The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-07-09

! and then one of the men who had pulled
her beckoned Ferris to go aft.
"Now,' he thought, 81 shall be taken
! to the captain and shall learn what's wrong
here"
AS lie approached the knot of men on
the poop deck he saw that they were all
| ordinary seamen.
Its a mutnous crew." he thought.
"Ihey've got the captain in irons below
and they wish me join them or join him"
whats your name?' asked one of the
men, who seemed to be their leader.
Ferris James"
whats your rating?''
"Ordnary seaman" he answered.
groan Of dissatisfaction emanated from
the little knot of men.
Just our luck" said the spokesman.
Nv hat could we expect in this here bar
que? Why, she's a regular Jonah -
But I'm willing to work, said Ferris.
I'm good seaman, and Pm ready to
turn to do my share or even little more.
for you men look as if you were used up"
Used upn' said Tom Hulkins, the
spokesman OF the crew. "Well | should
say so. Look at the barque'
Ives, I've noticed her state" said Fer.
| ris.
NO, you haven't" answered Hulkins,
because it amt all to be noticed III
tell you all about it -
Then the seaman described how some
days previous they had encountered ter
rifle gale, during which the captain. both
mates and four sailors were washed over
board and drowned. Some sails and all
their boats were lost. They were all
worn out and had lost courage, he added,
as there was no one on board who could
/ navigate the ship,
When the man ceased talking dry sob
shook his frame, while some of his ship.
, mates turned and scanned the horizon with
palld faces aud clepched teeth. The whole
| speeches. horror Of the crews experience
rose before Ferris mind in a picture of
misery. The next moment he was trans
formed from an Indifferent boy to a hope
full man, Hero Vas work for him to do,
and In living for others he would find it
worth while to live for himself,
your compass is good one, isn't it,
he asked.
Eyes, it's good enough" answered HUI
kins.
as there chronometer aboard?"
| Certainly"
SIS it running?"
Eyes; kept it wound up: don't know
what for"
| ''Charts and sextant all right"
eyes; but what do you mean? Can you
eyes, CAM exclaimed Ferris 81 can
navigate"
The glow of crimson that sprang into the
pallid faces was like the first sunlight after
an Arctic winter. For an instant all were
silent. Then the men fell to laughing cry
ing and embracing one another like a lot
of hysterioal girls.
| "Will you take command OF this bark,
sir?" asked Hulkins, ms soon as he could
master his emotion.
"I'm no 'sir,' said Ferris; Ppm Just
an ordinary seaman, but I'll navigate you
to the nearest port"
"Hurrahv" cried the crew.
''Now, lads" said Hulkins, 'lets turn
to and try and get her into some shape
aloit!'
Gay, ay"' was the willing response, as
the men made dash for the rigging.
Ferris went into the captains cabin, and
found the ohronometer running. As a
measure Of precaution he wound it himself
and then got out the sextant and chart
Presently he went on deck to take morn.
ing observation for longitude At noon
Ferris got his latitude, and found that the
course for Fayal, one of the Azores, was
east by north. The wind held fair, and
under such canvass as the little crew was
able to set the barque made comfortable
five knots an hour directly on her course.
| 1t was just after sunrise on the morning of
the third day that one of the men cried,
Land hop
Four hours later the barque was riding
at anchor in Fayal roads, and Ferris felt as
il his occupation was gone. But no officer
could be obtained at that port, and it be-
came Ferris duty, after the necessary re-
pairs had been made, to ship five seamen
and continue the voyage to Liverpool, Tor
which port the vessel was bound.
On the arrival Of the barque at its dest.
nation great was the Joy of the owners,
who had given her up for lost. They re-
warded Ferris with snug sum Of money
and made him second mate Of the vessel.