Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-04-27

out of her.
With the fall of the night the gale
increased in violence. The captain
remained on deck, taking position
near the rail where he could keep an
eye on the rigging. Near him, shell
tered by the bulwarks, sat little Joby,
on coil of rope.
At first the noise and confusion, the
thunder of the water, the shrek of the
wind through the cordage, and the
wild pitching of the ship had fright
ened the boy. But when by the light
of the lantern he saw the calm, reso-
luton of the captains face, he felt re-
lieved, and rather enjc.- @%hs
ment of the storm.
Suddenly, just as the Coz -
shouting an order through his
pet, vast billow struck the vess5rs
side with an awful 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 a small
figure was seen to leap upon the rail,
cling there u moment, and then leap
out into the darkness and then disap-
pear.
"Man overheard"
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 n
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, 1--WE could never find them in
the daytime, let alone such a night as
this"
I'm afraid not" answered the
mate, sadly. Poor old manL
boy! IIarl, what was that
Falcon, ahoy" The sn
loud and strong from the aus
not twenty yards from where the shff,
lay.
1.-THE ,.aptain" shouted a dozen
glad voices.
Delay your jaw there, ye lubbers!
Tail on to that line and haul US aboard,
or we'll be adrift."
Line! Us! What could he mean?
But tho mates had already discovered
a curious thing-a light but strong
rope, fastened to a ring in the bull
warlk and extending outward into the
darkness, toward the spot whence the
captains voice proceeded. 1t was
drawn tight, as II some heavy burden
were towing at the end of it.
In an instant sturdy arms were pull
ing at it with will. Then a stout
rope was lowered, and up TO it, like a
monkey, scrambled Joby, followed
more slowly by Captain Essex.
Joby, with his eye on the captain,
had seen him carried overheard. lie
knew that one end of the coil of
light, tough rope upon which he sat
was secured to the bulwarlz. Without
pausing to think of his own danger,
he took the free end in his teeth, and
was in the water nearly as soon as
the captain himself.
Though he could swim like a duck,
he was borne helplessly along on the
crest of the waves, almost into the
arms of Captain Essex, who caught
him as he was sweeping by. The
captain fastened the line about both
of their bodies; and partly swimming
and partly lowed by the ship, they
had managed to keep their heads
above water until the Falcon 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 pom
dering some important question.
Finally he presented himself before
the captain in his cabin.
"Well, my boy" said the captain,
what can do for your"
"a mans life is worth good deal
of money, isn't it?" asked Joby, twirl-
ing his cap as he spoke. mot boy
like me but a grown man."
Eyes, of course, my lad"
swell, then" said Joby, twirling
his hat still more nervously, "they
say l saved your life last night |
don't say it was much, you sec. ANY
fellow who could swim could do the
same; only / happened to do It."
Eyes, you certainly did, Joby. AND
what then?"
you see-you see," stammered
Joby, 81 thought thought that Won
would pay for my passage; and then it
wouldn't be stealing, you know"
Joe could not make out why the
captains voice should be so husky, as
he said:
"Joby, my lad, while old Tom Es-
sexs hulk holds together, and single
timber Of him floats, you shall never
want for n berth or be without a
friend"
Sensitive Spirit.