The state capital., 1892-01-09
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 SO prompt and cheerful in obey
ing orders that he became a favorite
both with the foremast hands and the
officers.
Sometimes the lad, set to securing
the decks, polishing the ring-bolts, or
hosting 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, it had a good effect upon
him, charging his lungs and chest,
making him broad in the shoulders and
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
yelled by thin mist, looked like a 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 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,
flew over the ship. They were fright
ened; they knew what was coming.
Hands by the halyards! In with
royals and to'-gallant sails! Stand by
to clew up the fore and mizzen topsails
and double reef the main!' 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 mile to windward.
The active sailors clewed up and
down as fast as they could; then aloft
they went and laid out on the yards.
Scarcely were the fore and mizzen
topsails rolled up, when, with tire
mendous fury, the gale struck the ship
Down she went, almost on her beam
ends, tearing through the water, il
which she was ingulfed to her waist
The canvas was jerked from under the
men like a flash. Whipping about {
moment, with the din of thunder, i
was torn from the jackstays and sen
whirling in shreds straight up into thu
black rack of the tempest.
Meanwhile ropes and sheets wer,
Stating about all over the ship. Th'
whistling shrouds bellied far inward
the cracking masts bent over like
| whalebones; the huge anchors quiveret
| and reeled on the catheads.
| Tom Brown, with another lad, wa
| at the wheel, assisted by the secon,
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 it with diff
Guilty.
Suddenly a swapping sound, loude
than the other noises, was heard aloft
The weather main-to'- gallant sail
sheet had parted. The SAIL flappin,
about, threatened to carry away tn
mast.
"Up there you go, Bill" cried tn
captain to the lad next to Brown
land cut that sail clear o the jack
stays!''
Bill turned pale and trembled, bu
did not move from the wheel.
''Oh, captain, nobody could go IL
there and liver' he gasped. Don
make me go, sirt'
In fact, the task of cutting clear tina
Stating sail, with the mast reelin
and jerking, threatening to give wa
every moment, must prove a perilou
undertaking. A strong man coul
hardly keep himself from being throw
from the lofty spar, much less boy.
II tell you to gor' repeated the cay
tain.
II can't / can't" cried Bill, as whit
as sheet "Anything else I'll de
captain, but don't send me to m
death!'
There was no time to lose. Th
skipper, glaring angrily at the speake
an instant, looked at Tom Brown.
go up there, Tom, and cut the sa
clear.'
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 q
his duty even to the death.
With difficulty he held to the shroud
Several times his feet were jerked frol
under him, bat he drew them back an
kept bravely on.
He reached the top-gallant mas
The ship made terrific plunge. The
she came up with tremendous jerk.
The boys feet again flew from und
him He was flung from the shroud
but he just saved himself from fallir
by clutching the top-gallant halyard
He threw himself back into tt
shrouds. He gained the top-galla
yard, and laying" (going) out on tt
foot-rope, he clutched the yard wi
one hand and with the other seizing Il
sheath-knife in his belt. he endeavor
to cut the sail clear
Wilder and more violently Slated Il
| canvas every moment Several tim
it struck him with tremendous fore
when he only saved himself by elm
ing under it. with both arms, to the yaz