The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-07-26

/
s'We found she was a Frencl
ship. There wasn't a living sou
on board. The crew had all lef
her in the boats, you see, except ont
poor fellow who lay dead just inside
the companion-way.
eve didn't dare to stay long, fol
the barque was wallowing deep il
the sea and went down just aftel
We left her. But we brought away
! with US a box Of tea and this 'ere
spy-glass. -
/ "After this we had Gains until
the tar all came out of the seams
of the ship and the Captains tenn
! per gave out. The heat and the
terrible long calm kinder made
! him crazy, think. You couldn't
| wink but what he'd be at you.
"Now it was the man at the
wheel he abused; then he'd heave
belayin' pins at the lookout, or he'd
kick the steward. Twas only
when his child Ella-he called hel
Birdie-Wa.s around that he was
| quiet. He loved her, and when he
began to swear and cuss, Mrs. Luce
would send the little girl to him.
and he'd stop right off and take
her in his arms and wind her curls
around his fingers.
"One day, it was my turn at the
wheel. The Captain was aft fool.
ing with the glass we'd got from
the Frenchman. He took it all to
pieces and wiped it clean and
talked about it to himself.
"This is the glass to use," said
he, in muttering voice. Il never
see the like on it. Guess I can
scare up breeze with such a
weapon
"Just then the ship gave lurch
She was onsteady-like, you see.
bein' as it was a dead calm and 9
lump Of a swell a-heaving up from
the south and bringing wind with
it. This threw one Of the lenses
in the glass on the deck, and il
went a-rollin' towards the scupper
but it lodged in the waterways.
'The Capt ain got up and looked
at me. His face was as white as 9
sheet he wa so mad. His eyes
glared like a lemons.
"He walkod up to me with his
teeth clenched. Then he up with
his fist and made blow at my
head, saying:
"Where did you larn to steer
you confounded son of land
| lubber?'
Il jest lodged the blow, and he
fetched another clip at me.
Captain Luce says I, 'Pn
a-doin' the best I can. It's this
swell that did it. 1 can't steer
without nary breeze
eyes, you can, you lubber! You
did it purpose! I'm agood mind
to make sharks meat ofyou!''
! "You'd better take care p says
| I, speaking up smart, for there was
blood in his eyes, and we'd stood
this sort Of bullying long enough
"You sdare to sass me, do your
said he. ell teach you to mutiny
on board my ship?" and he made :
move as if he was going to draw
the revolver out of his pocket.
Il let go the wheel and was JUS
a-goin' at him with both hands
didn't want to draw my knife
when I heard the child scream.
"We both stopped and looked
around. Mrs. Luce was a-hyin' W
the companion-way, a-shriekin' anG
a-cryin', "My child Oh, my child
She's overheard ~
Il looked over the side of thu
ship. l saw the little thing under
the lee quarter, a-struggling and
a-holding out her hands. We al
loved the little creetur, although
she was the child of that old ses
tyrant. But didn't think much
of her bein' in the water-for twas
smooth and we'd soon have a boat
down to pick her up-until l saw 9
sharks fin not more'n a cables
length away.
"This settled me; 'twa'n't in hu
man nature 70 stand by and see 8
poor innocent creetur like that
eaten up by them bloody monsters
81 just cast off the coil of the
mainbrace from the belayin' pin.
and holing the end in my hand,
went overheard. / done close to
the child, and caught her by the
hair just as she was goin' down.
| Then / took her under the arms,
and hOldinp on Tn the brace called