The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-06-27

him for minute as if he'd see clean
through him: and then he faced round
to the linen, lookin' blacker then
ever. Reeve rope to the yard!'' he
sings out loud enough to raise, the dead
smart, now" .0,..y:;;n;,.t.- ~
a" The men all looked at each other AZ
to say What on earth's &-conin' now!
But aboard ship, O. course, when YOU'RE
told to do a thing, you've got to do it; SO
the rope was rove in a jiffy.
:. "Now, my lad, "says the mate, in hard,
square kind O. voice, that made every
word see M like tittin' a stone into q?
wall, yon see that'ere rope? Well, Iligive
you ten minutes to confess Che took out
his watch and held it in his hand): .and
if,you don't tell the truth afore the tines
up, I'll hang you like dogr'
g The crew all stared at one another
as if. they couldn't believe their ears Il
didn't believe mine, can tell
ye), and then low growl went among.
EN-, like wild beast a: wakin' out of a
nap. ,~
"Silt nee there" shouts the mate, in
voice like the roar Of - nor c:stcr. Stand
by to run furard! at:d vi'h his uwr hands
he put tic Nose ;rounl TIE boys ,nec!z.
The little fellow never tlincheI Il bill; hui
there were so.9-e AMONG the sailors (biy
strong chaps as could a fellcd u ok as
shook like leaves in the wind. As for
me, L bethou ght m, self o. 'ny little curly
haired lad at home, and how it 'ud be if.
ny one was to go for to hang him; and
tthe very thought ont ting led all over,
and my fingers clinched themselves as if
they was grippin' somebody's throat.
I clutchcd hold O handspike, and held
it behind my pack all ready.
':'Tom," whispers the Grief engineer to
me. "d'ye think he really means: to do
it2"
81 don't KNOW" says through my
teeth; "but # be docs, he shall go first, if
/ l swing for it'!' NIX ;.
tive been in many an ugly scrape in
| my time; but never felt 'acf as bad as l
did then. Every minute seemed as long
as a dozen, and the tick O the mates
watch reg'lar pricked my ears like a pin.
The men were very quiet, but there was i:
precious ugly look on some O. their faces,
and noticed that three or four on EN-
KEEP edgia' for'a1d to where the mate was
standin' in way that meant mischief
As for me, Id made up mind that it he
| did 60 for to hang the poor little chap,
Id kill him on the spot and take my
chance, 80
Eight minutes2" says the mate, his
great deep voice breakin' in upon the
Silence like the toll o. funeral bell. If
you've got anything to confess, my lad,
you'd best out with it, for yer time
nearly up"
tive told you the TRUTH" answers the
hoy, very pale, but as firm as ever. MAY
say my prayers, please?"
The mate nodded, and down goes the
poor little chap on his knees with that
Internal rope about his neck all the time)
and puts up his poor little hands to pray.
l couldn't make out what he said (iact.
my head was in such wi irl that hard
~ knowed my own nance. but I'll be
bound, God heard it, every word. Then
he ups on his feet again and puts his
hands behind him, and says to the mate
quite quietly, i I'm ready!'
''And then, sir, the mates hard, grim
face broke up all to once, like I've seed
the ice in the Baltic. He snatched up the
boy in his arms, and kissed him, and bust
outa<cryin' like child; and I think
tn. r, warn't one of US as didn't do III
same. / know l did. for one.
"God bless you, my boy!" says he,
smoothin' the child's heir with his great,
had hand. "You'rc a true Englishman
every inch Of YOU; you wouldn't tell a
lie to save your life! Well, if so be as
yer fathers cast yc off, III be yer father
from this day forth; and if ever forget
you, then may God forget me!!'
And lie kept his word, too: When
we got to Halifax, he found Out the little
un's aunt, and gave her a lump O. money
to make him comfortable; and now he
goes to see TIE youngester every voyage,
as reg Tar az can be; and to see the pair
on EN- togcther--the little chap so fond
O. him, and not bearin' him bit Of
grudgc--it's 'sout as pretty sight as
ever seed. And now, sir, akin yer
partline, it's time for me to be goin' be
low, so III inst wish yer goodnight