Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-07-15

49, 1850 49," AN"HI ~ HHA8
buoy in after him, after which the ros-
cued boy told TIE story Of his plight.
They were 10Y alongside tho bark.
and Ferris clambered aboard, where he
was received IN a sort Of dazcd silence.
Tho crew hoistod tho light dingy slow
ly and feebly, when tho boy gazed
around tho melancholy deck. Stovo
boats. tangled rigging, pieces Of shat
tered spRrs, splinto cd hencoops and
broken skylights combined to make q
scene Of destruction such as the boy had
never beheld before. Presently the crew
got the dingy TO her dayits, and then
one Of the men who had pulled hor
beckoned Ferris TO go aft.
"Now." he thought, II shall DO TAX
en- to the captain and shall learn what's
wrong here.
AS he approached the knot Of men on
the poop deck he saw that they were all
ordinary senmen.
''It's n mutinous crew" he thought.
They've got the captain in irons be-
low, and they wish me to join them
or join him."
what's your name?'' asked one Of
the men, who seemed to be their leader.
Ferris James"
whats your rating?'
Ordinary seaman" he answered.
A groan Of dissatisfaction emanated
from the little knot of men.
"Just our luck. said the spokesman.
"What could wo expect in this here
bark? Why, she's a regular Jonah"
"But I'm willing to work" said
Ferris. I'm a good seaman, and I'm
ready to tnrn to and DO my shnre, or
even a little more, for you men look as
ii you were used up"
used upl" said Tom Hulkins, tho
spokesman Of tho crew. "Well, / should
say SO. Look at the back"
Eyes, I've noticed her state, eaid
Ferris.
"No, you haven't" answered Hui.
kins, because it amt all to benoticed.
I'll tell you all about it,"
Then tho eaman described how some
days previous they had encountered q
terrific gale, during which the captain,
both mates aud four sailors wero wash
ed overheard and drowned. Some sails
and oil their boats were lost. They were
all worn out and had lost courage, he
added, as there was no one OH board
who could navigate the ship.
When the mal ceased talking, q dry
sob shook his frame, while some Of his
shipmstes turned and scanned the hori-
zon with palIid faces and clinohed teeth.
The whole speechless horror of tho
crews experience rcso before Ferris
mind in a picture Of misery. The next
moment he was transformed from an ill.,
different boy to a hopeful man. Here
was work for him to do, and in living
for others he would find IL worth while
to live for himself.
"Your compass is q good one, isn't
it," he asked.
Eyes, it's good enough" answered
Hulkins.
us there a chroncreter aboard?"
Certainly"
SIS it running"
Eyes, l kept it wound Up. IGon't
know what for"
"Charts and sextant all right?"
Eyes, but what do you mean7 CaS
YOU
eyes, 1 cant" exclaimed Ferris. 81
can navigate"
Tho glow Of crimson that epraug intC
the pallid faces wal like tho first sun
light after an arctic winter. For an Ia
slant all were silent. Then the men Eel,
to laughing, crying and embracing on'
another like a lot of hysterical girls.
"Will you take command Of thii
bark, sir?" asked Hulkins as soon as hC
could master his emotion.
"I'm no sir" said Ferris. "I'n
just an ordinary seaman, but I'll navi
gate you to the nearest port"
"Hurrahr' cried the crew.
} "Now, lads" said Hulkins, "let'l
/, turn to and try and get her into som'
shape alofti'
"Aye, ayer' WIS tho willing re
} sponso as the men made a dash for thu
, rigging.
Ferris went into the captains cabiI
and found the ~chronometer running
AS a measure of precaution no woun'
IL himself and then got out the sextan
and chart. Presently no went on decl
to take a morning observation for longi
tude. At noon Ferris got his latitudl
and found that tho course for Fayal
one Of the Azores, was east by north
The wind held fair, and under such can
vas as the little crew was able to SC
) the bark made a comfortable fvo knot
an hour directly N her course. II wa
just after sunrise on the morning Of tn
third day that one Of the men cried
"Land hoP'
Four hours later tho bark was riding
at anchor in Fayal roads, and Ferri
felt as II his occupation was gone. Blu
no officer could DO obtained at that port
and IL became Ferris duty after th
9soessary repairs had been mado to shi.
t dNe seamen and continue the voyage {
0 Liverpool, for which port the vesse
l was bound.
On the arrival OF tho bark ut its des
0 tination great was the joy of the own
ers, who had given her up for lost
Q They rewarded Ferris with a snug sun
Of money and made him second mate G
Q the vessel. Ferris invested his cash i
! the bark's next voyage, which brough
him a substantial profit. Five year
: later he was a shipowner himself an
{ in q fair way to become rich. He ofte