Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-06-04


hat, whose tartered brim partly shaded
the wicked looking face Of its owner.
met his gaze.
"Oh, look here now, | say, we don't
allow any strangers aboard" said
Johnny, with 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
Hort'ns' aboard, though, won't ye,
sonny was the cool reply. And
without awaiting further remonstrance
the intruder drew himself over the
raj and stepped on deck.
"Why, YES, suppose So,' answered
Johnny, slowly and rather doubtfully'
do you know my father-Captaln
Sears, | mean
"Oh, yes," returned the man, with
an unpleasant smile. 81 was to sea
with yer pa once in the OF ship Ian-
Guard. 1t was he who cut off this
here arm, OWN to an accident that
v'y'ge," he continued, touching the
stump with very dirty foretinger.
This interested Johnny at once, and
he WAS about asking the particulars
when, rather to his surprise, the sup.
posed watchman turned on his heel
and quietly walked into the cabin.
iii say there cried Johnny
rushing after him. my father don't
allow"
But poor Johnny's speech was
brought to sudden end. For as be
entered the cabin he was caught by Z
strong arm and dragged toward the
open door of the stewards pantry.
I'm goin to put YOU in solitary
confinement for a spell, sonny, grim
ly remarked his captor, as Johnny
vainly kicked aud struggled.
All at once there came 10 the fright.
ened's bows mind the remembrance OF
his powerful friend, whom he had last
seen asleep on the quarter. Jack
oh. Jack h,re-come here" he cried
at TIE top of his voice. There was ID
scutfling sound on deck-a noise as
though a calf were tumblrng down the
after. comyanlonvay-audt through the
half darkness appeared the glowing
eyes aud indls'lnct form of the great
English mastiH.
Well was it for the scoundrel that
he released his hold on Johnny IL
time for the boy to grasp Jacks steeI
collar with both hands, and n"ld hin
back by force and voice.
"Get out of this, quick, or he'll teal
sou 10 pisce.," cried Johnny. .e,cltedly
while Jack, growing tiercely, tugged
at bis young masters restraining
grasp. Aud as Johnny forcIbly though
ineIesantly represented it afterward to
his father, The man "g"t.' Johnny
heard him .crambhng over the rail
and down the eide steps at an aston
ishing ra'e of speed.
II Ieclare.. Johnny exclaimed with
gasp, as he released Jack, whe
sprsng on the rail and watched ths
fying man through the gathering
darkness, "'Spose Jack hafat been a
board, There's over five hundred
dollars in fathers desk in the state
room. Won't have a story for father
when he gets back in the morning
though :" he added excitedly, as light
/ ing lsntern, he hung it IN the main
rigging. noticing with some surprls,
AS he did so that the wind was rising
and II bad brgun TO RAIN.
/ Hour after hour passed, aud still NJ
watchman. Captain Sears had lef
the message with the Horizons clerk
who had forgotten to deliver it; tn,
was all. And so, wrapped in his oil
skins, Johnny paced the wet deck
with Jack by his side, while all th'
while the continually increasing gall
piped and shrieked through the rig
glng.
Bv midright it was blowing harie
than ever. and Johnny began to fee
very uneasy, though he scarcely knew
why. Ascending to the quarter, h.
steadied himself by the mizzen-rig
ging. and peered shoreward through
/ the thick darkness. All at once ther,
was = loud twang, and the st'ru haw
SIR, which had been as taut AS a stee
bar, Stacked suddenly, and fell with
| plash in the water. Another slmlla
noise, and then another, and still an
other.
Rushing franticaily to the top gal
liant forecasrle, Johnny saw that tn
great ships hawsers hung heIplessl.
at her side, while the Teas hersel
was swinging rapidly out into the riv
er. the gale driving off shore with ter
rible force.
1t was not fear of personal DANCE
which made poor Johnny, as he stood
half paralvzed for moment, cry
"Oh, what can what shall | do:'
1t WAS the remembrance that hi
fathers savings of twenty years were
invested in the 1ernS, and Johnn,
had heard him say that he knew he
0uqht to keep his share insured, bu'
he could not we'll afford it. And
Johnny we'll knew that "a collision
with the vessels anchored in the river
or, still worse, striking the Hswkbil
lodges on the other side Of the chan
mel, would bring a heavy bill of ex
pense to the Ier0s' owners.
Now, after the launching, the great
auchor was hove up and hung by th'
ring stopper at the cat head, ready t'
let go. Johnny, who had been OF
board when the Texas was launched
had watched the whole operation from
beginning to end.
'It's all | can do," said Johnny, a
loud, as IA sudden thought FLASHED
through his mind. The carpenter
iron headed maui lay on the forecas
tie. Selling it with fast beating heart
Johnny placed one foot on the cat
head, and with a strength born of rx
citement and despair, struck once
twice. thrice at the strong iron trig