The Bossier banner., 1894-05-31


the sixpence and the two pennies-the
shilling gentleman gave me. It's
broken, but it is good silver, all the
same"
And what am to do with these?"
asked the captain
ITO pay my fare" replied the boy
TITS most enough, think. l will
earn the rest soon when l get over
there"
The good captain could maintain
his gravity no longer. A smile light
ed up his rugged features as he said,
kindly:
There, there, Joby. keep your mon
ey, my boy. You are an honest little
fellow, after all. You shall stay with
me on the Falcon, and we will make a
man of you"
All day long the good ship labored
with the mountainous waves, leaping
and plunging till it seemed as though
the groaning, creaking masts must
come out of her. But she was a
stanch, well-built craft, and had passed
safely through many a worse tenn
pest.
With the fall of the night the gale in
creased in violence. The sails had
been reduced to the heavy lower can
vas, just sufficient to steady the YES
sci. The captain remained on deck,
taking a position near the rail, where
he could keep an eye on the rigging.
Near him, sheltered by the bulwarks,
sat little Joby on coil of rope.
Suddenly, just as the captain was
shouting an order through his trumpet,
vast billow seem ed to rise out of tn
gloom and bear down upon the ship.
1t struck the vess els side with an aw-
full roar, throwing tons of water on the
deck. Before he could save himself the
captain was lifted from his feet and
flung overheard into the sea.
Almost at the same instant small
figure was seen to leap upon the rail,
cling there moment, and then leap
outward into the darkness and disap-
pear.
Man overboard!'
The terrible cry rang above the roar
of the tempest For a moment all was
panic and confusion. Then, under the
mates command, the ship was rounded
to, with her head to the wind, and a
boat ordered to be lowered.
mo use," said one of the men to the
mate, who stood by the rail near
where the captain had fallen over
board. 1--WE could never find them in
the day time, let alone such night as
this"
ST am afraid not" answered the mate
sadly. Poor old man! Poor boy! Hark!
What was that?"
long and strong from the darkness,
not twenty yards from where the ship
lay.
THE captain!" cried a dozen glad
voices.
Delay your jaw there, We lubbers!
Tail on that line and haul US aboard, or
we'll be adrift."
Line! Us. What could he mean? But
the mate had already discovered a Gu
rious thing-a light but strong rope,
fastened to ring in the bulwark and
extending outward in the darkness to-
ward the spot whence the captains s
voice proceeded. 1t was drawn tight,
as if some heavy burden were towing
at the end of it.
In an instant sturdy arms were pull
ing at it with will Then stout
rope was lowered, and up it like a
monkey scrambled Joby, followed
more slowly by Capt. Essex.
Then a great cheer went up, drown
ing the roar of the storm itself. as the
crew gathered about the dripping
forms of the captain and his little
friend. A few. words served to ex-
plain what had happened.
Joby. with his eye on the captain.
had seen him carried overheard. He
knew that one end of the coil of light,
though strong rope upon which he sat
was secured to the bulwarlz, for he had
tied the knot himself that very day.
Without pausing to think of his own
danger, he took the free end of the
rope between his teeth and was in the
water nearly as soon as the captain
himself.
Though he could swim like duck,
he was borne helplessly along on the
crest of the waves almost into the
arms of Capt. Essex, who caught him
as he was sweeping by. The captain
fastened the line about both of their
bodies, and partly swimming and part
ly towed by the ship they had managed
to keep their heads above the water
until the Falcon was hove to.
The storm blew itself out during
the night, aud the next morning
dawned clear and calm. All the fore
noon Joby was observed to be very
grave and silent. as if he were ponder
ing some important question. Finally
he presented himself before the cap
tain in the cabin.
"Well, my boy" said the captain,
what can do for you?"
"a mans life is worth good deal Of
money, isn't it?" asked Joby, twirling
his cap nervously as he spoke. mot a
boy like me, but a grown man."
Eyes. of course, my lad," replied
| the captain. "a mans life is supposed
to be the most valuable of his posses
sions."
We'll, then" said Joby, twirling his