The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-07-26

board-quarter was completely stov. 4, !,
while the hold was nearly fun of we. ~
The only comforting facts were that tbs
wind had fallen, and that the sea Sea- W. Wy
evidently going down likewise. -
Hell do now said Bob. comma
up. tive propped him against a sna1s
sail, and he says he'll be ali right nraa.b
emily He tells me his name Is Crosslsv (
and that he's a rich merchant home,
ward-bound to London from the Bslt;c
| When they took to the boats he -rsn
down to get some money or somefbinr
and those timbers fell and blocked HIM
in, and the crew went off without him ny 81.
Wen, look here, cried Jim; this
crafts loaded with timber, SO that she's
not likely to sink; and l don't believe
she's leaking either, or the water IN her,
would be a deal higher. Let's trY the
pumps and See :"
To work they went, and were soon,
Joined by Mr.. Crossley, who, now that
his faintness had worn off, did as much
work as both of them together. After
a long spell Of pumping Bob went to
ftry the well, y and returned with the
good news that the water had fallen six,
inches.
Bravo!' cried jim; even pump
her dry in few hours at this rate. for
it's only the after-hold that's been filed
Let's look about for something to eat.
and then at it again ~ e,
After some search they rummaged
out biscuit chest and "a small cask ~
| water still unhurt by the sea. While
they were eating, faint CLEAN of light.
began to show itself in the east.
"a Holloin cried Bob; IL thought this
was supper, and it turns out to 10
breakfast. Look alive, mates; the sunni
be on deck soon, and he mustn't catch
us skulking."
At it they went again, and by sunrise
the ship was so much lightened and the
sea so calm that the three worn-outi
workers thought they might venture
upon nap. When Jim aWoke AGAIN
the sun was well above the horizons
Bob" cried he to his chum, who
opened his eyes at that moment, there's
a breeze getting up from the east. Now.
ii we can only manage to get some sail
upon the old craft, think we Il find cur
way home yet"
Bob and Mr.. Crossley were on their
feet in a twinkling, and the three set
to work to make sail. The foremost
and jib-boom being still sound, thew
succeeded-not without some.difficulty
in hosting the iib and foretopsail.
Then Jim went to the helm, while his
crew of one man and boy stood
ready to obey his orders. For even in
| this first boyish adventure of one who
afterward became so famous he seemed
already to command and be obeyed quite
as a matter of course. 4 5t
The breeze freshened, and the light
ened ship went pretty rapidly through
the water. All that day she ran before
the wind on a westerly course, and just
about nightfall cur three yoyagers saw
the distant coast of England looming
| shadow-like along the horizon
THANK God!'' said the merchant,
drawing long breath.
1--WE haven't made such a bad vov-
age, after all, = laughed Jim. I" We.
went out in boat, and we're coming
back in a ship. I'm sorry for poor old
Sam, though, losing his boat, because
he was so. Kind as to lend it to usl II
we get any salvage for bringing this
craft into port vel give it to him.
'tNeyer mind tie boat, my boy,' re-
joined Crossley; "rll make that good;
and you may rely upon some salvage
for saving my life, whether you get any
for the ship or not. By-the-bye, what's
your namee'
james Cook, = answered the boy.
III remember it., said Crossley;
q and I'm much mistaken if all England
doesn't some day remember it too.
He spoke truly. Thirty years later
that barefooted boy was the greatest
seaman and explorer in Britain, and
Mr.. Crosby, then a wllite-haired,
| wr.nkled old man of seyenty-fve, was,
never tired Of. telling his friends about
the strange voyage that he had once
made in a water-logged vessel with Cap
tain Cook. David Her, "a Harper's
Iouig People. 5'ss .ls...a 5So - 8'