The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-05-11

come ont of her But she was a
stanch, Nvell-buiij craft anI had passed
sa ely through many a worse tenn
pest
with the fall of the night the gale in
ere tsed in violence The sails had
been reduced To the heavy lower can
vas, just sufficient to stea ~ the ves-
sell The captain remained on deck,
taking IA position near the rail, where
he could keep an eye on the rigging.
Near him, sheltered by the bulwarks,
sat little .Ioby on a coil of rope.
Suddenly, just as the captain was
shouting an order through n trumpet,
vast biliow seem. d Ia rise cut of tn
glo pn aui bear down upon the ship.
1t struck tin. els side with an aw-
full roar, throwing tons of water ON the
deck Before he couiI save himself the
captain WAS liftel from his feet and
flung overheard into the sea.
Almost at the same instant a small
figure was seen To leap upon the rail,
cling there moment, and theE leap
outward into the darkness and disap-
pear.
Man overheard"
The terrible cry rang above the roar
of the tempest For Il moment ali was
panic and confusion. Then, un Ter the
mates command, the ship was roundeI
To. with her head To the wind, and
boat ordered To- be lowered.
NO use" said one Of the men to the
mate, who stood by the rail near
where the captain had fallen over
board. I'VE could never find them in
the day time, let alone such a night as
this
II am afraid not" answered the mate
sadly. Poor old man! Poor boy! Iiark!
What was that?'
Falcon, ah"y." The shout came
long and strong from the darkness,
not twenty yards from where the ship
lay.
The captain!' cried dozen glad
voices.
''Belay 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 thiug-a light but strong rope,
fastened To ring in the bulwark and
extending outward in the darkness to-
ward the spot whence the captains
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 a Will. Then stout
rope was lowered, and up it like "a
mouNey scrambled Joby, followed
more slowly by Capt. Essex
Then n great cheer went up, drown
ing The roar of the storm itself. as the
crew gathered about th. dripping
forms OF the captain and his little
friend 4 few words served To ex-
plain what had happened.
Jopy. with ms eye on the captain.
mad seen him carried overheard. He
knew that one end of the coil of light,
though strong rope upon which ne sat
was secured II the bulwarlS, for he had
tied the knot himself that very day.
Without pausing IL think of his own
danger. he took the free end of the
rope between his teeth aud was in the
water nearly as soon as the captain
himself
Though he could swim like "a duck,
lac was borne helplessly along on the
crest of the waves almost into the
arms of Capt Essex. no 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 + .lcon was hove to.
The storm blew itself out during
the night, and 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.
We'll. my boy" said the captain,
what can | do for you?"
Il mans life Is worth a good deal of
money, isn't it?" asked Joby, twirling
his cap ncrvously as he spoke. Not
b Y like me, but a grown man"
Yes, 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
cap still more nervously, they say
saved your life last night. l don't say
it was much. you see Any fellow who
could swim could do the same thing
only | happened to do it"
Yes, You certai?ly did it, Joby. And
what them
You see you see" stammered
Joby, II thought that would pay for
my passage. Then it wouldn't be steal
ing, you know"
Joby could not make out why the
captains honest eyes should suddenly
grow moist, nor why the captains
right arm almost squeezed the breath
out of his small body, nor yet why the
captains voice should be SO husky as
he said:
'Joby, my lad, while old Tom
EsseX's hulk holds together, and a
single tim Der of him floats, you shall
never want for berth or be without a
friend london Tid-Bits.