The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-11-23
HIS LUCK.

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 Hetteras, half his crew down
with fever and ague, whole suit of sails
blown away, his cargo of fruit probably rot
ten, and the wind hauling to the north'ard
all the time, with strong prospect ofanoth
er gale. ,..
1t was too bad" too deuced bad !" he ad-
ded with an emphasis ALMOST allowable
under the circumstances, as ha glancod at
the compass. ,..,
As unlucky as Arad Thorpe" had pass
ed into a proverb in his native town of Gov
erly. And yet he was prudent, energetic
and smart. He always made money for his
owners; but however much he might lay by
himself, was sure to be, in some unforeseen
manner, lost.
The Hammerton bank, wherein he had
deposited a thousand dollars, had suspended
payment. The casherof the Home Savings
Institute had "defalcuted," leaving HIM a
loser Of an equal sum. His little house on
Elm street was burned in 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 Of which events, occurring at different
times, had come nj gh to make Arad a fatalist.
But, thanks TO Jessie Banks, his betrothed,
he had kept up a good heart, ard his courage
had won from Banks, Pere, the promise that
if he brought home three hundred dollars as
his own share of the trading voyage in the
Caribbean sea he should marry Jessie, with
| out further notice, on the coming Thanks
giving evening.
This voyage he had made some successful
ventures, which had netted him about three
hundred and fifty dollars, said sum being
locked up in his desk below.
GLOW do you head now, Jerry ?" was his
query for the twentieth time and the un-
satisfactory answer, "East-north- sir?'
caused an ejaculation of ofimpatience to escape
| him.
Brocky Joe much sick He want med
cine" was the salutation which met his ear,
os a tall, powerfully built sailor, Spaniard,
accosted him.
He had shipped his crew of four men and
second mate in Jamaica, and a rascaly- look
ing set they were, though up to this time
they had done well enough, and now that
two Of them were sick, the remaining two
had done double duty; so that Arad had be-
gun to think very well Of them.
Taking some quinine from the medicine
chest, he went forward, and, entering the
little iorcastlc, which was dimly lighted by
swinging lamps, he was about to proceed tc
the bunk of the supposed sick man, when he
was suddenly seized from behind, blanket
thrown over MS head, and nlmost before he
could think, was hurried to the rail ovel
which he was thrown in an instant.
But Arad, like. all Coverly boys, was {
perfect water-dog and after coming to the
surface, he blew the water from his mouth
worked off HE boots, got Himself out of hi
pea-jacket by dint of much sguirming, and
wiping the spray from his eyes he rose OF
the crest Of a wave, he had the cheerful sat
isfaction of seeing tho binnacle-light of hi
vessel apparently half mile distant, ant
rapidly growing fainter.
"My luck % was on his tongue, as ht
struck out, with a vague hope Of keeping
kinselro Root tiII ,,,,r,,i,,s.. o,,l tlo,, T,.;,
last words came to his mind: "Be sure
Arad, and do all you cam God will do tn,
rest"
With an inward prayer for help, he re
solved to make e struggle for life, though h,
felt his chances were infnitesimally small
and, by dint of outstanding his strength, tn,
morning light as it davned over the turbu
lent sea found him chilled to the bone, ez
hausted and faint, but still swimming.
Oh how eagerly, as it grew lighter did hi
look for a welcome sail And, rising on
crest Of q wave, his heart came almost int,
his mouth; for not stones throw dstan
was a little hermaphrodite. brig, under shor
sail, bearing down upon him.
"Hillo-o-o-o" he shouted, with all hi
strength.
Surely they must hear him but no an
swering hail came to his listening ears, anC
in another moment, to his surprise and hor
ror, the briggs course was altered, and she
headed in another direction, though Arat
could see that her yards We're untouched
being, in fact ,braced in an opposite direction
Something wrong therc!" he thought
and, as it was his last chance for life, with q
desperate energy he sought to intercept he,
course, when suddenly her sails We're thrown
aback and for a moment che drifted dowT
toward him, as though he had been seer
and measures taken for his relief
As she neared him, he managed, in a rol
of sea, to seize ono Of the moin-chain plates
and with a final effort he swung himsel
into the rigging and oyer the rail, where h,
sank senseless ON the deck, thinking dimly
how strange it was that no living soul wal
in sight.
When he recovered from his supor ant