Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-06-27

~ The mate says nothin', but looks at
him for a minute Al If he'd $50 clean
through him and then he taeede round
to 5e cthe. men, lookin'7 blacker =. then
ever. Reeve rope to the yardl'' he
sings out loud enough to raise the dead;
smart now!" y :" @!@rs!@ !@<t'T-'
N1"The men all looked at each other az
to say; What on earth's .a-conlin' now !
But aboard ship, O. course, when, you're
told to do thing, you've got to do it; SO
the rope was rove in jiffy.
Now, my lac, "''says the mate, in hard,
word see M like flttin' a stone into .
wall, YOU see that'ere rope9 Well, Illgive
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 times
up, I'll hang you like a 'dog!' =
t'0'.The crew all stared ut one another
! as if they couldn't believe their ears II
didn't believe mine, r.. can tell
ye), and then q low growl went among
EN-, like wild beast a-wakin' out Of a
nap. ~ :, ,'". ID; - 49, sri.
oslo nee there" shouts the mate, in a
voice like the roar ola 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 a bit; but
there were some among the sailors (big
strong chaps as could fellcd i OK as
shook like leaves in the wind. As for
me, I bethought ~, self O. my little curly
haired lad at home. and how it .'ud be if
ny one was to go for to hang him; and
t the very thought ont 7 tinglvd all. ever,
and my fingers clinched themselves as if
they was grippin' somebody's throat.
i clutcbed hold O.. . ihas1spiAe, and held
it behind my back all readySss y,
"Tom," whispers thu CHEF aengiheer to
e:s"d'ye think he really means to do
it2" -. , ...... .r.....lL
! IL don't KNOW" says 1 through my
teeth; "but If he does, he shall go first, if
I swing for it," I'll, ..,....... ..... >.
1--we been in many an ugly scrape in
my time; but I never felt ''arf as bad as l
did then. Every minute seemed as long
as dozen, and the tick o'4the mates
watch regular pricked my ears like pin.
The men were very quiet, but there was
precious ugly look on some O.. their faces,
KEEP edgin' for'a1d 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.
"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've 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 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 (fact,
my head was in such whirl that /. hard
~ knowed my own nance, but IN 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, 1'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
there warn't one of us as didn't do III,
same. 1 know did. for one. :.
"God bless you, my boy!" says, he,
smoothin' the child's heir with his great,
had hand. you're true Englishman
every inch of you; you wouldn't tell a
lie to save your life! Well, if so be as
yerfather's cast ye off, III be yer father
from this day forth; and if l ever forget
you, then may God forget me-"
''And he kept his word, too. When
we got to Halifax, he found out the lite
un's aunt, and gave her a lump O. money
to make him comfortable; and now he
goes to see the youngester every voyage,
as regular a. can be; 'andto 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 l seed. :. And now, sir, AKIN yer
parding, it's time, for me to be goin' be-
low, so Ill inst wish yer goodnight"