National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-12-23

got tugs in Port Jackson, but at the time
Pm speaking about ships used to head in
an out, and we'd narrow shave off the
Sow and Pigs--that's a shoal between
Middle Head and the Inner South Head.
Whats the matter, my man !" says
Charlie to me-
I'VE very nigh ran aground, sir; that's
all" saws |.
"Did we ?" says he; and rm blest if be
didn't look disappointed because we hadn't
run aground. But after that, for months
and more, we'd the wind just as if the
skipper had ordered it OF the Clerk of the
Weather For days and days together the
Prospero had heap of canvass on her,
allow and aloft, and we'd scarcely trim it,
much less touch it, Now and then the
mate-he was the fondest of cracking on
got more than seven knots out of her,
and that was reckoned tolerable fast sail
ing in them days. Well, SO we'd got along
till we We're almost in sight of land, as
was calkilated, and then there came a
change. I'd had my trick at the wheel in
the second dog-watch, and I'd seen that
the weather was getting nasty. When
eight bells struck, and the tother chap
came to relieve me, You'll have to keep
your eyes open, mate" says l. "There'll
be two of you here atore long. She's been
kicking as hard as | could hold, this halt
hour. The old man will soon shorten sail,
bet"
SO gave him his course, and went for
ards, and tumbled in all standing. Afore
four bells | heard humping overhead,
and the mates believing, watch below
tumble out !" The mate didn't like TAX
ing in sail as rule, he said the old man
was as nervous as an old woman, but he
was spry enough at it that night. He ran
up with us to bear hand at the nansail.
A dirty night we had-both watches on
deck; and the weather kept on getting
nastier as the day broke. The passengers
came up, looking as white as chalk, but the
skipper soon sent them down again, Charlie
managed somehow to slip up again
though.
BILL" says he to me, "can't do some
thing Mammals keeping the other people
quiet, and | want to be of some use
don't want to be sticking down there like
little girl"
"Yes, Master Wimborne," says |, "you
can You can bundle down into the cabin
again as fast as your legs can carry YOU
and look after your dear ma, and the very
minute you can be of use I'll come and
fetch YOU"
| admired the pluck Of the young chap
when men that would have made four o
him were funking, and | didn't like tC
strike bells the gale did that for us very
often; but should say it was about tive
O'Clock in the morning, when the wine
went round right ahead, and we were takel
aback. A nice pummelng the poor ole
| Prospero got. The sea popped her, and th'
whole starn of her seemed to be smashed
/ in. Anyhow, she wouldn't answer he
! helm when she foundered up again
wouldn't steer, no more than log, anC
she was leaking like sieve. When tn,
carpenters sounded the pumps, there wa.
pretty nigh tathom of water in her Th,
skipper soon bundled up the men passen
gers then, to help US at the pumps. Char
lie didn't wait for bundling. You shoul,
have seen how that dear boy worked an,
his dear ma, when all the other womel
were screeching and getting i'll the way
was Juggling up bedding and suchlike, t.
shove INTO the leaks. when we could tin'
EN-. as quietly as if she was "A housemaid
putting 'em out to air in the back garden
She was real brave, good woman. Shc'
got no fear of death, because she was 5
good and yet she set to work SO Sensibl
to save the ship if she could. She did jus
what She could do, and made no fuss abou
it, giving You quiet little look and wor
as she went by, that kept your heart II
more than glass of grog. Thinks ! t
myself" Surely the ship can't 90 dow
with saint that has got her wits abou
her like that aboard We had the hatche
off precious quick, and overheard went tn
wool bales as fast as we could pitch 'en
We didn't stop to tick off the "R. BIS" i
diamonds and such like, | can assure "
We didn't care about brands what W
wanted was to get at the leaks. As 500
as we found them we crammed everythln
we could lay hands on into them, and I'll
caulking seemed to be of some use for
bit. The pumps got the water littI
under The gale-it was real hur1cau
went down a little, and we began I
hope that we might weather il after al
But out it burst again, and over went I'll
old ship on her side, with the ma>t> rlgl
in the water, as you might slip down
card. thought she'd fill; but W c,
away the masts, and up she came '
was all up with her though the sea KICK,
, her about like a wet bali
/ Then most of the men, and of the me
passengers n well, made a rush at Il
grog, and set to work as if they wanted
drink themselves mad-drunk. Some of Il
| f.,l "a ths Tho la
: time | saw the second mate and the ca
81 pcnter and the boatswain's mate. tn,
10 were doing the same There was n horr
= row on board-mcn and women howlin
i aud fighting, and scrceching, and the sll
:. lust going down! The old man and I
n mate and the boatswain kept their hea,
p and. thank God, | managed to keep min,
"Savc my boy, Bin r' says poor VI
u Wimbornc to me, bursting out crying
1t the first time,
- Him aud you both, ma'am," says
=, "or we'll 90 down together
:, God bless you Bill says She.
~ "God bless yoW, mn'am," says l.
:, Were in His hands, says she, gctti
=, calm again, and whatever lie wills
:, best
=. She wds a woman, talking quiet II
that, and the mcif and the other wom
A. drinking themselves mad because til
ic were So scared. Little Charlie clutch
no hold Of his ma. when she began to cl
ie "Ill never leave YOU, mamma - says
ic lie was very pale and quiet. but hc keep
firm upper lip to the very last. The *
III per got uut two boats at last. The mi
,c was to go in one, and the boatswain in I
~ other. | was told of Tor the boat,wni
IN boat The other boats were to bc got
r. # they could afterward. The old man y