The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-04
THE LOOKOUT.


pies like the twisted strands OF q rope.
my eyesI It's stormy night, mates, and
I shouldn' t wonder if we should be brought
up all of sudden before long ag'in some
of them big RATS of ice that we saw to lee
ward few hours ago. Tom Cummings,
d'you see, is on the lookout, and there new
er was lazier dog than he is
'Old Bungs viii see to him, Jack, - an
swered one of the shipmates. Hes
walked forward already no less than half
dozen times in order to see that he's
keepin sharp eye about him.
'sAye, aye cried Jack, 'tbut if Bungs
had gone little closer to him wouldn't
be afraid to wager considerable that he'd
find Cummings sittin on his knees, with
his head upon his breast and fast asleep.
In fact, feel so sartin of this that shall
go for'ard at once and wake him up"
So saying he fastened along the lee
gangway, and on gaining the knightheads
he discovered that his surmise was correct.
The lookout man was leaning against
the bowsprit snorting melodiously.
Jack woke him up with rough shake,
and the startled seaman sprang to his feet.
you'd better keep your eyes open,
lad - said the old tar. sit isn't honorable
it isn't doin your duty or actin right,
by any of US to go to sleep on SIGH night
as this. Besides, you're liable to freezs
to death, AND
"Aye, ave. interrupted Tom. ''You are
right, Jack, and for the life O. me I can G
imagine how my eyes came to close. I'll
keep 'e1n open the rest of the lockout,
promise you"
eth be best for you to do so,'' answered
Jack, land hope you'll keep your word -
So saying, he started to go aft, when a
dark figure suddenly bounded before him,
and crouching at his feet laid his great
shaggy head against the palm of the old
seaman's outstretched hand
Aye, aye, you re a noble dog, 'Nep-.
tune said Jack as he caressed the ani-5
NAL, land we've all learned TO look upon
you in the light of shipmate."
Neptune shook his tail and uttered an
aniable growl of satisfaction.
Then he rose upon his hind feet and
pressed his fore paws upon the sailors
breast.
tits cold night, Neptune, isn't itg"
Cum up, uml'' answered the dog
"And there's some danger of US running
a-foul of the icebergs, mater
The dog nodded and whined, then sprang
to the lee bulwarks, and thrusting his nose
over the rail peered earnestly through the
gloom.
do you see anything, my 1ad?'
The animal shook his head in the mega
tive, and with a gleeful bark returned to
the side of the old tar.
Neptune continued Jack in low
''I'd like to have you jump on the knight
heads and keep a lookout. The man we've
got there, d ye see, Lad, is liable at any
moment to go to Sleep
Neptune barked Indignantly; then jump
ing upon the knightheads he seated him
self by the side of Tom Cummings, with
his head and ears erect.
''Hes jolly lad, that Newfoundlander 4"
muttered Jack as he moved toward the
quarter deck, land he'll stay where he is
and do his duty like an honest tar, bless
his eyesl''
A thick fog bank, which for many hours
had rested the western horizon, was
now spreading over the sea.
The moon, which had occasionally
emerged from the clouds that scattered
like snowdrifts from the sky, was now
obscured, and the darkness closed around
the ship like pail.
keep a sharp lookout there forwardl''
shouted the first mate from the quarter
deck.
"Aye, aye" answered Tom Cummings,
but the next moment his head dropped up
on his bosom, and he fell into q deep slum-
Der.
The mate continued his walk, pausing
occasionally near the pinnacle to look at
compass to listen to the yarns of the
watch, some of which were very amusing.
81 think we'll pass the ice foe on this
tack, " he remarked at length to the man
at the wheel. 81 thought so in the first
place, although the captain was of differ
ent way OF thinkin. -
faye, aye, sir, - replied the helmsman,
who was an old sailor. II hope you are
right, but sometimes body gets mistaken
in these ATTITUDES, where the current runs
SO strong. When I was in the'-
''Hark!'' suddenly interrupted the mate.
81 thought 1 heard the man on the look
out calm to u.s.
at is Neptunel'' cried old Jack "He
is barkin as never heard him bark be-
fore. He's got sharp eyes, that dog, and
wouldn't be afraid to bet that he's sighted
soInethin.''
So saying, the old tar hurried forward,
but he had scarcely gained the knightheads
when his deep voice was heard mingling
with the barking of the dog.
'tUp with the helInl "A big ice noun
tain right ahead Look sharp there, at
the WHEEL Look sharpl''
Such, indeed, was the fact.
The lookout man had fallen asleep, but
Neptune had kept a faithful watch, and on
seeing the rugged ice pyramid had given
notice of it in the manner described
The wheel was Immediately raised, and
the gallant ship went booming past the
lofty berg, just grazing its side with her
weather yardarIns.
Had the movement been delayed a mo-
ment longer the destruction of the ship,
with the loss of the greater part of the
crew, if not of all hands, would have been
the result
The old mate, a blunt, good natured fell
low, was so affected by the faithful, noble
behavior of the shaggy sentinel that he
threw both arms around the animals neck
and Rugged him to his breast, bestowing
upon him all the endearing nautical cpl
thets he could think of and swearing that
he should have all the fresh meat he want
ed when the vessel returned to the Sand
witch Islands.
As to Tom Cummings, he swore by his
honor as a sailor and man that it should
never again be said that a dog was obliged
To IerfnrIn the dI1t-- that he lInrr,l raaalect=