The Morning herald., 1877-10-26
CHAPTER XII.
4 LAUNCH,

| ., At # 10 LAUNCH.
But few miles from the hovel. dicniAed
with the name Of tavern, n which Misttese
Camelford's discharged sgent was the pro
prietor, was soa-p port town and thither
did Edmund, on being driven from his lat
est home. wepd his way He had heard one
or two Of the very few customers who visited
the miserable apology for tavern. which
he had 1ast Lett. speaking together Of ves-
sel whish was TO BE- launched in the evening
of that day which again saw the poor dumb
boy alone upon the world, and at the town
" which we have but now alluded.
10 that town did Edmund bend his
'tops-hs scarcely knew wherefore; perhaps,
b had = vague notion t5at, amongst ths
many people who woylA b. there assembled
h might be his happy fortune to discover
, new friend some one who would place
him n the way to earn hn owne honest liv-
h6. s.S
Il wanted but half-an.hour Of the time
Axsd On for the launching Of Nle new vessal.
when Edmund had reached this seaport; {;
/ crowded with thousands Of people, eager to
bohosd the promised And most exciting
gpeotaclA -.,..'
Every point wheAoe even the aliyhteat
view Of the launch might be obtained, wes
Nh7onged with anxious gazus A huge
! man-of-war WAS this ship, and destined 70
giveadditional strength and glory toalrsady
mighty and glorious d England
Ths moment when the vessel should quit
tho stocks had arrived-her decks were
crowded with people; one only, and the
; Last black, still kept her on her keel, which
tapered down till It seemed, 10 the eyes of
distant SPECTATOR, searce thicker than q
razor-blade.
The poor fellow who, on the preceding
ns1nrh, had devoted himseIs to th.>s<et]e4 ;,
task Of cutting away the last block from
beneath the ship, bad been crushed to ds4t'o
by the monster, which, lacking sufficient
skill and nerve for the dangerous task, he
let loose for his own destruction.
A reward Of Fifty pounds had this time
been offered BY the commander Of the port,
to whomevsr would strike away the one
block which only would be left.
| But the fate Of him who had before ven.
tured on the task was not forgotten, and no
one offered now.
At Last. convict had volunteered, and
would, he said, risk his life by removing the
last obstacle which held the new vessel to
her cradle, on condition that, If he safely
escaped, he should at once be restored to
liberty. His offer WAS accented.
flushed almost to breathless silence, were
the thousands gathered around, and gazing
writ 1.rifh w.
beating hearts, as the convict was seen
slowly making his way towards the vessel.
Pale was the man, though seemingly de-
termined-he seized the hatchet that was
presented to him, dos pded with tolerable
trmness the inclined plane, but-arrived
beneath the immense vessel, aud beholdfng
how imminent the danger, the oonvict's
courage, in q moment, entirely deserted
him, and dropping to the ground the axe
which he no longer possessed sufficient
strength 10 WELD, he eSclanned--
"Give mo hack my chainsj have no de-
sire to die!' ~.
The ceremony was about to be postponed,
the vast crowd had almost commenced to
dispense, when young Lad, poorly Glad.
little more than child, indeed, struggled
from amidst a mob of people, snatchsd up
the hatchet which the convict had cast to
the ground, and was beneath the vessel,
even, before any one could attempt to stay
him. With gesture he checked those who
were about to follow, and draw him back
from an almost certain death.
While all else trembled for him, he alone
was cal1n-he sank upon his knees, pressed
to his lips locket which he drew from his
breast where it had been concealed-then,
with q firm and bold arm, he raised the
hatchet above his head-it fell again-then
was heard a horrible rending and crashing,
the huge vessel gided forward, at frst
slowly, then, with therapidity Of hghtning,
carried forward by its own weight; and de-
scendmg like an avalanche to its proper
element, the sea. which half opened, as
though about to engulp it-but that was
only salute Of wslcome-the vessel rose
again. and proudly settled itself upon the
ocean for which it had been created. But
rs the huge vessel glided Oh, q cry Of terror
and of anguish resonnded. That almost
child, that courageous boy, had disappeared;
but when the cloud Of lust had dissipated,
then was he sean standing calmly and plar-
idly, and shouts enthusiastic and JOYFUL
arose from thousands OF voices
Modestly, and still calmly, this boy ar-
preached the Admiral, and received from
his hands the recompense that had been SC
nobly earned. Then were the shouts re-
doubled, and the brave youtll seemingly
confused with his triumph, returned to, and
was lost again amidst the crowd from wh'c
he had 50 roceatly issued to prove himself
a little hero.
Is it necessary We should ~ that he VINO
had acted with such .,oble valor WAS Ed
mund. the poor dumb Wy.
When had been driven from her the lad
whom Margaret had found and cherished
1rl,o "a hoI laan tly.nr Of cold and hunger.