Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-11-14
A TERRIBLE LESSON.
How Was Almost the Cause Of a
Fearful Disaster.

The broad canvas Tapped heavily, the
frigate rolled 10 port, then slowly TO star
board In the last long swell that lifted
the huge fabric, and, a minute later, she
lay nearly mOtionless as the faint flutteI
Of the breeze died away aloft, and even
the heaving OF the great ocean seemed 10
subside.
We were becalmed of the line under
the burning sun, whose rays melted the
tar upon the shrouds, heated the anchors
as II they had Just been drawn froIn the
furnace and started the pitch from the
deck-planks, which fairly scorched the
feet of the men through the soles OF
their pumps, in spite of the awning that
covered almost every part Of the upper
or spar-deck.
Some OF the hands fairly gasped for
breath, and heard the old coxswain of
the first cutter say that it was the
slightest" day he had ''weathered"
since he was boy.
In fact, among the whole OF that ships
crew Of FIVE hundred men, even the
strongest felt the effects Of the heat,
and many of the broad-shouldered,
Bun-embrowned fellows, who, before noon,
had been sitting around on gun-slides
and ON the decks reading, conversing or
mending their clothes, were now lazily
reclining at full length, while the young
topmen, usually so brisk and lively, no
longer stood erect in the tops but leaned
wearily against the masts and the rig
ging.
Therefore, when sturdy grown men
thus acknowledged the power Of old
Sol, IL seemed 10 me-a mere youthful
novice, on his first voyage, in training
for REFERS warrant-that had good
reason 10 be provoked at our officer Of
the edeck-Lieutenant Biddle-for send
ing me ialof, an hour before sundown, TO
the foretop-gallant cross-trees, where,
though IL was late in the day, could
still feel the rays of the old 'scorcher'
darted at my devoted head like hun
drod red-hot wires.
"What need, / reasoned, ''of a look
out being kept in dead calm? The lit
tie brig, cur tender, which we last saw a
couple Of leagues to leeward, Is no
longer visible in the haze thereaway,
and though my own father-Lieutenan
NtANtAA - III NOnAnAAnA VI utAf ste no
use OF my watching for signals from him
In this weather"
These thoughts expressed aloud TO
the sturdy captain Of the foretop, when
he came up, soon after, to attach and
hang TO the cross-trees a coil Of rope for
reeving new top-gallant halliards on
the morrow.
Lieutenant Biddle knows what he Is
about, sir" the man answered. ''Do
you see that thick haze of there to wind
ward, as well as TO leeward?"
rAye, aye, plainly"
"Well, that may mean a heavy blow,
sir, or IL may not. In either case you
should keep sharp lookout, as ordered.
Always obey orders, my boy, II you
would win your warrant; always do your
duty without questioning why you were
sent 10 perform 1t, and you will do well;
otherwise, you win get into trouble"
The man went down to the top again,
and / am sorry TO say that hac not
deemed his advice OF sufficient impor-
tance TO give II much attention.
AS darkness closed about us, made
no very determined effort TO rid myself
Of the duh, drowsy sensation, enRender.
ed By the close, sultry night, and the
consequence was that ere i was aware
Of It, with my arm twined around the
stay, near which sat, fell asleep.
This was the first time ! had ever
actually fallen asleep aloft, and, al
though an experienced Jack" will
sometimes, on sultry nights, when OF
duty, safely enjoy a sound slumber In
the breezy foretop, even Of a rolling
pmnging ship, yet IL would have beer
extremely perilons even for such per
son 10 take nap on the narroww perch
! now occupied, with only two cross
BtickG.
Exactly how long slept know not
but presently dreamed that my father
Lieutenant Cotton, seeming TO rise uI
pale, CHASTITY and dripping from ths
ocean, was lowering In the air. directly
before me, solemnly shaking his fingel
~ me, and saying, in hollow voice;
frank Frank awakel awakel Hav'
NOT always advised you 10 be true ans
yigilnnt at the post Of duty? God hell
you. hoyl This is criminal carelessness
Awakol awake for your lifel'
The last words seemed 10 fall upon nj
ears in sort OF bowling scream, and 1
wns this soream-e got that Of any human
voice, as n0w isc0yered-whicl
aroused me from my slumber As
opened my eyes, that shrek rang loude
than had heard Il IN my dream, fof 4
Was the shrek Of a storm, and such
storm As appalled, aud startled my sud
donly-aWakoned uenses
A binding llash 81 lightning crossed
my vision, dark clouds Of vapor wer'
around nae, oeomcd 70 bo horne alon,
Nllh lorlfHc velocity On the roaring
nhlsll|ua gallo. whilo below ma hehe|'
ihn fltam " the lrlgntu'e baille Ian
ltlns by nhich could soo nimble FORM
hfN1In1 % and lrp laF tqpes|h ny pgn