Year: 1871




and violent storm. Captain P, an ex
perienced sailor, at once saw the danger
which threatened the shipOn such a rocky
cosst, and he gave orders to put out to sea
but the winds and waves drove the brie
violently toE ards the shore, and n0tWith
standing all the efforts of the crew she con
tinued to get nearer land.


Among the most active on board, in do
ing all that he could do to help, was littlt
Jacques, lad of twelve years old. who
was serving as cabin-boy in the vessel. Al
times, when he disappeared for momen
behind the folds of a sail, the sailor!
thought that he had fallen overheard; anG
again, when awave threw him on the deck
they looked round to see if it had not car
ried away the poor boy with it; bu
Jacques was soon up again unhurt.


My mother" said he, smiling, to an
old sailor, "would be frightened enough
if she saw me just now"


His mother, who lived at Havre, WI
very poor, and had a large family
Jacques loved her tenderly, and he was
enjoying the prospect Of carrying to hel
his little treasure-two five-franc pieces
which he had earned as his wages for the
voyage.


The brig was beaten about a whole
day by the storm, and, in spite of all the
efforts of the crew, they could not
steer clear of the rocks on the coast.
By the gloom on the captains brow, it
might be seen that he had little hope OF
saving the ship. All at once a violent
shock was felt, accompanied by horrible
crash; the vessel had struck on a rock.
At this terrible moment the passengers
threw themselves on their knees to pray.


"Lower the boatsl' cried the captain.
The sailors obeyed; but no sooner were
the boats in the water than they were
carried away by the violence Of the
waves.


ave have but one hope of safety"
said the captain. "One of us must be
brave enough to run the risk of SWIM
ming, with a rope, to the shore. We may
fasten one end to the mast of the ves-
sci, and the other to a rock on the coast
and by this means we may all get on
Shore


"But, captain, it is impossible" said the
mate, pointing to the surf breaking on the
sharp rocks. "WhOever should attempt
to run such risk would certainly be
dashed to pieces"


"WeI," said the captain, in low tone,
1--WE must all die together" At this mo-
ment there was a slight stir among the
sailors, who were silently waiting for or
ders


"What's the matter there2" inquired
the captain.


Captain" replied the sailor, "this
monkey of a cabin-boy is asking to swim
to the shore with a strong string around
his body, to draw the cable after him; he
is as obstinate as muller and he pushed
jacques into the midst of the circle. The
boy stood turning his cap round and
round in his hands, without daring to ut
ter word.


"Nonsensel such child can't &C" said
the captain, roughly.


But jacques was not of character to
be so easily discouraged. Captain" said
he, timidly, "you don't wish to expose the
lives of good sailors like these; it does
not matter what becomes of little mon
key ofla cabin-boy,' as the bOatswain calls
me. Give me ball of strong twine,
which will unroll as get on, fasten one
end round my body, and promise you
that within an hour the rope will be fast
ened to the shore, or viii perish in the
attempt"


"Does he know how to swim?" asked
the captain


"As swiftly and as easily as an eel, re-
piled one of the crew.


AZ could swim up the Seine from Havre
to Paris" said little Jacques. The cap
tain hesitated; but the lives OF all on
board were at stake, and he yielded.


Jacques hastened TO prepare for his ter
rible undertaking. Then he turned and
softly approached the captain. Cap
tain said he, as it is not impossible that
l may be lost, may l ask you to mind
something for me-"


Certainly, my boy" said the captain,
who was almost repenting of his having
yielded to his entreaties.


Here then, captain" replied Jacques,
holding ont two five-franc pieces, wrapped
in bit of rag; "if l am eaten by the
and you get safe to land, be so
kind as to give this to my mother, who
lives on the quay at Havre; and will you
tell her that thought of her, and that l
love her very much, as well as my broth
ers and sisters?"


"Be easy about that, my boy. If you die
for us, and we escape, your mother shall
never want for anything"


"Ohl then will willingly try to save
you," cried Jacques, fastening to the
other side of the vessel, where all was pre-
pared for his enterprise.


The captain thought for a moment.
" We ought not to allow this lad to sacri-
fee 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; ait is disgraceful to us all
that this little cabin-boy should set US an
example of courage; and it would be sad
thing if the brave child should die for old
men like 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 aided Jacques in his
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 few quietly wiped away tear,
which would not be restrained.


At first nothing was seen but waves OF
white foam, mountains of water which
seemed to rise as high as the mast, and
then fell down with a laundering roar.
Soon the practised eye of some of the
sailors perceived little black point rising
above the waves, and then again distance
prevented them from distinguishing it at
all. They anxiously watched the cord,
and tried to guess, by its quickes or slower
movement, the fate of him who was un-
rolling it.


Sometimes the cord was unrolled rapid
". "Oh, what a brave fellowl" they
said; see how quickly he swimsP AT
other times the unrolling of the ball Of
string stopped suddenly. Poor boy,
they said, "he has been drowned or dash.
ed against the rocksp


This anxiety lasted more than an hour
the ball of string continued to be unrolled
but at unequal periods. At length il
slipped slowly over the side of the vessel
and often fell as if slackened. They
thought Jaques must hsve much difficulty
in getting through the surf on the coast


"Perharps it is the corpse of the pool
boy that the sea is tossing backwards and
forwards in this way" said some OF the