Year: 1865

. his terrible undertaking. Then h
. turned and softly approached til
captain. Captain. said he. .as
, may be lost, may ask You to tax
+ charge OF something Tor me-"
Certainly, my boy, said the car
tain, who was almost repenting {
having yielded to his cntreaties.


Here, then, captain. reptile
Jacques. holding OFT two FIVE fran


pieces wrapped ina hi. ofrag; If I al


eaten by the porpoises. and YOU ge


safe TO land, be SO kind Is to civ


this to my mother. who lives on th


quay at Havre; and viii YOU tell ne


that | thought of her, and that


love her very much. rs well as al


my brothers and sisters:


BE easy about that. my boy. |


YOU die for Us, and we escape, you


mother shall never want for an,


thing


%, then, | will willingly try L


save you. cried Jacques, hastenine


to the other side of the vessel. wher,
all was prepared for his enterprise.


The captain thought for moment
We ought not to allow this lad tC
sacrifice himself for us in this way,
said he. at length; i have been wrong
must forbid it


Yes, yes, said some Of the sailors
round him: 1T is disgraceful to us al
that this little cabin boy should set
us an example of courage; and il
would be n sad thing if the brave
child should die for old men hike Us,
who have lived our time. Let Us
stop him.


They rushed to the side of the
vessel. but it was too late. They
found there only the sailor who had
aided Jacques in his preparations
and who was unrolling the cord that
was fastened to the body of the
heroic boy.


They all leaned over the side OF
the vessel to see what was going to
happen. and a few quietly wiped
away tear which would not be re-
strained.


At first nothing was seen but
waves Of white foam, mountains of
water which seemed to rise high as
the mast, and then fell down with n
laundering roar. Soon the practised
eye Of some Of the sailors perceived
n little black point rising above the
water. and then, again, distance pre-
vented them from Distinguishing it
at all. They anxiously watched the
cord, and tried to guess, 10y its
quicker or slower movement, the
fate of him who was unrolling il.


Sometimes the cord was unrolled
rapidly. 90, what brave fellow
they said; see how quickly he swimsr
At other times the unrolling of the
ball of string stopped suddenly
Poor boy they said, 'he has been
drowned or dashed against the rock


This anxiety lasted more than an
hour; the ball OF string continued to
be unrolled. but at unequal periods.
1t heightened, it slipped slowly over
the side of the vessel, and often fell
as if slackened. They thought Jac-
ques must have much difficulty in
getting through the surf on the coast
Perhaps it is the body of the poor
boy that the sea - tossing back
wards and forwards in this way,
said some Of the sailors. The cap
tain was deeply grieved that he had
permitted the child to make the at
tempt: and, Notwithstanding the dcs-
perate situation in which they were
all the crew seemed to DC thinking
more of the body than of them
selves.


an at once a violent pull was
given to the cord. This was soon
followed by a second, then by third.
1t was the signal agreed upon to tell
them that Jacques had reached the
shore y shout of JOY was heard
on the ship. They hastened to
fasten a strong rope to the cord,
which was drawn on shore as fast IS
they could let 1t out. and was firmly
fastened by some of the people who
had come to the help of the cabin
boy b. means of this rope, many
of the shipwrecked sailors reached
the shore. and found means to save
the others. Not long after all had
safely landed, they saw the vessel
sink


The little cabin boy was long Ill
from the consequences of his fatigue.
and from the bruises he had received
by being dashed against the rocks.
But he did not mind that; for, in re-
ward of his bravery. his mother re
ceiyed a yearly sum of money which
placed her above the fear Of want.
Little Jacques reioiced in having
suffered for her. and at the same
time in having saved 50 many lives.
He felt that he had been abundantly
rewarded.


Who Is HE.-George W. Curtis,