The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-14

we'll be back with you for breakfast som,
 fine morning in less than five weeks"
 During the voyage to Liverpool al went well. The chief stewardess tool
 ack under her special care, and he slep in her cabin. While the ship was in th' Mersey, Jack and his friend the steward ess went to stay at farm in Lancashire and only came down day or tvo before the steamer sailed on her present voy age. The boy was now quite accus toned to Ii on board steamer, anc went where he liked all over the ship ;thc bridge and the steerage were the only forbidden places. He had become quite friendly with many of the sailors, and he had not the least objection to con6den' tial chat with some of the grimy and half-naked stokers, most of them Irish. men, who came upon the deck when they could, from the depths of the stock-hole to get breath of fresh air. The sol emn old Scotch engineer was his particu. lar favorite.
 On this very day, when the voyage was supposed to be half over, and before the passengers came on deck 10 enjoy the evening sun, the conversation at dinner had turned upon the subject of persons falling overheard from ship going fast, and the chances of saving them. Various persons at the table told their experiences of such matters and after little while it seemed that the passengers who were joining in the discussion had formed themselves into two parties, one of which, comprising chiefly the landsmen and young travellers on board, seemed to hold the opinion that it was simple enough matter to pick person up who had fallen over in daylight and in fioe weather. "If he can swim," they said, "he can keep himself up till boat is lowered and rows to him. If he can't swim, some one who can umps overheard, and holds him up till both are rescued, or a life-buoy is thrown to him, and that keeps him up." But they had to admit that they had never seen this done.
 The other party at the table, headed by some captains of ships who were pas sengers by the Shasta" and some of the older travellers, were of different opinion. They said that help always came too late and that no matter how quickly boat is slowered, the person who has fallen over is left so far astern that he sinks before he can be found that from boat it is very difficult to see such a small object as mans head among the hollows of the waves, and this even in fine weather and with good light. If a man is very good swimmer and has presence of mind, he has some chance, for he can keep himself up a long time {; and if boat is sent after him he can call to it or signal it when he happens to rise on wave at the same time that the boat rises.
 One skipper told story, which, how ever, did not relate to a man. He said :: "Whcn was homeward- bound from In- dia last time, the first mate had splen- did large cockatoo, a great pet, and so tame that he would sit on your finger. Well, one day he flew overheard and set tied down on the water astern. We had ust come into the northeast trades, and were going about six knots. threw all sails aback as soon as could, and sent some hands in our quarter boat after the bird. It took ten minutes or quarter of an hour to get the boat out, and all the time l kept my eye on the bird and when the boat was of, l went up into the mzzen rigging and watched the poor cockatoo for long time; but the men in the boat couldn't find it; and we could not suc- Ceed in directing them to where it was. They came back without it."
 Another captain said: "When l was in steamer always kept one boat ready for lowering, with cover off and oars and all in her but it takes you to be very quick to pick up man who has fallen over. Many sailors can't swim, and then of course they go to the bottom at once"
 Shortly after this the passengers came on deck. They did not know that this day the thing they had been talking about was to be enacted before their eyes.
 ick Hood was rolling his great ball and rushing about after it screaming with delight, when suddenly after a strong throw it fell on the rail, and then with bound into the sea. The child stood still with amazement for second, and then, running to where his ball had disappeared, he climbed on the rail to see what had become of it and before any hand could reach him, he had fallen over into the waves. The terrified passengers saw him rise to the surface and stretch out his azms while the seething foam from the ships propeller turned him round and round in the water, and the ship rushed on, leav- ing him behind. The Pierrepoints were not very near the place where little Jack fell over they were at the other side of the deck but Mrs. Pierrepoint, when she saw him climbing, laid her hand quickly on her husbands shoulder. He looked up instantly, and following her eyes to the spot saw the boy just as he fell. In one moment he was on his feet, kicked of his canvas shoes, threw his hat on the deck, and turning his face toward the bridge, where he knew some of the ships officers were always stationed, he called ou, in voice which rang like trumpet call over the ship, "Man overheard r! Then, with quick run and leap, he had cleared the rail, and the broken twisting water of the ships track had closed over him. He was on the surface again in a moment, and, taking a glance back at the ship to know his position, stretched out