The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-01
nerris James,"
- hVhat'a v0ur RAT

WHATS Your ratingr"
Ordinary seaman" he answered.
N. A groan OF dissatisfaction emanated
I'from the little knot Of men.
Just our luck" said the spokes-
man. what could we expect in this
here barque? Why, she's a regular
JONAH"
But I'm willing to work." said Fer
ris. I'm a good seaman, and I'm
ready to turn to and do my share or
even a little more. for you men look
as If you were used up"
USED up!" said Tom Hulkins, the
spokesman Of the crew. well. I
should say so! Look at the barque."
Eyes, I've noticed her state" said
Ferris.
mo. you haven't" answered HUI
kins, because 1t amt all to be notic-
ed. III tell you all about it."
Then the seaman described how
some days previous they had encoun-
tered terrific gale. during which the
captain, both mates and four sailors
were washed 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 bis frame, while some Of his
shipmates turned and scanned the hor-
lion with pallld faces and clenched
teeth. The whole speeches. horror of
the crews experience rose before Fer
ris' mind in a picture Of misery. The
next moment he was transformed
from an Indifferent 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.
"Is there a chronometer aboard?"
Certainly"
us 1t running?"
Eyes; kept 1t wound up; don't
know what for" 'r--
Charts and sextant all right?'
"Yes; but what do you mean? Can
you-"
Eyes, I cant" exclaimed Ferris. Il
can navigate"
The glow of crimson that sprang In
to the pallid faces was like the-frst
sunlight after an Arctic winter. For
an instant all were silent. Then the
men fell to laughing, crying and en-
bracing one another like lot Of hys-
terical girls.
will you take command Of this
bark, sir?" asked Hulkins, as soon as
be could master his emotion.
I'm no SIR" said Ferris; I'm
lust an ordinary seaman, but I'll navi-
gate you to the nearest port"
"Hurrah!" cried the crew.
"Now, lads" said Hulkins, "let's
urn to and try and get her into some
shape loft"
SAY, ay!" was the willing response,
Is the men made a dash for the rig
,ing.
Ferris went into the captains cabin,
md found the chronometer running.
Is measure Of precaution he wound
t himself, and then got out the sex
ant and chart. Presently he went on
leck to take a morning observation
or longitude. At noon Ferris got his
attitude, and found that the course for
Tayal, one of the Azores, was east by
forth. The wind held fair, and under
uch canvas as the little crew was
lble to set the barque made COM
ortable five knots an hour directly on
Ter course. 1t was just after sunrise
IN the morning of the third day that
me of the men cried, Land hot"
Four hours later the barque was
iding at anchor In Fayal roads, and
FERRIS felt as If his occupation was
one. But no officer could be obtain
d at that port, and 1t became Ferris
uty, after the necessary repairs had
cen made, to ship five seamen and
ontinue the voyage to Liverpool, for
1hich port the vessel was bound.
On the arrival Of the barque at its
estimation great was the Joy of the
wners, who had given her up for
ost. They rewarded Ferris with a
mug sum of money, and made him
econd mate of the vessel. Ferris in
ested his cash in the barque's next
oyage, which brought him sub
tantial profit. Five years later he
'as a shipowner himself, and in a
,ir way js become rich. He often
,oked back to that gloomy morning
hen he fioated on life-buoy in the
cart of the North Atlantic and wish.
q to die.
1T was," he said, my darkest hour,
nd 1t came literally and fguratively j
lst before the dawn" r.