The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-12-05
A Thrilling Story.

" ~ NsA9 wv j
A tlmid boy, about fourteen years OF
age, hesitated to 90 aloft, but by the
captains orders. was fOrcibly put in
the main rigging, and then boat
swain's mate was commanded to lash
him like dog until he learned to run
aloft. The poor fellows legs and arms
trembled, he grasped the shrOuds, he
cried, he prayed the inhuman captain
for Gods sake to have mercy on him,
but all in vain. The boatswain's mate
was ordered to lay on harder and hard
er, regardless of the boys piercing
screams, which made even veteran sea-
men turn from the brutal scene in dis
gust. His clothes were rent from his
back, the blood followed the lash, and
still the tyrant roared out clay on,
boatswain's mattel"
With one wildscrea he sprang from
under the lash, and bounded up the
futtock rigging like eat, passed up the
topmast and topgallant rigging with
undimnished speed, Skinned the un-
ratified royal rigging, and perched him
self like bird alongside of the PEN
nant which streamed from the mast
head. Here he paused, looking fear
lessly upon the deck below. All of the
hands came up to see him-his cries
and cruel treatment had already en-
listed their sympathy, and, if possible,
had increased their hatred of the cap
tain.
The monster was smiling compla-
Gently at the success of his experiment.
He was one Of those tyrants who boast
ed that the cat, properly applied, could
make men do anything. Still he was
apprchensive that the boy might de-
stroy himself, and the circumstance be
used against him at the Admiralty,
where he knew representations of his
cruelty had already been made. The
men gazed in silence, looking first at
the boy and then at the captain, who
was seated near the taffrail. They
dared not to be seen speaking to one
another-it was a tlogging offence ;even
at night spies passed under their ham,
mocks to ascertain if they whispered.
The officers walked the lee side of the
quarterback, occasionally casting their
.aasan, aloft, but were as silent as the
"a N Still the boy clung to the mast
A A.'Mying with the pennant, appar-
y NJ = Il g. knsciouS of the interest he ex-
4 s' Tired with gazing aloft,
N 4. +. ,lshSS1 cut through the trum-
e, I,W a A. \ q X +. 4. NJ. 0on the truck at
\. u y 4 N Il (. Amself forward.
\ n l VI \. NJ h N \ NJ N N. \! Il h. hade of
n W M N n N NJ ' Va " \ X W iG.llong the
& as if enjoy
X /. 4. X * \; 4 < a & \, x led the mast
\ +, II !. N "A Il "a "a A. Wen descended
W " Y /. = R'ackstay hand
+. \ " 'ooked,at him,
Z. \ & "a "a NJ 4 K. 1t could find
+ Z a n X | n y n v v V n Il 4. pcd at the mouth
4 Y "a W " \ Fl v NJ Rhed' 'vtarting out
x H. " n v NJ l i0iYlg 1t with the blood
y. N Nv li N ~ ,iled from his back. He
Vs. lBY,c. The surgeons skill in
theTgeWSe of few weeks restored his
bodily health, but not his reason.
From that time forward he was fear
less. In the darkest night, the fiercest
gale, he would scamper along the deck
ike dog, and bound aloft with speed
which no one on board conld equal.
He would run over the yards without
holding, pass from mast to mast on the
stays, ascend and descend by the leech-
es of the sails, and run upon the stndd-
ing sail booms. He was as nimble as
cat, end had forgotten tear. Some of
the light duties aloft he learned to dis
charge in company with them--he did
as they did, but could not be trusted to
do anything himself. One order he al
ways obeyed without hesitation. AT
he command, "Away aloft," he was