Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-05-18
The Captains story.

When L was about forty years of age i
took command OF the ship Petersam.
She was and old craft, and had seen full
as much service as she was capable of
seeing with safety. But her owners were
willing to trust a valuable cargo in her,
so would not refuse TO trust myself
We were bound to Liverpool, and nothing
unusual happened until about the eighth
day out, when we ran foul of a small ice
| berg. 1t was early in the morning, be-
fore sunrise, and not above six orsseight
feet of ice was above the water, it having
nearly all been melted in the warm region
of the gulf stream. / did not think we
/ had sustained much injury, for the shock
was light but L was very angry, and
! gave the lookout severe punishment,
without stopping to inquire, whether he
could have seen the bergin in time to escape il.
My cabin boy was named Jack With
ers. He was fourteen years of age, and
this was his first voyage. l had taken
! him from his widowed mother, and had
! promised her that would see him well
treated, that was, if he behaved himself
He was a bright, quick, intelligent lad.
| soon made myself believe he had an
awful disposition. l fancied he was the
most stubborn piece of humanity | had
ever come across. l made up my mind
that he had never been properly governed
and had resolved to break him in. | told
him I'd curb his temper before I'd done
with him. In reply he told me thatI might
kill him if | liked and l fiogged him
with the end of mizzen top gallant hal
yards till he could hardly stand. | asked
him if he'd got enough, and he told me
might fog him more if L wished TO.
felt strong inclination to throw him
overheard, but at the moment he stagger-
ed back against the mizzen-mast from alb
solute weakness, and left him to him
self When reasoned calmly about the
boys disposition, l was forced to ac-
knowledge that he was one of the smart
est and most intelligent and faithful lads
had ever seen. When 1 asked him to do
anything he would be off like a rocket :;
but when roughly ordered him TO do it,
then came the disposition with which 1
found fault.
One day, when it was very near noon,
1 spoke to him to bring up my quadrant.
He was looking over the quarter-rail, and
and knew he did not hear me the next
time l spoke ripped out an oath and in
timated if he did not move I'd help him.
81 din't hear you," he SAID, with an
independent tone.
"No Words" said I.
"I suppose 1 can't speak," he retorted
moving slowly toward the companion
way.
His looks, words, and the slow, careless
maner in which he moved, fired me in u
moment, and grasped him by the collar.
"Speak to me again like that, and I'll
fog you within an inch of your life"
said /.
You may fog away" he replied firm
and undaunted as rock.
And did fog him. l caught up the
end of rope, and beat him till my arm
fairly ached but he never WINGED.
." How's that ," said /.
"There's little more life in me. you'd
better fog it out " was the reply.
And beat him again. beat him till
he sank from my hand against the rail f;
and sent one of my other men for my
quadrant When it came, and had ad-
justed it for observation, l found that the
sun was already past the meridian, and
that was too late This added fuel 10