Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-07-20
ONLY JONES.
A story Of am UnprctentIous Hero.

tlaC ID, I'LL Ol tileul cXccpl O1e, Dut, tLeIl
that one was only Jones. Nobody mind
ed Jones, even his peculiarities hal be-
gun to be an old subject for "chaffing;
and. indeed he bad paid such small atten
ton to their chatting that they had come
to find ir little pleasure. and after some
weeks of discOntorG Lieut.. Jones had
been allowed to choose his own pleasure:
without much interference. These were
not extravagant-a favorite book, long
walk i'm all kinds OF weather, and sal
when the weather was favorable. III,
would not drink-he said it hurt hi,
health; he would not shoot-it hurt hi:
feelings; he would not gamble-he said
1t hurt his conscience; and he did no
care to f1irt or visit the bellies OF the ca
pital-he said it hurt his affections. Once
Captain de ReuZy lispingly wondered
whether it was impossible to "hurt his
honor" and when Jones calmly answer
ed that at was not possible for Captain
de Reuzy to do So" Indeed, Jones con.
stantly Violated all these gentleman's
ideas of proper behavior, but for some
reason or other no one brought him to
account for it. 1t was easier to shrue
their shoulders and call him queer" or
say lit was only Jones" or even to quite
Iy assert his cOwardice.
One evening Col. Underwood was dis
cussing hunting-party for the next day.
Jones walked iDto the room and was i'm
mediately acc0sted.
Something new, lieutenant. | find
there are plenty of harris oil the Island,
and we mean 10 give puss run tO-mOr-
row. l have heard you are Il good rider.
Will you join us ?"
You must excuse me, Colonel; such 9
thing is neither In my way OF duty OF
my pleasure"
"YOu forget the honor the Colonel
does you. Lieutenat JONES'" said young
Ensign Powell.
IL thank the Colonel for his courtesy
but car see no good reason fol accept
ing it. L am sure my horse will not APP
prove of it; and / am sure he will not
like it; and am not good rider; there
fore should not enjoy it,"
'YOu need not be afr;id,' said the
Colonel rather sneeringly; 1.-The country
is quite open. and these low ManX walls
are easily taken."
Excuse me, Colonel. am afraid. II
should be hurt it would cause nv
mother and sisters very great alarmI and
anxiety. l am very much afraid of do
ing this"
What was to be done with a man so
obtuse regarding conventionalities, and
who boldly asserts his cOwardice !? The
Colonel turned away, halt contemptu-
Ously, and Ensign Powell took Jones
place.
The morning proved to be very bad
one. with the prospect ct rising storm
and rs the party gathered in the bar
racks-yard, Jones said earnestly to hi;
COl0nel:
liam afraid. sir, you will meet with a
severe Storm
IL think SD, Lieutenant; but We promis-
ed to dine at Gwynne Hall, and we shall
get that far at any rate"
So they rode rather gloomily away in
the rain. Jones attended to- the military
duties assigned to him, and then about
noon. walked seaward. It was hard
work by this time to keep his footing OIL
the quay; but amid the blhiding spray
and mist he saw quite crowd of men
going rapidly toward the great shelving
Scarlet rock. u mile beyond the town,
He stopped an old sailor and asked:
lis anything wrOng?"
"a little steamer, sir. off ia Calf OF
Man; she is driving this way; an infect
/ fear she will be on tn rocks afore ia
might"
Jones stood still for moment, and
then followed the crowd rs fast rs the
storm would let him. When he Joined
them they We're gathered on the summit
of n huge cliff watching the doomed
craft, She was now within sight, and
il was evident that the seamen had almost
lost control of her. She must ere long
be flung by the waves upon the Jagged
and frightfuf rocks toward which she was
driving. In the lull OF the wind, not
only the booming of the minute gun, but
also the shouts OF the imperiled crew
could be heard.
old man whose face betrayed the strong
est emotion.
.Nothing, sir. am afraid. if she'd
manage ia route rocks. she would then
have to 60 to pieces on the sand, and
there are plenty of men here who would
have risked their lite to save the life of
others. But how are we to reach them
from this hight -
s'How far are from the water?'
'Fhis rock goes down like wall forty
fathoms, SIR"
"What depth of water at the foot ?"
"Thirty feet or more"
Good. Have you plenty of light
strong roper"
''Much asyou want, sir, but let me
tell you, sir, you can't live ten minutes
down there ia first wave will throw you
on Ia rocks and dash y ou ia pieces. plen-
ty of us would put you down, sir, but
you can't swim if you get down."
do you know, old man, what SURF
swimming is? have Owed in the surf
at Nukuheva."
''God bless you, sir! / thought no
white man could do that same"
While this conversation was going, on
Jones was divestlng himself OF all super
fuous clothing. and cutting out the
sleeves of his heavy pea Jacket with bis
pOcket-knife This done, he passed some
light, strong rope. through them. While
SO doing. the men watched him with
eager interest, and seeing their inquisi-
tive looks he said:
s,rhe thick sleeves will prevent the
rope from cutting my body. you see."
SAY. ay, sir, see now what you are
doing"
Now. men. have only one request.
Give me plenty of rope as fast as draw
on you, When | get on board-you
know how to make a cradle SUPPOSE"
LAY, ay. sir; but how are You going
to reach the water.''
II am going to plunge down. Ihave
OWED from the main-yard of the Ajax
before this. 1t was high leap"
ne passed double coil of the rope
round his waist, examined it thoroughly