Lost And Saved ; Or Nellie Powers The Missionary's Daughter.

At this juncture , the second mate ( who had been below often since his watch came on deck , and imbibed freely of some sence-destroying tonic ) started to walk over the the cabin , or house as it is termed at sea , to chastise the man at the wheel , he said , for not keep ing the vessel on her course . In a careless manner he placed his foot on a slippery portion of the house top , and before he could recove himself , and without a moment ' s warning , was cast into the raging sea . The man at the wheel , who alone had witnessed the catastrophe , gave the alarm , and

theory of "All bands on deck—man over board , " rang th rough the vessel , and was heard above the roaring of the wind and the sound of the water . The vessel was soon in commotion ; the captain appeard on deck and gave the orders : " Ease your weather braces . Haul in on your lee braces . Lay aft on the spanker sheet , somebody . Haul taut the jib-sheets . " These and numerous other orders were given in a rapid , confused succession by the officers , and the vessel was soon hove to . Every man had alarm depicted on his features—and who would not if called from a sound sleej ) on such a night , and by such a startling cry .

The order to lower away the yawl was given , but no one seemed willing to obey ; the suddenness of the disaster having stupefied the men , and the darkness of the ui ght showed the folly of such an undertaking ; the captain , in his excitement , stamped his feet in rage , because he was not obeyed . His voice calling for a boat ' s crew could be heard above the tempest . The first officer , with his voice toned with awe , interposed by saying : " Captain , as much as I should like to man the boat , it ' s no use , the second mate is a mile

astern and no one knows where . Before a boat could possibly reach him he would be drowned , if he is not already . The water is like ice , and the man lumbered with his oil skins went straight to the bottom . " " I guess you are right , Mr . Evans . " was the captain ' s answer , in the same awestruck tone of voice ; " but still it does not seem the square thing to jiut her on her course again , without making an effort to save the man , although he must have died in

a moment after striking the water , on such a nig ht as this . " " None of the crew have volunteered to man the boat but Tom and Peter , " replied the first officer . " Well , it ' s too late now any way . Put her on her course , Mr . Evans . I ' m not satisfied with the aspect that surrounds this vessel at all . The taking of a cargo and the losing a mate are two things I never did before , but I trust it will end in better luck . "

Ihe orders came sharp and quick from the first officer , to ease the sheet , and square the yards , both of which were quickly obeyed by the men . They knew it was no use to put back for the man , and lost no time in diverting their minds from the sad accident by getting the vessel on her course . " How does she bead there ? " sung out Mr . Evans to the man at the wheel . " East by sou ' , sir , " was shouted from the wheel . "Put her east sou ' -east , " again cried the mate . " East sou ' -east it is , sir , " came back on the wind . The ropes being coiled and everything again in shipshape , the watches below were

ordered to turn in , and , with the exception of the sadness which hung over the vessel , any one not cognizant with the event of the hour would not have supposed that a mortal had stepped from that deck into eternity . Men there are who have been on fields of battle , where thousands of the dead and dying lay strewn around like the shells on the strand , and they did not shudder at it . But jflace those same men aboard a vessel , and let one soul be launched from its deck into eternity , and a gloom will settle upon their

nnnds that clay will not displace . It is something more solemn to lose a man from a vessel . Perhajis it is because death is an accident and not an expected visitor as on the field of carnage . Tom and Peter were among those in the forecastle whose eyes refused close in sleep , and the stillness of the place was broken by the ghost-like voice of Peter , who said : — "He was a good man , Tommy . " " Did you know him then V was the question from three or four tongues .