The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-04-16


Always 10 your duty, Tom-uo matter
how pcr.loUs or irksome II may be and,
a. q general thiu- yOu'u come out al
right and shipshape In the end"
such was the parting advice of an old
sailor % Thomas Brown, a boy Of sixteen,
who was about sailing away aboard the
ship Dolphin, bound from New York 70
the East Indies.
Tom was deeply impressed by the words
Of his adviser He bore them in mind,
and, after the vessel sailed, was so prompt
and cheerful in Obeying orders that he
became a favorite both with the fore
mast hands and the officers.
Sometimes the lad, set to securing the
decks polishing the ring-bolts, or hosting
heavy casks ont Of the hold, would feel as
II ready 70 drop with fatigue, but not a
murmur would escape his lips. He was
resolved TO do his duty brayely even
though II should kill him.
Fortunately, it had good effect upon
him, enlarging his lungs and chest, max
ing him broad in the shoulders, and strong
and muscular IN the arms. Slender, and
rather delicate when he sailed, he was
fast becoming "an right and shipshape,"
as his friend, the old sailor, had expressed
it.
One day, the vessel lay becalmed in the
Indian Ocean. The air was sitting: the
men breathed with difficulty. Suddenly
the barometer began to fall with alarm
ing rapidity In the distance q hollow,
humming noise was heard. Far away to
wlndward was seen long, broad patch
of white water.
Glands by the halliaTds In with roy
ais and to'-gaIlant sails }! Stand by to
clew up the fore and miZzen topsails and
double reef the main ~ screamed the cap
tain, in a voice that made every mar
jump.
Ere the tars could obey, the storm, roar
ing and bowling driving the seas in great,
white walls OF foaming water and spray
before it, came sweeping along with ter
rife velocity not mile TO windward.
The active sailors clcwed up and down
as fast as they could then alOft they went
and laid out on the yards.
Scarcely were the fore and mizZen top
sails rolled mp when, with tremendous
fury the gale struck the ship.
Down she went almost on her beam
ends tearing through the water, in which
she was engulfed to her waist. The can
vas was Jerked from under the men like a
fash Whipping about a moment, with
the din of thunder, it was torn from the
jackstays and sent whirling in shreds
straight up into the black rack OF the
tempest.
Meanwhile ropes and sheets were slat-
ting about all over the ship. The whist
ling shrouds bellied far inward the crack
ing naasts bent over like whalebones; the
huge anchors quivered and reeled on the
cat-heads.
Tom Brown, with another lad, was at
the wheel, assisted BY the second mate.
The wheel was now Ike living monster.
1t struggled to free itself from the grasp
of the three sailors, who held and con-
trolled it with difficulty.
Suddenly a Swapping sound, louder than
o1n
weather maiu-to gallant sail-sheet had
parted. The sail, Tapping about, threat
ened to carry away the mast
"a 'cUp there you 20, Billl' cried the cap
tain to the lad next TO Brown; 'and cut
that sail clear of the jackstaysH
Bill turned pale and trembled, but did
not move from the wheel.
"Oh, captain, nobody could go up there
and liveP' he gasped. Don't make me
20, sirp'
In fact the task of cutting clear that
Stating sail, with the mast reeling and
Jerking, threatening to give way every
moment, must prove a perilous under
taking.
az tell YOU to go!' repeated the captain.
81 can't! 1 can'tp' cried Bill, as white
ss a sheet. Anything else III do, cap
tain. but don't send me to my death"
The skipper, glaring angrily at the
speaker an instant, looked at Tom Brown.
eco up there, Tom, and cut the sail
clear"
Tom also turned pale, but his eyes
flashed, and his clear, ringing voice was
heard: Hrnr #H.rr
AYE, aye, sir.P
with diffculty he held to the shrouds.
Several times his feet were jerked from
under him, but he drew them back and
I,-a y-aIx on
He reached the top gallant mast. The
ship made a terrific plunge Then she
came up with tremendous jerk
The boys feet again flew from under
him He was flung from the shrouds:
hut he lust saved himself from falling by
cIutching the top-gallant halliards-
Wilder and more violently Slated the
canvas every moment. several times IL
st-,,,k him with tremendous force, when
he only saved himself by clinging under
q With both arms to the yard. The In
slant it flew back afTording him chance
20 work with his knife, he was busy cut
So Of the strands He had almost
cleared the sail from the spar, when the
shin plrnged again, coming mp the next
moment with jerk that made every
a crack like the report of musl1et was
heard. and away went the top and top
lTqilgnt
Sorted Tom. when he felt the mast 90
a., had thrown himself inboard, clutch
inc two ratlines. By these he hung, fall
inc with the spar, into the sea
The ship, dashing on, was soon lost TO
his view in the dark rack, the mist and
the spray Of the storm. No boat could be
lowered for him III such a gale There he
was all along, adrift on the timber with
some of the trailing ropes near HIM.
By dawn the violence of the. gale had
sbafsd. The sky was clear, the tipts of
the rising sun were on the eastern wave.
Feebly Tom raised himself on the ioat-
fhe mast. Thank Go7l there was sail,
lfte slender, white column, in the dis
SauCe.
Up went his handkerchief waved about
his need as q signal fha croft drew
5ieaIar. wlru he perceived .,at f. was not
tIo IcpliH The ship stoD'i toward him,
.. lssj aa= lowered h- Wsl- Ul-.i"a upsuI
fr..u ssruaU. Tine i.g5-..p- Ic lad
undergone had proven TOO tufJ,a .or him.
| 'Eu be Had fallen prone uqou tie mast.
! 7lscr~.bIe. When DE opened Lis eyes, Le