, and from there to the roun
# top, where he left him in the hands of b
- messmates.
f Then the throng applauded; the old q
S lev sergeants wept, women hugged each OF
r, er ON the wharves, and on all sides voic
were heard exclaiming, with sort of tendt
:. " subdued enthusiasm "This man must
g pardoned!
e He, however, had made it point of du
,e :, to descend again Immediately, and 60 ba
to his work. In order to arrive more quiz
re ly, he slid down the rigging. and started
Or run along lower yard. All eyes were +
m lowing him. There was certain moveme
10 10 when every one felt alarmed; whether it
IN that he felt fatigued, or because his he
'g swan, people thought they saw him hesit
and stagger. Suddenly the throng uttere
thrilling cry-the convict had fallen into
sea.
q The fall was perilous. The frigate Adg
"A iras, was moored close to the Orion, and
al poor convict had plunged between the
:. ship.. 1t was feared that he would be dra
n, under one or the other. Four men sprans
:. once into a boat. The people cheered tn