Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-01-10

Jtln, looking WITH mingled surprise |
and contempt upon Caleb. "Why didn't
you knock him down, Baker p
because don't want to fight with
any man, sir"
"And will you allow yourself to be
struck and not resent it ?"
81 will defend myself in case of dan
ger, but will not so abase myself as
to engage in brutal fight when it can
be possibly avoided. 1 have as yet done
wrong to no man but were L to fight |
one of my shipmates, L should wrong
him and myself both"
"Then you will have yourself looked |
upon as one who may be struck with
Iimpunity."
A quick flush passed over the young
mans face as the captain thus spoke,
but he was soon calm.
"I mean, SIR" he returned, 'to give
no one occasion to strike me; vet
Bunkton struck me, but you can see
that he already suffers more than do"
Bunkton gave Caleb the lie, and
again tried to urge him into a fight, but
the captain interfered, and quiet was
restored.
From that time Caleb Baker was
looked upon by the crew as a coward.
At first they taunted him, but his uni
form kindness soon put stop to these
outward manifestations, and the feel
lngs OF the crew were expressed by their
looks. Bunkton took every occasion he
could to annoy the young man, for he
had taken his oath that he would shave
a fight out of the coward yet" The
rest of the crew might have let the mat
ter pass, had not Bunkton's continued
behavior kept alive the idea of Bakers
cowardice.
None save himself knew the great
struggles that went on in the young
mans bosom but he had resolved that
he would not fight, except in actual and
necessary self-defense, and he adhered
to his principle. He performed his du-
ties faithfully, and Captain Jacobs was
forced to admit that, though Baker was
a coward, he was yet good sailor.
Thus matters stood until the ship
had doubled the Cape of Good Hope,
and entered the Indian Ocean. 1t was
towards the close of day that had been
sultry and oppressive, that a fitful
breeze sprung up from the southwark.
1t came in quick, cool gusts, and the
broad canvas only tapped before it.
"We are likely to have o blow soon,"
remarked the mate.
Not much, think" returned the
captain, as he took survey of the hori-
zon. "This splitting will soon die
away, and think the wind will then
come out from the westrd. However,
it may be'wel enough to shorten sail.
You may take in t'gallants'ls and close
reef the tops'ls.
This order was quickly obeyed, and
as the captain had predicted, the spit
ting gusts died away, but there was no
wind came out from the west'rd. 1t
grew dark, but no wind had come.
About ten o'clock those who were on
deck were startled by sudden dark
ening of the stars, and they saw a great
black cloud rolling up from the south
ward. 1t soon hung over the ship like
black pail, and the men began to be
frightened. The captain was called,
but before he came on deck there came
a crash as though the very heavens had
been rent in sunder. The old ship
trembled in every joint, and a huge ball
of fire rolled down the mainmast. An
other, and another crashing of the
lightning came, and at length the elec-
trio Light began to play about the ship
in wild fantastic streams.
"The foremast is struck |" shouted
one of the men. "See where it's head
is shivered."
ALI eyes were turned to the spot, and
by the next wild flash the men could
see that dangerous havoc had been
made with the mainmast. The cap was
shlvered, the starboard check was near
ly stripped off, and the trestletrees were
qulvering. OF course the heavy topmast
was only held in it's place by the dubi-
GUS trestletrees, and the main top
threatened every instant to come crash
ing upon the deck, with the long top
mast and top-gallantmast in its com
pany. Such a catastrophe would sure
y prove fatal to the ship, and all knew
But while all hands were gazing at
this, another danger arose. The low,
rumbling sound that had been growing
In the southwark had escaped the no.
tlce OF the crew, and ere they knew
1T, the rushing, howling wind was
upon them. The ship Ieaped like
frightened stag before the gale. The
mate cut the maintop sheets, and the
sail was snapped into ribbons. The
foretopsail was clewed up, and the ship
was got before the wind.
The lightning cloud was swept away,
and it was dark as Erebus. The wind
howled fearfully, but there was one
sound more fearful than that It was
the creaking of the shattered trestle-
trees, as the fid of the topmast bore
down upon them.
go Cod" calculated Captain ia
cobs, "if the trestletrees give way we
are lost Hark Hear them labor l''
Away up aloft, in the impenetrabIe
darkness, stood the giant topmast, and
all felt it could not stand there long.
The men crowded aft, and with pain
fully beating hearts they heard the mast
labor.
eff we could bring the ship broad
side to-" said the mate, "the weather
rigging might be cut, and the mast
would go overheard"
True-true," returned the captain.
"but who shall go aloft and do the Job
There would be no foothold in the top,
for that will go with a crash. The
trestletrees are already shattered.
eff you will port the helm, will
make the trial." cried clear, sirong
voice, which was at once recognized as
Caleb Bakers.
1t will be sure death" said Jacobs.
"Then let it be so, returned Caleb.
eff | succeed, the rest of you may be
saved but now we are all in danger