The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-04-01
THE FORBIDDEN DOOR
An Adventure That BefelI Two Boys
on Shipboard.
BY f. MANON.

Jack and took our first sea voyage
on board III. NJ. :. Porterman from
Southampton. England, several years
ago. We found Captain Thornton,
who was our fathers friend, very
pleasant man, and he seemed to be
anxious that our trip should be as en-
joyable as possible. Then, again, Jack,
who was 10 years old, had never been
on board ship before, and as was five
years older and knew something about
sailing vessel, took pleasure in ex-
planning to him many things that he
did not understand.
When we ran up the gang plank,
following our father on board the POr-
terman, we tried to see who should get
on deck first, and in our haste We ran
plump into the arms of a short, stout
man with bushy whiskers, who was
talking TO father, and who we after
wards learned was the captain. Jack
fell over the captains feet, while L
could not stop myself, so my head
bumped against his arm and over
went on the deck.
s'Hello ~ he shouted, in a voice like
fog-horn and laughing heartily I;
''what is the meaning of this, young
gentlemen? Is it mutiny? | never
had crew yet that came on board in
such hurry"
Then he laughed again, a cherry,
ringing laugh, and grasping each of us
by hand lifted us to our feet while
father introduced Us.
OF course the first thing we did was
to explore nearly every part of the YES
sci. | was telling Jack that the galley,
or cabOose, was the place where the
cooking was done, when the captain,
overhearing us talking about his ship,
stepped up and said:
"Well, young gentlemen, suppose
you know what ship is ~
This is ship" i answered.
"How do you know that?n he asked
and his eyes twinkled.
Jack looked at me, bat | think /
looked rather foolish. The captain
laid his hand on my shoulder and said
kindly:
always remember this master Tom:
A ship is a vessel furnished with a
bowsprit and three masts, a mainmast,
foremast and a mizzenmast, each of
which is composed of a loyermast, a
topmast and topgallant mast, and
square-rigged. Do you know what
square-rigged means?"
81 think | know that, SIR" | an
swered. at means when the chief
sails are extended 10y yards and sus-
pended by the middle"
That's right" said the captain.
Then he caught Jack by the chin and
asked: "Nell, little MILDLY, do you
know what you boys and myself are
going TO have for dinner today"
Jack shook his curly head.
"Roast ptarmigans," said the cap
tain, smacking his lips.
AS neither of us knew what ptar-
migan was, the captain explained that
it il bird Of the grouse family having
its feet feathered down to its toes that
the plumage is ash-coIored in summer
and almost all white in winter. Also
that they live in the tops of mountains,
in the cold countries, and come down
into the valleys to feed, living on ber-
ries, buds of trees and insects.
After dinner | continued my explain
ations to jack about the ship, for | did
not want him to think that l knew no
more than the captain had given Inc
credit for.
'sThis box, Jack" / began, ais the
binnacle, and it contains the mariners
compass, the needle of which always
points towards the north. The lamp
inside is lighted at night to show the
captain his course"
"Where do the sailors live? ?" inter
rupted Jack, who was not paying much
attention to the pinnacle, but was
watching several of the sailors, who
We're coiling rope.
''They live in the forecsstle," | re-
piled. "It is in the forward part of the
ship under the deck"
Just then q brisk little man, hurry
ing across the deck to speak to the cap
tain, stumbled and almost fell over the
coil of rope. One of the sailors laugh
ed. and said softly to his companion
'sThere goes old Candles" !"
''He is the ships chandler, Jack" L
said, taking the cue, ''and supplies