Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-20

AVN "O S~SN6Av SAeA w ssN
en- to the captain and shall learn what
wrong here"
As he approached the knot of men on
the poop deck he saw that they were all
ordinary seamen.
cts a mutinous crew." he thought.
They've got the captain in irons be.
low, and they wish me to join them
or join him."
whats your manner" asked one oil
the men, who seemed to be their leader.
Ferris James"
whats your rating?"
Ordinary seaman" he answered.
A groan of dissatisfaction emanated
from the little knot of men.
"Just u luck, " said the spokesman.
What could we expect in this here
bark. Why, she's a regular Jonah"
But I'm willing to work." said
Ferris. "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
Il you were used up"
used up!" said Tom Hulkins, the
spokesman Of the crew. "Well, / should
say so. Look at the bark"
eyes. I've noticed her state" said
Ferris.
"No, you haven't" answered Hui.
kins, because 1t amt all to be noticed.
Ill tell you all about it."
Then the seaman described how some
days 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, a 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 a 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
Tor others he would find it worth while
to live for himself.
"Your compass is a good one, isn't
it?' he asked.
"Yes, it's good enough" answered
Hulkins.
lis there a chronometer aboard?''
Certainly"
lis it running?'
Eyes, l kept it wound up. I don't
know what for"
"Charts and sextant all right"
"Yes, but what do you mean? Can
you"-
eyes, I canl" exclaimed Ferris. 81
can navigate"
] The glow OF crimson that sprang into
the pallid faces was like the first I'M.
light after an arctic winter. For an in.
slant 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 be
could master his emotion.
"I'm no Sir" said Ferris. "I'm
just an ordinary seaman, but I'll navi.
gate you to the nearest port"
"Hurrah!" cried the crew.
"Now, lads" said Hulkins, "let's
turn to and try and get her into some
shape aloftr'
faye, ayel" was the willing re-
Spouse as the men made a dash for the
rigging.
Ferris went into the captains cabin
and found the chronometer running.
As a measure of preoaution he wound
it himself and then got out the sextant
and chart. Presently he went on deck
to take a morning observation for longi-
tude. At noon Ferris got his latitude
and found that the course for Fayal,
n Of the Azores, was east by north.
The wind held fair, and under such can
a as the little crew was able to set
the bark made a comfortable five knots
an hour directly on her course. 1t wal
just after sunrise on the morning of the
third day that one of the men cried,
LAND hor'
IOuI uOuE6 4At0E tu0 UhTk Wdb TlUAuS
at anchor in Fayal roads, and Ferris
felt as il his occupation was gone. But
no officer could be obtained at that port,
and it became Ferris duty after the
necessary repairs had been made to ship
five seamen and continue the voyage to
Liverpool, for which port the vessel
was bound.
On the arrival Of the bark at it's des-
tination great was the joy Of the own.
ers, who had given her up for lost.
They rewarded Ferris with q snug sum
Of money and made him second mate Of
the vessel. Ferris invested his cash in
the bark's next voyage, which brought
him q substantial profit. Five years
later he was a %shipowner himself and
In . fair way to become rich. He often
looked back to that gloomy morning
when be 1oated on q life buoy in the
heart Of the north Atlantic and wished
to die.
ut was, " he said, my darkest hour,
and 1t came literally and figuratively
just before the dawn. Boston Pilot.