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12
THE YOUNG MEN OF AMERICA.
sight of his dead body would afford no par-
ticular consolation, now that they knew he
r. Merton,” ipps; :“ ye
done well, catechise me if ye didn’t, and you
huye my most heartfelt and unqualified
thanks.”
“And mine, ”’ added Harlowe. “You have
acted nobly.’
“What I did was for the boy’s sake,” growl-
ed the man, shalf petulantly, throwing down
his smoking weapon, “T care nothing for
your praises, Iam as indifferent to them as
to your condemnation.”
“Mr, Merton, I thank you for saving my
life,” said Van, putting his hand into that of
the man who had rescued him from a horrible
“That is all I feel able to say.”
the other, giv-
ing the boy’s hand a strong prossure, and turn-
ing away his head to hide his emotion. “I
m™m more satisfled with those simpla words
away, lay down in bis accustomed spot,
forward in the shadow of the rail, and ‘ane
posed himself for a sleep; as though he had
done notbing more unusual than caught a few
fishes on eaten his din
A week passed, during. which the raft made
its way slowly through the water and weed,
an occasional light shower occurring, which
gave the castaways an opportunity to replen-
ish their stock of water, and you may be sure
that it was not neglected.
were no wrecks of any size to be seen,
and the rubbish they did come across—broken
boats, splintered spars, tops of ships’ houses,
planks, ribs and bits of deck timbers—wore all
so rotten and water-soaked that no use what-
ever could be made of them
Now and then they would come upon what
have been a raft, weak and fragile and
falling to pieces, with perhaps an empty water
aboard, a ragged. sail hanging from a
miserable mast, and fragments of old lashings
fluttering in the wind, to show how some poor
unfortunates like themselves had been cast
upon the waves, and,’ more fortunate than
they, perhaps, had found rest beneath thi
These were sad sights, and the part, turned
from them with heavy hearts, thinking that
j erhaps theirs would have been a happier lot
had they, too, perished, instead of living to
Noat aumesa y about in the sea of grass.
t imagine how the Frenchman man-
nges to live,” said Van, one night, a week after
the ndventure with the sea serpent. “Th
nreno ships here from. which he might pos-
sibly pbtalp supplies, and he hadno provisions
witl
haps he thinks he can eat diamonds.”
@ is not the first foul thet was sacrificed
all for the love of gain,” rved Merton.
“ Much good may his SH ecten wrenith do him,
I wish him no greater. harm than that he may
repent of his ras
** Let us not speak lightly othis misfortune, ”
said Harlowe, “‘for our own case may be a
desperate one yet.”
That night, after the others had gone to
sleep, Hariowe and Chipps sat side by side in
the galley, not smoking, for their tobacco had
given out, when Chipps said suddenly: -
“Did you guess how near you came to the
truth to-night?”
“ What do you mean?”
“ We, sbaven’t got grub enough to last a
month.
GHAPTER XIk.
THE BENG OUNTER »
MONTH has passed, @ cast-
aways are without food, an such
as the sea can afford the: em, and that
is little enough, the fish being searce.
nad hard to cite the crabs insufficient to
support four rty persons, and the prospect
of PP Ort lia too food slight enough.
There is water in abundance, 60 that there
is not the horrible fear of thirst before them,
but water will not support life indefinitely,
though water alone is better than food alone,
and death again stares them in the face.
While there remained an ounce of food, Van
had an abundance, Harlowe eating but ‘litule
that the boy might have u sufficiency, but care-
folly consealiny. until the last, the fact that
there was so litt!
Merton, too, Aeated himself, drinking large
no on ed
~""Ralked” 2 water, which 8 begrudge
spall of bmitting uncomplainingly to his
Waren mani aving considerably altered
Oe Me fetter in thoissk low weeks,
¢But at last ‘starvation hhreatened, and the
prospect looked ed gloomy indeed, for in such a
place it was on ly by 9 merest providence
that they world be able to find anything to
eat, the chances being small, as what vessels
did float into this waste had been already
abandoned, and the supplies taken o
ueceeded day, night followed night,
and still no sign of food, the poor castawa;
growing daily more thin and haggard,
pale and sunken cheeks, their glittering eyes
and wasted limbs telling too plainly that the
gaunt hand of death was already clutching
them.
The air was hot and dry, too, or they were
in the very midst of the calm a
time when there was little chance, ot outside
influences penetrating to their retreat.
Famine was now’added to the list of the
perils which assailed them, and it threatened
fo prove a a more powerful foe than any they
met
ace Condition of things could not last for-
ever; and unless a change eame there was but
one énding—death by starvation.
Fora week they were entirely. ‘without food,
being kept alive by copious draughts of water,
which promised to lust long after they were
ei
It is m: Pleasure to record a change, how-
ever, ani ass from these terrible scenes to
others more ragreeable to read of, the lives of
eee four being destined to be saved for bet-
tert
On the eighth day after the last morsel of
food had given out, a breeze most suddenly
and unaccountably sprung up, the waters be-
ing tossed into foamy billows, and the weed
roiling about and piling-up in great masses,
The raft was carried through the water at a
good speed, and the change in the motion and
temperature of the air was decidedly beneti-
cial to the castaways,
They seemed to infuse new life from the
salt air, and their cheeks were actually flushed
with healthy color,
The sun set in a bank of clouds, and soon
after dark a most refreshing rain storm fell,
Chipps not neglecting to catch as much of the
water as P possible, ever though he was dying
of hu
Night came on, a Jew stars twinkled from
between the clouds, and the slender crescent
of the new moon could be seen through the
thin masses of vapor which partly obscured
me hours Passed. the moon set, the skies
were overshadowed, a thick darkness prevail-
ing, through which it was impossible for the
eye to penetrat
Merton, of “eal the little company, was
awake, seated on the rail, his head resting on
his hands, his eyes fixed upon the darkness,
his thoughts wandering, and his lips uncon-
sciously murmuring a prayer for relief.
The others were all asleep, nature having
been merciful to them, and given them at least
that precious boon, ‘for while they slept no
distressing thoughts of the morrow visited
pee and they dreamed only of pleasant
te eetionly Merton raises his head, peers forth
into the darkness, bends his head “and listens
with the most rapt attention.
Could he be dreaming, or were those ier
sounds he heard coming across the drear:
waste of waters with startling distinctness? >
They were: words’ which, | rom hearing
often, he had learned to know, although they
were ina foreign tongue,
What he heard was a fragment of a French
chausonette, which he ha often heard Gre-
, | golre singing:
“ Jai trois caste} Hes, dans la platne,
Devieus en la chat
Je suis plus riche qu’ run Tot,
Eh bien, ta resilie,
There the song suddenly ceased, the singer
being either disturbed or not caring to indulg.
his musical propensities a
been merely singing a few o
“Tt is that dog of a Prowchaane™ ‘mutter-
edthe listener, ‘So we have found him again
atlast! This time he shall not escape me!”
en the man procured a sharp knife from
the galley and stuck it in his belt, lying down
in| ine | ihtdow of the rail, and appearing to be
“Slumber “did not visit his eyelids for hours,
however, and meanwhile the raft drifted
along in the darkness, the faint swish of the
praters being now the only sound that could be
“After a long time there came a gentle shock
agsinst the bow of the raft, which aroused
Merton, but did not weaken his companions,
He raised himself upon one elbow cautious-
ly, and raised his eyes to the level of the rail.
A dark mass obscured his vision, and he put
forth one hand, at the same time raisicg his
e
aie could see a dark outline, which he knew
from long practice was the hull of a vesscl,
bad not his toneh assured him already that
such was the
He listened attentively
sound, arose to his feet an ‘d ran bis hand along
the planks for some distance as high as he
coul
Then he stood upon the rail and moved his
hands back and forth, presently coming across
something which appeared to give him con-
siderable satisfaction
e had touched the fore-chains of the stray
vessel, and looking up, managed to make out
a mast with sbrow 's bent and twisted, but still
in their plac
Grasping the ends of the halyards with both
hands, one a jittle above the other, he drew
himself Up. first bracing the right’ foot and
then the left against the side, and continuing
to pull bimselt upward until he reeched the
plankshes
He quickly threw one Jeg over the rail, and
stepping lightly upon deck, looked around
A lantern was burning in the cabin, the light
being distinctly seen throuzh the open door,
and fading greatly to the weirdness of the
seen
He ‘walked up and down the deck with the
lightness of a eat, and, seeing no one, de-
scended into the cabin.
, pg bed in the main
cabin, lay Pextended the form of the villainous
Frenchman, wrapped in a profound slumber.
P.
“Twill not kill even this viper in his sleep, ”
ny far farther, ating Mos
and hearing no | ter?”
muttered the man, and then he shook the
sleeper roughly and awaited his awaking.
[To BE CONTINUED.]
$$$ 004
Don’t.
Dox" T grumble at every misfortune,
n’r fret at each little mishap,
Dou" t worry because ote a neighbor
Reclining in {uxury’s 1a:
Don’t ge er 0 at of sorts with ‘the weather,
when you would have fair;
The sun wal not shine any sooner
For those who lose patience and swear.
Don’t hope to get something for nothing
‘o harvi crop on wh heat,
Nor look for the jewel of
To spring from, the germ Pot ‘decelt,
Don't trouble yourself with dissecting
The faults that your uelghbors possess:
Perhaps that the same zealo.
Might make Jour own errors the Te88, '
Don't preach 0} T perfection to others,
Un yess gon yes a little a
And 1 very mall pebble
W is outweigh'a bushel of foam.
Don’t think that a theme is exhausted
When failing with Him to a;
Nor biame Him for your stupa bianders,
Because He permits them to be.
[This story commenced in No, 628.)
BoB BRIGHT;
A Boy of Business and Fun.
By TOM TEASER,
Traveling Dude,” ‘Jack and tim; or,
Author of * The
at School,” Jimmy Grier J
Rackets Mand Scrapes
¢ Me
ion! ea
0
Th a (en ii " ,'
Brother pan Clog Abeny Cteay Eleng
PART III.
LCNE day, in the basement, Bob Bright
> sald to the colored port
Mose, are you very 8 ong?”
“Specs I By arse Bob.” Replied
the big darky, with a
“Kn own most anything, ean't you,
6?”
Yas r, got a fis’ jes’ like a spile driber,
Marse Bob.
** Bot you it isn’t as hard as mine.”
At this doclaration Mose grinned.
His fist not as hard as Bob's?
Ridiculous!
“Reckon you’se foolin’, Marse Bob!” he
said, with a chuckle,
“No, sir, not a bit of it”
“Not Jest a lilly bit?”
“N
“ On g’way, yo’m foolin’?”
his open hand against a dry y Boods ease, “ just
you strike as hard as you
“ Strike yo’ han’ wif my big fis, Murse Bob?”
asked Mose,
“That's it.”
“J hurt 30", honey, fo’ sho!”
“Vil risk it.”
“Gib yo’ fa’r wahnin’, Marse Bob,”
“Oh, go ahead, and "don’t have 80 much
chin,” said Bob, impatiently, “TI bet you
won’t hurt mea mite.
“Lemme strike jes’ as hard as I’m a min’-
“ Certainly, the harder the better,”
“‘An’ yo’ won’ tell de boss ef I hurt yo’,
Marse Bob?”
“* Nixey tell: BO on with the show, thecrowd
is Betting restles
* All right “Jen; ; look out fo” yo'se’f.”
Then that big *eoon doubled up his huge
fist, drew back his arm and let drive.
KI
The ease fairly shook with the blow that
‘ose gave it.
As for Bob he yanked away his hand in a
jiffy and was un! hurt.
Not so that deluded moke, however.
e got such a crack that for a few moments
he thought his hand was paralyze
* Fo’ goodness sake!” he howled, shaking
his hand, “ wha’ fo’ yo” pull away yo’ han’,
Marse Bob?”
“Just for greens?’ chuckled Bob. “ Want
to try it again, Mose?”
hen he ran away laughing and Mose knew
he had been fooled.
Dat lilly olla make a big fool ob me,” he
muttered. ‘“ Reckin I hab to get squar’ on de
Vishman fo’ dat
Pretty soon Pat Brophy came down and
Mose said to him
“ Bet t yo’ I stan’ ‘a heabjer blow dan yo’ kin,
is!
“ bo an wid yez, ye big shtuff,” cried Pat,
“ wea xe" i as big as a house, an’ phuy
udn’t yez
“ yo” ean’t hurt my han’,” and Mose
Planked tis big stealer against a cas
Ah, go fan wid yez,” muttered at,
“ Bet ha’{ a doliah yo’ kean't,” said
Mose, “Ty ‘let yo’ strike jes’us hard as yo’
“Let me shtrike yer fisht jist as it is?”
iy ee a! an’ I bet yo’ don’ hurt me jes’ one
cf Can I shtrike as hard as I loike?”
* Yas’ r; yo’ kin put all yo’ muckle into it,
an’ o don’ hurt me ’tail.”
gob, Dll do it.”
Pat was keen enough to see that there ras
some trick hidden under the big darky’
offer.
S of too suspicious a nature to be-
lieve that Mose weuld willingly allow another
to strike 4
Consequently he determined to get ahead of
the coon in some w:
He made a feint, and saw the coon begin to
move his hand.
egob, Tve cot on to his game,” he
ght. ‘ He manes to pull away his hand
parlyze the fisht av me.”
ook out, naygur, I’m goin’ to shtrike,”
eee he did s
He took the coon ‘right in the jaw and near-
ly staggered him,
“Hol on! dat ain’ my han’ ’tall,” shouted
Mose, as Pat skipped off.
“Go play yer thricks an greenhorns,” cried
Pat with a laugh, ‘“Yez can’t take in Pat
Brophy yi wid danny av yez jug gglery.”
Lawd, reckin’ I lose two free tect,” ”
muttered | Mose, , feeling of his ja ‘
fool to trus’ dat Tishman, anyhow.
knowed he ‘would strike fair,
donno nuffin’, Kean't take a joke ef yo’ sugar-
coat Cit, deed dey kean
aygur, yez ‘dian’ t catch me, did
yen? taunted Pat. ‘‘ Yez’ll have to foind a
weasel aslape before yez can play off anny
shnaps an ”
“ Dat make twict I get fooled,” muttered
Mose, as he went about his work. ‘ Reckon
I has to get hunky, on Marse Frank or some
ob de oder fellahs,
‘one of the other fellows happened to come
around, and time they did Mose had
forgotten the Yoke, having other things to
Bob, meanwhile, had gone out on an errand
for Howe, Master Joe Jones being behind
time, as usual, and not to be found.
His route took him through the City Hall
park, and here, on one of the benches under
the trees, he saw a tramp.
6 Was a regular out-ut-elbows, two-weeks’-
beard, bleared-eyed, tomato-can bummer, and
he and clean water had long been enemies.
was enjoying the snooze of the just,
8) leeping by duy to keep from being hungry,
and xa king at night to keep from sleeping.
who sleeps dines, then that tramp was
having a regular square meal, for he was
noozing for all he was worth, and more, too,
and snored like a steam engin
Along came Bob, and nook ii fhe sleeping
tramp asa cat gets.o
Here was food for his ‘mischievous proclivi-
ties pith a@ vengeance
“ Look at his royal ‘highness 1” he remarked,
pausing before the slumbering wanderer,
“ Wonder if I could fire him off the bench?”
Another idea struck him, however, and he
called uD a bootblick ; none of your little Ital-
jan nuisances that now infest all our parks,
but one to the manner born, and of the old
thou
and
&
“To! Srove that I’m not,” said Bob, laying | stock
“ Give this fellow a shine,” he observed,
nyeg 's payin’ for it~him?”
Tam
«What is he—an I-talian eount in disguise?”
asked the shine-’em-up as he got downto busi-
ne:
“ Xo account, I reckon
“Them Oxfords hele got much left to
shine, Johnny,” said the boy,
“ Never mind--do the best you can.
The boy did so, and that ragged “tramp” 's
shoes shone like the sun in a few minutes.
‘ust then an old hat dealer came along with
a collection of trophies.
specimens of this creature exist at the
resent day, foreign invasion having driven
them to seek employment in other flelds,
“‘ What do you want for the beaver?” asked
Bob, , Selecting a rather good-looking silk hat
the man had.
se Fifty ints.
“ Oh, a own. I’m not Jay Gould.”
Be “Tht hat odor up ’ll bring a dollar in the
an ty ¢ cents In Baxter street. Give you
@ foi
“Fifteen cints,”
“ All right,” and at the cost of fifteen cents,
Bob became the owner of asilk bat for the firat
time.
He polished it on his coat-sleeve, straighten-
ed.out the crown and made it look quite pre-
sentable.
Then, removing the tram pis battered cha-
peau, he put the beaver on his head, setting it
on rakishly, 80 is: to give him an air of style,
A seedy, ‘y tramp with pelished boots
and a hgh silk fat was Fanny enough to make
“ He ° alt right on the two ends,” snickered
he bootblack, “but it’s the middle what
knocks.”
Pretty soon along comes a gray-coated po-
liceman swinging his club,