The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-08-02
OILY JONES.

sitting around their mess table, in Cas-
tietown, the capital of the Isle of Man,
one evening more than thirty years ago
that is, all of them except one; but
then, that was only Jones. Nobody
minded Jones; even his peculiarities
had begun to be an old subject for
chatting, and, indeed, he had paid
such small attention to their sschaffing"
that they had come to find it little pleas
ure. and, after some weeks of discomfort,
Lieutenant Jones had been allowed to
choose his own pleasures without much
interference.
These were not extravagant. A favor
ite book, long walk in all kinds of
weather, and sail when the weather
was favorable. He would not drink he
said it hurt his health; he would not
sh0ot-he said it hurt his conscience;
and he did not care to hirt or visit the
bellies of the capitalize said it hurt his
affections. Once Captain De Reuzy lisp
ingly wondered whether it was possible
to "hurt his honor" and Jones calmly
answered that 'sit was not possible for
Captain De Reuzy to do so.
Indeed, Jones constantly violated all
these gentlemen's ideas of proper be-
havior, but, for some reason or other, no
one brought him to account for it. II
was easier to shrug their shoulders and
call him queer" or say, it was only
Jones, or even to quietly assert his COW
ardice.
One evening, Colonel Underwood was
discussing hunting party for the next
day. Jones walked into the room. and
was Immediately accosted:
Something new, Lieutenant. ] find
there are plenty of hare on the Island,
and we mean. to give puss run to-mor-
row. / have heard you are good rider
will you join us ?"
You must excuse me, Colonel; such
thing is neither in the way of duty, nor
my pleasure. I"
'You forget the honor the Colonel
does you, Jones" said young Ensign
Powell.
81 thank the Colonel for his courtesy,
but can see no good reason for accept
ing it. am sure my horse viii not ap.
prove of it; and i am sure the hare will
not like it; and / am not good rider.
Therefore should not enjoy it.
You need not be afraid" said the
Colonel, rather sneeringly; 1.-THE country
IS quite open, and these low Manx walls
are easily taken"
Excuse me, Colonel, am afraid. II
] should be hurt, it would cause my
mother and sisters very great alarm and
anxiety. / am much afraid of doing
this"
What was to be done with man so
obtuse regarding conventionalities, and
who boldly asserted his cowardice? The
Colonel turned away, half contemptu-
ously, and Ensign Powell took Jones'
place.
The morning proved to be q very bad
one, with the prospect of rising storm /;
and, as the party gathered in the bar
rack yard, Jones said earnestly to his
Colone1s
I am afraid. sir, you viii meet with a
severe storm"
ST think so, Lieutenant; but We prom
ssed to dine at Gwynne Hall, and we
shall get that far, at any rate.
So they rode rather gloomily away in
the rain. Jones attended to the military
duties assigned him, and then, about
noon, walked seaward. It was hard
work by this time to keep his footing on
the narrow QUAY; but, amid the binding
spray and mist, he saw quite crowd of
men going rapidly toward the great
shelving Scarlet Rocks, mile beyoed
the town. He stopped an old sailor, and
asked
q Is anything wrong?"
A little steamer, sir, off the Calf of
Man She is driving u il way. an in
deed fear she will be tn rocks afore ta
night"
Jones stood still moment, and then
followed the crowd as fast as the storm
would let him. When he joined them
5f.ay were gath, red on the summit OF o
huge cliff, watching the doomed craft.
She was now within sight, and it was
evident that her seamen had almost lost
al control of her.. She must, ere long,
I've flung by the waves upon the jagged
rocks toward which she was driving. In
The Iulls Of the wind, not only the boom
ing of the minute guns, but also the
shouts of the impeTiled crew, could be
heard.
.aWhat can be done?" said Jones to
an old man, whose face betrayed the
strongest emotion.
= Nothing, sir, ] am afraid. If she'd
managed to rount ia rocks, she would
have gone to pieces on tn sand, and there
are plenty of men who would have risked
hfe to save life. But how ese we to reach
them from this height 2"
ts How far gre we above water?"
This rock goes down like wall forty
6sthoms, sir.
:. What depth of water at the foot?"
14 Thirty feet or more"
Good. Have you plenty OF light
strong rope ]"
" Much as you want, sir. But let me
tell you, sir, you cant live three min
utes down there; ia first wave viii dash
you on 10 ia rocks, and dash you to
pieces Plenty of rs would put you
down, sir, bat you can't swim if you do
get down.
Do you know, old man, what surf
swimming is? have diyed through the
surf at Nukuheva.
"God bless you, sir. thought no
white man could do the same"
While this conversation was going on
Jones was divesting himself OF all super
huons clothing, and cutting out the
sleeves of his heavy pea-iaeket with his
pocket-knife. This done, he passed some
light strong rope through them. The
men watched him with eager interest,
and, seeing their inquiaitive looks, he
said:
The thick sleeves will prevent the
rope cntting my body"
Ay, ay, sir. see now what you are
doing"
" Now, men, have only one request;
give me plenty of rope as fast as ] draw
on you. When / get on board. you
know how to make cradle. I suppose7
Say, ay, sir. But how are you going
to reach the water /"
g / am going to plulge down, have
dived from the mainyard of the Aidr
before this. 1t was as high leap
He passed double coil of the rope
around his waist, examined it thoroughly
to zee that there was plenty to start with,
and saying, Now, friends, stand out OF
the ~ey, and let me have clear start,
he raised his bare head one moment
toward heaven, and, taking short run,
leaped, as if from the springboard of o
plunge bath.
Such an anxious crowd as followed |
that leapi Great numbers. in spite of |
the dangerous wind, lay Eat on their
breasts and watched him. He struck the |
water at least twenty-five feet beyond the |
elf, and disappe ared in its dark, foany |
depth. When he rose to the surface he |
saw Just before him gigantic wave, but |
he had time to breathe. and before It |
reached him he dived below its center.
1t broke In passionate fury upon the
rocks, but Jones was far beyond it. a
mighty cheer from the men on shore
reached him, and he now began in good
earnest to pnt his Pacific experience into
practice.