The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-11-13
TRULY BRAVE.
Adventure OF a Youth who Knew When
to Risk His Life.

Adventure OF a Youth who Knew When
to Risk His Life.
On board the ship Luminary we had
two boys, differing much from each
other in character. Walter Brewer,
the captain 5 son, was an active fellow,
but very needless and rash. We used
to think that he must resemble that
"little jack" of the ballad, who
climed to the main-truck of ''Old Iron
sides. ~ There was nothing he loved
better than to perform some dangerous
and unnecessary feat. On the other
hand, Arthur Clifford, son of good
widow Clifford, in the little seaport
where the ship belonged, although no
less active than Walter, was ALWAYS
careful OF his own safety, and took no
risks where duty did not call him. He
would not pass from one mast to an
other on stay, as his companion
would sometimes do, but would take
to the shrouds in the regular manner
Walter often challenged him to do
some perilous thing, and would
thoughtlessiy accuse him of coward
ice when he refused, as he invariably
did, whore there was no necessary
end to be accomplished by accepting
the proposed risk. Yet whenever the
widows son did a piece OF work,
either on deck or aloft, it was done
thoroughly, which was more than
could be said OF Walters tasks.
Arthur did not like the imputation
of cowardicc, but he told me one day
that he could not see the need of doing
foolish things just to show that he was
brave. l felt sure that he had more
true courage than his reckless young
shipmate, though l little anticipated
the surprising manner in which the
fact was to be demonstrated.
We We're lying in one of the many
harbors on the west side of Vancouver's
Island, when the captain allowed US
an all-day's run on shore. The coast
is here very mountainous, so that we
found rock hundreds of feet high, with
gorges branching OF in all directions.
In some places we climbed to such
height, that, although our ship was a
long distance off, she had the appear
ance of being close under our feet.
Presently our attention was attracted
by the sight of two huge, gray eagles,
that came wheeling about us with ma
Jestic sweeps, uttering loud cries, like
those of the common iish-hawk. Some
one suggested that they probably had
nest close at hand, and the two bows
were instantly inspired with q great
desire to find it. An eagles nest
would certainly be a curiosity, whether
containing eggs or young.
''Oh, you wouldn't 90 up to it, Art;
you wouldn't dare top said Walter.
you'd be afraid of the old birds.
Just let me get 4 sight of it. I'll show
you how to go up to an eagles nestr'
Arthur made some careless reply,
laughing good-naturedly as he did so,
and they both commenced hunting for
the eyrie. For some time we could
hear them shouting to each other as
they pursued the search. They
seemed at length to have separated
widely among the cliffs, aid for
while we heard nothing from them.
We now discovered that, instead of
only one couple, there were two pairs
of the eagles, and this seemed to be
the reason that the boys did not keep
together There might be two nests
Surprising that the youngsters would
soon return, we did not pay much at
tention TO their absence, until startled
by what seemed a cry of distress.
The eagles themselves were scream
ing, but their shrill notes could not
quite drown the human voice that ap-
peared to be calling out in pain or
terror.
''It's that Walt" said one of our
men. Hes got into some trouble
broken some of his limbs, likely
enough.--and the old man will blame
us for it. There. hear that?"
Help, help!' cried the voice. '1'm
hurt. Come quick, or shall be killed!
Oh. dear, what shall do?'
1t was plain that the sufferer could
not oe far off; yet, to bring him with
in sight, we bad to make our way
through some very difficult places
When we did get view of him the
peril of his position really terrified u.s.
He was at height of some three hun
dred feet above the ground, upon the
jagged face of cliff In fssure of
this his feet and legs appeared to be
wedged, while with his hands he clung
desperately to a small projecting point
"Oh, oh, ohp' he cried, as he caught
sight of us. 'Get me out of this
place. Get me down from here
cant move, and the eagles will kill
met
He had good reason to think so, for
the huge birds were sweeping close to
his head, swapping their fierce beaks,
and making noise with their wings,