The Jamesburg record., 1898-04-02


around the melancholy deck Stova
ooats' tangled rigging, pieces of shat
tered spars, splintered hencoops and
broken skylights combined to make a
scene OF destruction such as the boy had
never beheld before. Presently the crew
got the dingy to her davits. and then
one OF the men who had pulled her
oeckoned Ferris to 60 aft.
Now" he thought, "I shall be 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 seamen.
It's 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,
What's 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 we expect in this here
bark! Why, she's regular Jonah"
But I'm willing to work" said
Ferris. I'm good seaman, and I'm
ready to turn to and do my share, or
even little more, for you men look as
if you were used up"
Used up!" said Tom Hulkins, the
spokesman of the crew. "Well, / should
say so. Look at the bark"
Yes, I've noticed her state," said
Ferris.
No, you haven't answered Hull
kins, because it amt all to be noticed.
I'll tell you all about it.
Then the seaman described how some
lays previous they had encountered a
terrific gale, during which the captain,
both mates and four sailors were wash
ed overheard 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
shipmates turned and scanned the hori-
zon with pallid faces and clinched teeth
The whole speechless horror of the
crews experience rose before Ferris
mind in picture Of misery. The next
moment he was transformed from an in
different boy to a hopeful man. Here
was work for him to do, and in living
for others he would find it worth while
to live for himself
"Your compass is a good one, isn't
it," he asked.
eyes, it's good enough" answered
Hulkins.
SIS there chronometer aboard?'
Certainly.
"Is it running?"
"Yes, 1 kept it wound up. I don't
know what for. y
"Charts and sextant all right?"
eyes, but what do you mean? Can
you
eyes, I CAMP exclaimed Ferris. 81
can navigate.
The glow of crimson that sprang into
the pallid faces was like the first sun
light after an arctic winter. For an in
stant all were silent. Then the men fell
to laughing, crying and embracing one
another like a lot of hysterical girls.
"Will you take command of this
bark, sir?'' asked Hulkins as soon as he
could master his emotion.
"I'm no sir, " said Ferris. "I'm
Just an ordinary seaman, but I'll navl-
gate you to the nearest port.
"Hurrah!" cried the crew.
"Nov, lads" said Hulkins, "let's
turn to and try and get her into some
shape aloftF'
"Aye, ayep' was the willing re-
sponse as the men made dash Tor the
rigging ~
Ferris went into the captain S cabin
and found the chronometer running.
As a measure Of precaution he wounu
it himself and then got out the seXtang
and chart. Presently he went on deck
to take a morning observation for longl-
tude. At noon Ferris got his LATITUDE
and found that the course Tor 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 se9
the bark made comfortable five knots
an hour directly on her course. 1t was
lust after sunrise on the morning OF tne
third day that one of the men cried'
"Land hoP'
Four hours later the bark was rlolns
Aol,or in Faval roads, and Ferris
felt as if his occupation was gone. bu'
no officer could be obtained at that port
and it became Ferris duty after tne
necessary repairs had been made to snip
five seamen and continue the voyage 10
T;verpool, for which port the Vessei