The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-02-12
DOING HIS DUTY.
What Seemed Certain Deatf
Proved the Sailors Salvation


Always do your duty, Tom, no mat
ter how perilous or irl<some it may
be, and, as a general thing. you Will
come ont 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 Il favorite
both with the foremast hands and the
officers.
Sometimes the lad, set to securing
the decks polishing the ring-lolts, or
hoisting heavy casks out of the hold,
would feel as if ready to drop with
fatigue. but not n murmur would cs-
cape his lips. lie was resolved to do
his duty bravely, even thou -yh IL should
kill him.
Fortunately. it had a good effect upon
him, enlarging his lungs and chest.
making him broad in the shoulders and
strong and muscular in the arms. Slcn-
der and rather delicate when he sailed,
he was fast becoming all right and
shipshapc." as his friend, the old sailor.
had expressed it
One day the vessel lay becalmeSi in
the Indian ocean. The sun. partially
veiled by Il thin mist, looked like n rod
hot copper bali. The air was sitting;
the men brcathed with difficulty. Snd-
denly the barometer began 10 fall with
alarming ap!dity. In the distance 4 hol-
low, humming noise was heard Far
away to windward was seen Il long,
broad patch of white water. \ flock
OF sea birds, with unearthly screams,
flew over the ship. They were fright
ened; they knew what was coming.
Hands by the halynrds, In with
royals and to'-gallant sailsi 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 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 trc-
mendous fury, the gale struck the ship.
Down she went, almost OH her beam
ends, tearing through the water, in
which she was Ingulfed to her waist.
The canvas was ierked from under the
men like flash. Whipping ABOUT a
moment, with the din of thunder, it
h.
whirling in shreds 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
whalebones; the huge anchors quivered
and reelcd on the cathcads
Tom Brown, with another lad, was
at the wheel, assisted by the second
mate The wheel was now like a liy-
ing monster. 1t struggled to free it
self from the grasp of the three sailors,
who held aud controlled it with diff
Guilty.
Suddenly n swapping sound, louder
than the other noises, was heard aloft.
The weather nain-tog liant 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,
''and 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 up
there and live!" he gaspcd. Don't
make me go, sir.'
In fact, the task of cutting clear that
Stating sail, with the mast rceling
and jerking, threatening to give way
every moment, must prove a perilous
undertaking. y strong man could
hardly keep himself from being thrown
from the lofty spar. much less u boy.
Il tell you TO co. repeated the cap
tain
II can't! I can't cried Bill, rs white
as a sheet. Anything else I'll do,
captain, but don't send me to my
DEATH"
There was no time to lose The
skipper, glaring angrily at the speaker
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, siri''
Up the main shrouds he vent-up
higher and higher, determined 10 do
his duty even to the death.
With difficulty ne held to the shrouds
Several times his feet were jerl1cd from
under him, hut he drew them back and
kept bravely on.
He reached the top-gallant mast
The ship made n terrific plunge Then
she came up with Il tremendous jerk.
The boys feet again flew from under
him. He was flung from the shrouds,
but he just saved himself from falling
by clutching the top-gallant halyards
He threw himself back into the
shrouds. He gained the top-gallant
yard, and laying" tgoingl out on the
foot-rope, he clutched the ynrd wi,h
one hand aud with the other seizing the
sheath-lsnife in his belts he endeavored
% cut :lc sail clear.