The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-05-29

aboard, keeping him company, that he
should not get Respondent and yield
to temptation.
When Ben got back from the vOy
age he promised me he would observe
certain rules | laid down for him to
prevent a return of the thirst, then
hurried to his wife and children, whom
he never again left to the day of his
death. He became a pilot for the port
where he lived. and his services were
in constant demand at good wages.
He always declared that | had saved
him and manifested unbounded graf
itude
Years passed. One December l was
returning from long voyage. l had
promised my wife that if l made
successful trip | would sell my ship
with the cargo and spend my old age
with her at home. But all possessed
was in the ship and cargo. AS | drew
near port the wind began to blow a
fierce gale from the east, and feared
that | would not be able to make an
entry. If | could get in between the
two tongues of land that formed the
harbor's gateway | would be safe, but
to do this | must have a pilot, and,
even once entered. only a pilot could
take the ship through the tortuous
channel
When | approached the harbor the
wind was blowing right on shore.
looked about for pilotboat. but saw
only one. and it was scudding under
jib and foretopsail to get in. l coll
cluded to drop anchor and wait. In
fact, it was all could do, for had
approached too near to the shore
had no confidence in being able to beat
out in the teeth of the gale, and |
feared the anchor wouldn't hold. 1t
did not hold. and soon saw that we
were drifting ashore. 1t was growing
dark, no succor was at hand. and with
in sight of the haven of rest | had so
long worked for ! must see the fruits
of my labor lost. perhaps our lives.
The shore outline had been infolded
In the gloom when suddenly | saw the
head of man over the gunwale on
the port side. Then came his body.
Then he jumped down on to the deck.
ben Paddock" | exclaimed, "where
did you come from?"
He cast a glance at the jib fiuttering
In the wind and at the foretop
yelled to the men to get up sufficient
sail for steerage Roadway, and when
the sails were up Ben was at the
wheel | ordered the anchor let CO.
md she came about head on to shore.
My fears alayed, began to wonder
low Ben had got aboard. ! was sure
10 pilotboat was within miles of us
)r had been before the darkness fell.
But, granting that one had neared us
is pilot over a sea in which no small
'oat could have lived? | was about to
lsk Ben for an explanation when |
aw that we were about to make the |
ntrance between the two tongues of |
and, and all his attention was con- !
entrated on his work My own atten- |
ion, too, was directed to this hazard |
'us entrance. Ben brought the ship |
round In curve-a wonderful bit of |
teersmanship since the vessel was
airly fylng-and just weathered the
tarboard point. For more than mile
rom the points the land on both sides
ras low and the channel serpentine
there was full sweep for the wind,
nd the way was still dangerous. In
eed, | would not have believed that
Mortal man could keep the ship afloat
Zen stood calmly at the wheel, intent
n his work, never uttering a sound,
ow whirling the wheel to port. now
citing 1t fly to starboard. l began to
tand in awe Of one who could work
uch q wonder. l wanted to go and !
tand beside him, but somehow
ouldn't do 1t. made myself think
nat | feared to discomfort him in his
ritical work. This was not so. There
as something uncanny about him
lat held me off.
At last we shot into the broad basin
the inner harbor. | called the men
lower an anchor-the one we had
It out had been left on the bottom
I'd when / heard the chain rattle
rough the hawse pipes turned to !