THE CABIN-BOY OF HAVRE.

A TALE FROM FRANCE.

FRENCH brig was returning from Toulon to Havre with a rich cargo and numerous passengers. Off the coast of Bretagne it was overtaken by a storm. Captain P, an experienced sailor, at once saw the danger which threatened the ship on such a rocky coast, and he gave orders to put out to sea; but the winds and waves drove the brig violently towards the shore, and notwithstanding all the efforts of the crew, it continued to get nearer land.

Among the most active on board in doing all that he could to help, was little Jacques, a lad twelve years old, who was serving as cabin-boy in the vessel. At times, when he disappeared for a moment behind the folds of a sail, the sailors thought that he had fallen overboard; and again, when a wave threw him on the deck, they looked around to see if it had not carried him away with it; but Jacques was seen up again unhurt. "My mother," said he, smiling, to an old sailor, "would be frightened enough if she saw me just now."

His mother, who lived in Havre, was very poor and had a large family. Jacques loved her tenderly, and he was enjoying the prospect of carrying to her his little treasures, two five-franc pieces, which he had earned as his wages for the voyage.

The brig was beaten about a whole day by the storm, and, in spite of all the efforts of the crew, they could not steer clear of the rocks on the coast. By the gloom on the captain's brow it might be seen that he had little hope of saving the ship. All at once a violent shock was felt, accompanied by a horrible crash; the vessel had struck on a rock. At this terrible moment the passengers threw themselves on their knees to pray.

"Lower the boats," cried the captain. The sailors obeyed, but no sooner were the boats in the water than they were carried away by the violence of the waves.

"We have but one hope of safety," said the captain. "One of us must be brave enough to run the risk of swimming with a rope to the shore. We may fasten one end to the mast of the vessel, and the other to a rock on the coast, and by this means we may get on shore."

"But, captain, it is impossible," said the mate, pointing to the surf breaking on the sharp rocks. "Whoever should attempt such a risk would certainly be dashed to pieces."

"Well," said the captain, in a low tone, "we must all die together." At this moment there was a slight stir among the sailors, who were silently waiting for orders.

"What is the matter there?" inquired the master. "Captain," replied a sailor, "this little monkey of a cabin-boy is asking to swim to the shore with a strong string around his body to draw the cable after him; he is

as obstinate as a little mule!" and he pushed Jacques into the midst of the circle. The boy stood turning his cap round and round in his hands, without daring to utter a word.

"Nonsense! such a child can't go," said the captain roughly.

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But Jacques was not of a character to be so easily discouraged. Captain," said he, timidly, "you don't wish to expose the lives of good sailors like these; it does not matter what becomes of a little monkey' of a cabin-boy, as the boatswain calls me. Give me a ball of strong string which will unroll as I get on, and fasten one end round my body; and I promise you that within an hour the rope will be well fastened to the shore, or I will perish in the attempt."

"Does he know how to swim ?" asked the captain.

"As swiftly and as easily as an eel," replied one of the crew.

The captain hesitated, but the lives of all on board where at stake, and he yielded.

Jacques hastened to prepare for his terrible undertaking. Then he turned and approached the captain. "Captain," said he, "as I may be lost, may I ask you to take charge of something for me?”

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Certainly, my boy," said the captain, who was almost repenting of having yielded to his entreaties.

"Here, then, captain," replied Jacques, holding out

"if I am

two five-franc pieces wrapped in a bit of rag; eaten up by porpoises, and you get safe to land, be` so kind as to give this to my mother, who lives on the quay at Havre; and will you tell her that I thought of her, and that I loved her very much, as well as all my brothers and sisters."

"Be easy about that my boy. If you die for us and we escape, your mother shall never want for anything." "O! then I will willingly try to save you," cried Jacques, hastening to the other side of the vessel where all was preparing for his enterprise.

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The captain thought for a moment. "We ought not to allow this lad to sacrifice himself for us in this way," said he, at length, " I have done wrong. I must forbid it." Yes, yes," said some of the sailors round him; "it is disgraceful to us all that this little cabin-boy should set us an example of courage, and it would be a sad thing if the brave child should die for older men like us. Stop him at once!"

They rushed to the side of the vessel, but it was too late. They found there only the sailor who had aided Jacques in his preparations, and who was unrolling the cord that was fastened to the body of the brave boy.

They all leaned over the side of the vessel to see what was going to happen, and a few quietly wiped away a tear which could not be restrained.

At first nothing was seen but waves of white foam,

mountains of water which seemed to rise almost as high as the mast, and then fell down with a thundering roar. Soon the practised eye of some of the sailors perceived a little black point rising above the waves, and then again distance prevented them from distinguishing it at all. They anxiously watched the cord, and tried to guess, by its quicker or slower movement, the fate of him who was unrolling it.

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Sometimes the cord was unrolled rapidly : O, what a fine fellow!" they said; "see how quickly he swims!" At other times the unrolling of the ball of string stopped; "Poor boy," they said, "he has been drowned or dashed against the rocks!"

This anxiety lasted for some time, the ball of string continued to be unrolled, but at unequal periods. At length it slipped slowly over the side of the vessel, and often drooped as if slackened. They thought Jacques must have much difficulty in getting through the surf on the coast. 66 Perhaps it is the body of the poor boy that the sea is tossing backwards and forwards in this way," said one of the sailors. The captain was deeply grieved that he permitted the child to make the attempt; and, notwithstanding the desperate situation in which they were, all the crew seemed to be thinking more of the boy than of themselves.

All at once a violent pull was given to the cord. This was soon followed by a second, then by a third. It was