The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-09-05
The StOwaway.

The StOwaway.
The sun had set, but the lower edges
of the wild, stormy-looking clouds
massed in the west were still aglow
with vivid, crimson fire. In the east
the gray gloom of the coming night was
mounting up to the sky, and here and
there a pale star already glimmered in
the dusk. A brisk wind, or what sail
ors call half-gale," was blowing,
and the waters of the English Channel
were breaking in short, angry waves of
deep green in the hollows, and snowy
white where their crests curled and
spouted in Kissing foam. Far off to
the southwark dim, blush line, which
only the experienced eye of a seaman
could have recognized as land, marked
the coast of France, while in the oppo-
site quarter, the chalky headland of
England cleaned family in the fading
twilight.
The stout ship Falcon, leaning gal
lantly to the wind, was making her way
down the channel bound for America.
The sails had been reefed, the cables
Coiled, and everything was made snug
for the night. Captain Essex, pleased,
as an old sailor always is when his YES
sci is we'll away from the dangers of
the land, and making good progress
under steady wind, paced to and fro
on his quarter deck, gruffly humming a
little song, the greater part of which
was lost in his thick bushy beard, though
now and then you might have caught
some words, as The sea is the place
for me my lads" or A lively ship and
willing crew." Captain Essex's song
was interrupted by sudden commo-
ton in the forward part of the vessel.
There was a sound of loud, angry talk
ing, hasty scuffling of feet, followed
by the frightened sobbing of child.
-" Helloal" exclaimed Captain Essex,
"What is the meaning of that row?"
A stowaway, sir" answered one of
the men from below.
A stowaway on my ship!" growled
the captain. "Bring the rascal here!
Wen give him taste of the ropes end
first, and then--but what is that2"
"The stowaway, sir" was the re-
spouse as row of the crew approached,
leading between them very small and
very ragged boy. The anger in the
captains face gave place to look of
establishment mingled with pity, as his
eyes rested upon the shivering form of
the intruder. But he maintained the
sternness of his tone as he addressed
the boy.
"Well," said he, what are you doing
here?"
N-nothing, sir" was the trembling
reply:
"Who are you, and where did you
come from? Speak up, now; no non
sensel"
"I'm Joby-Joby Oliver, sir" said
the boy, between sobs, which he vainly
endeavored to choke down. 81 live
in London, by the docks, SIR"
"What are you doing here, then?"
ell hid away down below, and
and they found me. l wasn't doing
anything. l didn't touch thing. l
thought they wouldn't mind. Pm not
very big, you see, and l don't weigh
much" He broke down with gasp,
and pressed his small, grimy fist into
his streaming eyes. Then, as the cap
tain remained silent, but continued to
gaze at him with a tremendous frown,
he made brave effort to go on with
his story
81 haven't any father or mother, you
see, and have to earn my own living.
Everybody says, He's too small.
What's he good for?' and they don't
take me; though l am strong. l can
lift trunk-a little one. / can run on
errands very fast, but everybody says
'Oh, he's too ragged and too dirty II
l could get me a new suit of clothes
and everybody don't want me, and
Here fresh storm of sObs shook the
small frame.
But you haven't told me yet what
you are doing on board this shipl" sale
the captain, preserving his severity
with an effort.
"The ship was going to America,
answered the boy. Everybody is ricl
in America. Everybody wants 20,
there, you see. Tom Dixey went there
and makes load of money"
"That's all very WE'LL" responded
the captain; "but people who go t.
America pay for their passage, and t.
. hide away SO as to go without paying il
Just the same as stealing so mucl
money. Don't you know that?"
Evidently the boy had never takel
up al tbs captains stern face with
! frightened and startled expression
Then he began a hurried search in tn,
pockets of his ragged jacket. From
: one he drew forth two coppers, from
another a silver sixpence, and from
third shilling, much battered, chippe,
! and defaced. These he held out towar
Q the captain.
Q "This is all I've got now. l earne
the sixpence and the two pennies; tn