The Van Buren press., 1894-05-05

vas. Just sufficient 70 steady the YES
SCI The captain remained on deck,
taking position near the rail, where
he could keep an eye on the rifsfhe'
Near him, sheltered by the bulwarks,
sat little Joby on q coil OF rope
Suddenly, Just as the captain was
shouting an order through his trumpet
a vast billow seem ed TO rise outof tn
gloom and bear down upon the ship.
II struck the xess 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 a moment. and then leap
outward into the darkness and dikap'
pear.
Man overboardl'
The terrible cry rang above the roar
of the tempest For moment all was
panic and confusion. Then. under the
mates command, the ship was rounded
to. with her head 70 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. "we could never find them In
the day time, let alone such a night as
this"
81 am afraid not" answered the mate
sadly. Poor old man. Poor boy! Hark!
yTh.t .raS fhat2r
"Faleon, ahdyr' The shout came
long and strong from the darkness
not twenty yards from where the ship
lay. =,
'The captainl" cried dozen glad
voices.
"Belay your jaw there. ye lubbersl
Tail on that line and haul us aboard, or
| we'll be adrift"
Line. Usl What could he mean? But
the mate had already discovered Gu
rious thing--a light but strong rope,
fastened to a ring in the bulwark and
extending outward in the darkness to-
ward the spot whence the captains
voice proceeded. II was drawn tight,
as il 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 o
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
1 tatr
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 bulwark, 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 tho
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, and the next morning
dawned clear and calm. All the fore
noon Joby was observed to be very
grave and silent, as II he were ponder
ing some important question. Finally
he presented himself before the cap E
tain In the cabin.
"Well. my boy" said the captain,
''what can do for your"
"A mans life Is worth n good deal of
money, isn't it?" asked Joby, twirling
his cap nervously Us he spoke. mot a
boy like me, but 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 don't say
it was much, you see Amy fellow who
could swim could do the same thing
only happened to do it."
"Yes, you certainly did 1t, Joby. Ant
what thcn?'
You see you see" stammfret
Joby. IL thought that would pay TO-
my passage. Then it wouldn't be steal
ing, you know"
Joby could not make out why tn,
captains honest eyes should suddenly
grow moist, nor why the captain
right arm almost squeezed the breatl
ont of his small body, nor yet why TIL,
captains voice should be SO husky a
he said:
"Joby, my lad, while old Ton
Essex's hulk holds together, and
single timber of him floats, you shall
never want for berth or be without
friend. London Tid-Bits.