The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1892-03-03


row through the tranquil waves, which
closed lazily behind il with gay, silver
sparkle.
The crew was asleep, and only the
men on watch heard the appealing cry,
and in response shouted the words:
MAN overbOardr'
This was all that was needed to
awaken everybody, and the efforts at
rescue were at once begun.
"Who had the impudence TO get over
board at such an unearthly hour?" cried
one of the sailors. by the noise one
would think we were all in the vet"
BAH said the boatswain; lit was
only the cabin-boyr'
1t was. indeed, only the cabin-boy.
And hardly was he back again on deck
and consequently out Of danger, before
o formidable oath, reinforced by the
thunderous epithet ''Fool!'' rang in his
ears, and was accompanied by the ca
resses Of rawhide which IL poor boy
knew only too well.
How did you get into the scrape? Al
ways making trouble for other folks!
All! you lazy rascal! Here! take that
brigandr'
-'Brutes"' cried the boy; Il will be
revenged!'
"Ah!you'n.complsin, will you? Wait
a bit.''
The poor child's voice failed him, and,
gliding among the ropes and the folded
sails, he managed Ia escape the last
blows aimed at him. Then, half crawl
ing and staggering, he reached his ham,
mock His were dry, but hatred
swelled in his heart.
Julien Nasty. cabin-boy of the Equi-
nox, was that night suffering from n
fever caught a few days before. and he
had crept away TO install himself,
against orders, at the bow. Little by
little he had sunk away into uncon-
seriousness OF his surroundings, in that
heavy helplessness which preceded
feverish sleep. All at once he felt the
ship going from under him, and he ut
tered a piercing cry as he fell into the
water. That cry was heard, and,
thanks TO the speedy succor, the boy was
safe again.
Julien was little liked on board, and
in the reality the sailors, though they
would not have admitted IL even to
themselves, would not have mourned
had the boy and his desparing cry been
swept away together.
The officers of the Equinox paid little
attention 10 the boy, and IL must be
admitted that his small gray eyes, with
their oblique glsnces, and the dark eye
brows always drawn down in a frown.
and the disdainful expression fhis lips,
scarcely pleaded in his favor.
But n young ensign had taken pity
on the youth, and Julien had felt the
heavenly balm of this sympathy.
"lf ever get a chance, will do you
. good turn he often thought.
But he took every possible pains to
prevent the young officer from even
surprising that he had found grace with
his stormy character and unbending
p ide.
On the evening after Julien's in
voluntary bath the Equinox touched NJ
Cadiz- The cabin-boy received per
mission to land, and profted by 1t at
once. As he returned on board he met
the ensign who had shown him such
marked kindness lie heard a sailor
say: ''Oh! it is only the cabin boyF' and
he felt like palliating the brutality Of
this remark 10y some Lind words.
"Well!' he said, my lad, you got
good wetting the other day."
81 believe you. heutanant"
"lf you had followed my advice"
continued the ensign. you would not
have perched yourself in sucha careless
way, and you would not have fallen
into the sea-"
'Twouldn't have mattered IL had
stayed there!"
what words are these, Julien? Let
us see now; II you are not very happy on
board, Is Il not little your 9wn fault2
Come. come" added the officer. placing
his hand on the boys shoulder, '.rs-
member that we leave for France to-
morrow. and that you will soon see
your father. soon find your mothers
arms around you. Patience. Good
times will return"
My father? He can't endure me.
And my mother? ! have none. She
Children crv for