EDITED BY MRS FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 282, 29 November 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

EDITED BY MRS FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT

[All Hights Reserved.]

n OliUaK Qs LUor\.

A 53A STOHY FOR BOYS AND GXH&S, By S. 3. W. Benmami.n, Author of 'The Cruiso of the Alice May,' !Tho Mediterranean Seas,' Etc, 'Cast off that line, and hoisfc the jib !' This order was given by Jack Williams a youth of sixteen who was standing afc the heJ.m of tho sloop Gazelle. Jack's companions wero Bill Thomson, Dan Simpson, and Jerry McNeal ; the crew oi the Gazelle therefore numbered four, all told. The sloop belonged to Jack's father, snci was a wholesome little craft. She eonld sleep four on the transoms in the cnddy,and there was an oil stove in the forepeak. The summer vacation was about half ever; it was getting toward August and the boys thought they'd take a little cruise down the coast, putting into port at night. They all knew how to handle a sloop, but Jack, who had taken two or three voyages, v/ae the only one who knew anything about sailing on blue v/ater or managing a squarevessel. Nothing unusual happened for several days. The weather was serene, and thoj generally mad a a port early enough to enjoy a good night's sleep. Captain Jack, ss they called him, had no difficulty in preserving discipline among passengers and crew. But when thoy reached the first week in August signs of a change of weather began to appear, and it was evident that they were about 'to have a gale of wind, snch as generally comes along about ihafc time. Ifc was coming- along slowly, and was therefore likely to last two or three days. Tho Gazelle was lying at anchor iusc inside the bar at tho entrance of a little bay. With tho wind oft tho land it was a good berth. But with a strong sea wind she was sure to be blown ashore.

■ When Jack looked oat of tho cuddy that morning he said : ' Boye, we've got to set out of here. Let's have a cup of coileo right away, and then make sail ; for there'll be a gale of wind by to-night, and we've got to letch across the bay before tiie tide chancres this afternoon.' 'We can't make it,' said Dan. ' I guess we can ; this northeaster ain't coming on very fast. Kowsomever I'll do as you say. We'll put ib to the vote. Only, I tell you, boys, if we stay here even if we go around that point there'll bo such a sea and tide the boat won't live through it. , ' Oh, loL't! get out of hero !' they all cried ; and fortunate it proved for thorn in the end that they did so. Under a singlereefed mainsail and jib they managed to make fairly good weather of ifc, although the bis; grey swells streaked wibh foam grew larger every; minute. Towards noon when the tide turned tho wind inoreasod to such a degree that Captain Jack plainly saw it v.aa nob so much yetting to the part for which they started as getting anywhere before night with the weight of the gale should swoop down and ongulf them. On the lee be.oin was the mouth of a email tiver, two or three islands bearing on the right of the entrance. Thero was a channel marked by two or Chreo spar buoys ; but them was a bar at the entrance and only vessels under thirteen feet could gob in,and then with a leading wind. There wassnug anchorage behind the islands and Jack decided to run in there. They gob in just in time, for the wind and sea soon rose so fast that an hour or two iater it might have been exceedingly dangerous to make the attempt. It blew two aays, and rained a deluge. On the third day tl>e wind shifted to west-horbh-west and b£ew very fresh for two or three hours. When it moderated the boys made sail and started for homo, having tvhat is called a leading wind.

They had got out about ten miles from land whan Jack, who had gone aloft to straighten out the topsail halliard, which ttas jammed, discovered wl-iafc at first looked like a sail. But there was something euriOus about ifes appearance which he could sot make out at that distance. He called to one of the boys fco attach the spyglass to tho end of a line,, which being done he drew it up and took a squint afc the Btranger. He then saw at once that it was a small brigantine which had been partially dismantled and seemed to bo waterlogged. He immediately came down and told the boys, declaring thc.t he was a good mind to run out and take a look at her.

Bill objected that it was a long way out &nd if they should be becrvlrasd or another Btormshould ceme up they might get caught in a very unpleasant scrape. ' What's the Rood any way V ho continued, ' it's nothing but an old wreck; who wants to look at a Wreck ?'

'What if it is a wreck ?'replied Jack ; "we don't know how much of a wreck it is ; I watt to find out. Perhaps she was dismantled in the last eborm. and there may be people on board of her. What's more, I've heard my father say that it pays sometimes to pick up an abandoned ship ; one gets what they call salvage or damages for saving a vessel, and if eho has a cargo it sometimes amounts to a big pile. If we don't get that ship some one else will, you befc your life. We are going to have a spell w good weather now, and I'm going to take & look at her. If you say ay, then you'll come in for a share of the salvage. Who *nowa, wetfinay get thousands of dollars

The idea filled them all with sudden enMjusiasm. If they did nob fully appreciate we prospect of winning a small fortune all Wonce, they all jumped at the idea of a novel adventure. Jack was the only one ■*">o fully appreciated the possibilities of l &e occasion and what they "might have to jtom order to get ths ship into port. An fiour of smart sailing brought the Gazelle * e ar the wreck, and they were soon alongside.

. With a ' ship ahoy !' Jack hailed the dee 'ict, but no answering voice came back, Or aid there appear to be anyone on board pcepfc a dog. When he heard Jack ho , ea ped up f r om behind the mast where he j™ been sleeping, and with thin, hoarse at K gave them a welcome. He looked jp'int and had the appearance of a dog that oad barked until hunger and despair had * v srcatnohim,and,cora[)letelyexha!3 s)b€d,he " a( Uain down to die, 'rle was frantic with and when they drew alongside and Pjjssed him a bit of pilot bread he became *»eir friend for ever. The quarter boafc was *° ne ' apparently carried away by a sea, as "c of the davits was also snapped in twain, ihe boys had no difficulty in getting on g? a ™i as the brig was low in the water. fj>9 Seemed to have been leaking, bub nob "? b e leaking much at that time, which JJWed that the leak was caused by the r am of lying on he* , beam end, and when %hted they closed aprain. On goinpr j* lo w into the cabin the boys were amazed See the captain lying in a bunk with an , ? na Mid leg broken, and otheu injuries. ijjr • ■;"■ •

He was in an unconscious state, but inferring that this might bo in part because of hunger, Jack directed the boys to bre»v a cup of tea right away in the cuddy of the Gazelle.

A few teaspoons of this caused him to open his eyes, but ha was in a da;;ed condition, and did not seem to have- long to live. Tho toys moved him carefully, and nindo him as comfortable as possible. They then turned their attention to the vessel, for there was no time to be lost.

She was about 150 tons,-and had a full cargo. The decks had been swept by the late storm, and as she lay a little on one side ib was evident that she had been thrown ©n her beam ends and shifted the Cargo, bub as the hatches were still tight; tho cargo was probably not greatly if at all injured, and was therefore well worth saving.

The mainmast had been carried away near the deck, but the foremast and foretopmast wero still standing ; the top gailant inaafc was gone at, the cap, and tho jibbootn. There thus remained available for immediate nss the foretopsail, foresail, and fore staysail. These sails would not be of much usa except with a wind quartering or aft).

The upper forotopeail was furled and the foresail ; the lower topsail was therefore the only sail that was set, and it was flapping idly in the falling bioezc. A deaol calm was setting in that might last a day or two. Jack formed his plans at once. They had provisions for several days in tho sloop and more were found in the lockers of the brig. Ho decided to try towing the ship; they would not make much headway, bub evei'y mile was gain and would tell when a breeze should spring up. After the weather they had been having ho knew that in all probability at that season the next change would be an easterly bteeze snch as sprang up generally in the morning and blow until sundown. If it should become a gale, before it could gain rnueh force they would have been wafted near the land, ac a wind from the east was the only one that would ba of any use in sailing tho ship into port with her present canvas.

The boys were in high spirits ovev their prize. Everything looked serene and they did not trouble themselves much about the foul weather or the possibility of the wreck sinking under their feet. If she did they thought ehe would at least lutve fche courtesy to give them warning , , and they could take to the sloop. All agreed, therefore, to take turns at rowing, and the stoop's boat v/as put out ahead with a towline attached to the bowsprit. At first the old brig refused to budqs, bub lay still like a dead weight anchored to the bottom of the sea. But she gradually yielded to the coaxing pressure of the tow rope, and a little ripple began to sing around tho bow. « Jack's great anxiety was to get the ship into port' before any other vessel should come up and undertake to oust him from his salvage. Here was a chance, and he did nor propose to share it with interloper?. The boys rowed steadily for several hours until their hands were blistered and their arms could hardly move tho ours. They then came on board and enjoyed a nearby supper. It was now clear that they would have to spend one nighfe at least on the wreck. Ib v/as a peculiar experience, and one or two of thorn at loasfc felt rather solemn about it. But Jack never flinched, cheering the others and promising to see them all vsafo home again. When night came on ho found a lantern, which he hoisted tit the foremast , ., in order that they might not be run clown by a passing ship. Until midnight the bravo hoy walked the deck and kept a lookout. But he, too, became afc last exhausted ! Hβ sat down on the hatch for a moment to rest, and before he was aware dropped into a deep slumber. He was awakened at sunrise by the dog snufiing over him and licking his face. Waking with a start, he leaped up, rubbed his eyes and took a survey of the horizon. The Bun was just up; the weather was; still fine, but there was a breeze coming up from the eastward. What was more, ho discovered two or three vessels in the offing, and one of them seemed to be heading toward the wreck, although still very distant. 'Boys!' cried Jack, 'come, wake up; let's make sail. There's a fair wind ; let's get into port.' Always cool and sensible in timfl_ of action, like a born sailor, Jack seat Bill into the cuddy of the sloop to make some coffee, for he knew that they had a hard day's work before them and must begin right by firet eating something. In the meantime he himself climbed up to the mainyard and loosed the faresail. By that timo the coffee was ready and the boys took a hasty breakfast. ' jSTow, then, boys, to work,' said Jack. 'Aye, aye,' they replied, as if they were a regulariv appointed crow. They proceeded to haul down the clews of the foresail and braced the yards for a fair wind ; then they hoisted the forestaysail to help in keeping the vessel on a etwiight course. As this was pretty short sail for a deepladen ship, Jack then hit on a plan of making the s4oop contribute her share in the day's work. All sail was therefore set on the Gazelle and a cow-line was carnerl from the brig to the sloop. By the time all these arrangements had been made the breeze had freshened considerably and kepb on increasing. Ihey were able to make several knots an hour, and by mid-day tho entrance of th 6 inlet could'be seen where the sloop lay during the gale. They reached it by two o'clook. It was now blowing a strong breeze, but fortunately the tide was with them. It was a very anxious moment for them all as they approached the land. Jack ordered all sail to be taken in on the sloop, and let itelrop astern, as the brig had headway enough with that breeze. _ The question now was not as to the wind, but as to whether the brig drew too much to get up to a safe berth. She was of small burden, but was deep in the water.

Jack pub Dan ab the wheel, wibh strict directions, and stationed himself on the bow to note the course of the channel. He could nob anchor, for the anchors were still on the catheads and the chocks. There was no fish tackle rigged to hoisb them over ready for anchoring, nor was the united weight of the boys sufficient to accomplish it.

Aβ they drew near the shallowest spot in tho channel a high swell lifted the and she passed over handsomely ; then came a turn in the channel, leading upto a sheltered r.ove. Jack ran aft, took tho wheel himself, and cried to the boys to let go the sheets of the ioreeail and fore topmast etaysail, and then put the helm hard to port. The vessel slowly answered to it, her head came up into the wind, and the next moment she grounded on a soft bank, where she lay as safe and easy as on a cushion of velvet.

• That's all right, boys,' said Jack. ' And now, Bill I want you and Jerry to take the boat and cross oveF to that farmhouse there, take a team and ride to the first telegraph station and send this message to my father. Then bring a doctor here to see the captain.' The boys did as directed. That night Mr Williams arrived by train. Hβ found a crowd of country folk and seafaring men around the brig, some of them sharpers trying to bully or chaff the boys out of the fruits of their skill and courage. The arrival of Mr Williams, who knew all about the law of the matter, soon cleared the air, and one by one the crowd departed.

The captain died before morning and was buried tho following day. In the meantime Mr Williams examined the ship's papers and telegraphed to the underwriters and consignees. Ib was found that there was little injury to the cargo and the chip could be easily g«b off and repaired. The ship, and especially the cargo, were of considerable value, being estimated at §25,000. A

claim of $11,500 was made for salvage. It was settled for $9,600, and,the court took occasion to complirn3nt Jack and his companions for their pluck. Of the amount recovered Jack received one-third, the balance being divided between the other beys. All ssemed satisfied, as they had reason to be,with the outcome of their little cruise.