St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-03-11
The Rescue Of JOCK
ny John Il. whitson

HAT he should meet with an adyen-
j ture SO out OF the ordinary, Sid Hol-
ley could not have believed when he
stepped the mast in his little boat and
stood away for the fishing ground off
Saugus Inlet.
There was still some sea running, as
the result OF the recent gale; but Sid
WAS used to the ocean and its ways.
Born IN his present home, on one of the
small islands of the upper New England
coast, the wash" of the waves had been
In his ears since his earliest recolIec-
ticn.
Must have been fire in the woods al
Cataract Point" was his thought, as he
took the tiller and drew in the sheet OF
the sail for the long tack that was to
take him beyond the headland. Prob
ably a tree burning"
There had been a red light in the
southern sky at daybreak, and now he
could diInly discern filmy trace OF
smoke. There were no houses On Cata-
ract Point, or in that direction. 1t was
lonely spot, visited only in summer by
camping and fishing parties.
Sid Holly did not think of a burning
ship; but when he had beat well out
through the choppy waves that were
running OF the headland. he saw big,
square-rigged vessel, rolling heavily,
with smoke rising in thin cloud from
point forward.
Sid Immediately altered his course
and stood away for the unfortunate
ship. As be passed under her stern ht
read the name Java, Boston. Mass.
-ssar vas down almost TO the main
chains, aud threatened to go 70 the bot
tom at any moment. Sid kept well nft
not caring to be near the whirlpool that
would be produced If she should 60
down with sudden lurch.
While studying the smoke, queer
chattering noise caused him to glance
aloft, and he saw a small hairy body
crouched on the mizzen cross-trees. Ii
was monkey, looking down at him
with what seemed to be an appealing
expression.
The monkeys pitiful condition
touched Sld'S heart.
s.Poor little fellow!" he muttered
ssThey forgot you. did they, when they
abandoned the ship?'
Then be called to it:
"Come, Jock! Come, Jock. Come
down. Jock!"
The monkey moved uneasily, glanced
toward the forward deck as if it saw OF
heard something there of which it was
afraid, and refused to descend.
Sid shifted the tiller, to pass back
under tie stern, and threw over the
boom as .he boat came around.
"Come, jock" he urged, as he again
drew near.
The moneky uttered nervous chatters
and moved restlessly on its perch, but
would not come down.
Sid sent the boat on round the Java
ut respectful distance. The fire was
evidently in the forecastle, but il
seemed to be making no progress. The
worst thing was the vessels sinking
condition. Sid studied her closely.
''She may stay afoat half hour, OF
even half day." was his conclusion.
Again he looked at the monkey. Pity
for it. combined with thought thai
there might be something on the vessel
which he could take in his boat to rec
ompeuse him for the risk, finally over
came his fears. He put the boat along.
side the ships starboard, where he
fastened 1t by line; then climbed t.
the deserted deck. As the monkey ap
peared to be on the point of descending
the shrouds, Sid, feeling that what he
did he must do quickly, climbed up te
meet it.
1t was in no wise afrtid of him. but
pleased, rather, and grateful. 1t had
been the pet Of some sailor, he was sure
perhaps Of the captain. Sid took il
into his arms and looked into its grave
brown eyes.
Suddenly it gave chatter of fear
leaped from his arms to his shoulder
and seemed on the point of springing te
the shrouds and racing back to its form
er position.
Wondering what had frightened it.
Sid turned to the deck. What he saw
gave him such a start that he almost
let 20 his hold. A big tiger had emerged
from the forward companionway and
stood looking up at him, its eyes blazing
and its tail waving snaky threat. Ar
exclamation of surprise and alarm came
from Sid Holly's lips, and the monkey
again chattered in fear. This was an.
swered by deep growl from the tigers
cavernous throat, and by an advance to
starboard which brought it between
Sid and his boat.
The appearance Of the tiger on the
deck was SO strange and apparently Sc
inexplicable that Sid Holly might readi-
IL have been excused for thinking this
the improbable experience of dream
Later, he knew that the Java had
brought the tiger and several other wild
beasts in cages from an Indian port
consigned ITO a circus firm in Bridge
mort. The storm had blown the Java
out Of her course and to the northward
He learned, too. that when the boat.
were ready to pull away from the
doomed ship some tender-hearted mem.
ber OF the crew had slipped the oars oi
the cages. with the resul. that most o.
the released animals. frightened by the
fire, had Immediately leaped into the
sea and had been drowned As for the
monkey. it had been abandoned simply
because it obstinately remained in the
rigging, perhaps through fright, and
refused to be caught.
Sid Holly's hands shook on the rat,
Hines and his heart chilled as he saw the
tiger cross the deck in tha: threatening
manner; and when he thought of the
vessels sinking state. and glanced from
The smoking forecas,le into the sea, hi
brain fairly reeled.
With the ship surely settling under
him, held in the rigging by that fierce
beast, afraid TO leap into the sea, his
situation was one TO unne-ve the stou..
est hearr-
The little boat bumped its nos<
.~ainst the vessels side. Then BIZ
wave heaved the ship aloft. She fell
..,slx. snfo fhe frouph with n vafar