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

was not a good one either. The sea was
smooth and the wind was light, but tho
sky was overcast and there vas n low
lying haze which narrowed the horizon
down TO a circle half q mile In diane
ter. Tho water over the ships side
looked black and oily, aud here and
there when a lazy crest reflected tho
beams Of one of the vessels lights the
glitter of II was lurid and baleful. On
deck all was silent save for tho occa-
sional i'll tempered comments Of tho first
mate, who was ON watch and had a
sailors disposition toward thick wealth
CT.
what In Africa Is that Stating
about so ON the main topsail yard?
Here, you. tumble up and see what's
adrift."
His words were addressed to a tall,
muscular boy who had been leaning
against the rail and staring thoughtful-
Nv into the sea. Ferris James bad been
IL a dark r~everie. He was not q happy
boy, for everything seemed to him to
havo gone wrong. His father, once q
man of means, had died bankrupt, loav-
ing him absolutely penniless. Ferris
WAS lulu kAuu " cEN1A0 q VIII 49, az
ordinary seaman aboard tho ship Glen
dover, outward bound for Bombay. 1t
was while he was meditating on his
changed circumstances that he received
the curt order Of the mate and respond
cd with the instructive faye, aye, sir.
The boy. strong aud active, with the
elert sinews Of II years, danced up the
ratlines like a 1.-the cat and was soon
out upon the yard, which had the swing
Of a gigantic seesaw. Ferris examined
cne-half foot by foot till he found him
Eelf on the extreme end OF the yardarm.
a moment later-he never knew how
it happened-the yard seemed to slip
from under him. and he shot downward
with a sudden plunge into the sea. lie
barely had time to utter a startled cry
before the waters closed over him.
When he camo to the surface, he saw
something round and white boating
near him. He grasped at it and found
that it was a life buoy which had beon
thrown from the ship. The vessel her
self was fast slipping into the impene-
trable gloom. He knew that q boat
would be lowered, but he doubted that
1t would find him ON such n thick night.
After a time he began to emit at intervals
the SAILORS farreaching "Aho-o-o-yl'
There was no Response out Of the pitch
like ~blackness, and when three-quarters
Of an hour had passed Ferris, with q
strange feeling OF indifference, stopped
shouting.
Afeeling of irresistible lsssitude stole
over the boy. and a weird numbness
Crept through his limbs. He felt as if he
were overpowered by sleep. and twist
ing his arms in the life line of the buoy,
which be had managed to get over his
head and down under his arms, no al
lowed his head to fall on one side, and
he lost consciousness He made no re-
~sistance, for he felt that such a life az
his was not worth struggling for. HC
remembered dimly afterward that bis
last thought was, 81 wonder where III
wake up2"
Very much to bis own surprise, be
awoke in the same ~place-adrift in the
north Atlantic, with only n circle OF
cork and canvas between him and the
great circle Of eternity. For a few mo-
ments he rested languidly, scarcely
moving even his hands. Then a sparl
Of hope fired him with a desire TO scar
the sea. He raised his head and slowly
swept a gaze around his narrow hori-
zon. He smiled at his own lack Of on
thusiasm when he alphabetically discov.
cred a bark not moro than a mile away.
The bark looked miserable. Her sparl
were all awry, and her rigging waf
full Of slack lines. She steered an or
ratio course, under scant canvas, and
altogether showed evidence Of utter do.
moralization.
There must be a sick or mutinoul
crow aboard there" muttered Ferris
IL wonder whichf''
The thought that a vessel might pas
near him in his desperate plight gav'
him o sudden desire to live, or at leas
not TO perish 80 miserably. He began Il
think how he could make some sigma
that might be seen aboard the bari
when sine erraically changed her cours
directly toward him and oamo splashinI
cumbrously across the dun gray sea hk
q great wounded bird.
Presently the vessel was not NOR
than 800 yards away, aud the boy raise,
his voice In fsr cry, Bark a~ho-o-o-yF
Out Of the tangle Il wrecknge for
ward was a raised face, which even a
that distance looked pale and haggard
Its owner peered q moment over the wa
ters and then waved his hand. The mex
instant two or three other forms ap
peared on the bark's forecastle, and SD
shifted her helm. Ferris saw that al
her boats save a small dingy at the por
quarter davits were stove in, and pres
emily he saw four seamen slowly and Ia
horiously lowering away the dingy. A
tbsy came alongside the boy they gaze
ut him with a dull curiosity In thel
luck luster eyes. and one Of them said
"What are you doin theref"
Done you think you'd better say