The National tribune., 1882-01-21

shipped yesterday-no better and no worse"
Which assurance Ned has found to his extreme
disgust is carried out to the very latter
But the voice of the storm without grows lou
der and iercer
II thought So growls Ned, as two hours later
he hears the command to turn out and shorten
sail"
Ugh-h-h! 1t is ten degrees colder at least than
when he went below. Mast and spar, brace and
rigging, alike are cased in thin ice
The upper topsails have been lowered ON the
caps, where they are thrashing as only stiff, half
frozen sails can thrash.
Jump up there lively, and roll up the main
topsail first" bellows Mr.. Marline, and in mo-
ment WHY little Mr. Kendall is in the main
rigging. Closely following him is Ned Rand
but not from any desire to show unusual activity.
! He las learned that in farling sail the ex-
tremi of the yard is the easiest place, for here
he has nothing particular to do except to hold
on by the Gift with one hand, and pass the
yard-.rm gasket to the man who stands next
| inside.
The sail is picked up" and secured after
fashion for it is unmanageable as an oak plank.
The gaSkets are passed, and the men descend the
slippery rigging. Ned delays as long as possible,
for the fore and mizzen topsails have yet to be
furled
"You, Ned, are you going to stay on that yard
all night?" thunders Mr.. Marline from below, at
which gentle hint Ned bestirs himself
Crawling cautiously along the slippery, sway
ing foot-rope, one moment high in air, and the
next with the boiling, seething sea beneath his
feet, Ned is nearly half way in, when as the ship
rolls heavily to leeward, his mittened hands slip
on the icy iron jack-stay, and with wild CT y
which heard even above the storm, slaup ched
into space
MAN overheard" yells Mr.. Kendall who is
very excitable.
Eph Jackson, who has been sent to the lee
hears it, and stopping, "yanks the grating from
under the helmsmans feet, SEMI ng it spinning
over the rail-
Captain Elton was newer r ,own to be excited
in his whole life.
Put the wheel COVE, Jerry, and let her heat
come up in the wiad" .aising his voice little
he then orders tae aAH ,r-yards braced aback, ant
the fore stay-ssalslss ct raised.
While one Ra'vS is obeying this order, other
OF the crew elsS r away the port quarter boat
But when eRS is a call to man it, one and al
hesitate ser verify it is venturing into the yer,
jaws Of De- ,th.
tph If .ckson suddenly leaves the lee wheel, AM
follows the plucky little second mate, who
shipy ing the rudder.
| If that young chap is goin'," mutters Bo
y Gacy," blowed if I'll hang back; !" and in anothe
, moment the boat is manned and afoat in dark
, ness and storm.
| rbo4o f Nod AS
head disappeared under the icy waves he felt a
though a terrible grasp had seized his ankles an
was dragging him deeper and deeper despite hi
efforts to rise.
= cts my heavy boots" was the thought whic
flashed like lightning through his brain; an
thanks to their size, he slipped them off one a
time coming to the surface just as it scenes
l to him that his lungs were about to burs
4 through holding his breath so long. Dashn
3 the water from his eyes, he struck out manfully
: vet with sense of utter hopelessness, when hi
/ hand struck the grating to which he chung con
0 vulsively. He saw rockets and blue-light
s thrown up from the ships deck, and shoute
+ himself hoarse for the Emerald was not cables
f length distant
But as he felt an awful numbing chill stea
g over him, against which he vainly struggled, b
: was dragged in over the bow of the Emerald
boat by the nervous arms of the bow oar-M
e Ephraim Jackson.
"Darned ifhe amt lost them boots already. " ex
e claimed Eph, as the insensible boy was laid fac
: down in the bottom of the boat.
Well, through Gods mercy and Mr.. Kendall
q skill, they reached the ship in safety, but Ep
e or indeed any of the boats crew-will neve
0 forget the terrible pull or how near they wer
being crushed by the ships side in taking tn
r boat ipboard.
Ned was rubbed, filled to the throat with ho
D coffee, and slowed away in his bunk, so that b
morning he was all right again. but, to his grea
i Joy, he was excused from further duty, the shi
? being now off old Boston Light
"You saved my life, Eph," says Ned, gratefully
as in high glee the two boys begin to pack thei
|, chests in readiness for going ashore, and no,
] shall / ever repay your"
a There was no mock modesty about Eph Jack
= son. cit amt with mentionin'," looking u
from his work, but seems you make so nue.
, of it, if you're mind to buy me pair O. ne,
d rubber boots, we'll call it square"
: Which Ned afterward does and, better still
invites Eph home to stay until the ship is agai
l ready for sea; for Captain Elton has offered t
0 take him as able seaman on the next voyage
a year later and MI. Jackson is second mate of tn
t Emerald