The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-06-06
and dragged toward the open door of

and dragged toward the open door Of
h stewards pantry.
I'm going to put you in solitary con.
finement for a while, sonny" grimly
remarked his captor, as johnny vainly
kicked and struggled.
All ct once there came to the frigh.
ened boys mind the remembrance OF
his powerful friend Jack, whom he had
last seen on the quarter.
"Jack-oh, Jack! come here, come
here" he cried at the top Of his voice.
There was a scuffing sound on deck
a noise as though a calf were .umbling
down the after companionway-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
him to grasp Jacks steel collar with
both hands and hold him 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 masters restraining grasp. And
johnny forcibly, though inelegantly
represented it aftcrward to his father,
tho man "got" Johnny heard him
scrambling W the rail and down the
side steps at an astonishing rate of
speed
II declare" Johnny exclaimed with
a gasp, as he released Jack, who sprang
On the rail, and watched the man
through the gathering darkness. 'Spose
Jack hadn't been aboard. There is
over five hundred dollars in fathers
desk in the state room. Won't I have
q story for pa in the morning, thought
he added excitedly, as lighting u Ian
tern he hung it in the main rigging,
noticing with some surprise as he did so
that the wind was rising and it had be-
gun to rain.
Honr after hour passed, and still no
Waterman. Captain Seers had left the
message with Horizons clerk, who
failed to deliver it; that was all. And
so wrapped in o~il-skins, Johnny paced
the wet deck with Jack at his side,
while the continually increasing gale
piped and whistled thro' the rigging.
By midnight it was blowing harder
than ever, and Johnny began to feel
very uneasy, though he scarcely knew
why. Ascending to the quarter he
steadied himself by the mizzen rigging
md peered shoreward through the dark-
ness. All at once there was q loud
twang, and the stern hawser, which had
been as taut as a steel bar, Stacked sud-
denly, and fell with a splash in the
water. Another similar noise, and then
another, and still another.
Rushing franticly to the top.gallant
forecastle, Johnny saw that the great
ships hawsers hung helplessly at her
side, while the Texas herselfwas swing
ing rapidly out into the river, the gale
driving her off the shore with terrible
force.
: 1t was not personal danger which
made poor Johnny as he stood half
paralyzed for a moment, cry: "Oh,
what shall What can I do?"
It was the remembrance that his
fathers earnings for twenty years were
invested in the Texas, and johnny had
heard him say that he ought tokeep his
share insured, but he could not afford
it. And Johnny we'll knew that o
collision with the vessels anchored in
the river, Or, still worse, striking the
Hawksb,ll lodges i'll the channel would
bring q heavy bill of expense to the
Texas owners
Now, after launching, the great an
Choir was hung by the ring stopper at
the cathead, ready to let go. Johnny,
who was on board when the Texas was
launched, had watched the whole oper-
alton from beginning to end.
ut is all I can do" said johnny, as q
sudden thought flashed through his
mind. The carpenters iron-headed
maui lay on the forecastle, Selling it
with fast beating heart, Johnny placed
n foot on the cathead. and with a
strength born of despair, struck once,
twice, thrice at the great iron trigger,
which, when in position, confines the
hauling part of the ring stopper.
There was q swift rattle of chains, a
tremendous splash, and then followed
the grinding rush and roar of The great
chain-cable as it flew through the haw-
ser-hole from ranges under the fore
castle. Then came a tautening of the
cable, and 10! the Texas was safely rid
ing ut anchor nearly in the, middle of
the river.
81 guess we'll 60 below and turn in.
Jack" said johnny with a yawn; "the
ship is all right now, and they went
down.
"What did the man mean by saying
that you amputated his arm father?"
asked Johnny on the following day, rs
q steam tug was taking the Texas swiftly
down tho river toward the ocean.
"He was a ringleaded, and the worst
man l ever hadin crew." was Captain
Seer's answer as he rested his arm fond
iy on his boys shoulder. He fired at
me twice, and to Ia my own life I shot
him through the arm, shattering the
bone. The wound would not heal, and
if / had not cut off his arm he would
have died. He made a great many
threats, but I had entirely forgotten that
such a man lived until l head your story.
By cutting the hawsers he hoped to do
me q great injury, and would have &C
complished 1t, only my twelve-year-old
son was too quick witted for him."
Nov, father" exclaimed johnny,
Jack deserves V SO much more
praise than / do"
But Idon't wonder that Captain Seers
is proud OF his boy. Do you?
Life Saving at Fires.
New York Letter: The Life.savina
corps organized year ago upon an Eng.
l -. 80 , |-.... - III n