The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-10
LET GO YOUR ANCHOR!
How Little Johnny Saved the Ship,
And What the Dog Did.

] = Sd
the following morning for Savannah, at which
port she was to load with cotton for Liverpool,
England.
Captain John Sears, part owner of the Teras
was her commander, but in the eyes of his son
Johnny, aged twelve, this fact was not of nearly
so much importance as that he, Johnny Sears,
was to accompany his father in the ship ON the
voyage in question.
The Captain was sitting on the quarterback
enjoying his after-supper cigar. Johnny was
reStiessly roaming up and down IN a fever of
| excitement, his sharp eyes taking in every
/ thing of interest about the ship. Following
| closely at his heels was q handsome English
| mastiif which stood very nearly three feet
high, with tawny hair, & broad chest, aud hand
some head. A friend to be desired was jack,
| the mastiH, but terrible foe. Jack was pup
| when given to Captain Sears. Having grown
| to his present estate ON shipbOard, he might
literally be called old sea-dog and it is need
| less to say that the mastiT Jack and the boy
| Johnny were great friends.
g If the crew do come in the morning boat
! doubt if we get away tomorrow" remarked
| Captain Sears, half aloud, breaking a silence of
| some minutes duration.
! Johnny dropped the spokes of the big wheel
| with which in imagination he had been steering
| the ship before heavy gale of wind.
Why rot, father?' he asked, with dis
| tressed face
Barometer falling and the equinoctiaI close
! at hand, was the brief reply, as, knocking the
| ashes from his cigar, Captain Sears glanced
/ doubtfully at the setting sun, which was half
/ hidden by bank of dun-cOlored cloud.
| Telegram for you, sir" said a small boy,
/ who had just scrambled aboard, and stood look
ing about him with wide-open eyes.
Tearing open the yellow envelope, Captain
/ Sears read aloud as follows
PORTLAND, October 10, 1s7-.
| " Trouble about crew. Come on at once in $50
| train. 80 j. JESkIssoN.'
"Aad it's twenty minutes past five now"
| said the Captain, rather Grossly, as he ierked
out his watch, for he by no means liked the
| idea OF leaving the ship that night Both his
officers were ashore as also were the cook and
steward. All Of them had families IN the
| vicinity, with whom they were spending their
last night before sailing
Well, there's no help for it." finally re-
| marked the Captain, with a sigh, as, Slipping
into the cabin, he hastily changed his coat, and
| brushed his hair, so, Johnny, you must look
out for the ship little while. I'll call at
| Horizons ON my way to the depot, and have
them send down night-watchman right away.
Until the watehman comes down, don't let any
stranger aboard. / shall probably be home in
the morning boat. Goodnight" And swing
ing himself ON to the wharf, Captain Sears rap
idly made his way uptown, while Johnny,
with rather disappointed look, began TO pace
A repulsive-looking man who bore the marks
of tramp-and sailor tramp ae that-rose up
from behind lumber pile near the edge OF the
wharf, and shook his clinched left fist IN the
direction taken by Captain Sears. His left fist
for the reason that his right arm was missing
just above the elbow.
II thought it were you, Cap'n Sears, when ]
heard your voice whilst l was layin' round
here yesterday" he growled savagely. Then
turning. he looked thoughtfully up at the ships
side Nobody in sight" he muttered, the
Waterman not like to get here for good hal
hour at best, and only slip of boy aboard
| while like as not old Sears has left some money
or wallyables layin' round his state-room TO be
had jest for the takin' of EN-. It's with run
ming a bit of resl for anyway" And with
another glance up the deserted wharf, the tramp
began climbing the side ladder, usingthe stump
of his right arm with considerable skill to helI
him in his ascent.
Hearing the steps, Johnny turned toward the
gangway. A greasy sloueh hat, whose tattereo
brim partly shaded the wicked looking face Of
its owner. met his gaze
"0h, look here now, | say, we don't allow
any strangers aboard" said Johnny, with a
very decided shake of the head, as he stopped
short in his walk.
You'll low the watchman what Cap'n Sears
had sent down from Hortns' aboard, though
won't We, sonny?" was the cool reply. And
truder drew himself over the rail and stepped
down on deck.
why, yes, I supposeso, answered Johnny
slowly and rather doubtfully. Do you know
my father-Capn Sears, mean?"
"Oh yes, returned the man, with an unpleas-
ant smile. :" was to sea with yer pa once In
the OF ship Vanguard. 1t was he cut off this
here arm OWN an accident that happened
TO me that v'y'ge," ne continued, touching the
stump with very dirty fOrefingeT.
| This interested Johnny at once, and he was
about asking the particulars, when, rather to
his surprise, the supposed Waterman turned On
his heel and quietly walked into the cabin.
Hill say there!" cried Johnny, rushing
after him, my father don't allow"
But poor Johnny's speech was brought TO a
sudden end For as he entered the cabin he
was caught by strong arm and dragged to-
ward the open door of the stewards pantry.
I'm gOin' TO put you in solitary confinement
for a spell, sonny" grimly remarked his eaptor,
as Johnny vaihly kicked and struggled.
All at once there came TO the frightened boys
mind the remembrance of his powerful friend
Jack, whom he had last seen asleep on the
quarter. " Jack-oh, Jack! here-eome here!
he cried at the top of his voice. There was a
seuffling sound on deck-a noise as though g
calf were tumbling down the after-companion-
way-and through the half-darkness appeared
the glowing eyes and indistinct form OF the
great English mastiff.
| Well was it for the scoundrel that he released
his hold on Johnny in time for the boy TO grasp
Jacks steel collar with both hands and hold
him back by force and voice.
Get out of this, quick, or he'll tear you to
pieces cried Johnny, excitedly, while Jack,
growing fiercely, tugged at his young masters
restraining grasp. And as Johnny foreibly
though inelegantly represented it afterward to
his father, the man got" Johnny heard him
scrambling over the rail and down the side
steps at an astonishing rate of speed.
Il declared" Johnny exclaimed, with a
gasp, as he released Jack, who spFang on the
rail and watched the flying man through the
gathering darkness, dispose Jack hadn't been
aboard! There's over FIVE hundred dollars in
fathers desk in the state-roOm. FONT have a
| story for father when he gets back in the morn
ing, thought" he added, exeitedly, as, lighting
a lantern, he hung it III the main rigging,
noticing with some surprise as he did SO that
the wind was rising, and it had begun TO rain,
| Hour after hour passed. and still no watch
man. Captain Sears had left the message with
the Horizons clerk, who had forgotten 70 de-
liver it that was all. And so, wrapped IN his
oil-skins, Johnny paced the wet deck, with
Jack by his side, while all the while the con
tinually increasing gale piped and shrieked
through the rigging.
By midnight it was blowing harder than
ever, aud Johnny began to feel very uneasy,
though he scarcely knew why. Ascending TO
the quarter, he steadied himself by the mizzen-
rigging, and peered shorewaTd through the
| thick darkness All at once there was a loud