The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-15

caught with that KIND o chan; ana
then he says to him, Look here, my
lad. that's all very fine. but it won't do
here-some of these men o. mine are in
the secret, and mean to have it out of
'em. Now you just point out the man
as stewed you away and fed you. this
very minute; if you don't it'll be the
worse for you"
1.-The boy looked up in his bright,
fearless way, and says quite quietly:
1--WE told you the truth; amt got no
| more TO say
The mate says nuthin, but looks at
him for a minute as if he'd see clean
through him, and then he faced round
to the men, lookin' blacker than ever
Reeve a rope to the yard' he sings
out. loud enough to raise the dead;
smart. now
".Now, my lad says the mate, in a
hard, square kind o. voice that made
every word seem like fittin' stone into
q wall. you sec that ere roper Well.
FL give you ten minutes to confess Che
took out his watch and held it in his
HANDY and if you don't tell the truth
afore the times up, I'll hang you like
dogr
THE crew all stared at one another
as il they couldn't believe their ears
q didn't believe mine, l can tell ye),
and then a low growl went among 'em.
like wild beast awakin' out of nap.
"'Silence there! shouts the mate in
a voice like the roar of nor easter.
Stand by to run or'ardI' and with
his own hands he put the moose about
the boys neck. The little fellow never
finched a bit. bat there were some
among the sailors. (big, strong chaps,
rs could ha' felled ox) as shook like
leaves in the wind. AS for me, be-
thought myself o my little curly
haired lad at home. and how it 'ud be
if any one was to go for to hang him,
and at the very thought on t | tingled
all over, and my fingers clinched them
selves as if they was a9rippin' some
body's throat. | clutched hold o
handspike and held it behind my back
all ready.
"'Tom,' whispers the chief engineer
to me, dye think he really means to
do it?"
81 don't know says l, through my
teeth; but if he does he shall go first,
if have to swing for it,
Eight minutesr says the mate, his
great, deep voice breakin' in upon the
silence like the toll of funeral bell.
If you've got any thing to confess, my
lad, you'd best out with it, for yer
times nearly up
"Pve told you the truth answers
the boy, very pale, but rs firm as ever.
May say my prayers, please?'
The mate nodded; and down goes
the poor little chap on his knees with
that Internal rope about his neck all
the time), and puts mp his poor little
hands to pray. | couldn't make out
what he said (fact. my head WAS in
stitch whirl that l hardly ha' knowed
my own nancy. but I'll be bound God
heardit, every word. Then he ups on
his feet again and puts his hands be-
hind him and says to the mate, quite
quietly, Pm readyr
"And then, sir. the mates hard. grim
face broke up all at once. like I've seed
the ice on the Baltic. He snatched up
the boy in his arms and kissed him, and
bust out a-cryin' like u child; and l
think there warn't one of us as didn't
do the same. l know did for one.
"'God bless you. my boy says he.
the child's hair with his
great, hard hand. You're true
every inch of you; you
wouldn't tell lie to save your life!
Well, if so be rs yer fathers cast We
OF. I'll he yer father from this day forth;
and if l ever forget you, then may God
forget mer
And he KEEP his word. too. When
we got to Halifax he found out the little
ms aunt and gave her lumpo' money
10 make him comfortable, and now he
goes to see the youngster every voyage
As reg lar rs can be; and to see the pair
on EN- togethcr-the little chap so fond
D him, and not bearin' him a bit o.
yrudge its Don't as pretty sight as
ever l seed. And now, sir. akin yer
it's time for me to be goin'
below; so I'll just wish yer good-ni gilt"
N. i. Erening World.