Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1908-05-07

aboard, keeping him company, that he
should not get respondent and yield
to temptation.
When Ben got back from the v0y-
age he promised me he would observe
certain rules ! laid down for him to
prevent 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 was
returning from a long voyage. I had
promised my wife that If l 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 l feared
that would not be able to make an
entry. II could get in between the
two tongues Of land that formed the
harbor's gateway would be safe, but
to do this I must have pilot, and,
even once entered. only pilot could
take the ship through the tortuous
channel.
When | approached the harbor the
wind was blowing right on shore
looked about for a pilotboat. but saw
only one. and 1t was scudding under
jib and foretopsail to get in. l con-
Guided 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. II
did not holds and soon saw that we
were drifting ashore. II was growing
dark. no siccor was at hand. and with.
In sight of the haven of rest had SO
long worked for I must see the fruits
Of my labor lost, perhaps our lives.
The shore outline had been infolded
In the gloom when suddenly l saw the
head of a man over the gunwale on
the port side. Then came his body.
Then he jumped down on tosthe deck.
ben Paddock exclaimed, "where
did you come from?''
He cast a glance at the jib fiutterinl
in the wind and at the foretop.
yelled to. the men to get up sufficient
sail for steerage Roadway, and wher
the sails were up Ben was at the
wheel. / ordered the anchor let 60
and she came about head on to shore.
My fears allayed, began to wonder
how Ben had got aboard. ! was SURF
no pilotboat was within miles Of Vi
or had been before the darkness fell
But, granting that one had neared vi
unnoticed, how could she have SEN
us pilot over sea In which no SINAI
boat could have lived? ] was shout t.
ask Ben for an explanation when
saw that we were about to make thu
entrance between the two tongues Of
land, and all His attention was con
centrated ON his work. Ny own atten
ton. too. was dirsctsd to this hazard
GUS entrance. Ben brought the shiI
around in curves wonderful bit o.
steersmanship sineo TIE vessel wal
fairly nying-and just wsathsred tn,
starboard point For more than . mil'
from the points the land on both side.
was low and The channel serpentine
: There was full sweep for the wind
! and the way was .still dangerous In
deed, would not have believed tina
mortal man could keep the ship afoat
Ben sf0od calmly at the wheel. inten
on bis work. never uttering . sound
now whiziing DE- wheel to port nov