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NEARER AND NEABER TO THE YOUNG GIHI.‘ STEADYLY AND SVVIFTLY GLIDED THAT LONG,
FEARFL'L-LOOKINU FIN. '

 

 

 

 

Cast Away J ack.

 

Cast Away Jack;

The Boy .Seilor of the Reindeer.

BY ROGER STARBUCK,
AUTHOR or “BLACK nonsn BILL,” “ THE BOY
CORAL-FXSHERS,” “LUD LIONHEELS,"
mo, mo.

CHAPTER I.
ADRIFT AND asnomr.

IT was at that Witching hour, after sundown,
when the crimson tints, yet resting upon sky and
wave, begin to blend with the twilight shadows,
that two whale-ships—the Reindeer and South—
ampton—met in the vast watery wilderness of
the South Pacific Ocean. The mustomary hails
being exchanged, the captain of the Reindeer re-
quested the other skipper to come aboard—an
invitation which he promptly accepted. His
main-yard was hauled aback; before the two ves—
sels had drifted twenty fathoms apart, his star-
board boat dropped into the water, and, impelled
by five stout oarsmen, it was soon alongside the
Reindeer. Its crew, with the exception of one
man, who remained in charge of the boat, then
is run on deck and were cordially received—
t e skipper by the other captain, and his men
by the foremost hands.

The first mate, Mr. Dumps, a long—limbed na-
tive of Sag Harbor, not having been invited to
join the two worthis below, was acing the
quarter-deck with impatient strides, onging for
an opportunity to vent his ill-humor. This was
soon afforded him, when, on glancing over the
weather-rail, he discovered that the man remain-
ing in the boat had not get heeii relievel by one of
the Reindeer’s crew. uch a breach of nautical
courtesy might have angered a better- tempered
man than Dumps, who, hurrying forward,
thrust his face down the scuttle, his eyes gleam—
ing like coals of fire, in the light of the forecas-
tle lamp.

“ Below there!” he shouted, in a voice of sup-
pressed rage. “ Stop that racket a moment,
Will ye?”

The sounds of mirth were immediately hush-
ed; several men advanced and glared up at the
mate as if he were some ghostl apparition.

“Jack Weldon!" continued umps, in afierce,
husky voice. “I want Weldon l” 1

"‘He’s asleep, sir.”

“ Well, blast your lubberly heads, wake him
up then, and be nick about it, tool”

The man with raw, and a minute after, a. fine-
looking sailor-boy appeared beneath the opening,
and quietly turned a pair of large blue eyes to-
ward the angry face above.

“Av ay, blast . el So you’ve got up, have
ye? What right, 'd like to know, had you to go
to sleep? Answer me that if you can 1”

“You need hardly ask that question, since I
have been deprived of my watch below for three
nights, because I accidentally spilt a few drops
of tar. It was natural I should feel sleepy.”

“ But who told you that you might go below?”
thundered Dumps,

 

 

  

“ The second mate. He also told me that I
might turn in.”

“ Well, now, jist come up here at once, and
relieve that Portuguese in the Southampton’s
boat; and mark yo-if I ever catch you asleep
again without my orders, I shall have you ‘ seized
up’ in the mizzen—rigging and flogged within an
inch of your life!”

Jack, who was a. spirited, quick~tempered
youth, was about to make some angry retort,
when the mate, hearing the captain calling him,
:i‘uickly left the scuttle, and sought the cabin.

he young man then came on deck, and making
his way to. the boat, relieved the Portuguese,
who gladly hastened to join his shipmates in the
forecastle. Seating himself upon the after-
thwart, Jack fell into a gloomy reverie.

Night was around him; the rising moon not
having yet emerged from a thick bank of clouds
in the east, the gloom was almost impenetrable.
A fresh breeze from the north and east urged
the Reindeer through the water at the rate of
two knots, notwithstanding that her mainvyard
was aback; and cheats. quarter of a mile to
windward, Jack could distinguish the lantern
aboard the Southampton, gleaming like a blood-
shot eye through the darkness. While still
watching it, a. feeling of drowsiness, consequent
upon his not having slept for three nights, stole
over him. In vain he struggled against it- and,
falling back in the stern-sheets, he dropped into
a deep slumber. When he woke, the moon,
sailing high in mid-heaven, first greeted his
sight, but neither of the two ships was visible!
He was alone—adrift upon the wide wilderness
of waters!

Luckily the mast had not been taken out of
the little vessel; and “stepping” it, Jack now
set his mainsail, and directed the boat before
the wind in the faint hope of overtaking' the
ship, which, be doubted not, was lying-to some-
where ahead. The fog thickened around him
as he proceeded, and sky and ocean were soon
obscured. On over the wild waters, with the
spray dashing over both gunwales, flew the lone
boat with its solitary occupant. Long and
weary hours passed: tired with watching and
shouting, his garments drenched, his arms ach-
ing with their protracted hold of the steering~
oar, Jack leaned against the loggerhead, watch-
ing the gray down as it crept into the fog. ,

Starting upright, the young sailor swept the
horizon with a scrutinizing glance. But no
speck, no sign of a sail was to be seen. While
there was a good boat between him and the
fathomless deep, he would not despair. He still
nourished the hope of falling in with his own
vessel, or some other craft before the pan 5 of
thirst and hunger should come upon im.
There was a keg half-filled with fresh water, to-
gether with a bag containing a few sea-biscuits, ,
in the stormsheets, and these, with a little care,
C(fnzlld be made to supply his wants for a couple
0 eye. '

The sun had passed the meridian before he
ventured to touch his scanty stock of provisions. '
Then he took one of the biscuits from the bag,
and breaking it, contented himself with a part'
resolving not to eat the other portion until
night. Having seasoned his meal with a.
draught of fresh water, be filled and lighted his

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack. 3

 

pipe, which, together with matches, he always
carried about with him in his jacket pocket, and
leaning against the steering—oar, as he puffed
the fragrant smoke, Jack felt quite contented
and hap .

At length night darkened around hirr, but
the imperiled boy sailor dared not close his eyes
lest his boat should roll over; many sleepless
hours were before him. At midnight, how-
ever, the gale began to abate, and by morning
the wind was blowing moderately, though there
was still a heavy swall. As he glanced eagerly
around him, he saw a faint blue line for to the
westward, which he at first took foracloud;
butd soon after he became satisfied that it was
Ian I

With a shout of joy he set his mainsail, and
was soon boundin over the waves in the direc-
tion of the isle. n the course of a few hours
he was near enough to distinguish a reef, and,
about half a mile beyond, the white, sand
beach, fringed with slender cocoanut trees.
light mist covering the higher land, partially
screened its luxuriant foliage from his view,
but he saw enough to convince him that he was
approaching one of those paradisiacal gardens
in the ocean wilderness, so often encountered
by the mariners of the South Pacific.

Discovering an opening in the rm f, he passed
through it, and found himself in water much
more smooth than Ihnt outside of the rocky
line. In a short time his boat’s keel struck the
beach, and having furled his sail and uushipped
his mastLhe sprung ashore. Pulling the boat as
far up as he could, the happy sailor fastened the
warp to the trunk 01a cocoanut, and started
0!! to explore the island.

Jack wandered among orange groves and
bread—fruit trees, he saw clusters of ripe bananas
gleaming like golden bugles in the green shrub-
bery. his feet came into contact with curious
and beautiful flowers, birds of variegated plum-
age fluttered around him, warbling such notes
as had never before greeted his ears; but he saw
no trace of any human being. ‘

At length he came to a small, limpid lake,
fringed with blue and white lilies, and abound-
ing with‘schools of little fish, which, alarmed
by the sound of his footsteps, swam rapidly
hither and thither beneath the liquid surface.
He threwhimself upon the grassy bank, and a.
sensation of wild joy thrilled his frame.

“A rfect Garden of Eden,” he muttered.
“ 1 co (1 not have imagined a fairer spot, and
I doubt that I shall ever care to leave it. The

fruits of the trees and plants, the fish of the,

lake and sea, will afford me plenty of food. As

’to shelter—I can build me a but of boughs and
trees toprotect me from the rain. May the
good God be praised for enabling me to reach
this pleasant paradise."

Having made a bear? meal of a large bunch
of bananas, and washe it down with the pure
water from the lake, he roceeded at once to
provide a habitation. ith the boatrhatchet
he chopped down a number of small trees. about
four inches in circumference, and formed them
into stakes, ix feet in length and sharpened at
the ends. T ese he drove into the soft ground,
arrangin them in the shape of a horseshce:
after which, with a sailor’s art, be framed them

 

with a network of twigs and branches lopped
from bread—fruit and cocoanut trees. This not-
work he improved by filling up the interstices
with leaves, grass and reeds. The roof he
formed of similar materials. although he was
more particular in its construction than he had
been in that of the other parts of the shelter.
When it was completed, he threw several bail-
erful of water upon it, to make sure that rain
could not penetrate it. The result of the ex-
periment was satisfactory; the roof being 510 -
ing, the water ran down the broad leaves with
which it was thatched in little drons, and fell to
the ground outside of the but. This suggested
to our hero's mind the idea. of a trench, and .he
at once set himself to work. With much labor,
using his hatchet and a sharpened stake—he
succeeded in surrounding his habitation with a
trench about half a foot in depth, and having
an outlet which would cause the water to run
off into a neighboring valley.

By this time the shades of night were closing
around him, and having plucked some more
bananas, he crawled into his palace and en-
joycd his second meal of fruit. Afterward he
lay awake several hours, watching the stars
and indulging pleasing reveries; the moon was
high above the cocoanuts before he dropped
into his first slumber upon the island.

The next morning he sailed on a “coast sur~
vey” in his boat. Cruising around the isle, he
discovered that it was about two miles in length
and about half a mile wide. It was nearly sur-
rounded by a reef, part of which was more than
a mile from the beach. After he had examined
it to his satisfaction, and plucked from it several
pieces of curiously shaped coral, together with
some beautiful s ells, he returned to the point
from which he had started, and secured his
boat. Mounting a bill, be swept the ocean with
a scrutinizing glance; but no sign of a soil was

I to be seen.

“ I am glad of it,” he muttered, as he moved
toward his hut. “ I do not wish to be annoyed
by troublesome visitors. Solitude in a place
such as this will never become a burden to me."

He procured his hatchet, and passed the rest
of the day in improving his but, and manufac—
turing fishing—poles and lines, the latter being
made of twisted threads of coconut husks. He
also fashioned a few rude fishhooks, with some
pieces of iron taken from the boat.

CHAPTER II.
THE WRECK. '

PASSING over a period of several months, we
still find our young sailor contented and even
happy in his solitary_retreat. Thus far he had
employed himself in improving his little habita-
tion, and in rambling and coasting about the
island, while indulging his pleasant reflections.

It was the afternoon of the ninetieth day
since his arrival at the island, when the ocean
was convulsed by one of those terrific gales
which seldom visit the Pacific. Gazing far
over the wild waters, and much impressed by
their singular appearance. Jack stood upon a
little elevation, watching the effects of the tem-
pest until night closed around him. Then he
sought his but and tried to also . But the
booming of the vast ocean, toga or with the

 

 

4 Cast Away Jack.

 

roaring of the wind among the trees, long pre-
vented him from closing his eyes. At last,
however, he fell into a doze, from which he was
roused soon after midnight, by the crash of a
stately cocoanut as it fell within a few yards of
his but. He rose and made his way to the sum-
mit of a little hill overlookingvthe ocean.

Jack fancied, as he gazed over the broad
waste of waters to leeward, that he could see
another, a far different light, gleaming at inter-
vals in the shadowy distance. It looked like a
little red ball of flame, rising and dipping With
the heaving of the sea, and he prompt y con-
cluded that it was a ship’s lantern. He was
convinced of this, when a faint flash, suddenly
lighting the distant waves, was followed by the
(lull heavy booming of a gun! Ho started and
eagerly listened for a repetition of the sound.

1‘ had he long to wait; a minute after the
first report, the flush was again seen, and again
that smothered pool was borne to his ears.

"‘ A vessel firing minute-guns; a vessel in dis-
tress!” he exclaimed as be rushed toward the
beach. “God help her! God help her strug-
gling crew! It is a fearful night, and in this
hurricane she must soon go down. I will away
in my boat and see what I can do."

His boat was launched by this time, and he
sprung into it. It was carried with great ve-
locity past the western shore of the island; very
soon it had left the southern extremity astern,
and was shooting on toward the open sea. And
now, for the third time, he saw the flash and
heard the report from the wreck; or even fan-
cied that be distinguished the stump of a mast
lighted by the momentary gleam. ,

Drifting on swiftly before the gale, he finally
gained tho open ocean, and was enabled to make
out the dim outline of a shattered mast and jib-
boom directly ahead. He was on the point of
shouting encouragement to those aboard the
wreck, when every vestige of the latter sud-
denly vanished from his sight. He heard, at
the same instant, the despairing cries of the
struggling crew, growing fainter each moment,
and he feared that he would arrive too late to
be of any service. Borne rapidly on, however.
he soon beheld in the sea ahead of him several
Persons clinging to a spar, to which they were
asked. Two of them—he judged by their cries
—were women, and, resolving to rescue them
first, he directed his boat, b skillful maneuver-
ing alongside of the spar. olding on to one of
the ropes depending from it with his left hand,
he assisted the females into his craft with the
other. Two men, clinging to cars of a boat,
which evidently had been launched but swamp-
ed, were helped next, and in a few minutes all
were in the boat.

“Saved! saved! Thank God !” exclaimed one
of the women, m a voice that trembled like the
reverberations of a silver bell; “and oh! is
there no hope for the others? Can we not res-
cue more lives?"

'The scintillaut light of, the sea revealed the
swoet oval face and soft, dark eyes of a Young
girl of seventeen. As he encountered her plead—
ing glance, Jack thought he, had never before
seen a countenance so lovely.

’ “ We will try,” he answered, in reply to her
last qimtlon. “It each of you will take your

 

oars, ,my friends,” he added, addressing the
men, “ we will see what we can do.”

The seamen, having clung to their ours with
their sailors’ instinct, cheerfully complied, and
Jack directed his craft toward a strugglin
form which be discerned a few yards ahead. t
proved to be that of a passenger, who, as soon
as he was drawn into the boat, clasped his hands
and With a fervent voice, thanked God for his
preservation. By this time, the little vessel was
so far to leeward of the spot near which the
wreck had gone down, that all the efforts of the
three men to save the few whose cries were still
fainltlly heard in the din of the storm, were of no
avai .

“ They are lost!” cried Jack. “ We can do
nothing for them i”

“May God have mercy upon their soulsi” ex-
claimed the individual who had been resoned
last, “ and receive them in that bright land
where there is neither weeping nor wailing!”

The speaker was a tall, thin, meek—looking,
middle—aged man, dressed in black, and wearing
a white neck—cloth. His remark was accom-
panied with a. glance toward the elder of the two
females, who, notwithstanding all the efforts of
the young girl to console her, was sobbing, and
moaning, and wringing her handsin adistracted
manner. Encountering the glance directed
toward her by the male passenger, she burst
into a fit of hysterical weeping.

“ Oh, dear me! Oh, Lord! oh, Lord!” she
groaned, “ I shall be drowned! I know I shall!
We shall all be drowned! And you, parson—
you I ” she shrieked, clutching the arm of the
gentleman in black, “ you, too—one of God’s
shepherds—one of God’s ministersl—it is fearful
to think that you, too, are doomed I”

“ HIS will be done!” answered the person,
meekly. “ I am not afraid todie, Miss Trundle!
But I trust,” he added, looking toward Jack,
“ I trust, thanks to this noble young man, that
we shall be preserved; yea, though the tempest
bloweth his horn aloud, and the sea rages likea
roaring lion!”

“ ThOse words!” cried Miss Trundle, in a pierc~
ing tone. “Only to hear those brave, consoling
words! Oh! person, you have inspired me with
hope once more! But. I am very weak! The
hardships I have already undergone have taken
away all my strength! It is the way with our
sex, Mr. Trust, 1 rm know it is! Oh, dear! I
feel as though I s ould drop!"

And, she did drop—dropped her head upon the
minister’s bosom!”

Gently but uickly he propped her up, bade
her be of 2 cheer, and then, with a sneeze
and a meek smile, shifted his ition.

“ Ob, aunt! don’t go on so, beg of you!” or
claimed the young girl, as the sobbing was re
commenced.

“ Oh, dear me! oh, Lord! Lord! Minnie, you
don‘t understand me at all! You can’t compre-
hend a sensitive nature like mine! The slight-
est peril makes me tremble like a leaf! Every
time the boat’s bows go under, it seems to me as
if we were about to sink !”

“Which, beggin’ your pardon, ma’am,” said
one of the men, an old sailor, wearing duck

trowsers and a canvas jacket, "is a—borrowin’ .-

o'f ,trOuble, seeing as we can keep the boat par-

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Out Away Jack. 5

 

fectly dry by bailin her out; ain’t that so,
Squint?” he added, ad reeling his shipmate, who
was occupied in this task. “ Speak up, and tell
the lady sol”

“ Wh , bless my eyes!” cried Squint, a little
dapper— coking tar, whose pants were very tight
about the wa , and very loose around the
ankles. “ Why. bless my eyes! there‘s no more
danger, ma’am, than if on were n-bending over
a washtub at home. beer up ma’am—cheer
up! Hipl hip! hip! Hoo-rayl hoo—rayl” And
he began to dance a sort of hornpipe upon one
of the thwarts of the boat.

“ My friend,” the parson meekly remarked,
“ this levity is in bad taste just after so many
of your shipmates have gone down in a watery
grave. A more serious bearing—3’

“ i beg pardon,” interrupted the dapper tar,
as he again seized the bailer, “it was only done
for consolin' the lady. I have heard it said that
examples is contagious."

“An insult," shrieked Miss Trundle. “Mr.
Trust—Parson Trust, I call upon you for pro—
tectionl I call upon every man in the boat for
protection! The idea of myimitating his exam-
ple; of my dancing about in that heathenish
fashionl And then the wash-tub! A wash~tubl
a washrtubl” she screamed, in thrifling accents,
“ he dared to speak of a wash-tub in connection
with uni"

“ Do calm yourself, dear aunt!” cried Minnie.
“ I am sure that he intended no insult. Re-

,member that he and his shipmnte lashed us to

the spar, and were thus instrumental in saving
our lives."

“ Any man!” exclaimed uint, springing to
his feet, “any man that won] insult a lady, de-
serves stringing up! If I‘ve said anything as is
oflensive, I apologize in a way which is both sor-
rowful and penitentiary l”.

“ Amen i” cried the person. with a loud sneeze;
“ I think that is satisfactory."

“ If you say so—yesl" exclaimed Miss Trun-
dle, placing herself by the person’s side. “I
have the most perfect confidence in your judg-
ment! But, obi dear Mr. Trust, you at least
can appreciate the feelings of one of our sex in
my Situationl You know how delicately sensi-
tive I am—how unfitted to bear hardshi , or
the rude remarks uttered by godless men P

“ Have faith in the Lord, Miss Trundle, and
lie Will give you strength to bear all the ills of
life,” said the person, as he gently edged away
from her; “try to cultivate a. meek and Chris-
tian spirit.”

“ Ahl that is my failingl” she exclaimed: fair-
ly pouncing upon him, and putting both hands
upon one of his arms. “ You know that very
well! Oh, parsonl person!” she added, in a
10W” VOW’, " there is a great deal of congeni-
ality between usl”  .

CHAPTER III.
' BOLT AND rim SPINSTER.

THE minister nodded in his usual meek way,
and then. hopping to his feet, with another
sneeze, asked Jack if he did not require some as-
smtance at the steering-oar.

“No, thank you,” replied‘the young man. “ I
am used to the boat, and can manage it without
much dificulty. Keep your seat.”

 

“ Aheml” ejaculated the man of meekness,
with a vague impression that Miss Trundle was
maneuvering to receive him in her lap in case he
should attempt to sit down. “ Aheinl Perhaps,
then, I can be of use here.” And he laid his
hand upon the boiler which Squint was using.

The dapper tar paused in his work, and open-
ed his eyes upon the speaker with astonishment.

“You will lallow me to give you a spell. as
you sailors call it," said the preacher, with a
benevolent smile.

“Ay, ay, sartainly, if you wish it; but it’s an
odd sort of work for you to do, parsonpand I
don’t think you’ll find it to your taste.”

He surrendered the builer, and the clergyman
went to work briskly, though in a manner which
differed considerably from that which Sqnint '
had adopted. The latter had squatted upon his
hams, and thrown the water he had scooped up
to leeward; but the person, remaining upon his
feet, with one side of his body turned toward
Miss Trundle, and bending nearly double while
he worked, threw the contents of the bailer be
hind him and to windward, the greater portion
of it first flying over the face and neck of Min»
nie’s aunt.

“ Oh, dear! oh, dear! was there ever such is
suffering, persecuted lady as I am 1” she shrieked.
“ Parson! Parson Trust! You are throwing
the water all over me! Do you hear, parsoni
Yoa have almost suffocated me l"

But, as his singular position, can led with the
din of the storm, prevented him rom hearing
her voice distinctly, he continued his work sev~
eral minutes longer, before he thought of re-
signing the bailer to Squint. ‘

“ The mischief you did wasn’t as great as it
might have been, ’ said Squint, “ and p’r’aps, on
that account, may in some sort be excused,
a—leavin’ chivalry out of the question. She was
wet through before you throwed the water on
her,”d’ye see,:and couldn’t be made much wet-
ter! .

" To whom do you allude?"

“Ay, ay, cork me! but I think there’s a spice
of fun in your natur’, after all, person. You
ain’t in ’arnest with that questionl You know
that it’s Miss Trundle—”

The clergyman did not wait to hear more.
The whole truth now flashing upon his mind, he
interru ted Squint with a loud sneeze, turned,
and ma ing his wayto the side of Minniefs aunt,
apol ized for his awkwardness, assuring her
that is wetting her with the water was unin-
tentional. Stifling a sob, she replied that “it
was of no con uence;” that as he was the
author of the ca amity, she could easily over-
look it, but that if it had been anybody else she
could never have for 'ven it—no, never!”

“ And now, aunt,’ said Minnie, after Trust
had returned to his seat, “pray don’t’cr any
more. The boat will keep afloat, and _ hope
that we will all be ashore before another night.“

She looked inquiring] at Jack as she spoke,
and he knew, b her pa aims and shuddering
form, that she elt more alarm than she was
willing to express in words. .

With J ack's skillful steering, and theexertions
of Squint and his chum, the ight craft was kept
both steady and dry, from which it resulted
that—with the exception of Miss Trundle—all

 

 

  

6 Cast Away Jack.

 

 

those who had lately been rescued from the very
jaws of a water grave, took a hopeful view of
the future. eldon, on the contrary, though
outwardly calm, felt his spirit clouded with
dark misgivings. He knew that the abating of
the tempest would be attended with a heav ,
violent sea, which no boat could withstand. is
little craft, moreover, was being borne further
and further from the island every moment, so
that, if, by rare good luck, she should escape
after the rising of the waters, is long time must
ola a before the friendly shore could be guined.

hese harassing thoughts, however, did not
prevent him from answaring cheerfully when he
encountered the questioning glance of the fair
Minnie.

“ We will hope for the best," he said. “ The
land as yet is only little more than a league to
windward.”

“ But we are going further and further from
it all the time," cried Miss Trundle, “and we
shall all be either drowned or starved to death.
Oh, Minnie! Minnie! You are the cause of my
bein in this dreadful situation!"

“ I” exclaimed the young girl; “ I the cause
of it. aunt!"

“ Yes, you, and none other. Had it not been
for your wild determination to visit your
old uncle in the East Indies, this would never
have happened, and we might, even now, be
sitting in our snug little cottage in Brooklyn.
And because your father died, and you have no
mother, either, I am all the more carefulof on,
and bound to watch over and protect you! hat
was why I went with you in that ill-fated ship!
Oh, Lord! oh, dear mel”

“ And I think," said Minnie, “ that my wish
to visit my sick old uncle, who has no living
relative but myself, was very natural.”

“ Your uncle is dead, and he died poor; died
before he had commenced that splendid business
which would have built him a fortune. These
circumstances are too distressing to think of.
Oh, Lord! Oh, dear! if we had only stayed at
home!”

At that moment, Minnie encountering Jack’
admiring lance, her eyelashes drooped. and she
blushed. er aunt, remarking the exhibition of
feeling, turned sharply toWArd the young
steersman, and from him back again to her
char e.

“ innie," she whispered, solemnly, “ there
must be no love-making between you and that
valid youth. 0h, mercy! The very thought of
such a thing makes me shiver all over."

Minnie poutcd slightly before she replied:

“ I don’t see what has g1vsn you any such
idea, aunt, I am sure. We haven’t as yet ex-
chan ed ten syllables.”

“ o, no! But looks sometimes speak plainer
than words," muttered Miss Trundle, sharply.
“I saw that look! It was shocking—shocking!
Rogne’mber, your mother left you in my charge,
an ——

“ Why, cork mel Hip! hip! hip! Keep up
your spirits, my hearties!" came the shrill voice
of the do per tar, at this instant, as he sprung
to his meg. “ There it is. Ay, ay, there’s the
raft that we fashioned aboard the ship before
she went down, but which got adrift after we
launched it overboard!" -

 

 

Minnie clapped her hands and laughed as
leefully as a Cblld; the parson be an to pray;
ack gave a shout of joy; even iss Trundle i

smiled.

There it was, right ahead of them, a large
raft, to which were lashed several bags of his-
cuits, some breakers of fresh water, and a few
barrels of beef. The boat was soon alongside of
it, and was firmly secured to it with ropes.

None were more overjoyed than Jack Weldon.
The findlng and securing of the raftset his mind '
perfectly at case. He believed that the boat and l
the floatmg platform of well-fastened timbers,
lashed together, were capable of withstanding
the heavmst sea that ever rolled.

As the gra dawn crept over the stormy
ocean, the litt e party looked eagerly for the
island. But this, in the rack and mist of the
tempest, which still raged with unabated vio-
lence, was not to be seen. Miss Trundle heared
a. weary sigh, and nestling up to the parson,
complained of feeling sleepy.

“ Aheml” ejaculated the clergyman, uneasily
“I dare say that some kind of a rude bed could
be made for you upon the raft. There is plenty
of spare canvas, I believe and-”

But, Miss Trundle could hold out no longer.
Ear eyes, dosed, and with a sudden downward
Jerk, her head drooped upon the good man's
shoulder.

He enacted, and shifted nervously in his seat.
The eyes of the two seamen were upon him, and
once. he fancied he saw a knowing wink ex-
chnn ed between them. To add to his discom-
fort, iss Trundle soon began to snore in a.
manner which was far from melodious.

“ Them that’s benevolent is always imposed
upon, Bolt,” remarked Squint, in an undertone
to his chum. “ The person can't, of course, let
the r lady drop, and—" .
“ )7 eyes!” returned Bolt, “ You don’t call
it lmposin’ upon him—do yel—because the poor
creatur’ can’t keep her lids open. Why it’s
nat’ra! enou b that she should want to lay her
head somew ere. She’s all wet through, and
half frighted to death. And she is old and some-
’at faded l”

Miss Trundle never forgave ti e old sailor for
making such a speech; in fact, from the moment i '
it was uttered, she could not look at him with-
out feeling a strong .tem tetion to scratch out
his eyes with her long no .

CHAPTER W
, IN AND our or PERU.

Ir was at least at high noon, when the violence
of the gale began to abate. As if exulting in
their coca pe from the power which so long had
held them down, the great waves leaped up-
ward, roaring and crashing with the noise of
thunder. Boat and raft tossed hither and thither
with a violence that caused the young sailor to
secure them with extra lashings lest they should
be torn asunder. Each of the part then made
a meal of a. few sea-biscuits, with w ich all were
contented except Miss Trundle.

That lady clamored loudly for better fare, and ,
when she was informed that it could not e pro- 1
cured, commencedfio weep, sob, and to bemoan '
her lamentable situation in a characteristic
manner.

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

t,
i

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack. 7

“ The wind has begun to change,” said Jack,
in the hope of putting an end to her complaints.
“ I trust that it will haul round sufficiently in a
few hours to enable us to make an effort to gain
the island, where we will find plenty of fruit.”

” Alas! alas!” replied Miss Trundle. “ And
that is all. Fruit isall that we can get. How
can I live on that? It will only make me grow
thin; it will take away all my bloom.”

The person sneezed; Squint hitched up his
wuistbands; Bolt looked uncommonly grave.

“ I never heard before that fruit injured the
complexion, aunt,” said Minnie. “ 0n the con-
tra , most people think that it improves it.”

“ mproves itl” cried Miss Trundle. “ And
do you really mean to hint that my complexion
needs improving? Oh, dear! oh, dear! to
think—”

“ Idid not mean to imply that," interrupted
Minnie, “ indeed, I did not.”

“We can get fish, too, madam, and I doubt
not that I can prepare it to suit you,” said
Jack. “I can cook very well.”

Miss Trundle was fond of fish; but, hoping she
might eventually excite the parson‘s sympathy,
she continued her complaints.

Trust, however, took no notice of her; and so,
after indulging her grief for a full hour, she
uttered one long, despairing groan, and became
si ent.

As Jack had declared would be the case, the
wind hauled round before night. \ The sea having
subsided by thi time, the men, grasping oars
and paddles, were soon occupied in working the
raft and boat toward the island, now dimly
visible about two leagues to leeward. While
thus engaged, they saw the clouds break in the
west, and were cheered with a. View of the set—
ting sun. The red light streamed far along the
upheaving waves, forming thousands of little
rainbows in the spray.

.“ Beautiful! beautiful i" cried Minnie, clap-
ping her hands.

“ Yea, wonderful are His works!" exclaimed
the person. “ Man cannot be sufiiciently thank-
ful for the manifold blessings bestowed upon
him. even in this world.”

“ Did you over!” screamed Miss Trundle,
clasping her hands admiringly, “did you ever
hear such a mighty speech as that, any of you i”

“Ayl ayl” cried Squint, “without wishin‘ to
rob the person of any of his credit, I once heard
a mightier. It was when I was in the. bark
Coral, off Cape Born. On that occasion, d’ye
see, our skipper whose name was Boom, made
himself heard mm the to‘gallant yard by the
men that was asleep in the fo'castle. His voice
was rfectly astonishin’.”

'“ hat ain’t a snrcumstance to what I heard!”
exclaimed Bolt, “ while I was a-cruisin’ ofl‘ the
Coast of Africa. It was nothin’ less than the
roarin’ of a lion. three leagues to wind’nrd.”

“ Shockingi ‘ Dreadful!” ejaculated Miss Trun-
dle. “ Oh, dearl oh, dear! to hear the way
these godless men do go on] Just as though
there was any comparison between the skipper
of a. ship, a wild beast and the parson.”

“ They mean no oifense,” said Trust, meekly.
“I am sure of that. When we reach the island,
however, I shall take it upon myself to instruct
them in—"

\

 

“ They need it i" snapped the spinster. “ They
need it badly enough; especially that coarse
animal 1” she continued, nodding contemptuously
toward Bolt.

“Thank ye, ms’am," said the latter; “none
of us is above instruction, and I’m sure I shall
lie ‘ obligated ’ to the person for l’arning me my
letters or anything else.”

“You are a. perfect heathen!” retorted Miss
Trundle. V

“ See, auntl” cried Minnie, hoping thus to di-
vert her relative’s attention; “see, there is‘the
island! We are fast approaching itl It 18 a.
beautiful place, I know.’

“For cannibals, yes,” answered the other,
“ but for civilized beings it is a deplorable s otl’

“I would willingly llve there all my ife!”
cried Jack. “ I have become attached to that
little island. I look upon it as a paradise.”

“And you have lived there all alone?” said
Minnie, inquiringly.

“ Yes ” he answered, smiling, “all alone."

“ An ‘ you could be contented to live thus for
a lifetime?"

“ I always thought so until now,” he said
directing upon her an ardent but respectful
glance of admiration.

She could not misunderstand him, and she
turned away her face to conceal a blush.

Miss Trundle compressed her lips and
frowned.

‘fSir.” she said, turning‘sharply upon Har—
mon, “ I am perfectly shocked. will have no
love-making between you and my niece.”

“ Madam l” exclaimed the person, good-natur-
edly interposing, “ allow me to say that 1 think
you are too hasty. A compliment from one of
our sex to one of yours should not be censured.”

“ Oh, dear! dear] but don’t you think the ex—
pression he used was highly improper?”

“I do not,” said the benevolent Trust, in a.
gentle voice, “ any more than if I were to sa
that you have a fine head of hair, which is
really the case.”

Miss Trundle blushed and simpered; while
Minnie, who knew that her aunt worea wig,
looked to windward to conceal the smile that
hovered around the corners of her mouth.

“The person understands human nature,”
Squint whispered to Bolt.

“Ay, ay!” returned the latter, “ he’s a whole
cargo of l’arnin’ in that head of his’n; besides
which, he's so benevolent.”

“He ain’t one of them kind that feels inde~
pendent. neither, seeing as.he used sometimes to
help us haul on the ropes, Just for_exerc1se.”

Mr. Trust's compliment put Miss Trundle in
such good humor that she did not utter another
word of complaint for several hours. By this
time, the white beach of the island could be seen
quite lainly in the light of the rising moon.

“ e will soon be there!" cried Jack, oy-
fullv; “ the shore isn’t half a league distant.

Minnie rose to her feet with a glad cry, and,
at the same instant, the boat was tossed upward
by a heavy sea. The young girl lost her bal-
ance, and would certain] have been precipi-
tated over the gunwale, t Jack had not sup-
ported her by throwing an arm around her
waist.

“Oh, good Lord!” screamed Miss Trundle,

 

MJ

re“ W t 23..

1g: {5&0,‘ .

  

Cast Away Jack.

 

turning scarlet, “ how improper! Minnie, sit
down this instant; and you, young man, how
dared you do anything so——so——very——-”

“Verilyl” again interposed the bevevolent
person, “.you are too hasty, my dear madam.

The youth has done nothing improper, but has,
on the contrary, acted in a praiseworthy man—
ner. Your niece would certainly have fallen
overhoar dbut for his activity.”

“ No! no i" cried Miss Trundle, “ he might
have taken hold of her arm, which would have
answered eve’y purpose. But, to throw his
arm around her waist—oh, dearl dear] hnw ter-
ribly shocking! I shall never get over that as
long as I live!”

So saying she drew her niece toward the for-
ward part of the boat, and, nestling close to the
parson, delivered, in u shrill voice, for the edi—
flcation of all present, a long lecture upon the
improprieties committed by the young pe0ple of
the present age. Just as she concluded. the
boat struck the beach, and, leaping out, Jack
offered his hand to Minnie to help her ashore.

The whole party being landed, Squint pro-
ceeded to gather some dry sticks so as to make a
fire; while the other three men, having secured
the boat, pulled the raft to the beach, and con-
veyed the provisions it contained to the banks of
the little lake near which Jack intended to erect
huts for the accommodation of the “ cast-
aways.”

A fire soon was kindled, and, while the two
females were drying their saturated garments,
the work of building shelters was commenced.
With such good assistants as the two sailors and
the person, Jack completed his task in the
course of a few hours. Two comfortable huts
were framed, one for Minnie and her aunt, the

other for the two seamen. Minister Trust was
to share Jack’s quarters. ‘

The young girl thanked the men for their ex-
ertions in behalf of herself and aunt, and de-
clared that she was much pleased with her rural
habitation. Miss Trundle, on the contrary, shed
tears, and remarked that she thought this way
of living was little better than that of the Hot-
tentots.

For her part, she could never—never feel
happy again, until she was restored to the
“ bosom " of her own swoet native land. She
also found fault with the supper prepared for
herself and Minnie. It consisted of pieces of
salt beef (boiled in a tin cup), sea-biscuits, ha-
nanas and oranges. She clamor-ed loudly for
tea, and, on being informed that it could not be
procured. declared that this deprivation would
cause her a month’s headache.

. The niece, however, seemed much pleased with
her meal; she thought it was delightful toeat
su per in such a beautiful place, with the moon
sh nin overhead. When with her aunt she had
retir to their couch of dried leaves and pea-
jackets—the latter serving for pillows—it was
not long before she fell into a sound, sweet slum-
ber, undisturbed by the complaints of the spin-
ster, who still continued her ill-natured remarks.

Minnie awoke at daylight, and rising softly
so as not to disturb her aunt, the young girl
gushed aside the canvas screen in front of the

ht and looked out, The gale had subsided to a
moderate breeze, and the surface of the ocean

\

was covered with little ripples that rolled with
a tickling sound upon the beach. Gratefully in-
haliug the fragrance from orange groves and
wild-flowers, the maiden left the but, and, with
a light step, moved to the edge of the little lake.
Having there performed her morning ablutions,
she proceeded to comb her long, bright hair.

She was very particular, this morning, in the
arrangement of her nut-brown braids, and there«
fore when she discovered that several of her

hairpins were lost, she hurried toward the boat,
hoping that she might find them in some part of
the little craft. The tide had risen, and the
boat with the warp tied to a stake, was floating
a few yards from the beach. Minnie seized the
rope, and. ulling the vessel to the shore, sprung
into it. nfortunately, in doing so, she pushed
it with a force which caused it to shoot from the
land, and drag the loosened stake after it. The
current, whirling ioward the reef, carried the
craft in this direction with great velocity; and,
as the oars and paddles had been removed on
the previous night, the young girl saw no means
of regaining the shore.

Much alarmed, she called for help; but her
friends being fast asleep in their huts, could not
hear her voice.

The light craft was borne onward, and very
soon it struck the reef, over which the white
water rolled and surged with a hollow roar.
The boat, becoming wedged between two pieces
of rock, filled ,in a few seconds, and, with a low
shriek of terror, Minnie grasped a long bunch of
sea-weed, towhich she clung desperately with
both hands, to prevent herself from being washed
into the sea.

Minutes—they seemed hours to her—passed
away; her wrists ached with the continual strain
upon them; her heart beat loud and fast with
terror; she felt that she could not hold on much
longer, Not for a moment had her anxious
glance quitted the beach; and a thrill of joy
pervaded her frame, when, after watching it
for nearly a quarter of an hour, she saw the lit-
tle figure of Squint moving toward the water’s
edge. As is usual wi'h the soeman, he first
looked to wind ward. Then he scanned the sur-
face of the ocean closely as if searching for some
fragment of the wreck. At last he turned his
eyes tOWard the reef, and beheld the half-sub-
merged figure of the young girl!

She saw him start; the next moment heard
him shout, and beheld the forms of Parson Trust,
Jack and Bolt, emerge from their huts. En-
couraging her with cries and gesticulations, they
procured ours and paddles, and springing upon
the raft, were soon working It rapidly toward
the reef.

Though her wrists were new almost benumbed
by her long-continued hold of the weeds. yet
she still contrived to cling to them‘with a tena-
city which prevented her from being washed
into deep water. ~

“That’s right!" shouted Squiut. when the
raft was within twenty fathoms of the rocks,
“ that’s right; hold on hard, my less, and we’ll
soon be u to you, and—"

“ God elp her—God have mercy on her!”
said the parson, in a low voice, as he pointed to

 

a long, sharp fin which was now moving rapid-
ly through the surface of the water toward the.

  

I

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack. 9

 

young girl. Luckil she did not see it' other-
wise she would, in a l probability, have become
so alarmed, as to lose all power of maintaining
her hold.

“ It is a shark!” whispered Jack and Squint,
simultaneously. .

“Yea, verilyl” muttered the parson, in a
voice of horror, “ and I'm afraid it will devour
the young lady before we can afford her any as-
sistance.”

, In fact, it seemed hardly possible that the
raft could be worked to the spot occupied by
the girl in time to insure 'her rescue, for the
shark, which was Swimming at right angles
with the floating platform, was approaching
her with great rapidity.

“Work your paddles lively, for God’s sake,
men, work; strain every muscle!" cried Jack,
in a husky voice. “ Oh, God, if we should not
succeed in saving her 1”

Nearer and nearer to the young girl, steadily
and swiftly glided that long, fearful-looking fin.
It was soon within ten fathoms of her; six feet
less than the distance of the raft.

The person groaned; Jack com ressed his lips
tightly; Slight made his padde fly through
the water li e a mill-wheel. The clumsy spars,
however, seemed scarcely to move. Jack felt
assured that the ferocious-looking jaws of the
shark would soon close over the lovely girl, un-
less he tried some other means of saving her.
He kicked ofl his shoes and divested himself of
his 'acket.’

“ hat are you a—going to do?” cried Squint.
“ You can’t hope to right that monster with a
weapon sich as that!” he added, as the young
man drew a well-sharpened sheath-knife from
his belt.

“ Ay, ay,” answered Jack. “I can at least
keep the creature away from the girl until you
come up. If I perish in the attempt it matters
not, provided she be saved."

So saying he leaped about five feet from the
raft, and assisted b the current, swam rapidly
toward the reef. he shark was so far ahead
of him, however, that in spite of his utmost ex-
ertions it was within a few feet of the uncon-
scious girl, while he was yet several fathoms
distant.

“ It’ll reach her before he doesl" groaned the
person; “ there’s no help for it. God have
mercy on the poor maiden I”

“ Ay, a ,” exclaimed Squint, in sorrowful ac-
cents. " he‘s onel She’s lost! No human
power can save t e poor lass now] The creatur’
is within a few feet of her, and he’ll go under
directly to snap at her!”

As he spoke, Jack suddenly stopped swim—
ming, while the water in his immediate vicinity
became discolored with blood.

Trust and 'Squiut uttered a simultaneous cry
of horror, believing that a second shark had
seized the young man. A moment after they
discovered their mistake, for, as he lifted his
arm to motion them on, they saw, a little below
the elbow, a slight gash, which it was evident
he had purposely inflicted with his knife, in the
hope that the monster ahead might scent blood
and thus be turned from its present course.

His heart almost failed him, however, and he
fairly groaned with anguish in seeing the crea-

ture move steadily on. Soon it was not more
than afoot from the girl; but just as he was
expecting to see it dive to clutch its intended
victim, the monster becme nearly stationary
for a moment, and then turned slowly round
and darted toward the young sailor.

Sqllliint gave three cheers; the person offered
up t anks to God; while the young man, with
a joyful cry, struck out for the raft, which was
now within a few fathoms of him. He was
soon upon the platform of s are; afew moments
later the shark sprung. near y its full length out
of the water alongside of the raft.

“ Lively, men, lively l” shouted Jack; in
seeing the monster appear soon after astern of
them. “ That rascal is still following us, and if
we don’t make haste, he may yet succeed in
reaching the girl 1”

The four strained every muscle, and, in a mo-
ment more. Minnie was rescued from her peril-
ous situation. Jack then kept the shark at bay
with an oar, while Squint, olt and the parson
were enga ed in dislodging the boat from
the reef. his task being soon accomplished,
the little craft was bailed out, and the party
entered it.

“ Thanks, a thousand thanks, my friends!”
cried Minnie, impulsively. “ This is the second
time,” she added, addressing Squint and Jack,
“ that you have saved my lifel’

“ It’s all owing to this young man that you
were saved under the sarcumstances that have
'ust passcdl" cried Squint, puttin a hand on

ack's shoulder. “ The shark would ave nabbed
you sure if it hadn’t been for him i"

For the first time since her rescue, Minnie
noticed the blood-stained arm of her preserver.
He had hitherto kept it hidden from her sight
by means of his jac et, which he had fastened
to his shoulder.
however, the wound was now fully e _

” You have suffered on ‘my account!” she
cried,;in a quick, faltering vows, “ you are badly
hurtl

“Nay, in good young lady," said the person,
as he procegded to fasten his white kerchief over
the gash, “it is merely a scratch. Do not be
alarmed!"

Squint entered into exglanations, and Minnie’s
eyes filled with tears. he was a girl of deep
feeling and on learning that Jack had wounded
himself, and risked his ife to save her, she could
not prevent the emotions of sorrow and tender-
ness excited by his gallantry.

“It is nothing,” said he, noticin _her anxiety.
“ As the arson says, it is only a sight scratc .
Nearly 1 trace of it will have passed away in a
couple of weeks."

CHAPTER V.

was AUN'r’s raionr.

A'r that instant all in the boat were startled
by a piercing shriek from the direction of the
beach. They rose quickly, and, glancmg toward
the shore, saw Miss Trundle, who_had advanced
to the water’s edge, wildly gesticulating with
both arms.

‘Good heavens! What can be the matter
with my aunt!” exclaimed Mlnnie, in consider.
able alarm. ,

 

The garment having fallen off,

 

n

, some g. .

yo... .-nvn.

 

 

 

10 1 Cast Away Jack.

 

“ Cork me!" cried Squint, “ but there’s some-

thing sur rising about it. “ She must be in
some kin of danger, and yet there ain‘t any
danger to be seen. There’s neither wild monkeys
nor cannibals on this island, and under sich sar-
cumstances it’s most astonishin’ what can be the
matter with her!”

“ Something has occurred to frighten her, at
any rate," said the person, sneezing. “We will
make all haste to reach the shore. ”

He seized a paddle to assist the men at the
ears, and Jack loosened the boat from the raft,
remarking that they could tow it ashore after
they had discovered the cause of Miss ’I‘ruudle’s
alarm. The light keel soon grated upon the
beach, and Trust had no sooner sprung to the
land, than the spinster threw herself plump into
his arms, crying, “ Save me! Save me!"

Squint and Bolt exchanged glances and
whistled.

“ What has happened l” cried Jack.

“Verily, what has happened?" inquired the
parson, somewhat nervously, as he meekly strove
to disengage himself from the clinging grasp of
Miss Trun le’s arms.

“Oh. dear! oh dear!” gasped the latter. “I
shall faint, I shall die. How could you leave me
alone on this barbarous island !"

"Wh , aunt, what is the matter? What has
alarms you!" cried Minnie. turning pale.

The spinster burst into a final of teprs.

“ Oh. you ungrateful girl! You are the cause
of it all; the cause of my being left alone so
long.” she sobbed. “ I don’t think I can ever
forgive you for it—no, never! Therel there 1”
she gasped, clutching the minister's arm with
one hand, while she pointed with the other to a.
clump of shrubbery near the right bank of the
lake. “There! there!”

“ Why, cork me, if I can make out any thing I”

_, exclaimed uint.

“What is it! What do you see!” demanded
the others. .

“It isn't there now," replied Miss Trundle,
shuddering, “but it was there—yes, I know it
was there ten minutes ago!”

“ What?”

' “ A man!” shrieked Minnie’s aunt. “A real

live man.

J “Igloo must have been deceived, madam," said
no .

“Deceivedl Oh dear! oh. dear! how could I
have been deceived? Didn’t I hear a heavy rus-
tling in those bushes? didn’t [hear thecrackling
of twigs? Who," she continued, with a heart-
rending sob, “ could have made that rustling
and crackling but a man—a man come to insult
me. because I was alone and unprotected.”

“Did you see him?" inquired Squint.

“ See him! And do you suppose I should have
stayed there long enough to see him? No——-no!
I ran down to the beach at once, and hearing me

call for help, I think it’s very likely he retreat-

ed. Oh, Heaven! must our sex always be per-
secuted on account of our attractions? Must we
be hunted, insulted, and-oh, dear me!” she in-
terrupted, with a fresh burst of tears, “ it is ter-
rible to think of it!”

The person had to sneeze.

“ In my opinion,” said he. “ you are mistaken

. in thinking that the noise you heard was made

 

by a man. A cocoanut falling into the bushes
might have caused it. ”

“ Ay, ay," said Bolt, “ and it’s parfectly mall’-
ral that a susceptible natur’ like this lady's
should be scared by a cocoanut and convert it
into a man." ,

Miss Trundle directed a fierce glance at the
old tar.

“ Parson Trust!” she shrieked, “this is an in-
sult. “ I call upon you for protection!”

“ Why, cork me!” cried Squint. “I’ll answer
for it that no insult was meant. Bolt. d’ye see,
has a way of anplvin’ tho wrong,r terms to ex~
press himself. By ' susceptible natur’ ’ he meant
‘ skeptical natur',’ which explanatory on my
part, will, as I take it, set everything right and
shin-shape atween you and him, ma'am! ’

So saying, he darted OH to follow Jack, who
was now moving toward the clump of shrubbery
amid which the spinster had stated she heard
the noise. After searching a few minutes the
two men found a cocoanut, which, it was evi-
dent, had recently fallen from a tree that grew
near the bushes. Squint seized the prize, and
was about to elevate it above his head, with a
shout of triumph, when Jack suddenly placed a
hand upon his arm and pointed to a dry stick ly-
ing upon the ground. and which had been evi-
dently trodden upon, as it was broken in the
middle.

“ Some person has passed this way." he said.
“The stick is too thick to have been broken by
the cocoanut. Perhaps, however, it may have
been done by one of our own party.”

“ Not by me.” replied Squint, as I’ve never be-
fore paid a visit to this quarter. " r

“ Nor I. I have always passed to the right of
theso bushes on quitting my hut."

“ P’raps, then, we’d better question Bolt and
the person."

They did so, and Trust immediately replied
that he believed, but was not quite certain, that
he had walked through the bushes on the pre-
vious night. .

“ That sets the matter almost at rest,” said
Squint, “ but not quite. If the parsou was only
sartain upon the p int it would—”

“ It‘s all right,” interrupted Jack. “ I have
lived here several months, and have explored
the island many times. There can be no person
here besides ourselves. And now,” he added,
“we will go after the raft. We may yet find
the spars very useful."

“Parson Trust—Jyou must not go!" cried Miss
Trundle, seizing him by the coat—tail as he was
moving toward the boat. “ You must stay
ashore to protect us women. I shall certainly
die of fright if you go.” .

“Why, aunt. there is no danger,”suid Minnie.
” You know—”

“ You are a wild girl.” interrupted the spin-
ster, “and will never learn the real proprieties
of life. The idea of two single ladies remaining
for an hour or so without a protector upon a
barbarous island. It is shocking to think of.
Oh. dear! oh, dearl"

Trust looked uneasy; but he bowed with his
usual meek smile. and said he would stay; where—
upon Mi Trundle rolled her eyes skyward, and
in a fervent voice, ejaculated:

“ Thank God i”

  



 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack. H

 

The boat, manned by Bolt, Squint and Jack,
left the beach soon after, and, with the spinster
clinging tremblingly to his arm, the person
stood watching it as it receded.

In the course of an hour the raft was fas-
tened to and towed ashore. After it was se-
cured the three seamen set themselves to work to
prepare breakfast. In one of the bags taken from
the raft, Bolt found a few pounds of coffee and
sugar, together with a small tin pail; a dis-
covery which seemed to delight every one of
the party with the exception of Miss Trundle,
who said she cared for no kind of drink except
tea.

“ I am very fond of coffee,” said Minnie,
clapping her hands, “ and I shall enjoy it much
more under these beautiful cocoanut trees than
I would if I were at home.”

“You are a erfect heathen i" said her aunt,
sharply, “ and eaven only knows what will be-
come of you i"

Jack started. Had a thunderbolt fallen at
that moment and annihilated Miss Trundle
where she sat, for uttering such a tremendous
falsehood, he would not have been much sur-
prised. Sitting on a smooth log which he had
prepared for her, with the go den light of the
rising sun shining upon her bright hair, and
softly touching her rounded check, her dark
eyes beaming with spirit and feeling, her small
hands resting upon her lap like two little shells
of pearl, and her gaitered feet peeping from be-
neath her skirts, she looked like anything but a
heathen.

The morning repast soon was ready, and
with the birds hopping and singing around
them, and the murmur of distant streams falling
softly upon their ears, the little party clustered
around the piece of clean canvas spread upon
the grass, in lieu of a tablecloth, and partook of
their meal. '

“ God is good," said the person, when they
had finished the repast; “ let us thank God for
enabling us to reach this lovely spot, this beau-
tiful paradise in the ocean 1”

And, much tothe admiration of Miss Trundle,
he sunk upon his knees and commenced afer-
vent prayer.

The spinster suddenly interrupted it, however,
by a piercing shriek, at the same time pouucing
upon the clergyman and throwing both arms
about his neck.

” Help! help! help!" she gasped. “Oh, dearl
all], (lieu-l I shall amt—J shall never get over

is

“ What is it! What is the matter!” cried the
{our men, springing to their feet,

“I saw it this timel” gasped Miss Trundle,
pointing toward a rock not far ofl. “I saw it
plainly l" _

“ Saw what!” ‘ L '

“A, brown cap! Oh, dear! dear! a brown

ca !’

. gYou are nervous, madam. Your imagina-
tion must have deceived you,” said the person,
gently disengaging himself from the spinster‘s
grasp. “To set your mind at case, however,"
he added, hopping to one side to escape the
clutch of Miss Trundle‘s outstretched hand, “I
will go and examine the rocks!”

. He was followed by Jack and Squint. They

 

searched the hollows and crevices in the rock,
and the shruhbery beyond, but could see noth-
ing of the “ brown cap.” They discovered,
however, upon the top of the rugged elevation,
a large leaf, of a dark yellow color, which, seen
from the spot occupied by the spinster, might
have been mistaken by her excited imagination,
for the article of which she had spoken."

“ Isn’t this what you saw, madam?" shouted
Trust, pointing to the leaf.

“ Oh, dear! oh, dear! I don’t know, but I
think not. I only gave it one glance: but I
feel pretty certain it was a brown cap! Still it
may only have been that lenf. I hOpe so, I am
sure. I should certainly die if it was really a:
brown cap i" .

“ Ay, ayi it’s pretty sartain now this is what
scared her,” cried Squint; “it’s sstonishin’ how
skeptical she is; a-mistakin’ everything for a
man 1” ‘

“ Which,” said Bolt, who had joined them,
“is perfectly nat’ral, I suppose, considerin’ that
she seems to have been brought up in the fear of
every man exceptin‘ persons, which kind never
wears brown caps, nor goes round in the bushes
a—cuttin’ up pranks to scare wimmen.”

The men had by this time descended the rock,
and were approaching the two females. Miss
Trundle darted forward, and obeying an im-
pulse which it was evident she could not resist,
grasped the person‘s hand.

“ What should I do if it was not for you?” she
exclaimed. “My nature, which is of the ten-
der, shrinking kind, would wither and perish but
for your presence. Ahl parson, you are one of
those in whom our sex can place the utmost con~
fldence. Oh, dear! ob, dearl only to see how
resolume you advanced to examine thatdread—
ful rock—how quickly your penetration dis-
covered the real cause of my alarm! How can
I express my gratitude for your gallant be-
haviorl"

“ The less said about that, madam, the better,’
replied Trust, with his usual meek smile. “It
requires no courage to examine a leaf. And
now,” he quickly added, perceiving that the

spinster was preparing herself for another burst , .

of gratitude, “suppose we all take a walk. . It
is a beautiful morningypreise God, and I think
we will enjoy a stroll. ’

“ it will he delightful i” cried Miss Trundle, "

immediutely taking possession of his arm, “ and
you shall be my cavalier. I could not wish for
u nobler escort then one of God’s shepherds.”

Trust looked uneasy, and rubbed his nose ‘to
prevent himself from sneezing: while. Squint
and Bolt pulled at their forelocks and wxnked at
each other in a knowing manner.

“ Will you take my arm ?” inquired Jack, as
Minnie rose from her seat.

“ She can walk without it!” cried Miss Trun-
dle, turning sharply around.

Minnie pouted and looked displeased.

“ You are too particular, Miss Trundle,”
said the person. “Surelythere can be nothing

wrong in her accepting that young man's arm, ’ ’

“ If you say so—no," returned the spinster,
“ but, she is a Wild girl, and—J

“0h, aunt, I am not wild; you know I am
notl" cried Minnie, while tears of vexation rose

 

 

new»: wwsmrrzfiewmnmsm '

 

 

 

 

  

18 . Cast Away Jack.

 

 

to her eyes. “ When papa was living he never
said I was wild, and he knew.”

“ You will permit me to remark that I don’t
think you are so,” said J ack, soothingly; “ and
I may add," he continued in a lower tone, “ Lhat
I would not believe it if a thousand Miss Trun—
dles should say you were.”

She thanked him with a shy but grateful
glance, and took the proffered arm.

“ That look I” shrieked Miss Trundle, who
had been keenly watching her niece, “ oh,parson,
did you notice that lookl”

“Yen, and every natural one it was!” an-
swered Trust, as he gentl drew the spinster
along. “ God is good, iss Trundle. Look
ahead and see that beautiful network of sun-
light among the branches of those bread—fruit
trees.”

“It is perfectly delightful," replied the spin-
ster, after she had directed a sharp, warning

lance at the young people behind her, “ Rel“
ectly delightful. Those rays of light appear
like so many bright darning-needles among the
leaves.”

She squeezed his arm as she spoke, and the
person, with a. meek but nervous twitch of the
eyebrows, looked toward Squint and Bolt to as-
certain whether they had noticed the move-
ment. He was much relieved, however, in dis-
covering that they were sauntering off in an
opposite direction. He noticed, too, that Jack
and Minnie were now almOSt hidden from his
view by tall clumps of shrubbery; in fact, they
passed from his sight even while he gazed.

“ It strikes me,” said J ack, smilin upon his
lovely companion, “that your aunt is a. little
too careful of you.”

“It is her way,” replied Minnie, “and I am
sorry that I was ever left in her charge. She is
very cross and disposed to be tyrannical. But
she has her good qualities, too, and I think she
ikcs me.”

“ She must like on," he replied. “ I don’t
see how she could be p it.”

“ Why!” inquired Minnie, smiling.

“ Because you are so lovely,” promptly replied

Jack.

She looked pleased and then laughed.

“ That might have the opposite effect with
some women,” she said.

“ Yes, but a woman who would allow herself
to be influenced in that way, would not be
worthy of your friendship, for you, I know,
could never have such feelings.”

“ You are ri ht,” she answered. “ One of my
best friends, w an I was at home, was a. girl of
unrivaled beauty. A silly woman would have
been completely a iled‘ by the many com li—
ments she receive from the other sex. he
was a favorite with them all; her disposition
was kind and affectionate; she was a noble girl
in every respect. In fact, I think that even had
she been plain, her many amiable ualities
would have attracted everybody with W cm she
associated.”

“ [don’t doubt it,” answered Jack. “Many
women think that more beauty is the principal
attraction of our sex; but they make agreat
mistake. Heart " he added, emphasizing the
word strongly, ‘heart is what we Seek. A
large heart, like the sun, diffuses light and

 

warmth throughout the being of a woman, giv-
ing to the plain face and form a. nameless grace,
which is far superior to beauty, and far more
powerful to attract."

“ i think so too,” answered Minnie, “ and yet
I will not deny that it would grieve me to be
very plain."

“ Yes, and permit me to say that it is only
this grieving, this continual worrying on the
part of a. woman which can render her unat-
tractive. It ruins her disposition; destroys al—
most all the better feelings of her nature: robs
her of those gentle attributes which our sex love
so well; in fact, almost changes her into 11—”

“ Hold i”lnterruptedMinnie, layfully. “Your

icture may be very truthful, git Hermit' but it
is certainly very doleful. I hope that i shall
never grow plain if my being so would make a
fright of me!”

‘ It would not,” answered Jack, smiling.
“ Your disposition would still remain the s . me;
you would still be the same cheerful, happy he
lng— ’

“ No! no!" she broke forth, shaking her head.
“ 1 am not wise enough for that. I think I
should mourn over my departed glory for years
and years to come! Yes, I think I should be
as foolish as any of them,” she added, reflec-
tivelv.

“ You must be very fond of admiration,
then,” said he. Minnie pulled a leaf from a bush
and began to pick it to pieces.

“Yes,” she said, hesitatingly. “I should be
fond of being admired by—by a man whom—I
esteemed; but that would satisfy me.”

“ Well, then," said Jack, “suppose, as you
are now—beautiful and attractive—you have a.
Certain lover, and—”

“You will suppose nothing of the kind, Sir
IIHerngit,” interrupted Minnie, blushing and

aug mg.

“ No! no! we will only imagine it,” he replied.

She remained silent, and so he went on:

“This lover admires you, of course; thinks all
the world of you. Suddenly, however, from
some unaccountable cause, you become plain—-
very plain; but he still loves and admires on as
much as he did before this happened. ould
that console you for the change in your looks?
Would you still feel contented?"

“ Yes,” she murmured, in a low voice, and he
could see the soft gleam of her eyes throu h
their long, drooping lashes. “ Yes, I shou 01
feel perfectly happy under those circumstances.”

J ack’s great blue eyes flashed; be pressed ‘her
hand impulsively to his heart. She looked a
little alarmed, but not displeased. She gehtlv
withdrew her arm from his, stopped, and avert
ing her face. noticed for the first time that the
person and Miss Trundle were not In sight.

“Why, what has become of my aunt and Mr.
Trust?” she falter-ad. “I do not see them."

“ So much the better,” he answered, prompt—
ly. “ I am afraid that Miss Trundle, if we had
kept by her, would have afforded you. but little
opportunity to on by your walk. Surelv you are
not afraid of me, he added, sorrowfully, per-
ceiving that she trembled.

“ Oh, no,” she answered, in the same low voice
as before; ‘ I—I was only wondering what had

become of them.”

i

 

(.1;
fl

1...,"

.—

 

 

 

 

 

K“-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack. 13

 

“ Let us 0 on, then,” said he. “ You have
not seen ha of the island.”

She took his arm, and continuing on their
way, they finally arrived upon the summit of a
high ridge of land, overlooking a valley, fringed
with bread—fruit trees and dense masses of
shrubbery.

“ Beautiful 1” ejaculated Minnie, as her glances
wandered among the luxuriant clusters of green
foliage tinged with the red light of the sun.
“ Beautifull I no longer wonder at your not
cariin I to leave this paradise of the ocean,
an ——

She paused a moment, and then shrunk back,
uttering a low or of surprise.

“ What is it? hat do you see?" he inquired.

“I believe I am very foolish,” she said. “ I
dare say after all, it was mere fancy; but as I
looked toward the further extremity of the val-
ley beneath us, I thought I saw, for a single in-
stant, the top of a Tom cap lifted above a
clum of shriibbery.”

“ on must have been deceived,” said Jack:
“ there can be no person besides ourselves and
friends upon this island l”

“I think it’s very likely I was mistaken,” an-
swered Minnie. “Perhaps my aunt has made
me a little nervous l”

She laughed, and having changed the subject.
they were convening pleasantly, when the shrill
voice of Miss Trundle was faintly heard in the
distance.

“Minniel Minnie! Whereare you? 0h,dear!
oh, dearl what has become of you? It is posi-
tively. shocking, your wandering 03 so with a
maul

‘ The young girl blushed and pouted with vexa-‘

tion.

“ We may as well go back,” said she. “ My
aunt will go into hysterics it I remain out of her
sight much longer. ’

Accordingly they retraced their way, and, in
a few minutes encountered Miss Trundle and
the person.

“Ah! Your wild we s will be the death of
me yet,” exclaimed the armor, fixing her eyes
sharply upon the face of her niece. “ To think
of you and this youth remaining so long out of
my sight, end—"

“Madam,” Trust gently interrupted, “ we
have kept out of their sight as long as they have
kept out of ours.”

“ I have no more to say,” exclaimed Miss
Trundle, “not a word. If you, arson, can see
nothing wrong in it, I shall let t e matter rest.
But there must be no love—making between
theml No, no, I will not allow that !”

 

CHAPTER VI.
AN omixracran DISCOVERY.

FOUR weeks had passed since the arrival of
the wrecked party upon the island. Squint and
Bolt had kept a. regular lookout for a sail; but
thus far their vigilance had met with no reward.
0n land these two men were something like
“ fish out of water.” Beautiful as their present
locality was, it had no charm for them. Trees,
rocks, valleys, and murmur-mg streams Were
viewed by them with indifference, if not with
pos1tive dislike. Accnstomed as they were to

 

ships, barks, and Schooners, never staying ashore
longer than two weeks when discharged from
any vessel, it was natural that the were now
eager to leave the island. Miss rundle also
longed to quit its beautiful shores.

“ I am tired of this barbarous style of living,"
she had remarked on more than one occasion.
“ It is ruining my complexion! Oh, dear, dear!
I do Wish I was in the botom of my own native
land!”

The person, too, had expressed a wish to re-
turn to his native land; he felt anxious about
his flock in the little village church; he had
prayed for them every night. “

Minnie and Jack were the on] members of
the party who were contented. appy in each
other’s society, the island seemed to them a per-
fect paradise. Reading in the eyes of the girl a
tender but shy response to the feelings with
which she had inspired him, Jack could 'no
longer bear the thought of living alone. She
must, henceforth, be his companion through
life, or life would lose every charm for him.
The music of her voice, the light of her eyes, the
very sound of her elastic step, had become al-
most as necessary to his existence as the air he
breathed.

It was a clear, starlight night, and our little
party were seated in front of their huts, the
person and Jack a little removed from the rest.
The young sailor was speaking tothe clergy-
man in a low, earnest voice; and the latter
would now and then respond with akind and
benevolent smile. At length Jack became si-
lent, and, rising, the parson approached the log
upon which Miss Trundle was seated with her
niece.

“ I would like to have a little rivate conver-
sation with you, madam,” he said, and as Miss
Trundle rose, he looked at Minnie and sneezed.

The young girl blushed deeply, and seemed
confused.

“Oh, dear, dearl” thought the spinster' “a.
litth private conversation. Can it be? es,
yes, it must be so; I read it in his eyes; he is
going to propose!”

He olfered her his arm; the accepted it quick-
ly, and they walked slowly toward the beach.
As soon as they were there the person stopped
and gently pressed the hand of his companion.

“Miss Trundle,” said he, “ I presume you are
aware of the attachment existing between your
niece and the young man who so nobly rescued
us from a watery grave.”

The spinster uttered a low shriek, started
back, and held up her hands, while every fea—
ture expressed horror and consternation.

“ Good heavensl person Trust. You can not
mean it!” she gasped. “ Oh, dear! oh, dear! I
knew that girl would be the death of me! I
knew—9’

“ Hold, madam,” be interrupted, “I see no
harm in this attachment. On the contrary, I
think it is quite pggger. He is a noble oun
man, and she is a g girl. Yea, verily, can!
not imagine two persons who are better matched
-—better fitted to make each other happy I"

“ But he is not worth a cent, that I heard of!”
exclaimed Miss Trundle, “ not a farthing. How
are they going to live? He is a wanderer, a
hermit, a sort of cannibal! Oh, dear! dear.-

Nwtm-u ._ _ '

 

 

  

14

 

Icould not bear for a moment the thought of
her marrying such an odd young man?"

“ I think, on the contrary, that he is quite an
intelligent youth," said Trust; “and, besides,”
he added, in a solemn voice, “ you must bear in
mind, madam, that they love each other, and on
that account, by the laws of our Savior, they
should be united." ‘

“ But, oh, dear! oh, mercy! only think of his
not being worth any property; his not having
an ~17

‘¥Madaml” gently interrupted the parson,
“your anxiety for the welfare of'your niece
does you credit, and allow me to inform you
that he has property, or at least the use (-13

it.

“ And where is it, arson? Where is this
property? I questione him on a. certain oc—
casion, and he said he had none."

“ Miss Trundle," answered Trust, with a meek
smile, “ his property is here in the Pacific Ocean.
It is this island I”

The spinster shrieked.

“Yes, this island; this beautiful paradise,
aboundiug in fruits and fishes; this lovely spot,
far removed from the din and bustle of cities;
from the whirl of business; from the—”

“ Dear me!” interrupted Miss Trundle. "You
don’t mean to say that they wish to live
here I”

“ I do,” he replied. “ He has asked her to be
his wife, and to remain with him here, and she
has consented l"

“ Why, Parson Trust, this is shocking! This
is terrible! Can it be that you, one of God’s
shepherds, approve of this plan?”

“ And why not? They love each other, and I
have no doubt will be happy here. If they
should tire of the place at some future time,
they can leave it. Your niece has requested
me to ask you if you will not live with them.”

“Never!” shrieked Miss Trundle. “ Oh, dear!
dear! what an ideal I would not do so for the
world! If they stay here they can not have my
company! Were it not that her father on his

' death-bed made me promise not to oppose any

attachment between her and one of the other
sex, I should cut off my right hand before I
would allow this thing to go any further. The
heart of this young man may be good enough:
but, oh, dear! dear! he is the last man I would
have chosen for Minnie’s husband l"

“Madam,” said the parson, “ ermit me to,

say that I feel convinced he wi make here
good rtner. He is a worthy young man, and
may od help them both 1”

Here Miss Trundle burst into tears, and,
with many heartrending sobs, declared that she
was “one of the most persecuted of women;"
that she wouldn’t oppose the marriage of her
niece, as she had no right to do so, but that it
ought to be opposed, however, with heart and
soul; that the fact of its not being opposed would
be the death of her! ’

The parson exerted himself to conlole her,
and, at racted to the spot by her cries, Minnie
came to assist him.

But the sight of her niece onl seemed to add
to Miss Trundle’s distress, an_ it was a long
time before she recovered sufficiently to dry her

eyes.

 

Cast Away J ack.

“ You will remain with us, will you not, dear
aunt?”

“ Never!" ejaculated Miss Trundle, in a hol-
low voice. “lf you marry that man, you must
take the consequences. But if you are a girl of
common sense you will not marry him!”

Bot-"re Minnie could reply, her aunt started
back with aloud scream, and pointed to a rock
that projected into the water, a few yards from
the spot where she stood.

The parson and the young girl followed the
direction of her glance, but were unable to dis-
cover the cause of her alarm.

“ I saw it laiulyl” she gasped, “only for an
instant, but ’m quite sure I was not mistaken.
'1' ho moonlight fell directly upon it; it was a
broum cap !”

Parson Trust sprung forward and looked be-
hind the rock; but he saw nothing of Miss Trun-
dle’s apparition.

“ You are nervous and excited,” he said,
when he came back; “ your imagination de-
ceived you.”

“ That may have been the cass,” she replied.
“ Oh, dear! oh, dear! I believe I am goin
crazy! The idea of this terrible marriage will
be the death of me, yet! When is it to take
place?” >

“ To-morrow morning,”, answered Trust,
smiling bencvolently upon Minnie.

Miss Trundle shrieked again; but, before she
could utter a word of complaint, the arms of the
pretty niece were thrown around her neck, and

er cheeks pressed to the rough pea-jacket,
which was still worn by the spinster.

Minnie loved her aunt in spite of the latter’s
disagreeable temper, and she now strove to re-
concile her to the marriage. But Miss Trundle
would not be reconciled. She said she had no
right to op e the step Minnie was about to
take; but, 3 e looked upon it with unmitigated
horror, and believed her niece was throwing
herself away.

This somber view of the case, however, did not
prevent her from making her appearance at the
wedding on the next morning. The ceremony
was performed in a little grove of bread-fruit
trees, not far from the shores of the lake. Squint
and Bolt gave three cheers when it was conclud-
ed, and danced n hornpipe in honor of the occa—
sion. Every face, except Miss Trunrlle’s, wore
a pleasant smile. The parson shook hands with
the two young people after he had united them,
and tendered his heartfelt congratulations; but
the spinster, who looked as though she had just
witnessed a burial, merely stoo and imprint-
ed an icy kiss upon the brow of or niece. Then,
Eithout saying a word, she marched 01f to the

ut. . ‘
Seating herself upon a log she commenced to
wail'and sob in her usual manner; and all the
efforts of her niece, who came soon after to con-
sole her, were of no avail. She continued her

lamentations for several hours, when they were i

suddenly checked by a simultaneous cry from
Scp‘iint and Bolt, who had mounted the little hill
be ind the huts.

“ Sail, O !"

She sprung up, and, rushin from the shelter,
found the oarsou upon his nees offering up
thanks to God. Looking in another direction,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.‘

 

   

 

 mine»th W

Cast. Away Jack. 1 5

 

she saw Squint and Bolt bounding down the
hill, waving their caps about their heads, and
seeming almost intoxicated with joy.

J ack Weldon advanced to meet them.

“ How is she heading?" he inquired.

“Sou’—west, as near as I can make out,”re-
plied the other; ” but she is too far off to see our
signals, and her course will soon carry her out
of sight, it we don’t take time by the forelock
and cut her off, which we might do with your
boat, by tacking—”

“ Yea, verily, but the young man would lose
his boat, if we did that,” interrupted the person,
springing to his feet, “ for it isn’t likely the
skipper of the ship would be willing to spare the
time which would be required to bring the little
craft to the island, after we should have been
picked up.”

Jack had begun to relfect upon the matter,
1when the shrill voice of Miss Trundle burst upon

IS ear.

“ Oh, dear! dear! it can make no difference to
him—the loss of his boat. For the love of
heaven. let us get away from this heathenish
island!”

“You can have the boat!” exclaimed Jack.
“Ay, ay! you can have it! I would lose a bun-
dred boats,” he added, mentally, “for the sake
of getting rid of that troublesome woman !”

Squint suddenly twisted his forelock and
glanced uneasily at Miss Trundle.

“ You are a—goin’ to stay here with the young
couple, ma’am,are you not?" he inquired.

“Why, good heavens! no, indeed. It would
be the death of me! Oh, Lord! Lord! What
an idea l"

“ We might be a long time reaching the ship,
ma’aml” exclaimed Bolt, “ which might be the
cause of injuring your health, besides which, the
boat might get swamped 1”

“Yea, verily," said the parson, “ we ma be
upon the sea several days; so I think, ma am,
you had better remain upon the island; at least,
izn‘til you have a better opportunity of leaving
1 .
“I differ with you, my friends,” said Jack.
“ I think Miss Trundle will be perfectly safe in
the boat, and that you will succeed in reaching
the ship before night.”

“ Danger or no danger!” shrieked the spinster,
“I will go! I must go!”

The person sneezed; Squint and Bolt looked
uneasy

“ Permit me, ma’am,” said the dapper tar,
“ to beg that you won’t. Just think of our feel-
in‘s if anything should happen to you. A gale
might come on, before we get to the craft, and
the seas a-sweeping upon you would wet you

through, and give you your death of cold.”

“ To say nothin’ of bein’ drowned, ma’am,”
put in Bolt. " which would be very likely, seein’
as the rollin’ of the boat might cause you to
pitch overboard."

" In In opinion she will be in no kind of dan-

er;\’ sai Jack. “ The boat is a Swift one: there
8 no sign of a gale at present; and, even if there

_were, you would reach the ship before it came

on to blow.”

“I don’t care what happens. My mind is
made up to go, and if I get drowned it will be

 

Minnie’s fault. Never can I forgive that un-
grateful girl for What she has done!”

So saying, she seized the person’s arm.

“ Lead me to the boat at once,” she continued.
“ I am ready. I have nothing to pack up; I can
leave at a moment‘s notice."

Trust and the two tars still exerted themselves
to persuade her to remain, but all in vain; they
were finally obliged to yield to her wishes.

 

CHAPTER VII. A
ON a RAFT.

MISS TRUNDLE was conducted to the boat, in
which she seated herself, refusing to embrace her
niece, who came to bid her farewell, and only
replying with a cold nod to her parting words
and good-wishes.

“ God bless you bothi"cried the parson, as be
squeezed the hands of Jack and his bride, “ and
may you ever be as happy as you are now.”

“ Ay, ayl” cried Bolt7 “ and I say the same.
Jack is no lubber, and his wife isan angel. Both
of them deserve good luck 1”

Squint expressed himself in a similar manner,
after which the three men entered the boat, and
stepping the mast, proceeded to set sail. This
was soon done, and the little craft was then seen
careering away from the island, on the star-
board tack. Jack and his fair bride stood upon
the beach watching it until it had become a
mere speck upon the broad ocean. Then Jack
drew the young girl closely to his bosom,
and kissed from her cheeks the tears that had
been culled forth by the coldness of her aunt at
parting.

“ Calm yourself, my sweet bride; we are now
by ourselves. Your aunt can no longer wound
your feelings. Forget her and be happy. ’

Minnie dried her eyes and smiled, as she has
tied her head upon the broad bosom of her hus-
band. Afterward they mounted the little hill,
from which they continued to watch the boat

until it could no longer be seen. Before sunset, ‘

Jack perceived by means of a small ship’s glass,
which was one of the prizes found on the raft,
that the ship was lying-to. Soon after, her
yards were again braced forward, and he knew

that the party in the boat had been picked. up. .

The shades of night at length hid the vessel from
his View, and with his young wife, he descended
the hill.. As they were approaching their but,
Minnie suddenly started on hearing a rustling
noisa in a clump of shrubberyrnear the right
bank of the lake.

Jack laughed, and pressed her waist protect?
ingl with the arm that encircled it.

“ 0 not be afraid,” he said; “ the noise you
heard was merely caused by some bird, or per-
haps by the falling of a cocoanut among the
bushes.” '

“ 1 am foolish to allow to self to be so easily
alarmed,” she replied, “an I will try to be more
brave in future.” ' I

On the afternoon of the next day the aging
couple were walking slowly along the ch,
when Jack’s foot striking against something upon

the sand sent it flying before him, and he was

astonished, on obtaining a nearer view, to dis-
cover that it was the bowl of an old clay pi !

“ Was it not yours?" inquired Minnie, noticing

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16

 

Cast Away Jack.

 

his look of perplenty; “have I not seen you
have one very much like it?"

“ No,” he replied, smilingly, “ the one I use is
a small meerschaum—a present from a friend.
This, as you can perceive, is of clay, and I am
ata loss to imagine who has been using it. It
has been smoked recently,” he added, picking up
the bowl and examining it; “there is still some
tobacco adhering—3’

“ I have it,” interrupted Minnie, clapping her
hands and laughing gleefully, “ it belonged
either to Squint or Bolt. You forget that they
smoked.”

Jack shook his head doubtfully.

“ Each of those two men smoked a brier-
wood," said he, “ but.” he added, perceiving
that she now looked alarmed, “ they may have
had cla -pipes too.”

He t rew the pipe-bewl into the water, and
they continued their walk; but Minnie could not

‘ ’help noticing that he seemed a little more

thoughtful than usual.

They had not roceeded far, when she sud-
denly stopped, an clutching his arm, pointed
toward a small rock that rose from the shrub-
bery on their left.

“Dear Jack," she faltered, “I was not mis-
taken this time—I am sure I was not; I saw it
plainly, a brown cap! I don’t think my aunt
was deceived, after all!”

Jack started and looked puzzled.

“ Surely there can be no person besides our-
selves upon this islandl” lie exclaimed. “and
yet," he added, smiling in the midst of his per-
plexit , “if there is a brown ca here, there
must a human head under iti ait here for
me, no little wife,” he continued, as he darted
into t e shruhbery; “this mystery must be
solved without delay.”

He hurried swiftly on and soon caught a

limpse of the brown cap as its owner lided
t rough the tall bushes far ahead of him. uch
astonished, he quickened his pace; but he had
not proceeded much further when the cap sud-
denly disappeared from his view.

He continued his way, however, for a quarter
of an hour longer, when, hearing the low mur-
mur of voices in earnest conversation, he stopped.
He now stood upon the edge of a little valley,
the sides of which being fringed with shrubbery
prevented him from seeing the speakers, who
were evidently seated, somewhere ahead of him.

Crouching upon his hands and knees, he cre t
cautiously forward until he suddenly behe (1
three men reclining upon the grass on an open
space of ground; two of them smoking, and the
other carelessly fingering the handle of a long
sheath-knife stuck in a leathcrn belt about his
waist. Though their faces were partially turned
from him, Jack saw enough of them to convince
him that they were very rough and unprepns—
ceasing; Their beards were long and grizzly,
their air uncomhed, and the gray shirt and
pants worn by each looked as though they had
not been washed for several weeks. Upon the
head of one of these men Jack saw the brown
cap. Its owner evidently was unconscious that
he had been pursued. He was lying upon his
back, laughing in a silent but hearty manner

at some observation made by one of his compan- 11

ions.

  

 

“ I tell you what, Bill Choke," he said, after
having indulged his mirth to his satisfaction,
“ it’s amusin’ enough—the idea of us three—con-
victs at that—stumbling upon this island which
that young luhher—accordin’ to what I heard
the parson say, t’othor night—othiuks is his prop-
erty. It’s very amusin’, too, to think of that
pretty gal which has married the young lub-
her!

“ You are sure, Tom, of what you told us last
night, ain’t you?” inquired one of the men ad-
dressing the wearer of the brown cap. “ on
are sure that they’ve all left the island exceptin’
the oung man and his wife?"

“ by of course I am, Clark. Didn’t I see it
all last night; the sailing away in the whale-
boat and all? How can help bein’ sure. Be-
sides, l’ve jist been on another scout, and I seen
the young couple a—walking along the beach as
oving as two turtle-doves, which they wouldn’t
have had much chance of doing providing that
old prying she hear in the pea-jacket had been
around.”

“ Well, we have got into good quarters—there’s
no disputin’ that p’int!" exclaimed Choke. “ and
you may all thank me for it. It was all through
my acquaintance with the steward of that
blamed ship, that we got our handcuffs and
chains taken off just as we were a-passin‘ this
island, on the night before the gale. But, if I
hadn’t jumped through the port-hole and taken
the lead, blow me, if I think the rest of you
would have attempted it!”

“It was nat’ral that we should feel a little
doubtful,” replied Tom, “ seein’ as we didn’t
know the steward. When he said the island
was less than a league distant, how did we know
but what he had made some luhberly mistake,
and that the shore was too far off to be reached
by swimming 1"

“We must have been missed the next morn-
ing,” said Bill, “and I can’t imagine why the
marines warn’t sent for us, as they must have
guessed that we swum ashore, unless the stew-
ard blinded their eyes with some story which
gave ’em an idea that we committed suicide by
drowning ourselves sooner than to be carried to
Botany Bay.”

“ Or p’raps,” said Clark, “the ship foundered
in the gale the next night. t was a-blowin’
awful, and there ain’t many ships that could
weather sich a tempest 1”

“Well, here we are, at any rate—safe and
sung!” cried Tom, “ and now the question is.
what is to be done with that young cove? His
male friends have all left him. and it ’u’d be an
easy matter to pounce upon him and squeeze the
breath out of his body, after which we might
take possession of his widow.”

“ I don't exactly like the idea of killin’ him,”
saifd ’l,3ill. “Suppose we set him adrift on the
re 1:. '

“ Ay, and have him picked no afterwards
p’raps, and blow on us, getting us all muzzled
again!” cried Tom.

“ Dead men tells no talesl” exclaimed the other
two simultaneously; “ he must die!"

“ That’s my way of thinking,” said Tom, “for
d’y’e see, it won’t do to have him here spying on

s. .
“ Well, boys, what say you—it is agreed on,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cast Away Jack. 1'!

 

isn’t it?” inquiredBill, “ we are to make way
With the young man. I’m sorry myself, but I
don’t see as it can be helped.”

“Ay, ay, he must die!" gruflly responded the
others.

“ Which will be to~night,” added the wearer
of the brown cap. “Two of us can creep into
his but and settle him with knives; or one of us
can use this,” he added, drawing a pistol from
his pocket. “ This useful instrument, which
was given to us by the steward."

“I hope Ishn’u’t be one of them that’s picked
out to do this disagreeable businessl” cried Bill;
“ it isn’t exactly in my line.”

“Pshaw!” exclaimed Tom. “You’re like a
sick old woman. The young man has got to die
some time; he may as well die first as last.
That’s Logic .’”

Jack did not wait to hear more. Alarmed
more on Minnie’s account than his own, he hur~
ried to the spot where he had left her and drew
her closely to his bosom.

f She noticed the troubled expression on his
ace.

“ You have seen something to trouble youl!’
she cried. “ Speak! dear husband—let me know
the worst at once i”

“ Ay," he replied in a sorrowful voice, “ I had
not dreamed of anything happening to trouble
us here. But it seem; that brutes, having the
form of men, have even penetrated to this
‘ Garden of Eden,’ in which I had hoped we
woald be secure from intrusion.”

He gently drew her in the direction of the
huts, and as they moved along, described the
three men he had seen, and related their conver-
sation.

“ I thought it best to tell you the truth," be
.added, “for it could not have been concealed
from you a great while.”

“I will die with youl" exclaimed the young
wife, throwing her arms around his neck; “ we
shall never be separated."

“ We must not talk of dying yet,” replied
Jack; “perhaps I may succeed in baffling those
three wretches.”

“What can you do? The boat is gone, and
we can not get away on the raft.”

“You are mistaken, Minnie, about the raft.
I have a couple of oars and a large piece of can-
vas, with which I could easily rig a sail. With
the breeze which is now blowing, the sail would
soon carry us out to sea.”

“ Oh! how fortunate!” exclaimed Minnie,
“ that on took the precaution to secure this
raft. do not see, after all, as we are so badly
off,” she added, with a cheerful smile. “ A bag
of sea~bisouit and a little fruit with a keg of
fresh water carried with us, will last us a long
time.”

“ But I am not willing to be driven from the
island in any such maunerl” cried Jack' “those
rascals have no more right to it than I ave. I
think, by a little maneuvering, I can overpower
them.”

“Oh, no! nol" interrupted his wife, in a be-
seeching tone. “You are too confident. You
will certainly be slain, for what can you do

, against three men?”

“Be it as you wish, my little wife! We will
take to the raft. But, I shall not go out of

 

sight of the island. I shall keep it in view all
the time that we are afloat.” ‘

“Then the men may swim out to us,” said
Minnie. “ You did not think of that.”

“ Oh, no—I shall keep too far from the island
for them to reach us," he answered, " and all
the time I shall be on the lookout for a vessel.
If I see one I shall signal it, and report our situ—
ation to its crew if they come to us. The con-
victs will then be captured and carried aboard
the vessel, and we will find ourselves in peace-
ful possession of the island. But you may
have to endure a great deal of hardship,” he
sorrowfully added, “ before this happens." ‘

“ And what is hardship to me, so long as you
are with mel” she exclaimed, looking brightly
up into his face; “ I shall scarcely heed it.’

He wound an arm around her waist, and
stoogug, kissed her several times.

“ ou encourage me ” he said, “and I shall
never tire of thanking Providence for bringing
me such a wife."

A bright blush mantled her cheek, and her
eyes beamed upon him like stars.

“And 1,1200!” she exclaimed, in a. voice of
emotion, “ I am blessed with such a. husband!”

The sun had set, and the shadows of twilight
were beginning tosteal over the island land-
scape, and over the rippling waters of the sea.
Jack gently disengaged himself from the arms
of his young bride, not daring any longer to
give way to the emotions that agitated his heart;
for no time was to be lost in making the pre-
parations for departure.

A bag of biscuit—the onl one left of the
three which had been lashe to the raft, was
now placed upon the floating platform, together
with several large bunches of bananas, some
cooked bread-fruit, and several pounds of cock-
ed beef.

Then one of the cars which had been taken
from the boat before it left the island, was so-
cured with ropes to the middle of the raft, in
such a way as to form quite a. respectable mast.

Another was fastened crossways to it so as to

" answer the purpose of a yard; and the canvas

being bent in soon after, the young couple were
ready to sad. The rope which held the raft
was accordingly unfastened, and the latter
stowly—almost imperceptibly—glided from the
s ore.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
Misroa'ruun.

“ WE are safe I” cried Minnie, joyfully.

“ Ay, ay, and may we soon be able to return
to the island,” cried Jack. “ I hardly like the
idea. of running away from those ruffians in this
manner. But I suppose it is the best plan."

“ I am quite sure it is,” replied Minnie “ By
staying on land we would certainly be captured
before a great while.” . _

Jack was about to reply, when his quick eye
caught sight of a figure which suddenly appeared
upon the summit of a low rock not far from the
beach. It was not yet too dark to See the
br0wn cap upon the head of this “ apparition.”

He gave aloud about on seeing the raft and
its occupants, and appeared on the beach a mo:
ment after, accompanied by his two friends.

 . nwfiwws’

 

 

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i
H

 

  

18

 

Cast Away Jack.

 

“ Halloa, halloa, there!” he shouted, “ where
are you bound?”

“ That’s my own affair!” retorted Jack.

“ No, I’m hlowed if it is!” roared the wearer
of the brown cup. “ I Want you to come back.
Hope you ain’t thinking that we intend to harm
you, notwithstanding l"

“ I am not anxious for your company,” rc-
torted Jack. “ I know all about you. You are
escaped convicts; a set of cowardly rascals who
would pounce upon one man and take his life,
without giving him a chance to defend him-
self!”

“Thank ye!" cried Tom; “ but you should
bear in mind that, seeing as you’ye got to die
some time, you might as well dle first as last.
, That’s logic! I think you must have been a—
spyiu’ around,” he added, “to find out so lnuch
about us."

Not caring to handy further words with the
radian, ack seized a. paddle and increased the
speed of the raft by paddling first on one side
and-then on the other.

“ You seem in a mighty hurry to get out of
our si ht,” continued Tom, from the beach,
“and, low me if it’s to my taste! There’s no
need of it, I can assure you! I give you my
word—~we all give you our word-that we won’t
offer you harm. ’

Perceiving, however, that Jack took no no»-
tice of the remark, the three men held a rapid
consultation in a low voice, after which they
threw off their shoes and hats.

" Oh, my God, husband!” gasped Minnie, in a
terrified voice, ‘ they are going to swim to us!"

“ Fear nothing!” answered J uck, as he
snatched up the hatchet which he had not no-
glected to bring away with him; “ they will not
find it an easy matter to board us, it I know
myself!”

“Alas! what can you do against the whole
three?” cried his wife. “ Each of them can ap-
proach from a different direction.”

In fact the men had no sooner plunged into
the water than they separated, hoping in this
may to gain each side of the raft at once.

he clumsy vessel was now about fifty yards
from the beach, and its speed, not being equal to
that of the swimmers, Jack calculated that
they would reach him before long, provided the
breeze did not freshen.

Dexterously keeping the raft before the wind
b the constant use of the paddle, he glanced
a ternately at his little sail and the grim faces of
the men in the water.

' “ The wind is freshening as we leave the lee of
the land," he said at length; “ cheer up, Minnie;
there’s a chance of our escaping, yet.”

" God grant that we may,” she answered;
f‘ but it"seems to me that they are fast approach-
in us.

a They are still twenty yards from us,” he
said. “ Oh, if I only had a rifle or a lance!”

“ Which not being the case,” exclaimed Tom,
who overheard the remark, “ makes all the dif-
f’rence in the world. We will show you no
mercy when we get aboard of you~thafls cor-
tainl Strike out, my lads, strike out!”

The three men exerted themselves to the ut-
most, and very soon the foremost swimmer——
who, as it happened, was Bill Choke—found

himself within ten feet of the raft. Hatchet in
hand, our hero sprung to the edge of the plat-
form, ready to oppose him, when he suddenly
wheeled round and struck out for the shore.
Surprised by this maneuver, Jack was still star-
ing at the receding figure, when his shrill warn-
ing cry rung far along the waters!

“ Sharks! sharks!" shouted the man, at the
top of his voice; “a whole school of 'em bearing
down upon us! Swim for your lives—swim for
the beach! They’ll be upon you before you can
get to the raft!”

_ Jack looked around him in every direc-

tion, but could see nothing of the dreaded mon-
sters. The man had either made a mistake or
had purposely raised a. false alarm, in order to
save the young sailor’s life. Whatever may
have been the cause of ‘the outcry, it is certain
that it was successful in frightening the other
swimmers. Panic-stricken—their eyes protrud-
'ng from their sockets—their hair fairly brist-
iing on their heads, they turned and struck out
for the beach.

“ Surely this is an interposition of Provi-
dence!” cried innie, throwing horse f upon her
husband’s bosom, with tears of joy in her soft
eyes. “And yet,” she added, glancing around
her, “I can see nothing of the sharks."

“ The man probabiy made a mistake,” said
Jack. “ I think he was deceived by the twi-
light shadows quivering yonder among the rip-
ples. “ And now," he continued, glancing at
the sail, “the wind has freshened, and we will
be far away from those rascals before they
think of making another attempt to reach us.”

They watched the receding swimmers until
they were swallowed up in the deepening
shadows; then J sick continued to ply his puddle“
while his little wife, seizing another, playfully
assisted him.

Soon after the moon came up, lighting the
sea and the beautiful shores of the island.

“ How far are we from the land?” inquired
Minnie.

“ About half aleaguei” he answered. “In
less than an hour we will be as far from it as I
care to go."

When the time he mentioned had expired he
threw down his paddle.

“There, my little wife," said he, “ we are now
about a league and a half from our island, and I
must try to keep that distance, which I can do,
provided we are not carried off by a gale. You
must feel tired and sleepy by this time.” A

“Oh. no,” she answered, “not yet; but when
are you going to sleep? It Seems to me that you
had better take a nap now, while I at up awhile
and keep watch ” _

" I will do all the watching,“ he answered,
smiling, “ for the sail must be trimmed occa-
sionally, and you wouldn’t know how to do it.
I shall, however, be able to catch snap now
and then.”

“ But you can show me how to trim the sail.”

“You are not enough of a sailor for that,”
he replied, laughing. ” You could never learn.”

“ And so it seems I can do nothingto help
vnu.” she said, in a disappointed tone. “ I was
Oh. I would be so glad to do it!”

watching.

 

“Well, then,” said he, “ there will be times

a. ‘4'“,
Eur

i-;:_._'::...._- In  .e-w

in hopes that I could at least take my turn in '

   

 

 

 

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.person signaling to another, was

 

Cast Away Jack. 19

 

when the sail will not need trimming. Then
you may watch if you like."

This seemed to make her very happy. She
sat up until the night was iar advanced, and
then fell asleep upon the rough bed of canvas
which he had prepared for her.

A little after midnight she woke, and raising
her head from the pea-jacket that served for a
pillow, she perceived that the breeze had died
away; leaving the sea as smooth as a mirror.

“ ou can have nothing to do with your sail
now, Sir Hermit," she playfully observed to her
husband as she rose, “ and therefore you will
permit me to relieve the watch.”

“You have not slept enough yet,” he an-
swored.

“Yes Ihave. Ifeel very much refreshed,"
cried innie. “ I will hear no excuses. So,
tell me what I am to do, and go to sleep.”

“ Well, then, if you insist, suppose you must
have your way,” said Jack. “ lthat you have
to do is to sit here by the mast, and look toward
the island. It you see anything suspicious,
Wake me up at once.”

“Very well; and now, having given your
orders, you can go into the cabin."

He laughed, and throwing himself upon the
canvas, soon dropped to sleep.

A few minutes later, the moon was partially
obscured by; mass of clouds, which, for some
time, had 11 gradual] spreading over the
western sky. Minnie con dnow scarcely see the
island; only the faint outline of the higher land
was visible. She rose, hoping to Obtain a better
view; but the shadows, deepening around her,
soon veiled every portion of the isle from her
si ht.

he sea, however, still being calm, she did not
think it necessary to wake her husband. She
felt pleased to hear his quiet breathing, which
betokened that his sleep was sound, and she
hoped that he would enjoy his slumber until
sunrise. ‘

 

CHAPTER IX.
GRATITUDE or BILL CHOKE.

RETURNING to her station by the little mast,
she fell into a train of pleasing reflections, which
she indulged for about an hour, when she sud-
denly sprung up and stood in an attitude of
attention. A low, cautious whistlin , as of some
orne to her
ears. She peered eagerly through the darkness
and, to her astonishment and dismay, beheld
the faint outline of cocoanut trees not more than
a uarter of a mile distant. *

‘ Good heavens!” she muttered, “I have ks t
buta poor lookout. Unperceived b me, t e
raft has drifted almost to the bone with the
inshore current! And then that signal! It
came from the shore!”

She shrieked as a dark head suddenly emerged
to View. within ten feetot her position. Then
she sprung toward her husband; but her cry
had already awakened him. and he was now
sittinlg up, glancing round in a bewildered man-
ner.

“ J ack, dear Jack,” she cried, “we are close
to the shore, and some one is swimming toward
us!

“ You must be mistaken, Minnie,” he said.

 

“You must not allow
frightened, poor child.
a league distant.”

She perceived that he was only half—awake.

“ No, no,” she cried, putting a hand upon his
shoulder, “ the raft has drifted toward the shore
since you fell asleep, and—”

Thoroughly aroused at last, Jack sprungto
his feet to confront Bill Choke, who bad Just
climbed upon the floating platform.

“Hist!” whispered the convict, as Jack
stooped to grasp his hatchet. “Don’t .be
alarmed, and don’t be a-making any noise.
I’ve come to assist you.”

" You/"exclaimed the young sailor, much
surprised. “ I overheard you say—”

“ Ay, ay,” interrupted Bill, “ you heard me

eak to them other two as if I was willing to
side in with their plans. But it was only done,
upon my word—though p’raps you think the
word of a convict don’t amount tomuch—in
order to blind ’em so that I might help you and
yours. I have committed crimes, in my time,”
he added, “but murder was never among ’em.
The crime I have been guilty of, d’ye see, was
caused by my being led into temptation by them
that was older than me and ought to have
known better. Still, I‘m far from being a good
man, and I knows it, though I may get reformed
aftera while. Certain it is, howsever, that I
haven’t the heart to disturb a couple like you,
and am determined to help you out of your
scrape; and in order. that you may know I
ain‘t”dec*eivin’ you, I will begin by giving you
this.

And taking Wilkes’s pistol from his pocket, he
presented it to the young man.

“ It’s loaded and capped,” he remarked, “ and

ourself to be so easily
he shore is more than

with that in your possession you are master of '

the island.”

“ Thank you! thank you i” cried Jack. " I
certainly can no longer doubt your good faith.
But, how did you contrive to get hold of this
won on?”

“ took it from the pocket of one of my com-
panions. Both are asleep in the hut nearest to
the lake.”

“ I will 0 at once and order them off the isl-
and l” crie Jack. “ I will force them to take
to the raft.”

“ Wait a minute," said Bill—“ wait till I have
crawled hack to the but and laid down. I don’t
want my comrades to think that I’ve had any
hand in this bizness.”

Jack eyed the man suspiciously.

“I am at a loss to understand this!” be ex-
claimed. “ If you are so anxious to help me as
you have declared, why do you—”

“I know what you would say,” interrupted
Bill. “ But you wrong me by your ‘ suspicious-
ness;’ upon my word you do. My reason for not
wishing them other two to know what I’ve been
about is, that if they did they’d certainly pitch
upon me and murder me after we got aboard

the raft.”
‘,‘ Why not remain on the island? You need
not be in a hurry to quit it. We will probably

see a sail before long———”

“ No—no,” interrupted Bill, glancing toward
Minnie. “I’m certain that your wife, and you
too, would like to get rid of the company of a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack.

 

convict at once. I ain’t fit for the society of
honest people, d’ye see, and I knows it."

There was an unfeigned sadness in his tone
which touched the hearts of the young couple,
and uelled their suspicions at once.

“ gorgive me i” cried Jack, grasping his hand.
“ I can doubt our word no longer. My wife
and I will be g ad to have you stay upon the isl-

and as long as'—-”

“ It’s no use." again interrupted Bill, with a
sad smile. “ I never yet saw two that was
married, that wouldn’t rather be alone, and I’m
much obliged to you for bein’ so benevolent end
unselfish-like, as to be willin' to go against your
own wishes, for the sake of helping a poor fel-
low that hain’t had a friend in the world, and
has always shifted for himself, since he was a.
youngster.”

So saying, he sprung into the water, and,
Wading ashore, disappeared in the darkness.

Soon afterrthe raft touched the beach, and
Jack assisted Minnie to land.”

“ Now then." whispered the young sailor, joy-
fully, “ we will soon be in peaceful possession of
the island.”

" I hope so,” she answered, “ but, I am afraid
to have you confront those two lawless men.
The, might contrive to disarm you before—”

“ ear nothing i" interrupted Jack. “ The
pistol is a double-barreled one. The rascals are
in my powerl"

He conducted her to a clump of shrubbery a

, few yards from the nearest hut.

“ You will wait for me here, Minnie.”

“No, I will accompany you,” she said, reso-
lutely, “ so that it you should get wounded or
in nred in any way I may be near to help you."

6 made no objection, and the two gained the
hut occupied by the convicts.

Choke already had contrived to awaken his
two companions, and all were sitting up when
Jack appeared.

“ Avast there!” cried Tom Wilkes, who was
the first to catch a glimpse of the young man’s
figure. “Who is that?"

And the three men rushed from the hut.

“The sooner you leave this island, the better,"
said Jack, pointing his weapon toward them.

“ Well. blast moi” cried Wilkes, recoiling, “ if
it isn't that youn lubber with his wife. He
has stolen a mare on us! I hadn’t any suspi-
cions of his being armed, though,” he added, as he
felt in his pocket for his pistol. His astonish-
ment may a imagined when he discovered that
it was gone.

“ Leavs the island at once, I say, or you are
dead men 1” said J ack. sternly. “The raft
is ready for you, alongside of the beach l”

” We’d better go,” suggested Bill Choke——
“ seeing as we haven’t any arms to resist with.”

“ What! three men run away from onel” cried
Wilkes; “ that goes mightily against my con-
science. We ve got to die some time, and may
as well die first as last; that’s logic l”

“Ay, ayl” cried Clark, “that’s always your
way or talking, and at the some time you’re
never in a hurry to act up according to it. If
lou’ll take my advice,” he added, drawing his

nife, “ the whole three of us will make a rush
at this youngster. It’s likely one or perhaps
two will drop when he fires, hut—3‘

 

“ Ay, ay, p’r’aps three!” cried Bill Choke.

Clark uttered a contemptuous grunt and
thrust his knife into his belt.

“ I’m not anxious to do anything unless I’m
backed,” said he. “ What (l’ye say, men-«will
you help me, or will you not?” he added, turn-
ing to his companions.

“To throw ourselves upon a loaded pistol,”
said Choke, “ would be acting like madman;
that’s my way of thinking.”

“ And, though I believe that we may all as
well die first as last,” cried Wilkes, “ I ain’t in
favor of anybody’s. dying for nothin’, which
would be the case if we ‘ attackled’ the young-
ster under resent circumstances.”

“If you on’t leave in another minute. Ishall
fire,” said Jack. “Your best policy, if you’ll
take my adee, is to go at once."

“ You’ve got the better of us this time,“ growl-
ed Wilkes. “ but if we ever get you into our
clutches—3’

“I care not to handy words with a. man of
your stamp," interrupted Jack. “ Awayto the
raft this instant, you hounds!” he added, ad-
vancing, “your time is up! Away, I say!”

Wilkes turned sullenly, and, followed by his
two comrades, moved to the beach. The three
soon were upon the raft, paddling away from
the shore.

“ A fine pickle we are in now,” said Wilkes,
turning to Clark. “ If I’d only had my weapon
—and it’s a mystery to me what can have be‘
come of it—we‘d soon have settled that young

lubber.”

pistol in the hand of that ‘ young
lubber,’” said Bill, turning aside his head to
conceal a smile, “looked mighty like yours, as
well as I could see in the dark."

“ Ay, ayl" cried Wilkes—" now you speak of
it—that same idea crossed my mind, but I put
it down at once, as it isn’t at all probable
that—”

“ N onsensel” interrupted ,Clark. “ He might
have stolen into the but easy enough while we
were asleep and have taken it. It can make little
difference, hows’ever,” he added, “ for, blast me,
if I think the weapon in your hand would have
done much good.” ’

d“ What do you mean?” Wilkes angrily inquir-
e

dying first as well as last, your’re one of the
gilggfist cowards that ever walked !” answered

ar .

Wilkes dropped the paddle and drew his
knif ;but before he could use it the hand of
the 0 her was upon his throat, and his knee upon
his breast. '

“ There!" he exclaimed, with a hoarse laugh,

“ there you be in my power. and I‘ve a. strong

temptation to take your life."

He pulled his knife from its sheath as he spoke
and lifted it to deal a. fatal blow, when his arm
was rasped by Choke.

" old!” exclaimed the latter. “ Remember
the oath we made aboard the transport to keep
together. Besides, what good will it do you to

shed our comrade’s blood. His arm is needed to
help us work the paddles.”

With a sullen grunt, Clark let 0 his hold of
the prostrate man, and sprung to is feet.

"‘I mean that, in spite of your logic about V

 

 

 

T
> i

i
n

 

   

 

 

 

 

 
   
  
  
  
  
 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack. . 81

 

“Ay, ay, Bill,” said he, “ you’re right; it
isn’t worth while to take his life, after all.”

“ We’ll settle this dispute some other time,"
said Wilkes, seizing his paddle. “You’re the
biggest, it's true, but there’ll be some desp‘rate
fighting before you get the best of me. A man
may as well die first as last. That's my logic 1”

Clark turned his back to the speaker, and
laughed contemptuously.

, “ We shall see—we shall see,” he replied, “ al-
though I for one haven’t a. high opinion of your
K pluck.’ ”

The raft finally disappeared from the gaze of
the happy couple, who had been watching it
from the each.

“Thank God, dear husband, we are at last
left in peaceful possession of our beautiful
island i” cried Minnie, clapping her hands.

“ Ay, a , thanks to that man Choke," answer-
ed Jack, Kissing his bride. “He certainly was
a singular character for a convict," he added,
thoughtfully. “Whatever may have been the
crime for which he was condemned, he has acted
in a praiseworthy manner by Us, and I trust he
will eventuali forsake his ruflian associates and
lead the life 0 an honest man.”

“I shall never forget to pray for him with my
whole heart and sou i” said Minnie.

“ We both owe him a debt of gratitude, which
I am afraid we may never have a chance to re-
pay,” replied Jack.

“And now," said the youn wife “you had
better go to one of the huts an finish your nap,
which was so unceremoniously interrupted
aboard the raft. I will remain here to watch.”

“ No—no,” answered Jack. “It is your turn
to sleep. I will keep a lookout, ns 1am more
experienced in that business than you are):
“Very well, if you won’t go to sleep we will

I both remain here until morning, as two pair of

eyes are better than one. But, do you really
think the convicts will return?”

“No,” answered Jack; “but it is as well to
be vigilant.”

They seated themselves upon a rock, and kept
a steady lookout until daylight, when they as-
cended a. lofty hill and swept the ocean with cu-
rious glances.

They saw nothing of the raft, but far upon
the eastern seaboard they beheld a speck, which
Jack declared to be a sail.

 

CHAPTER X.
on BOARD.

Wm will now return to our four friends, Miss
Trundle, Parson Trust, and the two seamen,
Squint and Bolt.

As we have already hinted, the succeeded in
reaching the ship in the offing. hey were re-
ceived by the captain, a rather unamiahle—look-

ring personage, wearing a heavy pea—jacket a

long pair of sea—boots, a wide—rimmed tarpau in
and canvas trowsers. .

The expression of his face might be compared
to that of an old sea-lion, if one could imagine a
sea-lion with a chew of tobacco in its mouth.
The face was very broad, with little wrinkles
diverging from the outer corners of the e es,
and other wrinkles covering the forehead. he
eyes were of a light blue, and looked as hard as

 

marbles. They gleamed with an expression of
satisfaction, however, as their owner scanned
the neat, active figures of Squint and Bolt.

“Dear me!” muttered Miss Trundle, “ what a
queer-looking man! His eyes are like a duck's,
and he has red hair tool”

“ Are you the captain of this vessel?” inquired
the parson. >

“Ay, ay, Captain Bunt’s my name,” growled
the other. “ And hark yel” he added, directing
suspicious glances upon the purson’s soiled broad-
cloth and the green pea-jacket worn by Miss
Trundle, “ hark yel it’s the name of an honest
man that sails an honest shipl”

“ Of course,” answered the parscn, with a
meek smile, “one glance at your face would
convince any judge of physioguomy that you
are an honest man.”

“Why, blast itl” roared Bunt, stamping upon
the deck with each boot in succession, “ blast it,
it I don’t think you’ve an idea that I was try-
ing to defend my own character; but I can tell
ye that you’re on the wrong tack—ay, ay, on
the wrong tack altogether,” he added, bringing
his fist upon the capstan with great force, “ see»
ing as it’s them disguises of yourn that brought
the remark. I don’t take anybody aboard my
ship that sails under false colors."

“ Disguises! False colors!" stammered the
parson. “ I don’t understand you."

“ You don’t know that some convicts lately
escaped from a. passport, eh l—~don’t ye? You
dong know that, don’t ye? Ay, ay, sartainly
not

And the captain thrust both hands beneath
his waistbands, and eyed the parson narrow y.

“ You are right," answered the latter, “ we
have heard nothing about if.”

“ Rightl I know I’m right!” cried Bunt,
“ which means that you know every thing about

it. If you and the others ain’t them convicts,

then I’m no judge of human natur’l”

“ Oh dear! dear l“ screamed Miss Trundle,
“ the idea of our being taken for convicts! It’s
an insult—an insult to me, and 1 call upon some-
body for protection 1"

“ Captain Bunti” exclaimed the first officer,
stepping forward, “ I think you are mistaken.
If I remember right, they were men—there
wasn’t any woman in the case—who escaped
from the transport.”

“ Ay, ay, Mr. Spike, I know that,” replied the
skipper; ‘ the transports captain spnke plain
enough to be understood, seeing as we wasn’t
more than ten fathoms apart when his ship
crossed our wake; but how d’ye know, how do 1
know, that this is a. woman?” he added, point—
ing to Miss Trundle. “I never saw sich ari
as that before on one of Homer sex: blow me, i
I don’t feel quite sartain that it’s a. man in
disguisei” -

“ Hear him !” shrieked the spinster; “oh,
dear! oh, dear! what an insult! Won't some-
body scratch his face? Won't somebody tear
his eyes out?"

“ She’s a woman,” said the mate, after he had
scrutinized her for some time, “ ay, ay, she’s a
woman, Captain Buntl” “

“ Thank ye, Spike,” said the skipper, “I
wouldn’t ’a’b’lieved it if you hadn’t said so; but
I have perfect taith in your judgment, seeing as

 

 

28 Cast Away Jack.

 

you‘ve had some experience with them that
wears gowns."

The story of the shipwreck, the rescue, etc..
etc., was then related by the parson, and list-
ened to by Bunt with indifference if not with
contempt.

“Hark ye," said he, when it was concluded,
“ I may as well tell ye first as last that 1 don’t
believe more than half of your yarn. A clargy—
man would never have weathered it out in the
water as you say you did; them kind is always
the first to go down, seeing as they are always
a-praying, and in praying, they open their
months so that the salt water rushes in and suf-
focates’em, d’ye see, the first thing. I dusn’t
pretend to know who ye are, what ye are, nor
from where ye came, but blast me if I don’t
make every man of ye keep his eye open while
aboard my shipl"

“ Ay, ay,” said Spike, “ we’re Shorthanded,
and can turn ’em all to advantage. There’s new
cat-lines to set up in the weather fore shrouds,
and the decks need a good sconrin’.”

“ For’ard ye go then, you lubbersl” cried Bunt,
“ for’ard into the fo’castle, and get ready to
stand watch."

“ If I may he so bold, sir," suid Bolt, “I’d
suggest to you that this man is a clergyman,”
pointing to Trust, uand one of them that has
much benevolence too. He knows nothing of
sailorizing.”

“ None of thatl” roared Bunt, " I tell ye there’s
nothing of the clergy about him. The clargy
doesn’t associate with wimmen that wears pea.-
jackets—remember that, my man; so away ye
go, for’ard, and I’ll find a use for the whole
School of ye l”

“ Why, dear me!” cried Miss Trundle, as she
was conducted into the cabin, “ this is perfectly
shocking; sending the parson forward among
the common sailors. "

“ That will do, ma’am,” said Hunt, with a grin.
“ I sha’n t swallow that about his being a clergy-
man! No—no—not a bit of it.”

Making no reply to her angry protestations,
he showed her the way to the state-room, and
then ascended to the deck.

An hour after, Squint and the parson were
stationed on the bows to keep a lookout, and
Bolt relieved the man at the wheel.

“ My friend,” said Trust, turning to his com-
panion, “do you really think the captain of this
ship intends to put me to hard work?”

“ Yes, sir, if I know him right, he ain’t one of
the kind to go ag’i ’ his word. He’ll have you
a—washin’ down th deck in the morning, p’r’aps
doing something aloft."

“ And I understand nothing—positively noth-
ing. of—-—"

He was interrupted by Mr. Spike, the first
officer. ‘

“ Lay out there upon the boom and furl that
jibl” he shouted, springing upon the fore hatch.

“ Did you speak to me?” inquired Trust.

“ Did I speak to youZ—why blast your eyes.
yes!” cried Spike. “ Awuy you go and furl that
sail;and you," he added, addressing a couple of
Kansas, “ go out and help him.”

“I—I—really—I understand nothing about
furling sails,” said Trust- “ I—”

‘-‘ None of that!” roared the mate. "I won't

 

have any shirking aboard this craft. D’ye
hear?”

“ Beggin’ your pardon, sir," said Squint,
jumping from the Windlass, “this man knows
nothing of sailorizing. I’ll go in his placel"

“ No you don’t!” exclaimed Spike; .“ not a. bit
of it. if he knows nothing as you say, he’s got
to Pam, and may as well begin first as last.
Come, bear a hand!” he added, turning im-
patiently to the person.

Accordingly the latter, with much difficulty,
made his way to the boom. The motion of the
two Kanakas, however, caused the footrope to
shake so violently that he was obliged to cling
to the spar with both armstoprevent himself
from falling.

“ Ho! ho I” cried one of the Kanakas, “ what
good you do out here, me like to know? You
too much in do way, you know nothing, and so
best go back.”

“ Really, my friend," answered Trust, “if
you stop jerking this rope we are standing up-
on,‘I will assist you as well as I can.”

“ Hi! hi! hi!" laughed the islander, “me t’ink
you nebber make good sailorl"

“ You rig’ht dere, Loki,” said the other Kan-
aka, “he nebber make fit to work in ship.”

“ Ay, ay, Mole; but what for you stop work-
ing? Dis no time to stop, when only two men
here dat’s fit to furl sail.”

“' Me stop, and talk much as me like,” an.
swered "Mole; “ you not my oflicer, and best
mind your own business.”

“If you no work me make you work!” ex-
claimed Loki, with flashing eyes. “ You s’pose
me want to do all meselfi”

“ It no hurt you if you do. You soger (Shirk)
plenty at oder times to make up for it.”

“ S op talk, or me knock you from de yard!”
cried oki.

“ Me like to see you do dot!"

“ My friends,” said the parson, “ for heaven's
sake don’t quarrel out here upon the boom; nay,
quarrel n at at all. You should strive to control
your temper.”

The Kanakas, however, were not in a mood to
heed this good advice;they glared, each upon
the other like tigers preparing for a spring.

“ If you say anudder word, you t’ick skull,
Loki,’,” cried Mole, “ me break your head, quick
time!

The last word had barely escaped him, when
his dusky companion struck him full in ~the
face with his clinched fist, almost knocking him
from the boom. ,

Quickly recovering his balance, however,
Molo returned the b ow, and a desperate fight
ensued

Graspin the boom with one arm, each of the
islanders ,attled with the other, dealing his
blows with such rapidity. that the bewildered
brain of the person felt as if it were spinning
round and round like a to . I

“ Friends! friends! this 18 really disgracsfnl,"
he exclaimed. “ Stop—I pray you—stop—I can
not bear to see such work!"

But the combatants heeded him not. Fast
and furiously they fought, yelling and scream-
ing like tigers, and occasionally following up
their blows with desperate kicks, that made the
footrope swing like a pendulum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

!

 

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack. 23

 

Clinging to the spar with both arms, the un-
willing spectator of this afi'ray found it difllcult
to maintain his position, especially as he was
obliged to dodge his head now and then to avoid
the lon and pointed elbows of the two pugil-

, ists. oreover, his alarm was increased by the

fist of the savage Mnlo, which, occasionally
moving in erratic curves, would graze his nose
before reaching its destination; while the sway-
ing footrope, jerking his legs upward and
downward, inspired him with the fear of being
whirled head over heels into the sea beneath.

Once he glanced toward the deck, believing
that some of the men would come and put a
stop to the fight; but the grinning faces of the
crowd of tars gathered about the bow, extin-
guished this hope. Even Mr. Spike was a de-
lighted spectator of the afi‘ray, his weather-
beaten face, towering above the Scotch capsand
sou’westers of his men, being rippled all over
with wrinkles of mirth.

“ Fight it out, blast ye, now you’ve begun!”
he shouted, “ fight it out, and furl the sail when
ye get through i"

“ Oh, dear! dear! What does this mean?
Where is the person?” cried a shrill feminine
voice, and glancing toward the bow, at second
time, the person beheld the familiar form of
Mia‘si Trundle, as she clambered upon the knight-
hea .

Discovering Trust upon the boom, the spin-
ster clasped her hands and rolled up her eyes
with horror.

“ Oh, for Heaven’s sake, Mr. Spikel—go and
bring in that unfortunate man. I wouldn't
have believed that he could remain quietly by,
and see that disgraceful fight going on, without
lifting a hand to separate the two savages l”

“Really, Miss Trundle!” shouted the person,
“ you wrong me—upon my word. My hands
and arms are not at liberty. It is as much as I
can do to cling to this boom. so as to prevent
mva-lf from falling overboard!”

“ Good gracious, then i” cried Miss Trundle,
“ why don’t you comel—why do you stay there?”

“ I think if these two men would stop, I could
get to the deck,” answered TrustI “ but it’s im-
possible to do so with the footrope swaying as it
is now.

“ I! you do go overboard l" exclaimed the
spinster, in thrilling accents. “I Will go after
yon—l will drown with you if you drown 1"

Even as she spoke. Loki received a blow that
knocked him from the boom. He clutched the
leg of the person in his descent, pulling that
worthy into the sea with him.

Miss Trundle uttered a piercing scream.

“You had better hold me—somehody, or I
shall‘ jump overboard, after him!’ she cried.
“Quick! quickl—oh,helpl help! He islost, and
I shall go too."

“ Back the main-yard! clear away the quar-
ter-boutl" thundered Spike.

The order was promptly obeyed, and Miss
Truéidle found herself alone upon the knight-

hea .
' “Oh, Lord! Lord! I hope he’ll be sawed!“
she exclaimed, descending to the deck. “If he
isn’t, my heart will certainly break!

The boat was in the water movin swiftly to-
ward the spot where the heads or tghe Kanakaj

 

and the person were faintly distinguishable,
“ bobbing” up and down among the waves.
Both men were soon picked up and conveyed
to the ship, and Trust immediately repaired to
the cook’s galley to dry his saturated garments.

 

CHAPTER XI.
A SIGNAL or DISTRESS.

“ SAVEDl saved i” cried Miss Trundle, who
had followed him—-“ thank Heaven you are
saved. Had you not been rescued, I should cer-
tainly have drowned with you i"

“ Oh, no l-——I hope not." answered the parson—
“ self-destruction should never—4’

“You don’t know—no man knows the devo-
tion of our sex,” interrupted the spiuster. “ We
are always ready to die with those we love, and
to die for them, too.”

The person sneezed.

“ It is lucky,” said he, in order to change the
subject—“ it is lucky that I am a good swimmer,
otherwise I should probably have been lost.”

“ Oh, if you had, all my hopes would have
been destroyed forever,” answered Miss Trundle,
putting her handkerchief to her eyes. “And—
and—and—”

She seemed too much affected to proceed.
She bowed her head, heaved a deep sigh, and
twisting her eyes toward the minister with a
loving‘glance, glided to the cabin.

Soon after, his garments being dried, the par-
sou walked forward, and seated himself upon
the hatch, by the side of the dapper tar.

“ If ordered again to do sailor~work, I shall
refusenmildly, but firmly, refuse.”

“ As you have a perfect right to do, air,” an-
swered Squint, “ but I think ,sich refusal will
make the captain set you adrift again."

“ It matters not," answered Trust; “I can
make my way back to the island,where I can wait
for some more friendly sail. I will lose no more
time that we , than I would in remaining in
this vessel, w ich, it seems, is going to Japan,
where it will stay for some weeks before it sails
for home.”

Daylight was creeping upon the eastern sky
when the captain was on deck. Seeing the par-
son seated on the main hatch, he ordered him to
go aloft and loosen the main royal.

“I know nothing of loosening sails,” answered
Trust, “and besides I never went aloft in my
life.

“ Why, blast ye!” "cried Bunt, turning red in
the face, “do you disobey me?"

“Iain not under your orders.” replied the
person. “ I know nothing of sailor work. I de-
sire a cabin passage, for which I can pay you
when the vessel arrives at New York.“

“ None of that!” exclaimed Bunt, fiercely,
“110116101? that. I ain’t to be taken in by any
sioh———’

“I perceive that you doubt my word,” inter-

rupted Trust, in a mild, but dignified tone of
voice. “Such being the case, I shall return to
the island, if you will be good enough to have
my boat lowered for me.”
“ Ay, a , I’ll willingly do that,” answered
Bunt. “ N}; man, 'nnless it’s one of my own crew
shall ever say that I kept him aboard my vessel
against his own will.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

84

Cast Away Jack.

 

 

He turned to his first officer, and ordered him
to lower the whale-boat.

" Here!” cried Squint, taking from his pocket
a little compass, and putting it in the person’s
hand, “here is something, which will keep you
from losin’ your way. \ e’re out of si ht of
land, but you’ll see it in the course 0’ six ours,
by steering due east.”

" Thanks. my friend, many thanks!" ex«

claimed the person. “ I hope I may at some
future time be able to repay you for your kind-
ness.
“It isn’t worth mentioning," replied the dap-
per tar, “ but ou’ll oblige me b giving
my rgspects to ack and his pretty ass of a
wife.

“And mine!” cried Bolt, “and tell ’em both
that they deserve to be happy,and that I sha’n’t
forget to pray for ’em wherever I may happen
to be cruising."

The arson promised to do s0' then being in-
form that the boat was ready, he shook hands
with the two men and bade them farewell.

Moving to the gangway, he was about to
descend into the boat, when he was startled
by a shriek proceeding from the after part of
the ship. He turned to see Miss Trundle rushing
toward him with outstretched hands.

“Oh, dear! dear! for the lover of heaven,
Parson Trust,what are you going to do now?”

“I am about to leave the ship, madam,” he
responded, “for the purpose of going back to
the island."

“ The long and short of it is, ma’am, that he’s
too laz for wor ," said Captain Bunt, “and
sich bein’ the case—" .

“ This is shocking! this is dreadful!” inter-
rupted the" spinster, “turning him away from
the ship because he’ won’t doa sailor’s work! Oh,
dear! oh, dear! what an idea!”

“ Good—by, Miss Trundle!” cried Trust, as he
scrambled into the boat, “ cod-by!”

“Hold! hold!” she shrie ed, “I will go with

on, arson: I must go with you! You never
hear -—oh, no, you never did, of woman desert-
ing man in the hour of misfortune. Ah! parson!
person! you little know the strength and forti-
tude of our sex i”

The minister sneezed.

“Madam,” said he, “ you had better remain
where you are. As little as I know of boats it is
doubtful that I shall ever succeed in reaching
the island!” ~

“ No! no! never will I desert you—one of
God’s shepherds asyou are—in the hour of your
adversity. If you must die, [will die with you!”
she added, bursting into tears.

“Really. really, madam," said the person, “I
would prefer—on your own account, if for no
other reason—that you stay in the vessel. You
will arrive at New York in five months if you
do so, whereas if you go with me to the island,
weI may have to wait that time before we see a
sai .

“ Alas! it would kill me to stay lon in this
heathenlsh vessel. Oh, dear! oh,-dear! would
not do it for the world! Just think of the im—
propriety of the thing; of my remaining here,
the only woman among this rude band of god-
less men I”

“ We won’t molest ye, me’em, upon my word

 

we won’t,” said Captain Bunt. “ We ain t
either cannibals or pirates; hows’ever, if ye are
bent on going, I sha’n’t offer any objections.”

“She will remain with you!” cried Trust. “ I
feel quite confident she’ll remain. Please let go
the rope!”

But Miss Trundle, seizing the latter with
both hands, declared that she would sooner die
there and than than she would allow one of God’s
shepherds to drift away upon the broad Waters
without a companion—a companion of the softer
sex—to cheer and comfort him.

“ Are ye sure.” said Bunt, nudging the elbow
of his mate, and speaking in a low voice, “ are
ye quite sure that she’s a woman?"

“ Ay, ay, sir, there can be no doubt upon that
p'int, though she does look uncommortlike for
for one of t‘other sect.”

” Could you swear to it, Spike! Could you
swear that she’s a woman?”

“ Yes sir, I think I could.”

“ Without perjuring yourself, Spike~mind
that—without perjuring yourself?” .

“ Without perjuring myself!”

“ Oh, dear! oh, dear!" cried Miss Trundle, ris-
ing and tottering to the very edge of the “ plunk-
shear.” “ I shall certainly fall, person! Held
out your hands to catch me! Quickr quick!
I’m going—I’m going!”

And she threw herself plump into his out-
stretched arms.

At the same moment, Bunt threw the boat-
warp from the pin, and ordered his men to brace
forward the main-yard.

The result was, that beat and ship were soon
twenty fathoms apart.

“ I will cling to you through sunshine and
darkness!” exclaimed Miss Trundle, clutching
her companion’s arm. “ I will not desert you if
all the rest of them do.”

The person gently disengaged himself.

“ Let me see!” he said, reflectively. “ Squint
advised me to steer due east. We must get up
the sail, Miss Trundle.”

After many fruitless elIorts, he succeeded in
stepping the mast.

‘ Now, then, madam,” said he, “the sail
must be loosened,"

“ Oh, dear !" cried Miss Trundle, “ you are
quite a sailor!”

As the setting of a boat-sail is a very simple
task, the person, with the assistance of his com-

anion, soon had his sheet secured. The boat,

owever, was now lying in a position which
caused the square piece of cloth to shake in the
wind. He seized the tearing-oar, and strove to
bring the boat’s head around ; but, unfortunately,
though the ear was moved rapidly enough, it was
done in a manner which preventei the blade
from touching the water. In fact it was
worked something like a rolling-pin in the hands
of a ie-baker.

“ hem, Miss Trundle, is she cominground?”

“ Oh, dear me !" cried the spinstei‘, “ how should
I know? I think it will I”

And so the person worked away in the same
“ rolling-pin ” manner, while Miss Trundle stood
watching him admiringly.

Suddenly the sail filled and the boat began to
move “sternways,” or backward through the
water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

' M anew—WWW... ,I.

 

Cast Away Jack. ’_ 25

 

“How now!” inquired the person, triumph-
antly, still working the oar, “ how now? It
seems to me she’s moving.”

“Oh, dear, yes! it is delightfull" cried Miss
Trundle. “ We are sailing along beautifully l”

“ Verily,” said Trust, with a meek smile,
“ God is good, and has inspired me to work the
vessel right!"

“ Hear him 1" murmured Miss Trundle to her—
self, “ hear this good man. Parsonl" she added,
aloud, “ I will cling to you through ever thing.
If I drown, you will drown with me. e will
both die together l”

“Abeml” ejaculated Trust. “We must not
think of dying now. How does she head, Miss
Trundle? You can tell by looking at the little
compass which I have placed under the seat, be-
hind me.”

’ Miss Trundle did look at the compass, but she
couldn’t tell how the boat headed, for the points
kept changing.

‘ At any rate we are running at a good ‘ pace,’ ”
said Trust. “Yes, at a good pace,” he added,
letting go the steering-oar; “ but "—and he look-
ed considerably perplexed—“it seems to me—
ah—it seems to me that there’s something wrong
here. Can you inform me which is the how an
which the stern of this boat, Miss Trundle?”

“ Oh, dear! dear! How should I know?
Both ends of the boat look alike to me!"

“ Verily,” cried the person, “ that is what puz.
2199 me; the craft being sharp at both ends, it is
difficult to tell which is the bow. However, we
won’t let that trouble us; I guess we are going
right.”

They were going both right and left. The
boat was pursuing a very irregular course;
swervin first to one side, and then to the other,
like an o stinate pig.

“ Oh, how delightful!” screamed Miss Trundle.
" We are sailing in curves!”

The parson sneezed.

“ We ought to sail steady,” said he, and he be-
gan to churn the water with his steering-oar.

Then the boat seemed to dance a sort of horn-
pipe; it performed so many strange evolutions
-—now darting quickly to one side—now stop-
ping suddenly Without any apparent Cause; now
rolling one gunwale and then another under the
water—now whirling completely aroundnand
now plunging its bows beneath the sea—that
Miss Trundle lifted up her hands and screamed
with terror.

“Keep up a good heart, madam!” cried the
person, still churning at the oar. “ I’ll get the
craft steady in a few minutes.”

“ No, no I” cried the spinster. “ You must
not move our oer, while the boat is going! Mr.
Squint di n’t do that; he allowed his ear to re-
main stationary."

" Verily‘, Miss Trundle,” answered Trust,
with a meek smile, “I thank you for the in-
formation. I will keep the oar still and see
what result Will follow.”

The result was not exactly satisfactory, for
the boat still pursued its zig—zag course; but
the parson hoped that it would “ sail steady ”
before long.

The day were away and the parson’s hopes
were not yet realized: the boat had not stopped
its eccentric maneuvers.

 

Miss Trundle clamored loudly for food.

“ I must have something to eat!” she exclaim- I

ed. “Oh,parson, you will find me something
to eat! I am afraid we shall starve!" she added
wringing her hands. “I thought we should
reach the island in a few hours after leaving
the ship." “

“We will see it at daylight,” cried Trust, con-
fidently. “I haven’t any doubts upon that
point.’ '

So saying, he commenced a search for provi~

_sions. A few biscuits and a piece of cooked salt

meat were found in the stern-sheets, and pre-
sented to Miss Trundle.

She accepted them, but complained because
better fare could not be procured.

“ You should have remained in the ship," an-
swered the parson. “ It was against my wishes
that ou—"

“ on’t reprove mel” cried Miss Trundle.
bursting into tears, “don’t reprove mel That
is something which I can’t stand. I will clin
to you!" she screamed pouncing upon him an
clutching his arm. “ i will cling to you through
every hardship l"

“ May God give you the necessary strength,"
Trust began, “to enable you to bear up
under—”

“Oh, dear! dearl Surely you don’t think
there’s any thing more to bear up under! I
shall certainly die if there is! Why, ohl wh
did you lure me away from the ship? Deat
is before me, and we will both die together. I
will cling to you to the last I" '

“Madam,” answered the person, “ I am dis-
tressed to think that you should, for a moment,
hold the mistaken idea that I lured you away
from the vessell”

“Yes, you did—you did i" sobbed Miss Trun-
dle, “and you didn’t even think to persuade
Captain Bunt to cook and pack up something
nice for me before we startedl Oh, dear! oh,
dear! these hard crackers will he the death of
me; but I’ll cling to you, yes, I’ll cling to you
throu h every thing! You shall never reproach
me With fickleness.”

The parson made no reply, and a few minutes
after he was gratified to hear his companion
snore-a proof that she was asleep. Trust ex-
erted himself to keep his eyes open, but his
efforts were vain; he was soon nodding his head
and dreaming about Miss Trundle and the
island.

When he awokt it was broad daylight. The
breeze had died away, the sea was as smooth as
a mirror. Far away to eastward he saw land
—-astern of him he beheld a sail; about a
quarter of a mile ahead a raft containing
three men approaching the boat.

Trust was evidently startled: he did not like
the looks of the men he saw.

“Raft ahoyl” he shouted, with his usual meek
smile. “ Please inform me who you are and
from whence you come.” '

“ We are shipwrecked sailors!” answered
Clark. _

“Looking for a sail,” added Wilkes, “ and
seeing one—the fellow astern of you—we are
making for him.”

Miss Trundle now awoke with a start and a
scream. '

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack.

 

The first thing that greeted her 9 es was the
brown cap, worn by the convict ilkes, who
stood near the edge of the raft.

She pounced upon the person and tremblineg
leaned against him while she pointed toward the

raft.

“That’s it!” she gasped, “the brown cap;
the same one that I saw on the island.”

“ Are you sure?”

“ Yes, indeed; I couldn‘t mistake the shape of
that cap! I’d know it from u thousand. Oh,
dour! oh, dear!”

The convict Wilkes heard every word she
said,

“Boys,” he whispered, “there’s one of ’em
that will be the means of ‘ spotting’ us, seeing
as it seems she spied my cup while I was—”

“Ay, uy," interrupted Clark, “and so it ’u’d
be mighty inconvenient to have her on board
the same ship with us. The best thing we can
do is to get hold 0’ that beat, put off for the
vessel ahead of us, and when aboard tell the
captain, if he nsks about these two ‘ queer—look-
ing fish,’ which we’ll put upon the raft—that
they’re bound for the island, and don’t want to
be picked up, which I thinks be really the
case.” '

This proposal was received with approba-
tion.

As soon as the raft was alongside of the boat,
the convicts sprung into the latter, and ordered
Miss Trundle and the person to step upon the
floating platform of spars.

“Verily, this is our raft!” said Trust; “you
must have come from the very island we are
seeking. my friends; but why do you wish us to
leave this boat, which certainly is not your
property?”

“We have no time to answer questions!”
roared Clark. “Jump upon the raft, both of
ye, if you don’t want your heads broken!”

“Oh, dear! oh, dear!” screamed Miss Trun-
dle, “ was ever there a lady so persecuted as I
aml Parson Trust, I call upon you for protec-
tion from these godless men! There’s a certain
expression in their eyes. as they look at me, that
fairly makes me shudderl They wish to insult
me! I know they dol I know it Well; but they
sha’n’t tear me from you, person; no, no, I will
cling to you through everything!”

“ Away ye go. on the raft!” cried Wilkes,
drawing his knife, “ away you go, if you don’t
want to be food for the sharks 1”

, The person would have remonstrated, but a

rude hand was clapped over his mouth, and he
was torn from Miss Trundle’s clinging grasp
and pushed upon the raft.

The s inster was served in a. similar manner;
then seizing oars, the convicts pulled rapidly
for the sail in the distance.

“ Oh, good Lord! Oh, dear, dear! What
will become of us now?” screamed the spinster,
throwing herself upon the clergyman’s bosom.
“ How can we ever get to land upon this awk-
ward thing!”

“ With God’s help, we may succeed in doing
so i” exclaimed the person; “there are here
plenty of paddles, I perceive, and also plenty of

revisions! Our case is far from being hope-
ess, Miss Trundle.”

“This heathenish fruit!” cried the spinster,

,

 

glancing at the bunches of bananas, “ must we
indeed be reduced to such eating again ?”

“Verily, it is a pleasant sight for a hungry
man!” cried the parson, who had not feasted
since the previous morning, “and I shall at
once partake of the tempting food.”

Having made a hearty breakfast, he seized a
paddle.

“What are you going to do now?” inquired
his companion.

“To paddle the raft toward the island,” he
replied.

“Oh, no, no!” screamed Miss Trundle, “it
will be better to make a signal to that ship
astern of us. Perhaps she is homeward hound. ’

“I’m afraid We may find another Captain
Bunt,” said Trust, uneasily; “besides which,
those three lawless men, who are now almost
alongside of the vessel, may give us some
trouble.”

“ On the contrary, they’ll be punished l’I ex-
claimed Miss Trundle. “I shall tell the captain
how they treated us.

“But,” said the person, “I am anxious to
find out whether they have harmed our two
friends. For that reason I should prefer to
make for the island.”

“ The ship! the shipl” cried the spinster, “I
insist upon it. Oh, dear! dear! please remem-
ber the gallantry due to our sex from yours.”

“ Byut, madam, haven’t you any wish to find
out——

“ Why should I?” interrupted Miss Trundle,
bursting into tears. “ Why should I? Haven’t
they served me in an ,outrageous manner~getv
ting married against my wishes, and living on a
barbarous island? How can I feel any interest
in them after that?”

“ Don’t cry, I beg of you,” said the benevolent
person. “Your wishes shall be obeyed. Per-
haps I can persuade the captain, after we shall
have been picked up, to send a boat to the
islum .”

So saying, be fastened his pocket—hapdkerchief
to the end of the paddle, and waved the signal
about his head. It was soon detected by the
watchful mate aboard of the distant craft, which
was none other than the Reindeer—~the one to
which Jack had formerly belonged and from
which he had become separated.

 

CHAPTER XII.
THE KIND-HEARTED SKIPPER.

“ CAPTAIN LANDYARDI” cried Dumps, as the
skipper, a good-natured looking man with a
round face, emerged from the companionway,
“there’s a boat almost alongside of us, with
three men in it, and, about a league astern,
there‘s a raft with two persons on it, a-signaiiz-
in’ to us.

He had scarcely spoken when the whale-boat
glided alongside. The nextmnment the convicts
were on deck. Dumps eyed them sharply.

“ We’re shipwrecked sailors,” said Clark, act-
ing as spokesman; “ we belonged to a whaleship
that was wrecked of! the island yonder, some
months ago. We’ve been livin’ ashore ever
since.”

“ What was the name of your vessel?” inquired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

49,,

 

 

 

.  «if. -. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

if
.1

= Cast Away Jack. 2'?

 

the captain, who had been peering keenly over
the rail at the whale-boat now under the main
chains.

. Clark colored and exchanged glances with his
companions.

“ It was the Charles Tompkins," boldly an—
swered Wilkes.

"The Charles Tompkins,” repeated the cap—
tain. “ I have never heard of any such vessel
in the whaling service. How happens it that
your boat has the name ‘ SOUTHAMPTON ’ paintr
ed up the gunwale—eh?"

The convicts betrayed some confusion until
Wilkes made the following reply:

“ The boat is one we picked up, some time be-
fore we were wrecked.’

“ Wasn't there a young man in it—a middling-
sized, compactly-built young man with blue
eyes?” inquired the captain, ‘ broad-shouldered,
and wearing-4’

“Yes, yes,” interrupted Wilkes, “there was.
But he went down with the ship when it foun-
dered. We be the only three which succeeded in
saving ourselves.”

“ Ay, ay,” whispered the captain to his mate,

‘ i “I had my suspicions, at first. that these men

were the convicts which the captain of the trans-
port we spoke several months ago told us had
escaped from his vessel in the night; but I’ve
changed my mind. The story they tell has an
air of truth about it, d’ye see, since the boat in
which they come is r’ally the identical one in
which Jack drifted away from us on the night
of the 'am with the Southampton.”

“Stil the yarn may be a ti‘umped‘up one,”
said the mate, “although it’s true the sight of
that ‘ identical ’ boat makes me inclined—”

“ 1 can’t help belieVing the story.”1uterrupted
the skipper, “ and shipwrecked sailors should be
treated civilly. Go forward, lads," he added,
“and make yourselves at home.”

“ And mind that my orders are obeyed," cried
the mate. “ We're homeward bound; but there’s
plenty of work to do.”

“ Before we go for’ard.” said Clark, “we’d
advise you not to pick up them two on the raft
yonder. The don’t want to be picked up;
they’re boon for the island, having deserted

V ‘ their own vessel—in which they were passengers

--on account of bad treatment from the captain,

' who almost starved ’em to death. They told us

about it, d’ye see, sir, when we met ’em afore
reaching your craft.” _
“ If the don't want to be picked up, why are

 they making signals to us?” the mate gruflly in-
‘ I quired.

“ Oh—yes—so—so they are signalizing,” stam-
mered Clark.

“ Well. p’r’aps they’ve changed their mind;
one of ’em, ’ he added, “ seems to be half-witted,
and would, I should think, make much trouble
aboard of any craft. I wouldn’t pick him up if
I was captain of a ship."

The mate impatient if motioned for the con-
victs to go forward. hey obeyed, and Dumps
remarked that he thought there was a good deal
of humbug about “ those three men.“

“They ain’t got a very honest look, that’s a
fact,” answered the skipper, “ but,” he added,
glancing toward the distant raft " we must not
forget t em two persons a-signalizing. Whether

i

 

they are crazy, drunk, or sober, it is our duty
to pick 'em up; so man a boat, Mr. Dumps, and

0 after ’em.’ '

The boat lying alongside was soon ready to
start.

About an hour after the person and Miss
Trundle stood upon the quarter—deck—the for-
mer giving a graphic account of the shipwreck.
of the rescue b Jack Weldon, and of other in-
cidents with w ich the reader is familiar.

“Therel” cried the captain, bringing his fist
down upon the capstan, with great force, when
the narrator had concluded, “all this proves
the story of them three men to be a confounded
lie. Ay, ay,” he added, solemnly, “I think“I
see how it is: them three men are the escaped
convicts, after all. They swum to the island,
they kept hid until Jack and his wife were left
by themselves and then murdered one or both
of ‘em.”

“ Oh, dear! how shocking!” cried Miss Trun-
dle; “this matter ought to be investigated; it
must be investigated! I shall certainly work
myself into a fever unless it is.”

“As soon as a breeze springs up,” said the
captain, “I shall work the craft toward the
island, and go ashore with Mr. Dumps.” ’

“ And I will accompany you,” said the person,
rubbing his hands, “ most gladly will I accom—
pany on.”

“ ell.” said Dumps, “the first question is,
what shall we do with them three convicts?”

“ It is our duty to make prisoners of ’em,”
promptl replied the captain; “they must be
handcu ed and confined in the run.”

“These had better be stowed in the cabin,”
whispered Dumps motioning with his head to-
ward the parson and Miss Trundle; “ they’ll be
in the waly1 in case we have a fight with them
chaps. w o are sart’inly desp’rit-looking cus-
tomers."

“There won’t be much fighting,” answered
the skipper; “at an rate, I dont think so.
We’ll prov1de curse ves with our revolvers,
which I think will soon bring the rascals to
terms. The first thing to do is to h’ist up that
beat. While you are superintending that work
I'll conduct these two people into the cabin, and
when I return to the deck, I’ll bring up your pis-
tols and mine too. The steward will come next,
with the handcuifs.”

So saying, the captain turned to Miss Trun-
dle and the parson, and requested them to fol-
low him. As soon as they were in the state-
room, he ordered the steward to procure them
refreshments. .

A few minutes after, he was again on deck,
and the boat having been hoisted by this time,
he gave Dumps a couple of revolvers, retaining
a third for his own use.

The four harpooners were then summoned.
and ordered to arm themselves with lances and
hatchets. They obeyed, after which the whole
party, the skipper taking the lead, moved for-
ward in single file. .

“ They’re down in the forecastle,” whispered
Dumps, to his superior; " we can muzzle ’em
all, one by one, as they come up through the
scuttle-way.”

Ay, ay,” said the captain; “ but the best
Wily to do is to go into the foracastle after ’em,

f \

grasped one of th tails of his coat.

28

Cast Away Jack.

.. i. ., l. ...,. ,ww,m~.——, >-~mv.;:~=

 

 

and muzzle ’em all at once. That we can easily
do, seeing as we are the stronger party. There‘s
seven of us, with the steward, to say nothing of
the assistance we can have from the watch, if
we require it."

“ All right; I'll take the leadl” cried the
mate, and, springin forward, he quickly de-
scended the forecast e steps, Before he could
turn round, however, a. knife was driven to the
hilt in the back of his neck, and he fell upon his
side with a low groan.

“ Ay, ay,” roared the voice of the giant, Clark;
“ we heard ye plottin’ there on the quarter-deck,
and we are ready for ye all: we’ll sell our lives
dear if ye attack us I”

“ Come on! come on, every man of you !” yell—
ed the infuriated captain; “ they haven’t any
firearms—nothing but sheath-knivesl We’ll
soon capture ’eni!"

He discharged one barrel of his revolver, in
order to kee the convicts away from the steps,
and then p unged through the scuttle, closely
followed by his men.

All were soon in the forecastle; pistols and
lances were pointed at the hearts of the convicts,
whohflnding themselves hemmed in by an armed
party, were obliged to surrender.

They were handcuffed and thrust into the run.
The unfortunate mate breathed his last a few
hours after. His body was sewed up in canvas
on the next morning, and was launched over-
board into its watery grave.

By noon, a breeze having sprung up, the ves-
so] was heading for the island. In a few hours
the white sandy beach, fringed with slender co-
coanuts, and beyond, the ridges of the higher
land, became visible to the naked eye. Parson
Trust, who had been for some time leaning over
the quarter—rail, in a thoughtful mood, now
lifted his head, and, suifiing the fragrance
wafted from the isle, started to go forward.

“ Oh, dear! oh, dear! where are you going
now?" shrieked Miss Trundle, as she emerged
from the companionway. “ Parson! person!
do on hear me? Where are you going?”

be minister turned, and meekly answered
that he thought of making his way to the knight-
heads, for the purpose of obtaining a good view
of the island. He would ask the skipper to loan
him his spy-glass, and-—

“ Oh, no! no!" interrupted Miss Trundle.
‘-‘ You shall not mount those ugly knightheads!
You shall not look throu h the spy-glassl You
are no sailor, person, an the slightest pitching
of the ship would cause you to lose your balance
and go overboard! You must stay right here
on the quarter—deckl”

So saying, she sprung forward and firmly
He gently
disen aged hims f.

“ here is no danger,” said he; “ I have been
on the knightheads of a shi before."

“Alas! alas I” cried Miss rundle, clasping her
hands. “if you will .go. go you must: but ohl
be careful—for God’s sake be careful! If you
drown, I shall not long survive you! I will
cling to you through everything I”

The person sneezed; then, with a. bow, he left
Elie spinstor, and made his way to the knight—

s.
“ Do you see any person i” he eagerly inquired

 

of the skipper, who was looking through the
glass. “ Do you see—”
“ Ay, ay,” interrupted the captain; “ there’s I
two people, if I ain’t mistaken—a man and a p
{vogia’n—a-standing upon one of them ridges of h,
an . l .
He passed the glass to the parson, who was 
not long in discovering the two persons alluded
o:

2‘ Yes, there they are I” he joyfully exclaimed.
“ Jack and his wife; there can be no other r-
sons upon the island. Thank God! thank od!

I am so glad that they have not been injured by : . 1.,
those three rul’flans!” 3 U
“Haul back the main-yard!” shouted the l
captain. ' , s,
This was soon done, after which the skipper I]
ordered the starboard boat to be lowered and
manned. The little craft was made ready in a. L t
few minutes. v
“ I should like to go with you,” said Trust, as ‘
the skipper was descending into the boat. , E
“All right; jump in i" cried Landyard.
“No! no!” exclaimed Miss Trundle, throwing ' i

her arms around the parson’s waist, “ you must
not go! You shall not gol Perhaps they may i,
persuade you to remain, and then—~oh! then ., ,
what would become of me?” .

“Bear a hand, there!" shouted the skipper,
from the boat; “ bear a hand!”

“ You must not stop me, madam—indeed you
must not,” cried the person; “the captain is in A ‘ j
a hurry. Q

And quickly disengaging himself from the ' 
spinster’s arms, hescrambled into the boat. ‘
Miss Trundle burst into tears.

“ Oh, dear! dear! what a persecqu woman
I am I” she subbed; “even he will not take my
advice. Hold on! hold on!" she added, as the
boat darted from the ship's side; “I will go ‘
with you, parson. We must not be separated;

I will cling to you through—”

“You’d better go into the cabin, ma‘am ” in.
terrupted the captain; “ you had, r’ally. e’ll - ;
take you ashore, perhaps, some other time.” 

The next moment the boat glided round the"
stern, thus disappearing from Miss Trundle’s
sight. She mounted to the top of the round
house, however, which afforded her a plain
view of the little craft. Sobbing and otherwise
lamenting, she watched it until it struck the
beach, after which she descended into th‘
cabin. ’

Jack and his pretty bride gained the strand.
just as the skipper and Parson Trust jumped
from the bout. v _

“Ho! ho! a fine trick you played us, young-
ster!” cried Landyard. with gruff pleasantry, as r
he shook hands With Jack, “ a fine trick! Driffr _ ~
ing away from us in a. boat, and then getting. ‘
married upon a lonely island! And so this is»
your wife.” he added, dotting his cap to Minnie.
“ Blow me, but she’s a pretty lass, and I con— ,
grn tulate you on your choice.”

One by one the boat’s crew stepped up to
shake hands with our hero, and one 0 them in-
formed him. in a whisper, of the death of his
old enemy, Mr. Dumps ,

“If he’d lived, I think he'd have insisted upon . .
your being taken back to the ship,” continued "
the sailor; “ but the captain’s a diflerent man;

   

 

 
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
    

a

  

, he’won’t make any trouble of that kind. He
always liked you, you know."

“How is my aunt?” inquired Minnie, of the
parson.

“ Very well, I believe," answered Trust; and
he then proceeded to describe the adventures of
himself and the spinster since they quitted the

‘ island.

He had scarcely concluded when Lundyard
ordered his men to return to the boat.

J Tllgey obeyed, and the skipper then turned to

ac .

. “Young man," said he, “is it your wish to
E ‘ remain upon this island, or to return with me
i to the shi ? We are homeward bound.”

‘ “ I pre er to remain,” answered Jack, “and
so rises my wife, I behave. Do you not, Min-
me

“ Oh, yes,” she answered; “ I shall never care
to leave the island unless you wish to do so.”

“ Ay, ay, now, but that’s spoken like a true
woman!” cried the captain. “ You’ve got
spliced to a nice little lass, Jack, and I hope

gull both be happy all the days of your

e.

* “ Thank you.” said Jack.

"‘ And now,” continued the skipper, “as you
' V don’t wish to return to the ship, I shall bring
I you seine boards, some spare rolls of canvas, a
,‘ trunk full of books, a lot of nails, an ax, a saw,
'1, .‘/ ' a hammer, and a number of other articles
' which you will find quite useful.”

, “ Oh, no I” said Jack, “ I will not trouble you.
I. ”

 

 

 

“Not a word," interrupted Landyard. "‘ In
doing what I propose, I shall only be giving
’ you your due—an equivalent for your_share of

theprofits of the vyage. The ship is a full
ship. remember.”

" Verily, you will do wrong if you refuse,
’ Dung man,” said the person, as he entered the

  
   
  
  

' "‘I will take no,refusal,”cried the captain,
with a ood-humored smile; “it he don’t want
, cgles after they are brought here, he can
set ism adrift."
H30 saying, the jolly skipper sprung into the
stern-sheets of the boat, and, seizing the steer-
g-oar, ordered the men to give way.
. e little vessel was soon alongside of the
Reindeer, and the men Were then set to work
hinting up some of the contents of the main
[(1 and the steerage.
A‘oask of sea-biscuit, a barrel of beef, another
taming flour, and several bags of dried ap-
were added to the list of articles which the
' thin had named to Jack. They were all con-
’ ed to the shore before night.
And now," said the.kind-hearted skipper,
,r the last load had been placed upon the
" h, and he had shaken bands with both the
_ hg people, “ma God bless you! Three
cheers, m_v lads!” he added, turning to the boat’s
_ 4v,“ three cheers for Jack and his bride l”
The men took off their hats, and the cheers
, regimen as the boat left the beach.
dish? :1 n hour after, the little craft was along-
9; the ship’s yards were braced round; the flag
as hoisted at the gulf: three more cheers were
intly borne over the waters; then the sails
ed, and the vessel went bowling swiftly away

 
 
  
   
    
    
 
  
  
      
  
    
    
  
  
  
   
   
  

 

  
 

 

Cast Away Jack;

 

29
{2mm the island, with the water flying from her
ows.

The young couple upon the beach watched
her until she had disappeared in the shadowy
distance; then they turned to seek their hut.

“To-morrow,” said Jack, “I shall go to work
to build a house!”

“Oh, how nice!" cried Minnie, “and I will
help you.”

“Yes,” he playfully answered, “you shall
help me. You shall weave a carpet for the
floor—a cocoanut mat.”

“Thank youl” she replied. “We will see
who will get to work first, tomorrow morning.”

'When Jack awoke, a little after daylight, he
saw Minnie sitting near the entrance of the
but, already engaged in the pleasant task of
weaving a mat.

"Come, Sir Carpenter!” she cried, laughing,
“it is time to go to work upon your house.”

After he had refreshed himself with half a
dozen kisses and a cold-water bath, Jack seized
a board and commenced to saw it, while Min-
nie, leaving her mat, set herself to work to pre-
pare a nice breakfast.

CHAPTER XIII.
CONCLUSION.

BEFORE leaving the Pacific Ocean, the Rein-
deer touched at Sydney, Australia. 9 con-
victs were there surrendered to the proper
authorities, by whom .they were heavily ironed
and transported to Botany Bay.

“ Thank heaven 1” exclaimed Miss Trundle,
when the ship was again headed for the open
sea, “ we have got rid of them heathens! They
kept up such a racket in the run while they were
there, that for my life I couldn’t sleep more than
two hours each nightl”

“ They were a godless set,” answered the par-
son, “and I, too, am glad they are gone."

“ Oh, dear, dear l” cried Miss Trundle, leaning
upon his arm, “how long do you think it will
take the ship to get home?"

“ That depends on sarcumstances, ma’am,”
answered Captain Landyard, who had over-
heard the remark, “ but I can say almost for a
sartainty that she’ll make the run in less than
six months.”

“ Dear me, I shall die before that time,” said
the spinster, with a groan. “ If it hadn’t been
for this dear lamb,” she continued, squeezing 4
Trust's arm, “ I should certainly have been in
my grave long ago.” .

“He’s a worthy man, ma'am,” said Land-
yard. “Ay, ay, he’s one of your ri ht sort of
clargymen, and I hope I shall be ab 6 to carry r
him home in five months, to ‘j’ine‘ his little
flock, about which I often hear him a-talking in
his sleep.”

’ “ Do you, really?” cried Miss Trundle, her
eyes beaming admiration upon the person. “ Do
you really hear him—”_ "

“ Verily,” the parson gently interrupted,
“ that is quite natural. We often talkiu our
sleep about those to whom we are much at-
tached.”

“ Beggin’ your pardon, ma’am,” said Land-
yard, smiling roguishly, “ I may add, that
often, when I’ve been passing the closed door 02

  

 

  

80

 

your apartment at night, I’ve heard you pro-
nouncing the name of Trust in your sleep, which,
I take it, is a proof of the truth of the person’s
remark.”

“ Never!” cried Miss Trundle. blushing deep-
ly. “ you must have been mistakenl Oh, dearl
what an ideal I—"

“ It’s quite nat’ral, considering that you two
are engaged,” interrupted the skipper. “ I
think—“

“ Y on are mistaken,” broke forth the parson,
“very much mistaken—aheml Nothing of the
kind was ever thought of by me, and I may
snfel state that Miss Trundle—"

“ Oyh, dear,” interrupted the latter, “ you
don’t mean to say, after you have given me so
much encouragement ——after you have lured me
from the island—from thcothcr ships, after you
have bestowed upon me the many little atten~
tions which are always so significant—oh! how
significant in the eyes of our sex—after all this,
you don’t mean to—to—say that you intend to
break off our—our—engagementi"

“There never was any engagement between
us, madam,” said Trust. in a gentle, but firm
voice. “I never gave you any reason to sup-
pose that I thought of—of—making lave to you.
Being a married man. 1—"

Here Miss Trundle held up both hands and
shrieked.

“ You a married man! Oh, dear! oh, dear!
to think how I’ve been deceived by you! It is
shocking—it is terrible! 0h! why—why didn’t
you tell me this before? You a married man—-
oh, only to think—"

“ I believe I spoke of my wife to your niece on
the first day of our meeting on board the East
Indiamanl”

“ But she said nothing to me about it!” cried
the spinster, choking down a sob. “ I shall
never get over this—never! Only to think that
all those harmless little coqnetries of mine have
been thrown away—completely thrown away on
this—this—I had almost said—demon 1”

And with a. heart-rending shriek, Miss Trun-
dle fled into the cabin.

From that moment she ceased to trouble the
person with her importunities. Learning by
some means or other that Captain Landyurd
was a single man, she transferred her “ agrees
hle flatteries” and delicate attentions to him.
But the old skipper, who was a very grufl.
Klein-spoken man, gave her to understand that

e had no intention of “ getting spliced” to any-

bofiy.

iss Trundle bravely recovered from this
second blow; about a month after the arrival of
the Reindeer at New Bedford, she was wedded
to a blind man—a millionaire!

The person showed the notice of her marriage
to his wife one morning while they were looking
over some newly-arrived papers, in the little
parlor of their cottage home.

We have but a few more pages to add, and
these we will devote to the young couple upon
the island.

Their house was finished in about a week afv
ter the departure of the Reindeer. It was of
small dimensions, containing only two apart-
ments; but it was large enough to answer all

necessary purposes.

Cut Away Jack.

 

 

   

  
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
 
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
 
    
  
   
 
  
  
   
  
  
 
   
   
    
   
    
 

The flooring was covered with cocoanut mats,
and upon wooden shelves were curious-lookin ,
shells and pieces of coral tastefully arrangedg.
The front windows of the little building, over-
looking the sea, were never closed, except when
it rained. Near one of them hung his spy-glass,
with which, mounting to the summit of a high
ridgepf land, Jack would scan the ocean every-
morning

Theltrunllful of books afforded the young
people plenty of reading matter; a year, at
east, must elapse before the contents of so
many large volumes could be finished by two
pairs of eyes. Sometimes Minnie would read to
her husband, and sometimes both, the wife seat-
ed upon the husband’s knee, would peruse the
same book.

When the nights were clear, they would .;
cruise around the shores of the isle in a long  '
skiff which had been built by the young sailor, 
and which was so lightly framed that it resem- ' '
bled aboat made of sealskin. Minnie would
sing to Jack as he plied his paddle, and the
birds of the night, hopping among the boughs
of cocoanut and bread—fruit trees, would join in
the chorus.

They led a pleasant life—«this young couple--
on their beautiful island in the Pacific Ocean!

Years passed, and still they were contented. v
and happy. The voice of a little child, with
brown eyes and golden hair. now made music ,
in their island home. No civilized garb wore ‘
be. His form was clothed in afanciful gain
ment worn by his fond mother from the mono-
tain reeds and the threads of the cocoanut. A '
but made of thin twigs and long grass, braided
together, protected his head from the rays of, ,
the sun. He was a lusty little fellow, and
bravely wandered along the sea-shore or rolled»
laughingly down the grass-covered sides of the
valley.

He was a stranger to fear. One morning,
during a. heavy gale of Wind, be rushed” into th’
sea and shouted gleefully as the waves carried
him away. upon their lofty crests. His mother
obeying her first impulse, would have sprung;
after him, if Jack had not gently pushedyher‘
aside and dashed among the roaring waters;
Striking out toward the child, he soon Succeed
ed in reaching him; but to return to the shot
was impossible. ‘ .,

The “seas” carried him rapidly to the met,
Then he plunged both feet into a crevice anion ,
the rocks. and firmly holding the child with one v
hand, seized a bunch of weeds with the other
to which he clung desperately. He fee.
eve moment that the roaring. seething water!
wou d either wash him from the reef or cause
the weeds to become loosened upon the rock so.
that they would give way.

Suddenly, however, he beheld his skiff, guided
by his daring little wife, approaching with
velocity that made him shudder, for it was in»
possible, he thought, that the little craft could,
escape being dashed to pieces upon the rocks. '
Bracing himself firmly, he waited until -
“counter-sea” came booming over the reef,
and then sprung toward the boat, holding the
child high above his head with both arms.
With wild eyes and pale cheeks the mother

 

 

 

Cast Away Jack.

31

 

   
  

leaned forward to seize the recious burden,
and had nearly grasped it w an a sea rolled
over the heads of father and child, hiding them
in its watery foldsl She pressed her throbbing
brow with both hands; her brain whirled; a
halfvstifled shriek of agony rose to her lips; she
believed both husband and son were lost for—
ever!

The next moment, however, she saw Jack’s
hands clutch the bow; above it rose the head of
her child!

“ Thank God 1” she screamed, and dartin for—
ward, pulled the loved form of the little arry
into the skiff. Jack followed». moment later.

He seized an oar, and by skillfully working it,

turned the boat’s head away from the reef.

“The ropel the rope, dear husband!" cried
his wife, “ all you have to do is to pull on the
rope. I saw that coil lying on the beach, and
had my senses about me sufficiently to fasten one
end of the line to a cocoanut tree and the other
to the bow of the skiff.”

“ Noble woman!” cried Jack; “ thanks toyour
presence of mind, our child is saved.”

He seized the rope, and pulling upon it slowly
but steadil , the skifl was soon tossed high and
(it upon t e beach.

ears of wild joy rose to Jack’s eyes. From

, the very depths of his soul he offered up thanks

to the mighty Being who had enabled himself

and his wife to rescue their child.

On a. clear morning, a few months after the
incident just described, Jack saw a sail far
fiveyd to eastward, apparently heading for the

an r

“I hope we are not going to have trouble-
some visitors,” he remarked to his wife, who

‘ stood by his Side, holding little Harry’s hand.

“ Why do you think they will be troublesome?”
she inquired.

-“I have no reason for thinking so," he an-
swered. “ The truth is, my little wife, we enjoy
ourselves so much here, that it seems to me as if
something must occur before long to mar our
‘ 'fapp’iness. In a word, it seems too good to

_ m .

  
 
     
  
   
    
 
   
    
 
    
  
   
  
   
  

_“0h, no 1” she cried cheerfully. “ I have a
pleasant presentiment that there is no trouble to
, come from that ship.”

Both watched the vessel attentively, and
when she was within a. league of the shore, they
saw her come up into the wind with her main-
topsail aback.

_. A boat was lowered and rapidly approached
“the beach. ,

   
    
  
 

   

s

 

 

THE END.

“Whoever yonder men may be,” said Jack,
“ we had better go to meet them.”

So they made their way to the strand. The
boat's keel struck it a few minutes after. A
manly~looking fellow sprung from the stern—
sheefs, and smilineg approached our hero.

“ This is Jack Weldon, I believe,” he said,
“ and this—” lifting his cap and bowing to
Minnie, “is his wife.” ,

“ You are right,” replied Jack, frankly return-
ing the cordial grasp of the other’s hand.
“ Your face looks familiar,” he added, “ and
yet I can not remember who you are.”

“ Captain Bill Choke, at your service,” an-
swered the other.

Minnie sprung forward, and grasped his
hands. '

“You saved my husband’s life i” she cried;
“ Heaven bless you for your noble behavior to
us both when-”

“ Not another word, madam, if you pleasel”
he interrupted, smiling. “ I simply did my
duty and no more.”

“ But why did you go off with those ruflians
when they took the raft?” inquired Jack.
“ Wh did you not stay upon the island ?”

“ y principal reason was that we three were
leagued together by a foolish oath, made aboard
the transport ship. From the moment my
sentence was pronounced, however, I had made
a firm resolve to lead an honest life after my
time was ne‘} That resolution, d’ye see, I have
stuck to. hen my time was up, I went home,
and shipped as mate in a whaler~the vessel you
see lying yonder. The skipper was killed, soon
after he sailed, by falling from aloft, and I was
obliged to take his place; so I am now captain of
the craft. Finding myself near your latitude,
I determined to pay you a few hours’ visit before
going to the right whale-grounds.”

“ A few hours? You must stay with us several
days, my friend i” cried Jack.

“My duty to the owner won’t allow it,” he
answered. “ I must take advantage of the fair
wind.”

And so, after he had admired and patted little
Harry to his satisfaction, and converseda couple
of hours with the parents, Choke took his de-
parture. '

His boat was soon alongside of the ship; the
vessel’s main-yard was braced forward, and she
rapidly bowled along upon her course.

ack Weldon and his wife, are still livin
u on the island, and four children have been ed -
e to the population of the “ Ocean Paradise.”

  

BEADLE’S BOY’S LIBRARY.

Published Every Saturday.

Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform-Price of Five‘Oents

 

150 The Boy Minimum-Hunter; or,E«ulnlia,the Beautiful
Atmlznh. ii)’ Frr'ilerlr‘k “'iiiiinker.

151 Frnllk Yum-p4, “in Young 'I‘mpper; ur, Mountnln
“'nrning. is. Jlrm-pil E, 5mm. .h.

159 “'iltl Raven, “In Scout. . (iii COOIYNE.

153 Lynx-Cup; hr, Fum' 'l'!‘n}~)n-Is" Arming the Sioux. By I’nul

iiihim.
154 The L‘hnnlpion Toxun Rider: m, Rcii Buiiniu and lin-
Herculul Hunter. Bv Hurry St. (ll-um...

155 Dusk Dick'n By Jon. ii, ilnrizi-r, Jr.

156 Frnn ' Boll, _ ,3 iiyUll Com: .

167 Rik-k lhlyio. nu: Guld l "um. By P,

158 kldnnppod Dick; or, The Fnto (if the

icy Hamil-r5011.

159 Rnln’n Lon: 'l’rnii. By W. J. Hamilton.

1 60 Ilnnk 'l‘rlniot‘n Vow. ily Hurry “Mum.

161 The Mall Skipper. By R. sinrmu-k.

(32 'l‘iul Trumn-r King. ily Mnj. hlux M rtina.

68 Simon Kenton. llunh‘l‘. 15v Enwrsnn Rudulln.

(14 The Boy Chit-f: nr. Fl'llltk iivii ('nmlvuri. By Oil Common.

65 The Trailer 'l‘rnllor. By J. Sinnh; nnlemon.

(it: (Did Juno’s (‘louu liy .\ir- llrrm Hum-s

ii? The Young ’l‘rniit-r. UV 1. iinxniltun.

68 The s motor Spy. 1’..- _\i..j. i..-wi:~ w. I‘m-mm.

61D Lnnk .uto. n... 01.1 Cuinrmioiiuulvr. il\' ii. \i‘. Archer.

7 i The Winn» \‘i’oii’. ny Eulu‘xmi wmm

?i The Swnuu) Guide. By W .\‘. .\l 1.

72 The Ynniw» l’odclicr. ily C. Dunning (flnrk.

73 The lit-out. llllli illn Y Illfl' (‘ilunh liy \ rrrun St. John.
‘ III“ II ’I'unl'n Hunk. iSy Haul. l). Ililimrt.

kl‘h’ill Rider. iiy (luy lirwnwrwl,
nitch Hurprluo. lh- hirs. ll. J. 'i'hlnuas.

77 Four eiluw Fcouln. V taniuy iicndrrsmi.

7% 0M Kit. and lllM (‘nnlrnliom Hy Jim. E. lindgur, Jr.

70 [Tm-l1! Grlil’n "iflu'uillc. My lln y llnznrd.

80 The Mlll‘ifl'l‘ Vllnur. iiy Hunt. (mi. linzultine.

8| The Wild II a. liy {'zwi. liruin Adams.

82 The Dwan D )y iiy Man 0. mm.

33 Job Dcnn’n Tin-lit Bv inunhlnhy Nnrih,

iii-l Yuukco Eph’u Dllcr ' J. i{.Wnrr.eatrr.

85 Tile- “'Iiy “'iloh’n _ ‘ win i'l. Ewing.

86 Frank, Um Furrier. rs..- J Stimm licmlursnn.

R7 Diana, the Fair )iountnir «r. liy (inpl. F. Whittaker.

“H Jlu-k‘il Hnnre. By Mrs. Ann ll) i’m'ter.

39 Hum. the 5mm]. Smut. By W . iinmllttm.

90 The llnnhlnx‘ Trooper. ll} wivrit-k Dewey.

iii The no ' ill'nve. By Jmncs L. iilmq'll.

92 Sandy “ii, nl"l'rxns. By Edward “'iilvil.

98 Harry “’lnkie’r‘ Long Chane. Bf Wm. R Enter.

"-1. Fret-yer Cato, tin- Shadow Swan p "mlier. By 1". Dewey.

9") The or Dell-olive. lly llxu-ry iinznni.

96 (irpny ; n”, nip Mmumnn \i'itl-h. My (7 l). Clnrh.

97 '1‘ lo Brnnllud (Hmtniu. By W. J. 11‘

tm Old (lrunnlire'u l‘ -l in. liy (‘upL (‘i u. iiuwnrd.

7 ~k, tln- nu. By W. J. i .uiliiinn.
.10,“ “Inner. ily (lienrgi- W. Rnhinson.
fluid Cuntlvvn. liy l’iwnni \Viliutt.

2 ’l‘edllv’u Lunx Truli. My Eduard S. Ellis.

3 (Did llnnk, ht- llernlit. By Edward W. Archer.

)4 (lunm-lmml'n “out Shot. iiv Jim. E. Burlwsr, Jr.

he lintehmnn'n "rend. Bndpt. (7hns.i*iuward.

’6 Kit Burt’u Muuk. iiy W. J. linlniitnh.

’i’ Elixir-Eyed Tim. liy C, Dunnng (lurk.

H The Viiimn- 5 WM. liy .lnnu-x L. Bu en.

9 HIM-k llllrl‘u liuvk. By Elh Wi -t.

0 he Toll-'l‘uic Bullet. IiyJ ulluv Huntlerlon.

‘ire Boy Suneyor. Hy W. J. H niiinn.

'uui‘cv Drover Swlpcn. l'vv .. n '

ivor ('it)‘ Tom. By .lnnn-s i.. iimren.

Iok. the Dull-(MW. ily Edwin Emmnu.

i unnu- Rider Buy. By Aliwri w. Aiken.

, he Dn olu ihlluilnmn. liy Maj. Mnx Marlins.

Yaukre Jomh. hm iinwr. Ex 1:. II. Bx‘llmnp, M. D.

New Yurk Ned In Cuilf‘ornln. iiy W. J. Humillon.

Kentnck ' Kule’n Rhnl. liy l-Zdwxmi Willett.

’Frlwo F rnnk’n Rlvni. Hy Paul J. i’n-ncnlt.

Doctor Bug. Dulet'llvv. By 1mm .iny Swift.

filly Ham‘- finnro. Hy Loni Lvurmui, M. D.

8 Old Nancy's “'nrli. iiv eul. Cnl. iinzr-ltino.

.1 ilulcie “to. tho anmh. ‘M Scott H. Sherwood.

6') Night- lnwk Bill; orV The New York Sportsman’s Claw.
ih‘ . .i. limniitnn.

26 The flanked .“nnlno. By Mnm 0. Knife.

2’? linrlley'n Bold iii-ruin. By Jmner L. ilowen.

23 The Dentiwnmi Sportn. iiy Lirnl. S. G. Lansing.

29 "nun Suhmidi, Jr.; nr, Tho Diaguiml Ynnkee. By W. J.
iinmlitnn.

0 Lone Rlar'n Sure Shot. ily ilnn'y iiunrd.

Mark 'i’loriznn’n Musk. iiv Capt. (‘hnrlvs Howard.
liily Brmun’n ll‘irnr, (iruine. iiv ll. Minor Klapp.
ho Girl Rifle-Shirl. By W. .i. Hnmiitnn.
id Kyle'l Long Tramp. Byiienry J. Thorn".
"Id “iii flyco‘u Pledge. By Edwnnl Willett.

/ 1 he (Indira-“Wm: Detective. By ELIE. Ellis.
331’ The Dolphin’n Young Skip er. ‘ 3y Mr Swhuck.
988 Jolil’l Boy Panic. 'By 5. 635131119 .. ,Te -

. V .,

Knts'a

UPS.
u Fly. By '. Stan-

N-‘oaraaapwvu
egg-Me

 

 

A.'

By Mum 0. Roiia.

289 Lee anin’! Di! Ilse.
in By Arthur L. Mum".

240 During Dick’n 1 Bee.

2-“ 1 Halo Ephe‘n Boyl. By J. Similar Hemiormm.

242 ’ ‘yciint Boil Rnnred. By Cnlrl. i1. NI. iinwtlnvrne.

243 if“: l I-nght Joe; or, Brnw. lixu Cnnirw Front. ily Charla:
'. s .-y.

24:} Bob linker‘u Lust Leap. By 1‘. Benton Shiuhln, U. S. A.

‘ 4.» hurt“ “'omlri Nut. B ' W iurniliun.

4“ The Girl Chief. iiy . M. 'rill.

Ihlln'u' Dick. (he Rmih-r. ily llnrr iinznni.

Bluvk Jilll’l Doom; or, Billy Buwlngs's Revenge. By Lh‘ut.

(‘01.ilnzeltine.

Morgan, the Run Rover. By John  Warm-r.

Zm-h‘n Ghent. Trun. ily Georur Awh-gnth.

Kytl’n Bold Game. liv l’mil liihh»

3 Snnohn Snnl’r Shot. By (ieurgc Glyn-(m.

25): (frnfly Cruzy Slut-R; or, The Frum-h Fugitive.
iinznrxi.

254 The Fighting (Junker. Ry Edwnrd 

‘ in) The Rnnz(‘r rI Fith (‘rulnm By Juhn S. Warner.

2aliJloir Gngc'u Crow. By John Nun].

' ’l'olnruy‘M ant l’lu'er. By W. J. iimniiiun.
Du“ Beii’fl Pluck. Hy Cnpi. Chm. ilmvnwi.
Rookv Mountnln Burt. By Edward \‘Viliott.
“(-(‘kiom‘ Rui h'fi Rink. ByJunws L. Bowen.
Gold Nugget Dick. By'i'um i‘. .\lnI'-_mn
lru'n Bil: Bmmnzn. Bv Hurry l zul‘tl.

.ipnh Mnrrlon, Detective. ll)" ry A. iu-niron.
l nclo Jerry, the Quaker. liv .10th Neal.
" The Skippor’n Mute. By iinr‘r) (‘n 'mlish.

( ' Tim Girl (‘nwhoy (.‘npiniu. i‘\'
267 Full. (he .‘ilmiv H BV “'
26$ “ulnh'u L Int 'l‘rnnl ily Elifl‘lli‘ii S. Ellis.

26:) SM fit(.(.]o'_ Grudge. liv Iiilnm-ti “'illvll.
270 Jim]; tin- Count ih-lovtlvv. lzy iil'fll'i‘ inrhurk. .
271 Old Got-“oh ill- Jolly anllnrti. By iinrriuk Jahnulona.
272 The Roy R My Huwnrri )1. nuynmn.
2 VI. J. iiniulitnn.
l. c 1' m', 'l'iiu Allirrmnll'l Little
,. . Iiv ilvrnluri’xlultiing, .S N
‘ 75 (Innrmi. the 00ch King. B" '
l’nl; lho I’Iucln' sorgcunt. liyi .
Junk .lm-(inn‘n i’nrtl. liy hlrn. Zil V, Virwr,
Toni. the 01d 'l‘nr. Hy Run-r tut-Inwk.
lioily‘n Dentin-Shot. iii'C .
Dt-tovllvo Germnn Joe. ‘ i
1 Joe (.‘urli‘n Double. 153' JOE. .

~ Nut Dodge. the l'rrhih-r. By iiinrx- . i‘h s.

Nell, lire Stowaway; nr, Aurll't in 15mm. By C. D. G‘th

2R4 iinn, lire linrky Dwarf. By Ralph Ringwuod.
2515 The Moxlunn’u Double. By '1‘. W. King.
2346 Jul) Hilnrn. the Dem-Live. By Mum 0. Rolfe.

287 The Two )llcitiies: 0r,Tim iSurcnmw’» Ward. By Law
yeile Lnlnn-st.

Rover "it-k Dingle. By Edward R. Ellis.
Molly, the Girl (‘nplnlm ilyMnry A. Deniwn. .

“ch-olive “It ‘14 Yard: or, Funr New ank Reporwrt i-
flolurmlo. Iiy H. M. lnynlon. _ '

Br Harry

.I up IS. BmigorJr.
i. linxnilhm.

2R8
2!!!
290

291

ii. Lcwm. I
292 Bullet-Prouf Nnt; or, The Wild Gulch Goblin. By W. J.
iinmiilnn.
llnrry‘n Gum] Fortune] or, The Trirhy Trxan’u Claim;
By Edward \\'i|i(‘,t. . J,‘
204 Tom lel‘t’n Cruise; or, The Wreck of the Albion. By

Juhn S. \Vnrner. I
295 Tim “'itoh of Black Hollow. By N. (7.1mm A
296 Tom Tuners, Dulcctlve; or, The sharpest Boy in Chicago. '.

By 1'. E. WW. V
fiqllntlcr Dick’s 011th; or, The Bandit‘s Black Bnnd.‘ By
Jon. E. Bridger, Jr. )
298 Iron Nerve Denpard; ar, The Man oannyDisgnim. B" ’
W. J. Hamilton. »
Cant Awny Jnck; or, The Bay Sailor of the Reindeer. By
iiozvr Sturhnck. %
800 Kid Kern in New York' er. he Western Wanda-on,“

Emmi cm. in Hnwnni M. i3uyntnn. Rendv Jan 11. t
301 ’l‘exnn “iii. (he Rover. By Paul Bihbc.

Rend)‘ Jnnnnry i3.
802 Old John. the Hermit. By Lieut~Coi. iinzoltino.

Rudy .innunry 75. _ ‘

Beadle’a Boy’s Library 1: {or nie hi all Ramadan,“

cunu per copy, or rent bv mail on receipt oillx conll until.

BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publishers,

298

297

7299

 

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Tiu- Miner’s Lost “'urd; or, Dick ania'n Deni. By C. x H