Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-04-09
ADRIFT.

was not good one either. The sea was
smooth and the wind was light, but the
sky was overcast and there was low
lying haze which narrowed the horizon
down to a circle half mile in diane
ter. The water over the ships side
looked black and oily, and here and
there when lazy crest reflected the
beams of one of the vessels lights the
glitter of it was lurid and baleful. On
deck all was silent save for the coca
sional i'll tempered comments Of the first
mate, who was ON watch and had a
sailors disposition toward thick wealth
/ er.
"What in Africa is that Stating
about so on the main topsail yardf
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
ly into the sea. Ferris James had been
in dark reverie. He was not happy
boy, for everything seemed to him to
have gone wrong. His father, once a
man of means, had died bankrupt, leav-
ing him absolutely penniless. Ferris
was then glad to secure a berth as an
ordinary seaman aboard the 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
ed with the instructive AYE, aye, sir. ;"
The boy, strong and active, with the
alert sinews of II years, danced up the
ratlines like 1.-the cat and was soon
out upon the yard, which had the swing
of a gigantic seesaw. Ferris examined
one half foot by foot till he found him
self 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 floating
near him. He grasped at it and found
that it was life buoy which bad been
thrown from the ship. The vessel her
self was fast slipping into the impene-
trable gloom. He knew that boat
would be lowered, but he doubted that
it would find him on such thick night.
After time he began to emit at intervals
the sailors farreaching "Aho-o-o-y"
There was no response out of tho pitch
like blaokness, and 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 weird numbness
crept through his limbs. He felt as il he
were overpowered by sleep, and twist
ing his arms in the life line of the buoy,
which he had managed to get over his
head and down under his arms, he al
lowed his head to fall on one side, and
he lost consciousness He made no re-
sistance, for he felt that such life as
his was not worth struggling for. He
remembered dimly afterward that his
last thought was, II wonder where I'll
wake up?'
Very much TO his own surprise, be
awoke in the same place-adrift in tho
north Atlantic, with only circle of
cork and canvas between him and the
great circle of eternity. For few mo-
ments he rested languidly, scarcely
moving even his hands Then a spark
of hope fired him with desire to scan
the sea. He raised his head and slowly
swept a gaze around his narrow horl-
zon. He smiled at his own lack of en-
thusiasm when he alphabetically discov-
cred bark not more than mile away.
The bark looked miserable. Her spars
were all awry, and her rigging was
full of slack lines. She steered an err
ratio course, under scant canvas, and
altogether showed evidence of utter de-
moralization,
''There must be a sick or mutinous
crew aboard there, muttered Ferris.
II wonder whichY
| The thought that vessel might pass
near him in his desperate plight gave
/ him a sudden desire to live, or at least
not to perish so miserably. He began to
| think how he could make some signal
that might be seen aboard the bark
when she erratically changed her course
! directly toward HIM and came splashing
culnbrously across the dun gray sea like
a great wounded bird
Presently the vessel was not more
than 300 yards away, and the boy raised
his voice in far cry, Bark aho-o-o-yP'
Out of the tangle Of wreckage for.
ward was a raised face, which even at
that distance looked pale and haggard.
It's owner peered amoment over the wa
tiers and then waved his hand The next
instant two or three other forms APP
peared ON the bark 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 pres
emily he saw four seamen slowly and la
boriously lowering away the dingy. A:
they came alongside the boy they gazed
at him with dull curiosity in theh
lack luster eyes, and one Of them said:
"What are you dom there?"
Don't you think you'd better save