The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-03-09
A YOUNG HERO.

IN June, 1861, the brig Polly Deems,
capt. dob Payson, sailed from Boston for a
port of Turkey, laden with cotton goods
She was new, taut little vessel, with plen-
" OF storage room, and had accommod ation
1or two passengers.
The crew consisted Of the captain, mate,
Tour sailors, black cook, and cabin boy.
Capt. Payson was conscientious, just
man, who treated his crew neither to jokes
or grog, but who lodged and fed them bet
ter than would five out Of six Of the masters
from New England ports.
"Old Job, " the mate, who was from the
west, used to say he was "a hard man, bu,
one you could tie to, in fair weather o,
foul"
His crew were picked men, and, with the
exception of Dan, the cabin boy, had been
with him for years. This was Dams first
voyage, and he felt that tho captain and
crew eyed him with suspicion. He was on
probation, and he felt that not grain OF
favor would be allowed him.
Dan was farm boy, who knew nothing
OF the world beyond the village in which
was his mothers church. Shipboard, the
sea, Europe. Turkey, here were bewilderine
Ideas to burst at once on his narrow expert
ence, scarcely wider than that of the house
dog sleeping at the barn door.
Keep your eyes open and your hands
ready to see the work of the moment and tc
DO 1t before the moment is over" was his
mothers last advice. For the rest DAN
just as near to you in Turkey as in your own
home here"
Dan, in the hurry and excitement of get
ting under way, and Of his new duties, re-
peated this over and over to himself. It
seemed to keep kiS mother near him.
Several days after, while he was carryin G
the dinner dishes into the cabin, he over
heard the mate say:
That boy is clipper enough for a nav
hand, captain.
Aye" grunted Capt. Payson; "turns
out etter than expected. took him for
his mothers sake. Widow. Old friend of
mine.
'kathcr gentlemanly fellow this passen-
GER ventured the mate, finding Captain
fayson i'll an unusually talkative mood.
He IS gentleman, sir, one OF the
Farnals, OF Springfield. lll-health. Doc
tor presrn bed Il long sea voyage. A gen
tleman and a scholar, Mr. Brgys!"
Dan, while wai;ingon the table at dinner
COMP not help noticing the passenger
Some of these days" thought the true
born Yankee lad, Il too, shall be gentle
man aud u scholar"
Dr. Farnall WAS 50 tall, lean man, carefully
dressed, with sandy hair and mustache,
but with eyebrowsand iushes almost white.
His eyes were large and pale. They met
the eyes Of any other man fairly. Once
when Dan happt ned to look at him, he
turned quickly away. and lie glanced fur
lively and susl'icols>ly at the boy, at times,
during the rest Of the meal.
Don't like him, thought Dan. Looks
sneaklng ana tricky, and not like gentle
man."
But Dan, of course, kept his opinion to
himself. Even Job, the cook, suubbed the
raw hand, and tolerated no remarks from
him.
Fortunately, the lad was not seasick. h.
learned his new duties quickly, was alert,
neat, and always good natureI. In
the course Of one week Capt. Iuyson had
twice grumbiel approval.
Dan worked lar,!er than ever, and be-
tween times, for recreation, when the pas
senger WIS On deck. he watched him.
DR.. Fa.nel talked tuently and brillianit-
ly. IS even Dams nnvnltured view cou1 q
preceiye. But his talk was leveled far
above the Ii a.ls of either the CAPTAIN or
Mr.. Briggs, who listened with half compre.
hendlng admiration.
But there We're days when the doctor was
absolutely silent ate no:hing, and paced
the deck wrapped in u profound gloom.
his light eyes t!;lyting suspicious chances
from side to side.
On one of these days, Dan, going down
just at twilight to find something he had
left in his bunk. saw a tall figure, which he
could not recognize, with /. candle crop
ing among the chests Of the sailors.
who's there" be shouted.
L.. m
candle threw yellow care l over his set
face and glaring eyes. It was the passen-
ger. He caught Dan by the sleeve.
"Here, boy--what do they call your"
"Dan."
you're surprised to see me here, DAMP"
with a guilty laugh. TOOK me for a ghost,
eh?"
Il beg your pardon. sir; oughtn't to
have called to you. But it took me aback.
sir"
Naturally, you need not be surprised at
seeing me in any pact of the vessel. I am
studying its construction, as a scientific man.
Capt. Payson has been good enough to give
me admittance to all parts of the vessel.
You needn't shout in that disagreeable way
again. It startles q nervous man; and,
with a vague smile, be blew out the candle
and went upon deck, leaving Dan staring
after him.
Its not all right; or why should he, be-
Ing gentleman, make such long explain
alton to me, being a cabin boy" said Dan
at last, shaking his head.
That night, Captain Payson was alone on
the quarter deck, when Dan presented
himself before him and saluted. His voice
shook little, for he was terribly scared.
old job was bigger man in his eyes,
than any king or potentate.
''Well what's the matter with your"
growled the captain.
"The-the passenger SIR"
"What have you to do with the passen-
ger?"
II beg your pardon, sir-but are you
sure he isn't thief, or worse?" gasped
Dan, forgetting in bis terror, the respect
full speech he had planned, in which be
meant to state the fact of DR.. Farnell's WIS.,
it below deck.
The captain seized the ropes end. 'Take
that for your impudence" he shouted.
aiming blow at Dan, who lodged it, and
then blurted out the whole story.
"Sealching among the hunks? DIR. Far
nell!" muttered the captain in establishment,
dropping his weapon: and then he walked
thoughtfully up and down. Suddenly he
stopped before Dan.
1T is we'll you came to me and nobody
else with the story" he said. ut is of no
account. DR.. Farnell is an eccentric man.
If he wishes to examine tho ship in any
part, he is not to be watched and spied up
on. So keep your eyes open to yourself
and your tongue too. If You go blabbing
this story about I'll heg you"
Dan crept eff to his work feeling as if he
had a sound drubbing Tears Of rage and
modification stood in his eyes.
Mothers rules do very we'll on land, but
they won't work on shipboard," he NUT
tered But there's something that needs
watching about that man, and I'll watch
him."
Nothing of moment happened, however,
for week. Then Dan observed that the
passengers days of fasting and depression
grew more frequent. There were whole
nights when he paced the deck until morn
ing.
The crew joked together alb out him. One
declared that he was murderer; another,
that he escaped from lun attic asylum; but
the common opinion was that he had run
away from a te rmagant wife.
"D'ye mind" said Irish Jim, "how he
eyes every ship we hail, as though she