Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-12-14
THE BOYS Wit SAVED THE SHIP.


Captain Job Payson, sailed from Bos
ton for Turkey, laden with cotton
goods She was a new, taut little YES
sci, with plenty Of storage room, and
had accommodations for two passen-
gers. The crew consisted Of the cap
tain, one mate, four sailors, and cabin
boy.
Captain Payson was conscientious
Just man, who treated his crew neither
to jokes nor grog, but who lodged and
fed them better than five out of six OF
the masters sailing from New England
ports in those days.
"Old job" the mate, who was from
the West, used to say he was ga hard
man, but one you could tie to in fair
weather or in FOUL
His crew were picked men, and with
the exception Of Dan, the cabin boy,
had been with him for years. This was
Dams first voyage and he felt that the
captain and crew both eyed him with
suspicion. He was on probation, and
he felt that but grain of favor would
be allowed him in any error.
Dan was a farm boy, and knew
nothing Of the world beyond the village
in which was his mothers church.
keep your eyes open to see the
work of the moment, and your hands
ready to do it before the moment is
over" was his mothers last advice.
"For the rest Daniel, ask the Lords
help. You'll find him just as near you
in Turkey as in your own home"
Dan, in the hurry and excitement of
getting under way, and of his new du-
ties, repeated this advice over and over
to himself. 1t seemed to keep his
mother near him.
Several days out while he was carry
ing the dinner dishes into the cabin he
heard the mate say:
THAT boy is clipper enough for a
raw hand, captain"
"Aye," said Captain Payson, "turns
out better than | expected. | took him
for his mothers sake. Widow. Old
friend of NINE
Rather gentlemanly fellow, this
passenger, ventured the mate, finding
the captain in an unusually talkative
mood to-day,
"He is gentleman, sir one of the
Farnall's Of Springfield. Ill health.
His doctor prescribed long sea voy-
age for him. A gentleman and a
scholar, Mr.. Briggs"
Dan, while waiting on the table at
dinner, could not help noticing the
passenger.
Some of these days." thought the
true-born Yankee lad, |, too, shall be
gentleman and scholar"
Doctor Farnall was tall, lean man,
carefully dressed, with sandy hair and
mustache, but with eyebrows and lashes
almost white His eyes, too, were large
and pale. They never met the eyes of
any other man fairly. Once when Dan
happened to look at him he turned
quickly away, and he glanced suspi-
ciously and filrtively at the boy at
times during the rest of the meal.
Don't like him." thought Dan
"He looks sneaky and tricky, and not
like gentleman"
But Dan, of course, kept his opinion
to himself.
Fortunately the lad was not seasck
He learned his new duties quickly
was alert, and always good-natured
In the course Of one week Captain
Payson had twice grunted his APP
proval.
Dan worked harder than ever, and
between times, when the passenger was
on deck watched him.
Doctor Farnall talked fuently and
brilliantly, as even Dams uncultured
view could perceive But there were
days when the doctor was absolutely
silent, ate nothing, and paced the deck
wrapped in profound silence. On one
of these days, going down just at twi-
light to get something he had left in
his bunk, Dan saw tall figure which
he did not recognize, with candle
gripping etDOul aiming IhC CACSlS VI IilS
sailors below.
"Who's there?" he shouted.
The man came quickly toward him
The candle threw yellow glare ovel
his set face and glaring eyes. 1t was
the passenger. He caught Dan by the
sleeve.
Here, boy-what do they call your
"Dan."
"You are surprised to see me here
Dam" he said, with guilty laugh
"Took me for a ghost ?"
81 beg your pardon, sir; | oughtn't
to have called you. But it took me
aback sir"
Naturally; but you need not be
surprised at seeing me in any part O
the vessel. | am studying its construc
ton as scientific man. Captain
Payson has been good enough to give
me admittance to all parts Of the YES
sci. You needn't shout that way again
1t startles a nervous man." and with ;
vague smile he put out the candle ant
went on deck, leaving Dan staring
after him.
cts not all right, or why should HI
being a gentleman, make such Ions
explanation to me, being cabin-boy ?
said Dan.
That night Captain Payson wa