The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-06-07
HISLCCK.
BY +. II. CONVERSE.


BYF.H. CONVERSE.
They were to have been married
Thanksgiving evening. Why couldn't
he have had even common luck, and
made fair passage? Joe Thorpe or Sam
Andrews, who were not half as careful as
himself, were probably off Montauk
Point by this time, and here he was,
south of Hatteras, half his crew down
with fever and sgue, a whole suit of sails
blown away, his cargo Of fruit probably
rotten, and the wind hauling to the
porth'ard all the time, with strong pros
pect of another gale.
1t was too bad" too laundering bad!"
be added, with an emphasis almost allow
able under the circumstances, as he
glanced at the compass.
GAS unlucky as ATad Thorpep had
passed into proverb in his native town
of Coyerly, and yet he was prudent, en-
ergetic and smart. He always made
money for his owners, but however much
he might lay by for himself, was sure to
be, in some unforeseen manner, lost.
The Hammerton Bank, wherein he had
deposited thousand, had suspended pay
ment. The cashier of the Home Say.
ings Institute had defalcated," leaving
him a loser of an equal sum. His lit
tie house on Elm Street had burned dur.
ing his absence, the insurance policy
having expired day or two before. He
had been knocked down and robbed Of
his freight money in Panama. All ol
which events, occurring at different
times, had come nigh to make Arad q
fltalist.
But, thanks to Jessie Banks, his be-
trothed, he had kept up a good heart
and his courage had won from Banks
pre, the promise that, if he brought
home three hundred dollars as his OWL
share of the trading voyage in the Car
ibbean Sea, he should marry Jessie,
without further notice, on the coming
Thanksgiving evening.
This voyage he had made some sue
cessful ventures, which had netted him
about three hundred and fifty dollars
said sum being locked up in his desk be-
low.
Chow do you head now, Jerry~ ~ wa
his query, for the twentieth time, anc
the unsatisfactory answer East-north
east" caused an ejaculation of impa
thence to escape him.
"Brocky Joe much sick. He wan
more med'cine,"' was the salutatior
which met his ear, as a tall, power
fully built sailor, a Spaniard, accostet
him.
He had shipped his crew of four mel
and second mate in Jamaica, and ras
cally looking set they were, though VI
to this time they had done well enough
and now that two of them were sick, tn
remaining two had done double duty
so that Arad had begun to think yer,
well of them.
Taking some quinine from the medi
cine-chest, he went forward, and enter
ing thelittle forecastle, which was diml
lighted by swinging lamps, he was abou
to proceed to the bunk of the suppose
sick man, when he was suddenly seize
from behind, blanket thrown over hi
head, and, almost before he could thiDl
was hurried to the rail, over which b
was thrown in an instant.
But Arad, like all Coverly boys, ws
aperfect water-dog, and after coming t
the surface, lie blew the water from hi
mouth, worked off his sea. boots, got hin
self out of his pea,jacket by dint
much squirming, and wiping the sprs
from his eyes as he rose on the crest of
wave, he had the cheerful satisfaction
seeing the binnacle-light of his vessel a
parently half mile distant and rapid
growing fainter.
my luck" was on his tongue, as
struck out, with vague hope of kee
ing himself aAoat till morning, and the
Jessie's last words came to his mind, &C.
sure, Arad, and do all you can God W
do the rest"
With an inward prayer for help,
resolved to make struggle for Ii
though he knew his chances were inf
itesimally small. and by dint of hi
banding his strength, the morning ligt
as it dawned over the turbulent 81
found him chilled to the bone, exhaust
and faint but still swimming.
oh, how eagerly, as it grew light
did he look for a welcome sail Al
rising on the crest of wave, his he.
came almost into his mouth, for no
stones throw distant was little h
maphrodite brig, under short sail, be
ing down upon him.
Hillo-o-o-op he shouted with all
strength.
Surely they must hear him, but
answering hail came to his listening es
and, in another moment, to his surpr
and horror, the briggs course was alter
and she headed in another directi
though Arad could see that her va
were untouched, being, in fact, bra,
in an opposite direction.
Something wrong therep'
thought: and az it was his last cha
for life, with a desperate energy
sought to intercept her course, W
suddenly her sails were thrown abb
and, for moment, she drifted d.
toward him, as though he had been
and measures taken for his relief.