The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1901-06-27
Continuation
CHAPTER II.
THE APPRENTICESHIP

lHE APRhEN llCESHlP
Early in the morning, as the
light of day began to penetrate
the space between decks where
the kidnapped Scotch boys slept,
they were awakened by a great
tramping on the deck above them,
hoarse words Of command fol-
lowed by the creaking of ropes
and rafting of chains and the
weave no" of the men at the
capstan as the anchor came slow
ly in. Shortly change in the
motion of the ship and a rippling
of water at the bows convinced
the lads that they were making
for the open sea and one or two
of them rushed to the gangway
leading to the upper deck but
were halted and sent back by a
gruff sailor posted there, so moth
ing was left for them but to hud-
die pitifully together and specu-
late upon their probable destina-
ton and the purpose for which
they were being carried away.
Some of the older lads. more
adventurously inclined than the
others and perhaps more loosely
held by home ties, were disposed
to take a romantic and hopeful
view of their plight. but Angus
Corbly was very far removed
from such thoughts. All hope
was now dead within him. his
heart was bursting and he was
filed with a great resentment for
the wicked and cruel wrong that
separated him from his parents
he loved so dearly.
Of the voyage, though a long
one, the story must be short.
Out over the fishing banks off
Aberdeen until the land fell out
of sight, the brig plowed its way,
sped by the steady northeast
wind. and then the hatch was
lifted and the boys were given
the liberty of the ship. Up, up,
through the North sea, then due
west past John O'Groat's and
threading Pentland Firth into
the broad Atlantic, day after day
they sailed. They passed close
enough to the forbidding heights
of Dunnet Head to give Angus
the last distant glimpse of Scot
land he was ever 10 see.
Storms they had and pleasant
days, prosperous breezes and
fearful gales. ieebergs threatened
them and spouting whales gave
them some diversion and all the
common experiences of long
sea voyage one hundred and fifty
years ago W ere theirs. Once out
of sight of Scotland the capt yes
were given the companionship of
the men before the mast and
were treated with kindness
almost without exception They
were encouraged to learn and
practice the duties of sailors and
did much of the work of
the ship The two men who cap
tured Angus became his warm
friends and seemed by their con-
slant attention to be atoning fo1
their brutal treatment of him on
shore. But no man would say
what was intended to be done
with the boys except that they
were being taken to America
where there would be opportuni
ties for great wealth and power
and they could send for their par
ents and give them luxurious
homes before many years.
The slow weeks dragged along
and the tedious voyage drew to
ward it's close. One day the
lookout sounded the welcome
call, Land hol' and the briggs
course was turned to the south.
Another day the call was repeat
ed and she passed the capes into
the quieter waters of Delaware
bay. Slowly, day after day, she
wore up the narrowing stream
and at last, covered with a coat
ing of midwinter ice, she turned
her nose into the wind and drop
ped anchor in the stream before
the busting and growing little
city of Philadelphia-the City Of
Brotherly Love, where Angus
Corbly's tender heart craved
compassion but received only
fresh wounds and all human love
was denied him. At Philadel
phia the fourteen boys were sold
each to a separate master, ana al
all were healthy and IN good con
dition the prices they brough'
were good Angus was a parti
cularly sturdy and likely lad an(
he was sold for sixteen English
pounds, which so pleased ths
captain that he bestowed a little
->~~~,< >f -~1o11 <.<~.x, 1900 f1,<