The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-15
MY CABIN BOY.

Wncn ii was aDOub ~ ytufS VI ukc, toOA
command OF the ship Petersham. We were
bound to Liverpool, and nothing unusual
hsu.cned until the eighth day out, when
we ran foul Of a small iceberg
MY cabin boy was named Jack Withers.
He was ID years of age, and this was his
FIRST voyage.
fanoied that he was the most stubborn
piece of humanity l had ever como across.
made up my mind that he had never
been properly governed and had resolved
10 break him in. told him I'd curb his
temper before I'd done with him. In reply
he told me might kill him II / liked.
One day, when it was very near noon, j
spoke to him, telling him to bring up my
quadrant. He was looking over the quarter
rail, and knew he did not hear me. But
the next time i spoke spoke sharply and
intimated that If he didn't move would
help him.
81 didn't hear you," he said in an inde-
pendent tone.
mo words, said /.
II suppose / can speak, I" he retorted
moving slowly toward the companionway.
His looks, words and the slow, careless
snsnDcr In which hs moved fired me in a
d. moment grasped him by the COLLAR
"Speak to me again like that and I'll
a uOH you NlJDlu al VI yOuT 6ti0 L.
'You can flog away" he answered as
firm as rock.
And 1 did fog him. caught up the
end Of rope and beat him till my arm
fairly ached. But he never WINGED.
"How's that?' said /.
There's little more life in me yet.
You'd better fog it out" was the reply.
Ard beat him again. / beat him till
he sank from my hand TO the floor.
i sent one of the mon for my quadrant,
but when IL came and had adjusted il
for observation 1 found that the sun had
already passed the meridian and that was
too hate.
This added fuel TO the fire of my mad
ness and seizipg the lad by the collar
led him to the main hatchway and had
tho hatch taken OF. thrust him down
and swore would keep him there till his
stubborpness was broken.
About . O'Clock went to the hatchway
and called TO him. But he returned no
answer So 1 closed the hatch and went
away. An hour afterward i went again;
~ III no answer.
did not trouble him again until next
morning. After breakfast went 90 the
hstchway and called TO him once more.
heard nothing from him, nor could / sec
him. Yet the men told me they had heard
him that very morning. He seemed to he
calling on them for help. But he would
not answer me. meant to break him in
10 It.
He'll beg before he'll starve," I
thought, and so determined TO let him stay
there
The day passed away, and when evening
oaDe began 70 DC startled. He had been
in the hold So hours. and 40 hours without
feed or drink. He must be too weak 10
cry out now.
20 n. length made up my mind To &C
and see him. A little way forward saw
a ssace where Jack might easily have gone
down, and 10 this point crawled on my
hands and knees. i called out there, but
c,srld get no answer. A short distance
farther was wide space, which had
entirely forgotten. hut which i now re
member lad been left open on account Of
h-uak in the nooring OF the held. which
would let anything that might have been
stored there rest directly Oh the thin pla nix
ing Of the ship.
/ heard The splashiag Of water. and
thought could detect a sound like the in
coming Of a tiny Jet or stream. At first
could see nothing. but as soon as became
used 10 the dim light could distinguish
the fsint outlines OF the boy sitting on the
broken floor, with his fees stretched CUT
against a cask.
Jack, are you there:''
Yes Help me- Fer mercy's sake, help
IDei Bring men and bring a lantern. The
ship has sprung leak!'
WAITED 20 hear no more, but hurried on
deck at onoe and soon returned with a Lam
tern and three men. Three of the tirnbers
81.
of the cutter planks had been broken and
would have burst in any moment the boy
might leave 1.-THE boy whose feet were
braced against the plank before him.
saw the plank must burst the moment
the strain was removed from il, SO | made
the men brace themselves against IL before
lifted him up. Other men were called
down, with rlanks, etc, and after much
difficulty We finally succeeded in stopping
the leak and ayertiDg the danger.
Jack Witbers was carried 10 the cabin in
my own arms and there he managed 10
tellshis story.
He had sat with his feet braced for four
and twenty hours with the water squirting
all over him and drenching him TO the
skin. His limbs were racked with pain,
but he would not give up.
i nursed him with my own hands
nursed him all through his deIirium--and
when his reason returned and he could sit
up and talk humbly asked his pardon for
all the wrong bad done him. He threw
his arms around my neck and told me IL /
would be good TO him be would never give
cause Of ofiense. He added as he sat up
again: II am not coward. could not be
dog"
!a During nine years have sailed In three
different ships with the same crew. Not a
man could be hired 10 leave me saye foran
officers berth. And Jack Withers remain
ed with me l3 years. sIondon News.
A Frie,aiy Art Critfcisa.
90 "A neat little correspondence took place
A~A.- n -. A l. L.