Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-07-19


We all believed every word ont, even
without the paper for his look, and his
voice, and the way he spoke, was
enough to show that there warcn't
ha north O lying in his whole skin.
But the mate didn't seem to swallcr
the yarn at all. He only shrugged his
shoulders with kind o grin, as much
as to say, I'm too old bird to be
caught with that kind of chaf y and
then he says to him, "Look here, my
lad, that's all very fine, but won't do
here some o these men o mine are in
the secret. and | mean to have it out of
EN-. Now, you just point out the man
as slowed you away and fed you, this
very minute; ii you don't it will be the
worse for you"
The boy looked up i'll his bright, fear
less way-it did my heart good to look
at him, the brave little chap and says
quite quietly, "Ive told you the truth
I amt got any more to say
The mate says nothin', but looks at
him for a minute as if he'd seen clean
through him, and then he faced round
to the men, lookin' blacker than ever.
"Recve a rope to the yard, he sings
out, loud enough to raise the dead.
"Smart, now y
The men all looked at each other, as
much as to say, What on earth's $
comm now?" But aboard ship, of
course, when you are told to do thing
ou've got to d 0 it, So the rope was
rove in Il jiffy.
"Now, my lad" said the mate, in a
hard, square kind o voice, that made
every word sound like tittin II stone into
wall, "you see that ere rope? Well,
| I'll give you ten minutes to confess -
he took out his watch and held it in his
hand" and if you don't tell the truth
aforc the time S up, I'll hand you like
dog y
The crow all stared at one another, as
if they couldn't believe their ears l
didn't believe mine, | can tell ye. And
then a low growl went among EN-, like
a wild beast wakin' out of nap.
Silence, there - shouts the mate.
in Il voice like fierce nor'caster.
"Stand by the run for'ard - And with
his own hand he puts the moose round
the boys neck. The little fellow never
flinched Il bit, but there were some
among the sailors-big, strong chaps as
could ha' fellcd an ox--;ls shook like
leaves i'll the wind. AS for me, / be-
thought myself of my little curly-haired
lad at home, and how it would be if any
one was to go for to hang him, and at
the very thought ont | tingled all over,
and my fingers clinchel themselves us if
they were a grippin' somebody's throat.
| ciutchcd hold O handspikc, and
held it behind my back, all ready.
"Tom," whispers the chief engineer
to me, "d'yc think he really means to
do it 2"
81 don't know" says /, through my
teeth, L" but it he docs he shall so first,
if | swings for it -
I've been i'll many an ugly scrapc i'll
my timo but [ never felt arf us bad as
| did then. Every minute seemed as
long as Il dozen, and the tick of the
mates watch, rcglar, piiclcd my ears
like Il pin. The men were very quiet,
but there was a precious ugly look on
some o their faces, and [ noticed
that three or four ON 'em KEEP edgin'
for'ard to where the mate was standin',
in way that meant mischief. AS for
me, I'd made up my mind that if he did
go for to hand the poor little chap, I'd
kill him ON the spot, and take my chance.
Eight minutes" says the mate, his
great deep voice breakin upon the 81
lencc like the toll of funeral bell. IF
you got anything to confess, my lad,
you'd best out with it, for your time is
nearly up"
"Ive told you the truth, answers the
boy, very pale, but as firm as ever.
J ''J my pi''J Si', Bi'"'S.
The mate nodded, and down goes the
poor little chap on his knces---with that
internal rope about his neck all the time
and puts up his poor little hands to
pray. L couldn't make out what he
said-fact my head was in stitch a whirl
that I'd hardly ha' know'd my own
name-but I'll be bound God heard it,
every word. Then he ups on his feet
again, and puts his hands behind him,
and says to the mate quite quietly,
"I'm ready"
And then, sir, the mates hard, grim
face broke up all at once, like I've seen
Ice III the Baltic. He snatched up the
boy IN his arms and kissed him, ami
burst out cryin' like child, and
think there warent one of us as didn't
do the very same thing. L know did,
myself for one.
"God bless you, my boy" says he,
smoothin the child's hair with his great,
hard hand. "You are a true English
man, every inch of you you wouldn't
tell lie to save your life. Well, if so
be yer father cast you off, I'll be yer
father from this day forth, and if ever
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