Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1898-04-22
ADRIFT IN MID OCEAN

1t was not bad night at sea. but It
was not a good one, either. The sea
was smooth and the wind was light.
but the sky was overcast, and there
was a low-lying haze which narrowed
the horizon down to a circle half a
mile in diameter. The water over the
ships side looked black and oily and
here and there, when lazy crest re-
hected the bes<ns OF one of the ves-
sells lights, the glitter Of it was lurid
and baleful. On deck all was silent.
save for the occasional in-tempered
comments of the first mate, who was
on watch, and had a sailors disposi-
tion toward thick weather.
What in Africa is that Stating
about so on the main top-sail 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 thought
fully into the sea- Ferris James had
been In dark reverie. He was not a
happy boy, for everything seemed to
him to have gone wrong. His father,
once man OF means, had died bank
rupt, leaving him absolutely penni-
less. Ferriss was then glad to secure
berth as an ordinary seaman aboard
the ship Glendower. outward bound
for Bombay. 1t was while he was
meditating on his changed circum-
stances that he received the curt or
der Of the mate and responded with
the instructive "Ay, ay, sir"
The boy, strong and active, with the
alert sinews of seventeen years, dane
ed up the ratlines like 1.-the cat. and
was soon out upon the yard, which had
the swing OF a gigantic sea-saw. Fer
ris examined one half foot by foot till
he found himself 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. He barely had time to
utter startled cry before the waters
closed over him.
When he came to the surface he
saw something round and white float
ing near him. He grasped at il, and
found 1t was a life-buoy which had been
thrown from the ship. The vessel
herself was fast slipping into the i'm
penetrable gloom. He knew that a
boat would be lowered, but he doubted
that it would find him on such a thick
night. After time he began to emit
at intervals the sailors far-reaching
"Aho-o-o-y!" There was no response
nrrt Nf 14 A,l
when three-quarters OF an hour had
passed, Ferris, with a strange feeling
of Indifference. stopped shouting.
A feeling of irresistible lassitude
stole over the boy, and a weird numb
ness crept through his limbs. He felt
as If he were overpowered by sleep,
and twisting his arms in the life line
of the buoy, which he had managed to
get over his head and down under his
arms, he allowed his head to fall on
one side, and he losl consciousness.
He made no resistance, for he felt that
such life as his was not worth strug-
Cling for. He remembered dimly af-
terwards that his last thought was,
Il wonder where I'll wake up?''
Very much to his own surprise, he
awoke In the same place-adrift in the
North Atlantic, with only circle of
cork and canvas between him and the
great circle of eternity. For a few
moments he rested languidly, scarce
ly moving even his hands. Then a
spark Of hope fired him with a desire
to scan the sea. He raised his head
and slowly swept a gaze around his
narrow horizon. He smiled at his own
lack of enthusiasm when he apatheti-
cally discovered barque not more
than mile away
The barque looked miserable. Her
spars were all awry, and her rigging
was full of slack lines. She steered
an erratic course, under scant can
vas, and altogether showed evidence
Of utter decentralization.
There must be a sick or mutinous
crew aboard there" muttered Ferris.
II wonder which,"
Presently the vessel was not more
than 800 yards away, and the boy rails.
ed his voice in far cry, "Barque aho-
o-o-y!"
Out Of the tangle of wreckage for
ward was raised face, which even at
that distance looked pale and haggard.
Its owner peered moment over the
waters and then waved his hand. The
next instant two or three other forms
appeared on the barque's forecastle,
and she shifted her helm. Ferris saw
that all her boats, save a small dingy
at the port quarter davits, were stove
In, and presently he saw four seamen
slowly and laboriously lowering away
the dingy. AS they came alongside
the boy they gazed at him with a dull
curiosity In their lack-lustre eyes, and
one of them said
what are you doin' there?"