The Yale expositor., 1899-12-22

night was too black for the men ON the
steamer to see the "Black Cat"
The captain had taken extra precau-
ton to avoid a collision Of any kind,
and a half dozen lookouts were dis
tributed throughout the schooner. With
but half her sails spread to the gentle
night breeze, the BLACK Cat" ghded
easily and noiselessly through tho
water.
The Royal Mail was now fan up the
river, and her lights could just be dis
tinguished; they flickered, then were
gone. The "Black Cat was crossing
the path of the steamer, not more than
three minutes after she had passed.
"Hist!" came a cry from a lookout
in the bow. me hear cry-cry--seeT
Listen!"
"IIo! Me hear uni" said another
lookout who had strained his ears
What UNI be? Man in waterf
Him over there!" shouted fellow
who was as black as the night itself.
"Hark! Hear de same zing overY"
Captain Torrevo had rushed forward,
and was listening intently.
Family there came to his ears the
words, Help! am drowning! Help"
"Boy in the water" said the captain,
whose ears never deceived him on the
water. "Hey! Port there! Hard!
Stand by there to rescue! Lower away
a boat"
Men sprang to obey the captain, ana
in an instant there was small boat
resting on the water, with four
swarthy and almost murderous looking
men in it-for what? To rescue a hu-
man being from drowning. These men
would take the life of another as quick
ly as look at him If his life was neces-
sary to their own safety. But the cry
for help that came from the black wa
ter of the river had found a response
in their own hearts, as it might have
found in the hearts of the manifest and
most courageous of the sailors on a
man-of-war.
When Rob struck the water, after
his sudden plunge from the deck OF the
Royal Mail" he went down deep into
the river, and for moment was berefi
of his senses. But this was simply fol-
the moment, and up he camo again to
the surface, to battle bravely for his
life. He saw the receding lights OF the
steamer. and cried out as Justify as ht
could for help. But the steamer hac
$ gone too far for his voice to be heard
!, on board, and it was heard instead By
| tLo ,,oy, on tho HR1apk Cat -
Suddenly Rob, who was not trying Il
swim. but simply to keep himself
ailoat. which ne was able to do, heart
the plash Of oars near him. Then h
heard the voice of a man calling out t
him:
"Hoy! Hoy! Where him be-"
Here I ami" shouted Rob. "Thi
wayl This way!"
A few strokes Of the oars brough
the boat nearer still, and then the boa
was allowed to drift, while a ma
stood in the bow ready to seize tn
person who needed help as soon Is b
came in reach.
Light, quick!" said this man in tn
bow.
Suddenly a CLEAN lit up the dark
ness, and the rays Of small lanter
were turned on the water. Rob wa
then about ten feet from the boat. II
at once took a few strokes toward /
He was seized in the strong hands
the man in the bow, and in momer
more was dragged into the boat.
His life had been saved-by smui
glers.
The lantern was extinguished, an
an instant later a light was displays
on the deck of the BLACK Cat" II
ward this the men rowed, and in abol
five minutes more Rob, shiverin
soggy with soaked clothing, and>reat
to shout and laugh and cry all at ono
from his mixed emotions, stood on Il
j.. schooner's deck.
60 (To be continued.)
he
ba Doing Penance for Sins,