Smyrna times., 1873-03-26

Inc men all looked at each other, as much
as 20 say What on earth's comm nowP'
But aboard ship, O. course, when you're told
to do thing you We got to do it; so the rope
was rove in a jiffy.
"'NOw, my lad, says the mate, in hard,
square kind O. voice, that made every word
seem like itin a stone into a wall, you see
that ere rope? Well, I'll give you ten
minutes to confess The took out his watch and |
held it in his hand, and if you don't tell the |
truth afore the times up I'll hang you like a
dog
1.-THE crew all stared at one another as if
| they couldn't believe their ears, Il didn't
believe mine, can tell ye,) and then low
grOwl went among EN-, like a wild beast
a wakin' out of a nap.
| Silence, there + shouts the mate, in a
voice like the roar of nor easter. Stand by
to run for ard and with his own hands he put
the moose round the boys neck. The little
feller never f'nched bit; but there were some
among the sailors (big strong chaps as could
ha' felled Ox) as shook like leaves in the
wind. As for me, | bethought myself O. my
little curly haired lad at home, and how it nd
be if and one was to go for to hang him and
at the very thought ont tinged all Over and
my fingers chnched themselves as if they was
} a grippn' somebody's throat | clutched hold
r O a Eandspike, and held it behind my back,
all ready.
y Tom whispers the chief engineer to me,
dye think he really means to do it?'
!, "' don't know, says |, through my teeth,
a but if he does he shall go first if | swings fol
it.
I've been in many an ugly scrape in my
l time, but | never felt 'aIf as bad as did then
y Every minute seemed as long as dozen, anC
y the tick O the mates watch reg lar pricked my
n ears like pin. The men were very quiet, bu
a there was precious ugly look on some Q thei
II faces; and | noticed that some three or four OF
le EN- KEEP edgin' for ard to where the mate wa
IL standin' in way that meant mischief. AS 70
10 me I'd made up my mind that if he did go fo
70 to hang the poor little chap L d kill him on tn
OF spot and take my chance.
ar GO Eight minutes! says the mate, his gre
deep voice breakin in upon the silence lik
lg the toll O. funeral bell If you've got any
ny thing to confess, my lad, you'd best out wit
es it, for yer times nearly up.
I've told you the truth, answered ii
tn boy, very pale but as firm as ever. May ss
"a my prayers, peaseY
1.-The mate nodded; and down goes the POI
ne little chap on his knees with that intern
90 rope about his neck all the time, and puts i
lni his poor little hands to pray. | couldn't maI
ne out what he said (act my head was in such
est whirl that Id hardly ha' knowed my oV
as name, but I'll be bound God heard it, eve
IN word Then he ups on his feet again. a
VI puts MS nandS Denlnd nun, and says TO [
om mate, quite quietly, I'm ready!'
GUS And then, sir the mates hard grim ia
out broke up all to once, like I'd seed the ice in
Baltic. He snatched up the boy in his arm
leSI and kissed him, and bust a-cryin like chill
the and think there warn't one of us as didn't
as the same. know / did, for one.
els God bless you, my boy! sayshe, smooth
cry the child's hair with his great hard hal
~, You're true Englishman every inch of y
Who you wouldn't tell lie to save your life! w
if so be as yer father cast ye off, tn be
ong father from this day forth; and if | ever for
ever you, then may God forget mel
dog "And he KEEP his word too. When we
IN to Halifax he found out the little un' aunt
most Civ her lump o money to make him C
gar; Portable; and now he goes to see the young
all every voyage, as reg'lar as can be; and to
the pair on 'em together-the little cha
on fond o him, and not bearn' him bi
see a grudge--it's bout as pretty a sight as ev
; the seed. And now, sir, akin yer pardiug,
oard, time for me to be goin below, so I'll just
the yer good night"