Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-02-29

"Whv. don't know, but suppose
thew are safe by this time /, but l nave
seen nothing of them"
Were you not with them in the
boats"
"No, stayed ON board TO the last
"And so did |, though was not aware
of your being on board. hope You sue
ceeded as well as / did in saving your
property -
Il had nothing to save but my JACK
knife and plug of tobacco-both safe IN
my trousers pocket.
Then why did you not think Of saving
yourself at once."
mo, could not think of leaving the
ship so long as the planks held together.
She couldn't say was not true 10 her TO
the last. But come, comrade, let Us see
what kind of quarters we have got into.
They travelled some distance without any
signs of habitation. Necessity QUICKEN
ing their ingenuity. they were successful
occasionally in catching fish, oysters, or
birds, in all which the sailors jack-kniie
proved of invaluable service, in preparing
the proper snares and weapons, IN open
ing the oysters, cutting up or cleaning the
fish or birds, and, above all, in striking
light to make fire for the purpose OF
cookery. Also once when they were at
tackled by wild beast, the sailor, by
prompt use of his jack-knife, saved their
lives.
They had lived in this manner for some
months, when arriving at the opposite
side OF the island they found it inhabited
by savages, who conducted them to their
king. The gentleman, anxious to con-
ciliate his copper-skinned majesty, pro-
duced five hundred dollar bank-note,
and politely offered it for his acceptance.
The king examined it with some curiosity,
applied it to his nose and tongue, and be-
ing satisfied that it was not good to eat,
returned ii with some contempt.
The gentleman soon found that his
twenty thousand dollars could not pro-
cure him the smallest consideration. The
sailor, on the contrary, in few days, be-
came parsonage of great importance
from the many services he was enabled
to render with his jack-knife, among a
people where iron was unknown. They
literally supplied all his wants, and his
rich friend was glad to profit by his
bounty
One day, as they were attending the
king on an eminence overlooking the sea,
they deserted distant sail evidently pass
ing by the island They kindled bonfire
and hoisted signals, but did not succeed
in attracting notice.
"If we only had boat" exclaimed the
sailor, :" think we could get within hail,
as she does not stand far out, though it is
plain she intends to pass without touch
ing this way"
The gentleman produced his twenty
thousand dollars, and offered it to the
king in exchange for a canoe, but his
majesty rejected the roll of paper, and
turned to the sailor with single W ord
knife"
The bargain was instantly closed; the
jack-knife was received by the king with
no less delight than was experienced by
the Englishmen as they jumped into the
canoe. BY dint of hard padding, and a
favorable current, they got within hail,
and were taken on board of the ship,
which proved to be an English vessel,
homeward bound.
As they came within sight of the white
cliffs, the gentleman took the sailor aside,
and handing him two notes, which
amounted to thousand dollars, said:
for you have done for me more than
twenty times as much money could
have done. trust you may find these
bills, one day or other, as useful as your
jack knife has been. / have learned, by
this time, that mans wealth is to
be measured, not by the extent of his
possessions, but by the use he can make
of what he possesses"