The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-03-20

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 l 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 l had saved
him and manifested ~unbounded graf
itude.
Years passed. One December l was
returning from a long voyage. had
promised my wife that If l made a
successful trip l would sell my ship
with the cargo and spend my old age
with her at home. But all l possessed
was in the ship and cargo. AS l drew
near port the wind began to blow n
fierce gale from the east, and l feared
that l would not be able to make an
entry. If l could get in between the
two tongues of land that formed the
harbor's gateway l would be safe, but
to do this I must have a pilot. and.
even once entered. only a pilot could
take the ship through the %tortuous
channel.
When l approached the harbor the
wind was blowing right on shore. J
looked about for a pilotboat, but saw
only one, and it was scudding under
jib and f%oretopsail to get in. I con
Guided to drop anchor and wait. In
fact, it vas all I could do. for l had
approached too near to the shore. l
had no confidence in being able to beat
out in the teeth of the gale, and I
feared the anchor wouldn't hold. 1t
did not hold, and l 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 l had so
long worked FOR l must see the fruits
Of my labor lost. perhaps u lives.
The shore outline had been infolded
in the gloom when suddenly l saw the
head of a man I'VE the gunwale on
the port side. Then came his body.
Then he jumped down on to the deck.
"Ben Paddock" I exclaimed. where
did you come from?"
He cast a glance at the jib 1uttering
in the wind and at the foretop. l
yelled to the men to get up sufficient
sail for steerage Roadway, and when
the sails were up Ben was at the
wheel. l ordered the anchor let go,
and she came about head on to shore.
My fears allayed, l began to wonder
how Ben had got aboard. l was SUR
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 a pilot over a sea in which no small
boat could have lived? was about to
ask Ben for an explanation when l
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 a curve-a wonderful bit of
craftsmanship since the vessel was
fairly lying-and just weathered the
starboard point. For mor than a mile
from the points the land on both sides
was low and the channel s%erpentine.
There was full sweep for the wind,
and the way was still dangerous. In
deed, I would not have believed that
mortal man could keep the ship a1oat.
Ben stood calmly at the wheel, intent
on his work, never uttering a sound,
now whirling the wheel to port, now