The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-02-09
THE 81. COO yACK.KNIFE.

THE $4,000 JACk-kNIfE.
Tho ship was driven out of her |
course, and cast away within sight |
of an unknown coast. All on board
might have escaped in the boats,
though rather crowded, but one of
the passengers, on their refusing to
admit his trunk in any boat, remain
ed in the ship to nnfasten it, and get
out his pocket-book, which contain 4
ed notes to the amount of twenty
Thousand dollars. This he thought
would not detain c:s7 q moment,
and he requested them -; wait: but
in the hurry and confusion of the
moment, he could not Immediately
recollect what he had done with the
key of the trunk.
Having found it at last, and se-
cured his money, he perceived to
his dismay that every boat was out
of sight, while the ship was falling
apart, and suddenly he found him.
self in the sea. Catching at some
article that was floating by, he chung
TO it almost unconsciOuslY, not re-
Taxing his hold even when his senses
were failing him. Fortunately he
was dOated to land, and when he re-
viyed found himself lying on the
beach.
As soon as his strength returned,
he assembled an eminence, but could
see no sign Of the wreck or Of the
boats, or of any human creature.
But as he was leaning despondingly
against q tree, he was suddenly
startled by being clapped on the
shoulder, while q voice at mis- ear
exclaimed, "W hat cheer my hearty p
Turning around, he gladly recegniz-
ed one of the crew and inquired
what had become of the rest.
"Why, I don't know, but sup
pose they are safe by this time; but
I have seen ro,Hs~g of them"
"Were yc, With them in the
boats.n
LAST .a.
aAnd so did I, though i was moi
aware of your being on board. ]
hope you succeeded as well as did
in saving your property"
had nothing to save but my
| jack-knife and . plug of tobacco
both safe in my trowsers pocket
Then why did you not think Of
saving yourself at once 2"
"NO, could not think of leaving
| the ship so long as the planks hello
together. She couldn't say I wa
not true to her to the last. Blu
come, comrade, let US see what kline
of quarters we have got into"
They travelled some distance with
out any signs of habitation. Ne
cessity quickening their ingenuity
they were successful occasionally il
catching fish, oysters or birds, in al
which the sailors jack-knife prove,
of invaluable service, in preparing
the proper snares and weapons, il
opening the oysters, cutting up AM
cleaning the fish or birds, and abov
all, in striking light to make FIR
for the purpose of cookery. Ono
also when they were attacked by
wild beast, the sailor, by promp
use of his jack-knife, saved thei
lives. ~1J
They had lived in this manner 70
ksome months. w hen they arrived a
the opposite side of the island the
found 1t inhabited by savages, VIII
conducted them to their king. Tn
gentleman, anxious to conciliate hi
: copper-skinned majesty, produce
q five hundred dollar bank-note, an
politely offered it to his acceptance
The king examined it with som
curiosity, applied it to his nose an
tongue, and being satisfied that
was not good to eat, returned
with some contempt.
The gentleman soon found ths
his twenty Thousand dollars coul
not procure him the -uaIlest cor
alteration. The sailor, on the COZ
trary, in q few days became q pei
sonage of great Importance, froI
the many services he was enabled (
render with his jack-knife, among
people where iron was unknown
They literally supplied ell b
wants, and his rich friend was gla
to profit by his bounty.
One day, as they were attendin
the king on an eminence Overlook
ing the sea, they deserted q distaI
sail evidently passing by the islaRs
. They kindIed bonfire and hoiste
signals, but did not succeed in q
tracing notice.
off we only had a boat, exclain
ed the sailor, 81 think we conld e,
within hail, as she does not stan
far out, though il. is plain she il
tends to pass without touching tn
way" The gentleman produce
his twenty thousand dollars, an
offered it to the king in exchane
for q canoe, but his majesty rejec
n ed the roll of paper, and turned
the sailor with single word
"Knife."
The bargain was instantly closed
the jack-knife was received by tt
king with no less delight than VIZ
experienced nv the Engiishmen ,
they Jump " the canoe. 3
a dint of hard pauuling, and q favol
able current, they got within hal
and were taken on board of tt
ship, which proved to be an Englii
vessel homeward bound.
As they came within sight of Il
white cliffs, the gentleman took Il
sailor aside, and handing him tw
notes, which amounted TO q thol
sand dollars. said:
y "You must not refuse to acceI
this, for you have done for me MOI
than twenty times as much none
could have done. trust you ms
find these bills, one day or other,
useful as your jack-knife has bee
have learned, by this time, that
[ mans wealth is to be measured, n,
by the extent of his possessions, bl
by the use he can make of what /
possessed
mup H,TnnvU cNEEmIT