River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-27

1.-THE mate says nothin'. bur looks al
him for minute as If he'd see clear
through him; and then he faced round
to the men, lookin' blacker Their
ever. Reeve rope to the yardr' he
sings out loud enough to raise the dead
smart, nowr'
1.-THE men all looked at each other as
TO say; What on earths a-conin' now
But aboard ship, o. course, when you're
told to do thing, you've got to do it; &c
the rope was rove in a iiffy.
Now. my lad, "says the mate, in hard
square kind o. voice, that made every
word see m like fttin' stone into q
wall, s'you see that'ere rope9 Well, Illgive
ycu 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 times
up, I'll hang you like dog!n
{. 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.
s'Silence there" shouts the mate, in a
voice like the roar of a nor easter. Stand
by TO run for'ard I and with his own hands
he put tie moose around the boys neck.
The little fellow never flinched bit; but
there were soLs among the sailors (big
strong chaps as could felled ok as
shook like leaves in the wind. As for
me, bethought my self o. my little curly
haired lad at home, and how it nd be if
NY one was to go for TO hang him; and
t the very thought ont tinglcd all ever,
and my fingers clinched themselves as if
they was grippin' somebody's throat.
clutched hold o. a handspike, and held
it behind my pack all ready.
"Tom," whispers the CHEF engineer to
me. "d'ye think he really means to do
it2"
II don't know" says l through my
teeth; ''but If he does, he shall 60 first, if
swing for it,"
1--we been in many an ugly scrape in
my time; but never felt 'acf as bad as |
did then. Every minute seemed as long
as a dozen, and the tick o. the mates
watch regular pricked my ears like pin.
The men were very quiet, but there was q
precious ugly look on some o. their faces,
and noticed that three or four on 'em
KEEP edgin' for'ara to where the mate was
standin' in way that meant mischief
AS for me, I'd made up mind that if he
did go for to hang the poor little chap,
I'd kill him on the spot and take my
chance.
Eight minutes?" says the mate, his
great deep voice breakin' in upon the
Silence like the toll o. a funeral bell. If
you've got anything to confess. my lad,
you'd best out with it, for yer times
nearly up"
1--WE told you the TRUTH answers the
boy, very pale, but as firm as ever. MAY
| say my prayers, please2"
1.-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.
| couldn't make out what he said (fact,
my head was in such wi irl that hard
ly knowed my own name), 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'm readyV
''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
out cryin' like child; and l think
thtrs warn't one of us as didn't do lh1
same. / know did, for one.
.God bless you, my boy!" says he,
smoothin' the child's heir with his great,
had hand. You're a true Englishman
every inch of you; you wouldn't tell
lie to save your life! Well, if SO be as
yer fathers cast We off, III he yer father
from this day forth; and if | ever forget
you, then may God forget mel"
''And lie kept his word, too. When
we got to Halifax. he found out the lite
un's aunt, and gave her lump O. money
to make him comfortable; and now he
goes to see the youngester every voyage,
as regular as can be; and to see the pair
on 'em together--the little chap SO fond
o. him, and not bearin' him a bit of
grudge--its bout as pretty a sight as
ever I seed. And now, sir, AKIN yer
parding, it's time for me to be goin' be-
low, so I'll inst wish yer good night"