The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-02-04
DOING HIS DUTY.
What Seemed Certain Death
Proved the Sailors Salvation.


always do your duty, Tom, no mat
ter how perilous or irksome it may
be, and, as a general thing, you will
come out all right and shipshape in the
end"
Such was the parting advice of an old
sailor to Thomas Brown, boy of six
teen, who was about sailing away
aboard the ship Dolphin, bound from
New York to the East Indies
Tom was deeply impressed by the
words Of his adviser. He bore them in
mind, and, after the vessel sailed,
was 50 prompt and cheerful in obey
ing orders that he became favorite
both with the foremast hands and the
officers.
Sometimes the lad, set to securing
the decks, polishing the ring-bolts, or
hoisting heavy casks out of the hold,
would feel as if ready to drop with
fatigue, but not a murmur would es-
cape his lips. He was resolved to do
his duty bravely, even though it should
kill him.
Fortunately, 1t had a good effect upon
him, enlarging his lungs and chest,
strong and muscular in the arms. Slen-
der and rather delicate when he sailed,
he was fast becoming ''all right and
shipshape," as his friend, the old sailor,
had expressed it.
One day the vessel lay becalmed in
the Indian ocean The sun, partially
veiled by thin mist, looked like red
hot copper ball. The air was sitting;
the men breathed with difficulty. Sud-
denly the barometer began to fall with
alarming rapidity. In the distance a hol-
low, humming noise was heard Far
away to windward was seen long,
broad patch of white water. A flock
of sea birds, with unearthly screams,
few over the ship. They were fright
ened; they knew what was coming.
Hands by the halynrdsl In with
royals and to'-gallant sailsi Stand by
to clew up the fore and mizzen topsails
and double reef the mainr' screamed
the captain, in voice that made every
man jump.
Ere the tars could obey, the storm,
kissing, roaring and bowling, driving
the seas in great, white walls OF foam
ing water and spray before it, came
sweeping along with terrific velocity,
not a mile to windward.
The active sailors clewed up and
down as fast as they could; then aloft
they went and laid cut on the yards.
Scarcely We're the fore and mizzen
topsails rolled up, when, with tre-
mendous fury, the gale struck the ship
Down she went almost on her beam
ends, tearing through the water, in
which she was ingulfed to her waist.
The canvas was jerked from under the
men like a flash. Whipping about a
moment, with the din of thunder, it
was torn from the juckstays and sent
whirling in shreds straight up into the
black rack of the tempest.
Meanwhile ropes and sheets were
Stating about oil over the ship. The
whistling shrouds bcllied far inward;
the cracking Inasts bent over like
whalebones; the huge anchors quivercd
and reeled on the catheads.
Tom Brown, with another lad, was
at the wheel, assisted by the second
mate. The wheel was now like liv-
ing monster 1t struggled to free it.
self from the grasp of the three sailors,
who held and controlled 1t with diff
Guilty.
Suddenly swapping sound, louder
than the other noises, was heard aloft.
The weather main-to'-gallant sail
sheet had parted. The sail, Tapping
about, threatened to carry away the
mast.
"Up there you go, Bill!' cried the
| captain to the lad next to Brown
land cut that sail clear O. the jack
stays!''
Bill turned pale and trembled, but
did not move from the wheel.
"Oh, .captain, nobody could go uI
there and livel" he gasped. "Don't
make me go, sir!''
In fact, the task of cutting clear thai
Stating sail, with the mast reeline
and jerking, threatening to give way
every moment, must prove perilou!
undertaking. A strong man coult
hardly keep himself from being thrown
from the lofty spar, much less boy.
II tell you to go!'' repeated the cap
tain.
II can't! can't" cried Bill, as whit,
as "a sheet Anything else I'll do
captain, but don't send me to m,
death!''
There was no time to lose. Th
skipper, glaring angrily at the spealke
an instant, looked at Tom Brown.
''Go up there. Tom, ard cut the sal
cleari''
Tom also turned pale, but his eye
flashed and his clear, ringing voice wa
heard:
"Aye, aye, sir!"
Up the main shrouds he went-u
higher and higher. determined to d
his duty even to the death.
/ With difficulty he held to the shrouds
Several times his feet were jerked fror
under him, but he drew them back an
kept bravely on.
i He reached the top-gallant mas,
The ship made terrible plunge. The
! abe came up with : tremendous 3erlE
'Iaf - 81 | q. s. .t' IIt