The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-01-08
DOING HIS DUTY.
What Seemed Certain Death
Proved the Sailors Salvation.

Always do your duty, Tom, no mat
ter how pcrilous or irksome 1t may
be, and, as 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, a 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 favoritc
both with the foremost 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 az II ready to drop with
fatigue. but not murmur would es-
cape his lips. He was resolved to do
his duty bravely, even though it should
kill him.
Fortunately. 1t had good effect upon
him, enlarging 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
shipshapc," as his friend, the old sailor.
had expressed il.
One day the vessel lay bccalmed In
the Indian ocean. The sun, partially
n1 hx, IN a.
hot copper ball. The air was sitting;
the men brcathed 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 a long,
broad patch of white water A flock
Of sea birds, with uncarthly screams.
few over the ship. They were fright
encd they knew what was coming.
Hands by the halyards! In with
royals and to'-gallant sails! Stand by
to clew up the fore and mizzcn 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 w;ndward.
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 mizzcn
topsails rolled mp, when, with tre-
mcndous fury, the gale struck the ship
Down she went, almost on her beam
ends, tearing through the water, in
which she was ingulfcd to her waist
The canvas was jcrlsed from under tho
men like flash. Whipping ABOUT a
moment, with the din of thunder, it
was torn from the jackstays and sent
whirling in shrcds straight up into the
black rack OF the tempest.
Meanwhile ropes and sheets were
Stating about all over the ship The
whistling shrouds bcllied far inward;
the cracking masts bent over like
whalcbo the huge anchors quivered
and reclcd 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 it with diff
Guilty
Suddenly swapping sound, louder
than the other noises, was heard aloft
The weather main-togallant sail
sheet had parted. The sail, Tapping
about, threatened TO carry away the
mast.
up there yon go. Bill" cried the
captain to the lad next to Brown,
land cut that sail clear o. the jack.
staysl'
Bill turned pale and trcmbled, but
did not move from the wheel.
''Oh, captain, nobody could go up
there and liver' he gasped. Don't
make me 90, sir"
In fact, the task Of cutting clear tina,
Stating sail, with the mast recline
and jerking, threatening to give way
every moment. must prove a perilous
undertaking. A strong man could
hardly keep himself from being thrown
from the lofty spar. much less n boy.
Il tell you to go!" repeated The cap.
tain.
II can't! / can'tr cried Bill, as white
as a sheet. Anything else III do,
captain, but don't send me to my
DEATH
There was no time to lose. The
skipper, glaring angrily at the speake,
an instant, looked at Tom Brown.
go up there. Tom. and cut the sail
clear"
Tom also turned pale, but his eyes
flashed and his clear. ringing voice was
heard:
AYE, aye, sir!'
Up the main shrouds he went-ur
higher and higher, determined 70 do
his duty even TO the death
With difficulty he held to the slirouds
Several times his feet were jerlScd from
under him. but he drew them back and
kept bravely on.
He reached the top-gallant mast
THE ship made terrific plunge. Then
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