Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-04-17

Fire away, cap" says the man, sulk-
lily; lone may just as we'll die by fire one
way as another, and | won't stand there
and be burnt" And then the captain s
hand-the one as held the pistol-fell
down by his side, and he looked regularly
done.
Whats up?" | says. Can do "
and | followed the captain to the wheel,
which he turned so as to put the head OF
the ship right once more; and as he did
it, she just changed round again; but
while all this had been going on, the miz-
en- or third mast took fire, and now was
blazing away tiercely,
'Hold on here, my man." says the cap
tain 'and keep the wheel just as it is.
That's right; hold the spokes firm; and
if her head swings round, call to me to
come and help you
All right" | says; but mind, |
don't understand it bit" And now my
troubles seemed to begin; for though it
was bad enough to be bustling about fancy
ing that the ship would either 60 down or
you'd be burnt every moment, yet to stand
stock-still holding on to the spokes of that
wheel was awful, and do what | would to
stop it, regular tremble came all over
me- and my knees kept on shake, shake,
shake
They got the boat over the side, and
then the men rushed over one another to
get in, and it was only by stamping about
and hitting at them that the captain got
the poor chaps to take III the things they
wanted such as food, which he fetched
, out of the cabin himself; and water,
which they did sling in, but dropped one
little cask overheard. But, one way or
another, he got them at last to take in a
good many things such as they'd want,
and compass and then, with three more
men, he rushed down TO the cabin again
: for more food-biscuit-b bags-saying as the
, other boats would want more and that We
must supply EN-. And then up they came
staggering and shaking, one man with a
little water-keg, and the captain with a
side o bacon, and t-wo men with bags o
: biscuit and they goes TO the side, and |
wished my job was done as | saw em 90.
All at once one of the men gives yell,
. throws down his bag, and leaps bang over
board, and the others, running after him,
did 80 too, and then | could see that the
cowardly beggars had pushed otf-for they
lay close under the side, where | couldn't
see EN- before. and now they were rowing
f hard to get away. and could see that the
, boat was 80 full that the least thing must
make her fill and sink.
1t was pitiful to hear the shrieks OF
those poor fellows as was left behind, as
they swan with all their might to get up
to the boat. and il was pitiful to see, for it
was as light as day, and the waves that
gently rose and fell seemed waves OF blood
glowing blood-with golden crests as
they softly broke. But though one man
swan 80 fast that he got up to the boat,
they pushed him of with the oars and
then | saw him cling to them and one
man pulled out knife to stab at him if
he came nearer; while Just then | saw the
boat-hook rise up and fall with heavy
. thud on the poor chaps head, and he went
, under, and | said, God help him " for
I he came up no more.
There We're two more swimming after
them, and when the next saw all this. he
Just turned round, and looked back at the
,hip, and padded with his hands a bit,
and then stretching them straight up
towards the SKY, he gave one wild, bitter
| shrek, and he went under; and this time
, was only my lips that moved.
| There was the other, though. a fine, lusty
! young fellow and as soon as he saw what
f took place, he turned off to the left and
; tried to reach the nearest boat of the 9TH
er three and manfully he swan for it
raising himself well up in the water at
every stroke, and gradually lessening the
! distance till he got close up to the stern
where | could see quite plain some one
holding out his hands to him, and he was
taken aboard the boat
Now all this took place in a very few
minutes; and in spite of the danger, we
the two last on board, could not helT
stopping TO gaze at the terrible incident
but now the captain comes up and take,
my hand and says:
Brother, II was a cowardly, cruel, sci
fish action; and | don't know but what
, I'd rather die with brave man than live
with curs.'
| know my hand shook, but | don't
think my voice did. though | thought o.
, life being sweet, as | said to him,
% Is it very hard to die, captain p
YeS," he says, " | believe it is, to q
strong man and as God gave life, anc
! we've done our duty 50 far, why, we mus
finish it by trying to save two more.
But how" | says, getting hold O
L him.
Don't leave the wheel" he says; ant
then again . But it don't matter-sh'
= makes no way Lend hand here
And | helped him, and together, roast
ing almost. we dragged three great fowl
: | crops and a grating to the side, and h,
- tied them together-lashed them, he calle(
l. it-in no time; then we showed them over
= board; and as the vessel slowly swung
/ round, we We're out O sight o the boats
which were about a quarter of mile of
T.. He had rope to the coops so that the.
: could not float off and as he told me, | sli,
= down on to them and squatted there trem
bling, while he lowered down to me th
little water-keg, some rope, the bacon, am
two of the biscuit bags. Then he pitche
: : some loose pieces of woodwork and tn
:, cover of the cabin stairs and hutch thin
! and tarpaulin into the water by me; sli
down the rope, and was by my side IN fey
, minutes with the coops sinking about, s
u that | was glad to lower myself into tn
water and hold on
"That's right" he says, opening hi
- knife with his teeth and cutting the rope
and then getting the tarpaulin and bits c
wood and things in the centre in the han
- diest way possible-same as only sailo
:, could do. He tells me to hold on tigh
!. and then lowering himself into the waite
= :, he pushes off from the burning ship an
= begins swimming and guiding our bit {
y ! raft away very slowly, but still furthe