Year: 1864

der, the roaring OF the still turbulent
sea. the dying shrieks Of the gale and
tho bowling OF these three wild animals,
wo nigh, have irdulged in the Ianey
that we were in some internal regions,
rather than on board the ship Maxwell,


Bill sIiagS.' said the captain. as tho
rain began to descend in torrents get
the buckets aud hang them up to catch
water


With his usual alacrity the back.
woodsman was obeying the command,
when an unexpected roll Of the vessel
caused the captain to lose his balance
and slip-his head coming in violent
contact with one Of the buckets that Bill
was in the act Of raising. Without
pausing to reflect that the fault of the
accident lay with himself, the skipper in
a Gt of ungovernOblO passion, lifted hs
foot and dealt our shipmato furious
kick in the side, but the next moment
he found himstlflyiug in the lcc-Scup.
pers, 10 which place he had been sent
by powerful blow from the fist of the
one on whom he had so unjuslly vented
his anger. Picking himself up he
roared out in q voice hosrse with rage:


'MutinYl mu,iny! Officers, seize that
man. Pound him-kick hini-tramplo
him under footl'


But, graspiug Ratchet lying upon
the carpenters bench, the backwOods-
man placed his back against the wealth.
er. rail and vowed that he would cleave
the skull OF the Grst man who attempted
to lay hands on him. Percciviug that
his officers did not make tho assault, the
captain dispatched his son, lad Of four
teen, to bring him up the double barrel
gun that was lying, ready loaded in his
state.rOom. The boy obcyed, and re-
turning soon placed the weapon in his
hand. Pointing at the heaG Of Bill
slings, the skipper rOared out:


Give up that hatchOt and surrender
or you are dead man.


AT thai critical moment crash was
heard in the after par! ofthe vessel, and
the next moment wild cry Of terror
from tie lifs Of the captains son, as he
sprang into tho main Iigging and began.
spealiiIy b asctAsi. liiissil.il D - ..lil..
mount, which had at last succeeded in
bursting open the door of her cage. All
this had occurred so suddenly that the
boy, and his pursuer had disappeared IN
the darkness aloft ere the captain could
recover his presence of mind. Armed
with such weapons as were nearest at
hand, few Of them had already leaped
into the rigging aud were speeding up
the ratlines as fast as their encumbered
hands would admit.


70, God! my son--my son-save himp
cried the excited parent as a sudden
flash Of lightning revealed to his sight
the form of his boy in the loPmost
shroudS. with the fierce animal a few
feet below him. Il is plainly evident
that the catamount would reach her
prey ere the men could succeed in at.
iacking her, as the sailors had not yet
got near the top.


Another flash OF Lightning, aud the
sharp crack ofthe captains rife, hastily
pointed in the direction Of the beast
rang out upon the gale, mingling with
the terrific crash of thunder which burs,
forth simultaneously With the report
Bat he looking in vain for the descend.
ing form Of the animal, and perceiving
that he had missed his mark, uttered
cry of such heart rcndiug anguish that,
notwithstanding the late quarrel they
had. the noble heart Of Bill Slings Thrill,
led with pity as ho listened to him.


Having discharged but one barrels Of
the instrument, another yOt rcmOined
unloaded, and the captain felt that the
next shot would decide the late Of his
son, for it was plain that cro he could
have time 10 reload after bis second FIRE
the boy must be torn 10 pieces by the
savage beast, If indeed this had not al.
ready taken place.


ElOvating his piece he auxiOuSly
waitcd for another flash, but when that
a, IA oon,o La Aid mt fra lie Lad