Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-06-17

!
tered Ferris. Il wonder whichi'
Presently the vessel was net
more than 300 yards away, and the
hoy raised his voice 10 far cry,
'Bdrqne aho O.o.y!
Out of the tangle of wreckage
forward was a raised face, which
even at that distance looked pale
and haggard. Its owner peered a
moment over the waters and then
waved his hand. The next instant
two or three other forms appear
ell on the barQues forecastIe, and
she shifted her helm. Ferris saw
that all her hoats, save a small
dIugy at the port quarter davits,
were stove in, and presently he
saw four seamen slowly and la.
borIousIy lowering away the ding.
AS they came alongside the boy
they gazed at him with dull
curiosity in their lack.lastre eyes.
and one of them said:
what are you dOin' therep
Don't you thlnk yon'd better
save me first, and ask me qnes-
tions afterwardsF' asked the boy.
Il s'pose so,' said the man in a
dull way.
Then be helped the boy to climb
into the boat, and pulled the Gen
dOweI's life buoy III after hin;
after which the rescued boy told
the story OF his plight.
They were alongside the bargne,
and Ferris clambered aboard,
where he Was rec-iYed in a sort OF
dazed silence. TIE crew holsted
the light dlngy slowly and feebly,
when the boy gazed around the
melancholy deck. Stove boats,
tangled rigging, pieces of sbatter.
ed spars, splintered hen.cOops, and
broken sky lights combiaed to
make scene of destruction such
as the hoy had never beheId be.
fore. Presently the crew got the
lingy to her davits, and then one
Ofthe men who had pulled her
beckoued Ferris to 90 aft.
Now he thought, Il shall h-
taken 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 seamen.
Tts a mutlnous crew. he thought
They've got the captain in irons
below, and they wish me to join
tbem-Or JON him.
whats yOur namei' asked one
of the mep, who seemed to be their
leader.
Ferris James,
whats your ratingP
Ordinary seaman he answered.
A groan of dlssatlsfac'lOn eman
ated from the little knot of men.
'Jnst Onr luck SAID the spokes
man FWhat cOnld we expect IN
this bere barqnei Why, she's a
regular JonahP
'But I'm willing to work. said
Ferris. T'm a good seaman, and
pm ready to tnrn to and do my
share or even little more for you
men look as il you we're used up
'Used npl' said Tom Hulkins,
the spokesman of the crew. 'Well
should say so! Look at the barque
yes, I've noticed her state 8 lid
Ferris.
No, yon haven't answered Hnl
kins,' 'becanse 1t ami AL to he
noticed. I'll tell yon all abont it,
Then the seaman described how
some davs previous they had en-
countered a terrific gale, during
which the captain, both mates and
four sailors we're washed over
board and drowned. Some sails
and all their boats we're lost. They
were all worn ont and had lost
courage, he added, as there was
no one on board who could nayi'
gate the ship.
When the man ceased talking a
dry sob shook Lis frame, while
some of mis- shlpmates turned and
scanned The horizon with paIlid
faces and clenched teeth. The
whole speechless horror of the
crews experience rose before Fer
ris' mind IN plctnre of misery.
The next moment be was trans
formed from an indifferent boy to
a hopeful man. Here was work
for him to do, and in living for
o. hers he would f0d 1t worth
while to live for himself.
your compass IS a good one,
isn't ilf' he asked.
Yes, Ivs good enough, answer
ed Hulkins.