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

HIM.
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 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 was
returning from a long voyage l had
promised my wife that if | made a
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
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 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
jib and foretopsail to get in. l COLI
cluded to drop anchor and wait. In
fact. it was all l 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 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 go,
and she came about head on to shore.
My fears allayed, | began to wonder
how Ben had got aboard. was sure
no pilotboat was within miles of us
or had been before the darkness fell.
But, granting that one had neared us
unnoticed, how could she have sent
us pilot over sea in which no small
boat could have lived? was about to
ask Ben for an explanation when | |
saw that we were about to make the |
entrance between the two tongues of |
land, and all his attention was con-
centrated on his work My own atten-
ton, too, was directed to this hazard |
GUS entrance. Ben brought the ship |
around In curve-a wonderful bit of |
craftsmanship since the vessel was |
fairly fying-and just weathered the !
starboard point. For more than a mile |
from the points the land on both sides |
gas low and the channel serpentine. |
There was full sweep for the wind. |
and the way was still dangerous. In |
deed, would not have believed that |
mortal man could keep the ship afloat. |
Ben stood calmly at the wheel, intent |
on his work. never utterihg a sound, |
now whirling the wheel to port, now |
letting 1t fly to starboard. l began to
stand in awe Of one who could work |
such q wonder. wanted to go and
stand beside him, but somehow /
couldn't do it. made myself think |
that | feared to discomfort him in his |
critical work. This was not SO. There
was something uncanny about him
that held me off.
At last we shot into the broad basin
If the inner harbor. | called the men
% lower an anch0r-the one we had |
tut out had been left on the bottom
md when ! heard the chain rattle
Trough the hawse pipes turned to |