Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-03-18
THE CAPTAINS MISTAKE.
How q Hasty Temper Nearly Cost
Him His Wife.


companied him for a voyage 10 Java
often begged lim to control himself
declaring that such a temper would We
lead him to the preparation Of som'
deed he would bitterly repent OF.
Not that he was ever otherwise thar
kind and gentle TO her. twas agaius
his men hat he sometimes became Ell
ragged They all liked him, notwith
standing; for, except when they mad,
some 5lundcr, he treated them like
brothers They also liked and re
spectcd his good wife-a beautiful bru,
nct.e OF twenty. The health Of ihi.
young womau was perfect, and she
was rs strong and active as a deer
Having been brought up near the
water, She could handle an oar with
surprising skill. and her husband had
been heard to say that she was an ex-
pert swimmer. He was a sturdy,
broai->houldered fellow, with an arm
like 4 blacGsmith'S 4 rudy cheek and
q clear eye. His wife loved him deep
", and whenever she saw him angry
with his men she would hover abou,
him, cndcavoring to soothe him.
Her own brother, Jack Wilton. 4
youth Of seventeen. was c~abiu-boy.
His relation to Mabel, however, did
not prevent his sometimes being the
object Of the captains wrath.
One evening, on an occasion when
Jack was slightly i'll, he stumbled
against a bucket full Of tar, spllling
the latter all over the deck.
'Confound you, youngster,," roared
the skipper. IN make you stand the
lookout four hours tonight for your
awkwarGness."
Mrs. Barton pleaded with him. She
had sat up most all of the previous
night nursing her brother, and she was
sure he mad not slept ten minutes dur-
ing that time, 1t would, therefore. be
cruel to make the poor boy, who wa.
not yet quite well, remain awake SO
long.
But, although susceptible to his
wife's influence, there were times
when she could o move him. He
now resisted all her appeals, and at
dark made little Jack cetinto the long
boat and there seat himself, to keep a
lookout
And mind that you keep a good
one said he. Don't let me catch you
DOING
Have YOU put Jack on the lookout"
inquired his wife, when he joined her
in the cabin.
Yes"
Cruel" she cried, pouting, the tears
coming to her eyes.
What! You are not angry with me?"
he said.
He put his arm around her 1.-THE
waist, drew her to him and kissed her.
"Bluebeard!" said she. "a ought to
pull your hair"
She nestled in his arms, coaxed him
and pleaded with him about Jack, but
IN vain.
Then she became very still and
thoughtful All at once a singular ex-
preston flashed in her dark eyes. She
half started, rolled round in his arms
like a ball. but said not a word.
A few minutes later the captain re
tired 10 his apartment adjoining that
of his wife. He soon fell asleep, but
awoiie three hours later and went on
deck.
II was a dark night, and the wind
was Glowing almost a gale. The cap
tain looked leeward, but through the
gloom nc could see nothing Of an island
the ship had been approaching when
he "ent below. On making inquiries
Of lie officer Of the deck, however, he
learned that the is~land-one of the
Hi group-bore about a mile off the
lee quarter.
lie now walked toward the long
boat, in which he had stationed Jack
Wilton to keep a lookout
IF | find him vigilant and wakeful,
| viii let him have his watch below"
he mnttered, gently, the dark, plead
ing eyes OF his wife haunting his mind.
"lialloa. He is asleep" added the skip
per, as he approached the form seated
in the boat.
In fact, the head of the lookout"
was bowed, and the deep breathing
that saluted the captain was Indicative
of profound slumber.
Barton's quick temper was at once
aroused. He sprang toward the dimly
revealed form in the boat, climbed into
the vessel, and rushed at the sleeper,
intending to seize him by the shoulder,
and give him a mercilcss shaking. But
at that moment :he ship plunged heav-
lily and, in his haste, the captain caught
his foot against the boat-mast, rolling
it half out Of the craft, and falling al
most PROSTATE in the boat As he fell.
his outstretched hand struck violently
against the back Of the s~lumberer who,
thus pushed over the gunwale, struck
against the mast, which at once
dropped into the sea. The young look
out went with it, pitching, head-fore.
hioSl. uito TIC udTk waters
Man overheard" shrieked the cap-
tain, in dismay, as he staggered to his
feet. Lively there, back the main.
yard and down with the boat!' he add.
ed, leaping to the deck.
But, just then, a loud, buzzing noise
was heard. Struck by a sudden, ter.
rifle gale, the ship went over on her
beam-ends and tore through the wa.
tiers, with the spray sweeping her fore
and aft. An attempt was made to
lower the boat, but it was dashed to
fragments against the ships side.
The wind blew great guns. II
shricked like a hycna in the quivering
shrouds, and the roaring sea became
white with whirling foam and spray.
No boat could be lowered now.
Lost! The boy is LOST" groaned
the captain. What will she saw when
she hears of it-that I pushed her
brother overboard"
He had not the courage to tell her
Hours passed, and he walked the deck
like a mailman. BY this time the storm
had abated. For a few minutes the
moon shone; then it was hidden bv
clouds, and darkness again fell.
II cannot tell Mabel cannot wake
her yet! She will learn the dreadful
truth soon cnoughr muttered the
wretched man.
Not long after. the dim light Of com.
ing dawn struggled through the gloom.