Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-08
rcon,inued from first paee.)

inner timbers Of the bulwarks and th,
edgings OF the upper deck.
II have called you here" said the cap
tain, ITO ask you in the presence OF my
officers 1t there is any safe spot. any cove
or bay iuto which the steamer can be run
along the coast abreast of us
DO you mean to beach her, captain
asked the lad. Eus
Yes he responded. sit is our only
chance. We must beach her. Can you
do itP''
II can" said the lad, simply.
You cant" exclaimed the captain
"do you mean to say, young man. that
you can beach this steamerp Gentlemen, >
he continued, as he turned to his officers
''if this young man can do what he says,
every soul can be saved
II can do just what tell you can do, .
said the lad, 'that is. if the engines work
and we can fetch her around in this sea
and the flames don't get ahead of US ; for
there is little bay, nearly abreast of us
and the water is deep in it, and the beach
is free from rocks and stones, and | can
tell the pilot inst where to steer to get
into 1t.
Bat, said the captain, and he spoke
with hurried utterance, as one feels who
hasn't moment TO lose ''you ought 10
know. and your friends here ought TO
know the danger you run, for the flames
Will break out in few moments. You
can hear them roaring uDder-deck, al
ready. The flames will break out in a
moment, | say; this pilot-house will be
on fire, and he who stands beside it will
stand in the centre of flames. and ii will
be through Gods mercy ii he comes out
with his life. feel it to be my solemn
duty to state these things TO you. young
man, and in the presence of your friends
who are interested in your life. Now,
knowing your danger, knowing that you
will probably lose your life, | ask you
again, viii you pilot this steamer 10 that
beach? There are 600 souls on board.
and ii you do it you will be their savior.
viii you do it Pr
The lads face never changed muscle.
The light in his eyes may have darkened
little, but his voice was quiet as ever
as he said -
Il will help you beach her, captain
The captain hesitated yet a moment
He knew himself that the lad was going
10 his death.-going with quietness that
could have only ignorance or finest hero
mis- for its cause. 1t was not to be wondered
at. that, accepting as he was the sacrifice
Of a life, he was touched. He gazed at
the singular being before him. observed
the simple guilelessness of his counte-
nance, and dashing tear from his eye,
he turned to the trapper and said -
v "Oid man this boy is your companion,
and you love him p
''Yis; the lad and me have slept to-
gether, and we've eaten from the same
bark, aud he and me has done little sar-
vices for each other that men in the woods
don't iorgit, and guess your about right,
cap'n when you say that l love the lad"
God forbid !" exclaimed the captain,
God forbid that take the responsibility
OF the sacrifice,-for that's Just what it Is,
old man. Ought the boy to stayP"
''Sartin, sartin," said the old trapper;
"if the lad can save the wimmen-folks and
the little uns, not to speak of the men, by
stayin' here. then he sartinly ought to stay
even if he starts on his last trail from the
deck OF vessel instead of from the shad-
er OF the pine; for death never comes too
quick to one who meets 1t at the post of
duty, and 1t never comes slow enough to
one who shirks. Yis. let the lad stay
where he is. and an old man who has
faced death on many field where bullets
was thick, will stand by his side, and the
Lord OF Marcy shall do with him as he
will. i should liked to have seed the pups
again but the Lord will take care of the
dogs
While this conversation had been car
ried on, the officers of the steamer had
made the arrangements necessary to steer
the craft from the stern; for the pilot
house was already SO hot as to make it
unsafe for the four men stationed at the
wheel to remain in it longer. The ropes
and blocks had been adjusted. the pur-
chase tested, and the steamer was already
being DIRECTED from behind. The captain
still stood by the side of the lad, trumpet
in hand. ready 10 give the orders to veer
her round.
young man." said the captain, "you
are pilot now. When shall we swing her
aboutP lis rough sea- but the flames
give US no CHOICE"
The lad looked steadfastly moment at
the beacon they had passed, asked the
captain question as to her course, and
then said
1--WE are passing the cove! We mustn't
60 rod farther! Quick! Swing her
round !" ,-.x
The captain lifted the trumpet TO his lips
and In tones that rang strong and clear
above the roar of the storm and of the
flame, shouted; "liard-;i- port with your
helm! Hard-a-port, l tell youp Jam
her down for your lives r.
The men In control of the helm obeyed
with an energy born of the peril of the
moment. The mighty fabric swayed for
moment, but tore on as if unwilling to
yield. But the next instant the immense
pressure of the helm hard a-port began to
tell, and the monstrous bulk swung slow
ly about. rolled downward into the trough
OF the sea as it she would never rise. reel
ed over as she met the mighty wave
square amid-ship till her larboard rail lay
deep in the Kissing water, struggled up.
righled herself laboriousIy; aud as she
stralghlened her course with the gale
square astern. and with her steam gauge
standing at rs. shot toward the shore like
an arrttU from ha hon