Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-06-21
YOUNG SOMNAmBULIsT.


OF the vessel. and subsequently "A commun-
ication or the subject was made to one OF
the local papers. Its thrilling and peculiar
character renders 1t well worthy of repube
lication in these columns.
AS passengers on board OF this vessel
were MIR. Mills. wife. and child. MIR. Mills
had for a long time occupied a lucrative
mercantile position in Calcutta. and was
now returning to his native land to re-
main. Both himself and wife were WELL
bred English people. and 1t had always
been their desire. whenever their circum-
stances would permit 1t. to return to Eng
land. and live at ease in some of the pretty
rural suburbs Of one of the cities. Year
after year this had been postponed. but at
length Mr.. Mills closed UP his affairs. and
embarked his precious ones. His child
was a bright boy Of II years. who had
been born in India, but was perhaps the
most anxious Of the three to land on the
shores of England. of which country he
had heard only praise.
The reader may easily imagine the
chcerfulness and joy in the hearts of per-
sons thus situated. Hence they made a
merry party on board the ship. and were
popular with passengers. officers. and
crew. John Mills, the hoy. was an especial
favorite. and had the liberty Of every part
OF the vessel.
One day the weather-beaten captain and
Mr.. Mills were on deck. looking at the boy
as he ran about. 1t was quite a calm sea,
and John gamboled over the deck as cas-
lily as II on the land.
"A noble lad" said the captain. Mr..
Mills you ought to be n proud father
THANK you. captain" replied Mr.. Mills.
with tears OF honest pride and joy stand
Ing In his eyes. II am proud. I can assure
you. But do you know that at times l feel
great distress about him"
"DiStress!' repeated the captain. why.
what about. 1 should like to know? He Is
In the prime of health-he is intelligent
his prospects in life are good. What more
do you want?"
~ will tell you the trouble" said Mr..
NILS. with a serious face. Ever since
John was five years of age he has been a
His mother and myself are
IN constant apprehension that in some OF
these spells harm may come to him."
The kind-hearted captain at once set to
work to quiet the fears of the father.
He'll outgrow i'll am sure he WILL"
he said. Il don't think anything will hap
pen. But" he added. as he looked again
upon the boy as ne bounded by; but I'd
watch him. especially on board ship. for
he Is too noble q lad to be exposed to dam
GER
Days passed on. The weather was IA
vorable. and every one on board was con-
sequently in good spirits. The deck and
cabin were scenes of constant social inter-
changes and amusement. In fact. the
good old captain repeatedly declared that
in all his experience at sea he had never
had a more agreeable or more
satisfactory weather.
Matters were in this happy condition ono
afternoon. when there came a sudden ex-
clamation from Mrs. Mills:
where's h
~"John-John. where are you?" shouted
Mr.. Mills. springing to his feet and rush
ing through the main cabin.
Hes safe on deck. undOlhfcdly - said
one.
Hes with the captain" suggested an
other.
BY this time Mr.. Mills was on deck.
where he soon confronted the captain.
Great heaven, captain, where's John?"
exclaimed the father.
II do not KNOW replied the captain.
HE Is not on deck"
The faces of both men were blanched.
In an instant the ship was IN an uproar.
NO one had seen the boy. With frantic
cries the father and mother searched in
every possible place in the cabin. and the
crew searched the decks. A dreadful ap-
prehension was settling upon all. This was
that the boy had fallen overheard.
At this particular time the captain
looked aloft. Not with any idea of seeing
the boy, but as a matter of habit and duty.
All the sails were set and 1t was not easy
to see all parts of the rigging. To the cap
tain's surprise and joy he discovered John
perched on one OF the upper crosstrees.
Look aloft! Look aloft." he cried.
There's the lad on the crosstrees."
The passengers and crew at once crowd
ed near him.
MY boy is asleep. oh, Heaven" was the
wailing exclamation of the father.
Mrs. Mills fell to the deck unconscious at
the terrible danger of her son. All were
aghast with horror.
The ship plowed on. Every sail was
YfYIl NJ tho fofr md otnn leo w,e~l 49,
sound was now heard except the noise of
the ropes in the blocks and the falling Of
the waves from the bow. There sat tho
boy on the crosstrecs, with one arm round
the mast. He was evidently asleep, and
at any instant. by suddenly awaking.
might fall to the deck or into the sea-. No
one uttered q word-not an order was
given-but In an instant the captain him
self was seen ascending the rigging. He
went up nimbly and quickly. Every eye
was bent upon him. and then upon the
boy.
Hearts almost ceased to beat. and tears
ran down the checks of passengers and
sailors. Up and up went the captain. At
last he reached the place where the boy
was seated. Cautiously he raised his
hands. and in another instant they held
the boy in their firm grasp. With a start
he awoke. and fell back into the arms Of
his preserver.
In a few moments more he was safe In
the arms OF his weeping and yet overjoyed
rather. The passengers and sailors rent
the air with cheers for the captain and
boy. The good ship seemed to dash for
ward with new speed. and reached her
port with all on board safe and we'll.
Overconfidenee.
From the New York Tribune.
General Pleasant Porter, an Indian
chief. desires to enter the senate.