We and the World: A Book for Boys. Part I

illows and the d

brave are gather

* *

ld and gems, th

rue and brave!"

ully; and the history of the island is written briefly

d inarticulate roaring, and I found that it was morning, and that the boatswain's mate was "turning the hands up"

the boatswain humorously explained, as he saw me trying to get the

most trades. He had at one time been a sort of man-of-all-work in a boys' school, and I think it was partly from this, and partly out of opposition to the sail-maker, that he never seemed to grudge my not having been born a poor person, or to fancy I gave myself airs (wh

ting as much "elbow-grease" into my work as renewed sea-sickness left me strength for, when the boatswain's mate turned the hose upon me once more. I happened to be standing rather loosely, and my thoughts had flown home on the wings of a wonder what Martha would think of this way of scrubbing a floor-all wedded as the domestic mind is to hairy flannel and sti

fact that she rolled more than on the day before. The sky and sea were grey enough when we were swabbing the deck

jects bobbing up and down in the distance were pointed out to me as porpoises, and a good many sea-gulls went by, flying landwards. Not only was the sky overcast, but the crew seemed to share the depression of the barometer,

lew, and most of the sails were hauled in and made fast, and one or two were reefed up close, and the big chimney swayed, and the threatening clouds drifted forwards at a dif

him steady without clutching here and there for help, and I had been thankful, in a brief interval when nobody had ordered me to do anything, to scramble

make a clear night of it. It was unquestionably clearer overhead, and the waves ran smoother, as if the sea were recovering its temper, and Alister and I

in the barometer was "by-ordinar" (which I knew as well as he); and I told him the wind was undoubtedly falling (which he knew as well as I): and after this inevitable interch

and we rushed up on deck without exchanging a word. By the time we got there, where the whole ship's crew had gone before us, we were as wildly excited as any one of them, though we had not a notion what it was all about. I knew enough now for the first glance to tell me that the ship was in no speci

all along the lee bulwarks they sat and crouched like sea-birds on a line of rock. Suddenly we rolled, down went the leeside, and I with it, but I caught hold of the lowest step of the forecastle ladder and sat fast. Then as we dipped I saw all that they were seeing from the masts and

ng across them as before, though the excitement grew till I could bear it no longer, and scrambled up the ladder on to the forecastle, and pushed

nting. There was a lull in the eager talking of the men, and the knot of captain and the officers on the b

tant I saw a streak of light upon the water in which a black object bobbed up and down as the p

e going to go half speed. I sailed seven years in the Amiable with old Savage, and I'm blessed if he ever put her a point out of her course for anything. 'Every boat for herself, and the sea for us all,' he used to say,

hird mate's voice ra

t bott

ething on her!" and I turned that way, and saw the captain put down his glass, and put his hand to his mouth; and when he sang out "A MAN!" we all

en in a sudden gleam of moonlight, the captain leaned forward and sho

s for the

ounted a dozen throbs, before, with a wild hurrah, every man had le

voice again. (He had come down, and was where the whaleboat was hanging, whic

called. Thunder and lightning, we want t

aye,

! C!

"Here, sir!

ank you all, my lads

uple of blankets. Look sharp. Stand back; in you go; steady! Now, mind what I say; I shall bear up towards the boat. Hi, there! Stand by the lowering-tackle, and when I say 'Now!' lower away handsomely and steadil

aye,

you. Steady

ert and silent seamen, sitting side by side, each with his oar held upright in his hand, and his eyes upon his captain, the rowdy rou

for ever on the other side of the hills and dales of water which kept hiding it completely from all except those who were high up upon the masts. It was a relief when we could see it, miserable speck as it looked, and we all strained our eyes after it, through many difficulties from the spiteful ways of the winds and waves and clouds, which blinded and buffeted and drenched us when we tried to look, and sent black veils of shadow to hide our comrades from our eyes. In the teeth of the elements, however, the captain was bearing up towards the other boat,

ey're to the left; but what the winds and waves they're after --"-"They're trying to make him hear, likely enough, and they might as well call on my grandmother. He's as dead a

s, for a voice ran

ard from th

rowded so together, that I cou

interfering with the designs of Providence. We may lose Peter and not save Paul.

ice now called t

it one or bot

h, s

nk G

en replied-but their cheer only came f

w to bring up a hammock, and swing it in the steerage. I was vexed, as I

m to catch sight of our heroes and the man they had saved. But a little apart from the rest, two Irish sailors were standing and bandying the harshest of brogues with such vehemence that I drew near, hoping at least to hear someth

uare ye must have

ess him! with the rope aisy round his waist, and the waves drowning him in

es, "would that that's hanging round hi

it dangling where the wash of a wave, or a pickpocket, or a w

else would

git the sig

id n

e back

ha

exhausted. His friend drew nearer, and I also ventured to accept an invitatio

ed trousers, baring his back from his waist to his shoulder-blades. The moon was somewhat overcast, but there was light enough for us to see a grotesque s

n the case I'd be misfortunate enough to be w

are

aning and twisting his head in futile e

ece of work, I'

truth that said that, Pat. It'

t, tucking his shirt in again, "and that

ghnes

ir

rough which I could see the man they had saved still lying on the deck, with the captain kneeling at his head, and looking back as if he were

k curls of his head and the lashes of his closed eyes. We were dipping to leeward, his head rolled a little on the rough pillow that had been heaped to raise him, and his white face against the inky waves reminded me of the face of the young lor

lack ribbon, pendant from which a small cross of ebony was clear to be seen upon his naked br