The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-01-08

The boys feet again few from under
him. He was flung from the shrouds.
but he just saved himself from falling
by clutching the topRallant Ealyards.
He threw himself back into the
shrouds. He gained the top-gallant
yard, and laying" (going) out on the
foot-rope, he clutched the yard with
one hand and with the other Selling the
sheath-ltnife in his belti he endeavorcd
TO cut the sail clear.
Wilder and more violently slated the
canvas every moment Several times
it struck him with tremendous force,
when he only saved himself by cling
ing under it, with both arms, to the yard
The instant it flew back, affording him
chance to work with his knife, he
was busy cutting at the strands. lie
almost clearcdAthc sail from the spar
when the ship plunged again, coming
up the next moment with a jerk that
made everything reel
A crack like the report of a musl1et
was heard and away went the top
and top-gallant mast by the board, as
the stNys parted. Tom. when he felt
the mast going, had thrown himself in
board, clutching two ratlines BY
these he hung, falling, with the spar,
into the sea. As yet uninjured, with
the exception OF a few slight bruises,
the boy threw both arms around the
spar, clinging firmly to It.
The ship, dashing on, was soon lost
to his view in the dark rack, the mist
and the spray of the storm No boat
could be lowered for him in such q
gale. There he was, all alone. adrift
on the stormy ocean.
The mad wind howlcd and shricked
in his ears, the sea and the spray few
around him, almost binding and cholx.
ing him. But he held TO the spar until
he felt his strength leaving him, when
he dashed himself to the timber with
some Of the trailing ropes mar him.
Hours passed. Night came, with the
tempest still raging Through all the
darkness and the storm, the boy, now
nearly senscless, was carried on, fast
to the spar.
by dawn the violence of the gale had
abated. The sky was clear, the tints
Of the rising sun were on the eastern
wave.
Fccbly Tom raised himself on the
floating mast Thank God! there was
n sail, like slender, white column, in
the distance.
Was it his own vessel? He hoped so.
Up went his kerchief, waved about
his head as signal The craft drew
nearer when he perceived IL was not
the Dolphin. Soon he was seen. The
ship stood toward him. boat was
lowered, he was picked up and taken
aboard. The hardships he had under
! gone had proven too much for him. lie
had kept up until the boat was near
him; then The had fallen prone upon
the mast, inscnsible. When he opened
his eyes. he found himself in snug
berth, with an old man sitting near,
by his side lovely girl OF thirteen
''Ilc has come tol Oh. papa, am 80
gladr cried the girl. clapping her
! hands.
Toms story was soon told. He'then
learned that he was aboard the ship
Trumpet, bound home from Calcutta
to New York.
That same day the after part of the
Dolphin's hull was discovered, bearing
her name, proving that she had been
lost not long after the boy fell over
board.
The crew, who were in her when she
was wrecked. were never heard of.
All had persisted after she went to
pieces. Had Tom been aboard of her
then, he, too, would have ofound a
watcry grave. His courage In obeying
ordcrs-in mounting that perilous
mast, to do his Guty-had been his sal
walton. To use the homely words Of
his sailor adviser, he had come out all
right and shipshapc in the end"
Not only had his life thus been saved.
but a piece of rare, good fortune fol-
lowed. The old man ard little girl,
who sat near him when he recovered
his senses, were n wealthy oil merchant
and his daughter When the vessel
arrived home, the child coaxed her
father to take the lad into his employ
In due time, by constant attention to
! his duties, he became head clerk, saved
money and was finally made partner
in the firm OF his bcnefactor. Soon
after he married the merchants daugh-
ter, who. on the night before their we'd
ding. blushingly confessed to him that
she had loved him ever since that mcm-
orable day when, picked mp from the
drifting spar. he was brought scnscless
aboard the ship Trumpet. Rufus Hall,
in n. Y. Ledger.