The Portland daily press., 1862-10-27
MISCELLANY Y.
From Les Miserable es.
The Sailor and the Convict.


One morning. the throng, which was gazing
at the ship Witnessed an accident. The crew
were engaged in fuiling sails. The topman,
whose duty it was to take IN the stlrb d up
per corner OF the main topsaii, lost his balance,
he was seen tottering: the dense throng assem-
bled on the wharf OF the arsenal uttered 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 man ropes, first with one hand and then
with the other, and hung suspended in that
manner The sea lay far below him at giddy
depth The shock of his fall had given to the
man ropes violent swinging motion, and the
poor fellow hung dangling to and fro at the
end of this line, like a stone in a sling.
To 30 to his aid was to run a trightful risk.
None of the crew, who were all fishermen of
the coast recently taken into service, dared at
tempt it. In the meantime the poor topman
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 twisted about in
horrible contortions. Every attempt he made
to re-ascend only increased the Oscillations of
the man ropes. H. did not cry out for fear OF
losing his strength. All were now looking for
ward to tlat moment when he should let go of
the rope and at instants, all turned their heads
away that they might not see him fall. There
are moments when ropes end pole, the
branch of tree, is life Itself, and it is fright
ful thing to see living being lose his hold up
OH it, and fall like a ripe fruit.
Suddenly a man was disc 1yered clamberipp
up the rigging with the agility of a wild cat.
This man was clad in red-it was convict;
he wore a 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 young man.
In fact one of the cOnyicts emDlOyed on
board in some prison task, had at the first a.
larm, run To the officer OF the watch, and, amid
the confusion and hesitation of the crew, while
all the sailors trembed and shrank back had
asked permission to save the topmans life at
the risk OF his own. A sign of assent being
given, with one blow Of the BANNER he broke
the chain riveted to the iron ring at his ankle,
then took rope in his hand, and hung himself
into the shronds. Nobody, at the moment, no
ticed with what ease the chain was broken.
1t was only some time afterward that anybody
remembered it.
In a twinkle he was upon the yard. He
paused few seconds, and seemed to measure
II with his glance. Those seconds, during
which the wind swayed the sailor to and fro at
the end ofthe rope, seemed ages To the lockers
on. AT length the convict raised his eyes to
heaven, and took step forward He was seen
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 himself
down by his hands along this rope, and then
there was an ineXpressible sensation of terror
instead OF one man, two were seen dangling at
that giddy height.
You would have said it was spider Selling
fly; only, in this case, the spider was bring
ing life and not death. Ten thousand eyes
were fixed upon the group. Not a cry; not a
word was uttered; the same emotion contract
ed every brow. Every man held his breath.
as ifalraid to add the least whisper to the wind
which was swaying the two unfortunate men.
Then the throng applauded; galley sergeant
wept, women hugged each other on the
wharves, and on all sides voices were heard
exclaiming, with sort of tenderly subdued
enthusiasm: This man must be pardoned!"
He however had made it a point of duty to
descend again Immediately, and 20 back TO his
work. In order to arrive more quickly, he
slid down the rigging, and started to run along
lower yard. All eyes were following him.
There was n certain moment when every one
felt alarmed; whether it was that he felt IA
tigued, or because his head swam people then
saw him hesitate and stagger. Suddenly the
throng uttered thrilling outcry; the convict
had fallen into the sea.
The fall was perilous. The frigate Algesi-
ras was moorcd close to the Orion, and the
poor convict had plunged between the two
suPs. IL was ieareu ne would be drawn
under one or the other. Four men sprang at
once into boat. The people cheered them
on, and anxiety again took possession of all
minds. The man had not risen again to the
surface. He had disappeared in the sea, with
out making even ripple, as though he had
fallen into cask of oil. They sounded aud
dragged the place. 1t was in vain The
search was continued until night but not even
the body was found.
However, the convict at length managed to
make his way down to the seaman. 1t was
time; one minute more, and the man, exhaust
ed and despairing, would haqe fallen into the
deep. The convict firmly secured to the rope,
TO which he clung with one hand while he
worked with the other. Finally he was seen
re-ascendng the yard. and hauling the sailor
after him; he supported him there for an in
slant, to let him recover his strength and
then. lifting him in his arms. sarred him, as he
walked along the yard, to the cross-trees, and
from there to the round-top, where he left him
In the hands of his messnIate,
The next morning the Toulton Journal pub
lished the following lines November II.
ls23.-Ye esterday, convict, at work on board
OF the Orion, on his return from rescuing
sailor, fell into the and was drowned His
body was not recovered. 1t is presumed it
Gas been caught under the piles at the pierhead
OF the arsenal. This man was registered by
the number 9430, and his name was Jean Val
ieann-IVictor Hnpo