Part 14 (1/2)

HOME-COMING AND UNEXPECTED SURPRISES

Upwards of another year passed away, and at the end of that ti one of the harbours on the eastern seaboard of America Her sails orn and patched Her spars were broken and spliced Her rigging was ragged and slack, and the state of her hull can be best described by the word `battered' Everything in and about her bore evidence of a prolonged and hard struggle with the eleh she had at last co testiht

Her crew presented sied, threadbare, and patched, but the very persons of the men seemed to have been riven and battered by the tear and wear of the conflict

And no wonder; for the vessel was a South Sea whaler, returning home after a three years' cruise

At first she had been blown far out of her course; then she was very successful in the fishi+ng, and then she was stranded on the reef of a coral island in such a position that, though protected from absolute destruction by the fury of the waves, she could not be got off for enuity and perseverance of one of her creere rewarded by success She was hauled once more into deep water and finally returned ho the shi+p, and probably the lives of his mates--for it was a desolate isle, far out of the tracks of co the shore with his companions as they drew near He was a splendid specimen of manhood, clad in a red shi+rt and canvas trousers, while a wide-awake took the place of the usual seafaring cap He stood head and shoulders above his fellows

Just as the shi+p rounded the end of the pier, which formed one side of the harbour, a small boat shot out from it A little boy sculled the boat, and, apparently, had been ignorant of the shi+p's approach, for he gave a shout of alaret out of its way In his wild attempts to turn the boat he missed a stroke and went backwards into the sea

At the saave the order to put the helm hard a-starboard in a hurried shout

Prompt obedience caused the shi+p to sheer off a little, and her side just grazed the boat All hands on the forecastle gazed down anxiously for the boy's reappearance

Up he caers

”He can't swim!” cried one

”Out with a lifebelt!” shouted another

Our tall seaman bent forward as they spoke, and, just as the boy sank a second time, he shot like an arrow into the water

”He's all safe now,” remarked a seaman quietly, and with a nod of satisfaction, even before the rescuer had reappeared

And he was right The red-shi+rted sailor rose athe urchin into the boat he swam to the pier-head with the smooth facility and speed of an otter, climbed the wooden piles with the ease of an athlete, walked rapidly along the pier, and arrived at the head of the harbour almost as soon as his own shi+p

”That's the tenth life he's saved since he came aboard--to say nothin'

o' savin' the shi+p herself,” remarked the Captain to an inquirer, after the vessel had reached her e as that one Sonificent sea obtained perht to the office of a steae to England He went on board dressed as he had arrived, in the red shi+rt, ducks, and wide-awake--minus the salt water

The only piece of costue double-breasted pilot-cloth coat, with buttons the size of an egg-cup

He was so unused, however, to such heavy clothing that he flung it off the ot on board the steamer, and went about thereafter in his red flannel shi+rt and ducks Hence he came to be known by every one as Red shi+rt

This man, with his dark-blue eyes, deeply bronzed cheeks, fair hair, moustache, and beard, and tall herculean forentle in his manners, so ready with his smile and help and sympathy, that every man, woman, and child in the vessel adored him before the third day was over Previous to that day, ements, were incapable of any affection, except self-love, and to do them justice they had not much even of that!

Arrived at Liverpool, Red shi+rt, after seeing a poor invalid passenger safely to his abode in that city, and assisting one or two fa children to find the stations, boats, or coaches that were ot into a third-class carriage for London On reaching the metropolis he at once took a ticket for _Sealford_

Just as the train was on the point of starting, two elderly gentleer haste and confusion of ers

”This way, Captain,” cried one, hailing the other, and pointing energetically with his brown silk ues

”No, no It's at the next platform,” returned the Captain frantically

”I say it is _here_,” shouted the first speaker sternly ”Come, sir, obey orders!”