The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-11-27
HIS LUCK.

They were to have been married
Thanksgiving evening. Why couldn' ,:
ne have had even common luck, and
made fair passage! Joe Thorpe or Sam
Andrews, who were not half as careful
as himself, we're probably off Montauk
Point by this time and here he was, south
OF Hattaras, half his crew down with
fever and ague, whole suit of sails blown
away, his cargo Of fruit probably rotten,
anal the wind hauling to the north'ard
all the time, with strong prospect of
another gale.
It twas too bad-"too deuced bad!' he
added, with an emphasis almost allowable
under the circumstances, as he glanced
at the compass.
':As unlucky as Arad Thorpe" had
passed into proverb in his native town
of Coverley. And yet he was prupent,
energetic and smart. He always made
money for his owners; but however much
he might lay by for himself, was sure to
be, in some unforeseen manner, lost.
The Hamlnerton bank, wherein he had
deposited thousand dollars, had sus-
pended payment. The cashier of the
Home Savings institute had ''defalcated,' ,;
leaving him loser Of an equal sum. His
little house on Elm street was burned in
his absence, the insurance policy having
expired day or two before. He had
been knocked down and robbed of his
freight money in Panama. All of which
events, occurring at different times had
come nigh to make Arad fatalist.
But, thanks to Jessie Banks, his be-
trothed, he had kept up good heart. and
his courage had won from Banks, pere,
the promise that if he brought home
three hundred dollars as his own share
Of the trading voyage in the Caribbean
sea, he should marry jessie, without fur
ther notice on the coming Thanksgiving
evening.
This voyage he had made some success
full ventures, which had netted him about
three hundred and fifty dollars, said sum
being locked up in his desk below.
''How do you head now, Jcrry?" was
his query for the twentieth time; and the
unsatisfactory answer, "Eastrnorth- east,
SIR" caused an ejaculation of impatience
to escape him.
"Brocky Joe much sick. He wants
medicine" was the salutation which met
his ear, as tall, powertully-built sailor,
Spaniard, accosted him.
He had shipped his crew OF four men
add second mate in Jamaica, and a ras-
cally-looking set there were, though up
to this time they had done we'll enough,
and now that two of them were sick, the
remaining two had done double duty; so
that Arad had begun to think very we'll
of them.
Taking some quinlne from the medi-
cine-chest, he went forward, and, enter
ing the little forecastle, which was dim
~ lighted by swinging lamps, he was
about to proceed to the bunk of the sup
posed sick man, when he was suddenly
seized from behind, blanket thrown
over his head, and almost before he
could think, was hurried tc the rail, over
which he was thown IN an instant.
But Arad, like all Coverley boys. was
perfect water-dog; and after coming to
the surface, he blew the water from his
mouth, worked off his boots, got himself
out of his pea-jacket by dint of much
'squirming, and, wiping the spray from
his eyes as he rose on the crest of wave,
he had the cheerful satisfaction of seeing
the binnacle-light of his vessel apparent
~ half a mile distont, and rapidly grow
ing fainter.
my luck" was on his tongue, as he
struck out with vague hope Of keeping
himself aRoat till morning; and then Jes-
sizes words came to his mind: 'Be sure,
Arad, and do all you can; God will do
the rest.''
With an inward prayer for help, he re-
solved to make struggle fo- life, though
he felt his chances were enthusiastically
small; und, by dint Of outstanding bis
strength, the morning light AZ 1t dawned
over the turbulent sea found him chilled
to the bone, exhausted and faint, but
still swimming.
Oh, how eagerly, as 1t grew lighter,
did he watch for welcome sail And,
rising on crest of wave, his heart came
almost into his mouth, for not stones
throw distaut Was little hermaphrodite
brig, under short sail, bearing down upon
him.
"Hillo.o-o-o!' he shouted, with all his
strength.
Surely they must hear him; but no an
swering hail came to his listening ears,
and in another moment, to his surprise
and horror, the briggs course was altered,
and she headed IN another direction,
though Arad could see that her yards
were MISUNDERSTANDING, in fact, braced
in an opposite direction.
''something wrong there ~ he thought;
and, as it was his las. chance for life,
with a desperate energy he sought to in
terccpt her course, when suddenly her