Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-23
told you the truth; I amt got no more to

told you the truth; l amt got no more to
say
'The mate says nothin', but looks at
him for a minute as if he'd see clean
through him: and then he faced round
to the men, lookin' blacker then
ever. Reeve a rope to the yardp' he
sings out loud enough to raise the dead;
Smart, nown'
'sThe men all looked at each other as
to say: what on earth's a-comin' now'
But aboard ship, O course, when you're
told to do thing, you've got to do it; 50
the rope was rove in jiffy.
/" Now, my lad, "says the mate, in a hard,
square kind O. voice, that made every
word see m like fittin' stone into a
wall, "you see that'ere rope? Well, I'llgive
you ten minutes to confess Che took out
his watch and held it in his hand); sand
if you don't tell the truth afore the times
up, I'll hang you like a dog!'
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
'em, like wild beast a-wakin' out Of a
nap.
''Siltnce there" shouts the mate, in a
voice like the roar of nor easter Stand
by to run for'ard !! and with his own hands
he put tie moose around the boys neck.
The little fellow never finched bit; but
there were some among the sailors Chg
strong chaps as could felled ox) as
shook like leaves in the wind. As for
me, I bethought my self O. sny little curly
haired lad at home, and how it 'ud be if
ny one was to go for to hang him; and
at the very thought ont I tinglcd all over,
and my fingers clinched themselves as if
they was a grippin' somebody's throat.
| clutcbcd hold o. handspike, and held
it behind my back all ready.
"Tom," whispers the chief engineer to
me. "d'ye think he really means to do
it?'
II don't know" says I through nv
teeth; "but If he does, lie shall go first, if
I swing for it!'
Give been in many an ugly scrape in
my time; but never felt 'acf as bad as I
did then. Every minute seemed as long
as dozen, and the tick o. the mates
watch regular pricked my ears like pin.
The men were very quiet, but there was a
precious ugly look on some O. their faces,
and I noticed that three or four on 'em
KEEP edgin' for'a1a to where the mate was
standin' in a 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.
Slight minutes?" 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 times
nearly up
live told you the TRUTH" answers the
boy, very pale, but as firm as ever. "May
say my prayers, please?"
THE mate nodded, and down goes the
poor little chlp 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
~ knowed my own name), but I'll be
bound, God heard it, every word. Then
he ups on his feet again and puts his
uduuS DeuluO nm, anu Says LO Lue Mate
quite quietly, I'm readyi'
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 a-cryin' like a child; and I think
there warn't one of US as didn't d. the
same. know did, for one.
"God bless you, my boy!" says he,
smoothin' the child's heir with his great,
hard hand. "You're true Englishman
every inch of you; you wouldn't tell a
lie to save your life! Well, if SO be as
yer fathers cast ye off, IN 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 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 bit Of
grudge--it's bout as pretty a sight as
ever I seed. And now, sir, AKIN ye1
parding, it's time for me to be goin' be-
low, so I'll inst wish yer goodnight"