Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-06-04
.SHEPHERDSTOWN w. VA, FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1886.

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quietly walked into tn. cabin.
"Hi-I say therep' cried Johnny,
rushing after him, "my father don't
allow
But poor Johnny's speech was
brought to sudden end. For as he
entered the cabin he was caught by
strong arm and dragged toward the
open door of the stewards pantry.
"I'm goin' to put you in solitary con-
finoment for spell, sonny" grimly re-
marked his captor, as Johnny vainly
kicked and struggled.
All at once there came to the fright
ened boys mind the remembrance Of
his powerful friend Jack, whom he had
last seen asleep on the quarter. "Jack
oh, Jack! here-come here" he cried
at the top of his voice. There was a
scuffliDg sound on deck-a noise as
though a calf were tumbling down the
after-comp mpanionway-and through the
half-darkness appeared the glowing eyes
and indistinct form of the great English
mastif.
Well was it for the scoundrel that he
released his hold on Johnny in time for
the boy to grasp Jacks steel collar with
both hands, and hold him back 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 young masters restraining grasp.
And as Johnny forcibly though inele-
gantly represented it to his father, the
man "got." Johnny heard him scram-
bling over the rail and down the side
steps at an astonishing rate of speed.
81 declared Johnny exclaimed with
a gasp, as he released Jack, who sprang
on the rail and watched the flying man
through the gathering darkness,
"'Spose Jack hadn't been aboard!
There's over five hundred dollars in
fathers desk in the state-room. Won't
/ have story for father when he gets
back in the morning, though J" he ad-
ded, excitedly, as, lighting lantern,
he hung it in the main-rigging. noticing
with some surprise as he did so that the
wind was rising, and it had begun to
rain.
Hour after hour passed, and still no
watchman. Captain Sears had left the
message with the Horizons clerk, who
had forgotten to deliver it; that was all.
And so, wrapped in his oil-skins, john
nv paced the wet deck, with Jack by his
side, while all the while the continually
increasing gale piped and shrieked
through the rigging.
By midnight it was blowing harder
thar ever, and Johnny began to feel
very uneasy, though he scarcely knew
why. Ascending to the quarter, he
steadied himself by the mizzen-rigging,
and peered shoreward through the thick
darkness. All at once there was loud
twang, and the stern hawser, which
had been as taut as steel bar, Stacked
suddenly, and fell with splash in the
water. Another similar noise, and then
another, and still another.
Rushing frantically to the top gallant
forecastle, Johnny saw that the great
ships hawsers hung helplessly at her
side, while the Texas herself was swing
ing rapidly out into the river, the gale
driving off-shore with terrible force.
1t was not fear of personal danger
which made poor Johnny, as he stood
half paralyzed for moment, cry, "Oh,
what can I-what shall / do?"
1t was the remembrance that his
fathers savings of twenty years were
invested in the Teeas, and Johnny had
heard him say that he knew he ought
to keep his share insured, but he could
not well afford 1t. And Johnny well
knew that collision with the vessels
anchored in the river, or, still worse,
striking the Hawkbill ledges on the
other side of the channel, would bring
a heavy bill of expenses to the Texas
owners.
Now, after the launching, the great
anchor was hove up and hung by the
ring stopper at the cat-head, ready to
let go. Johnny, who had been on board
when the Texas was launched, had
watched the whole operation from be-
! ginning to end.
"It's all | can do" said Johnny,
aloud, as sudden thought flashed
through his mind. The carpenters
iron headed maui lay on the forecastle.
| Seizing it with fast-beating heart, john
nv placed one foot on the cat-head, and
with strength born of excitement and
| despair, struck once, twice, thrice at
the strong iron trigger which, when in
position, confines the hauling part Of
the ring stopper.
There was swift rattle Of chains, a
tremendous splash, and then followed
| the grinding rush aud roar Of the great
chain-cable as it flew through the
hawse-hole from the ranges under the
forecastle. Then came sudden tauten-
ing of the cable, and 10! the Teras was
safely riding at anchor nearly in the
middle OF the river.
81 guess we'll go below and turn in,
Jack, said Johnny, with great yawn;
ethe ships all righ. now" And they
went.
"What did tile man mean by saying
that you amputated his arm, father?"
asked Johnny, OH the following day, as
a steam-tug was taking the TezGs swiftly
down the river toward the ocean.
ale was the ringleader Of mutiny,
and the worst man | ever had in a
crew." was Captain Sears's answer, as
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