CHAPTER V.

THE BRAVE SAILOR BOY.-VOLNEY BECKNER, OF IRELAND.

"Honour thy Father and thy Mother."

EROISM in a humble state of life has seldom been more remarkably exemplified than in the case of Volney Beckner, an Irish Sailor Boy. Volney was born in Londonderry, his father being a fisherman of that place, and so poor, that he did not possess the means of giving the boy a regular school education. What young Volney lost in this respect, however, was in some degree compensated for by his father's instructions. These however, of course related principally to a seafaring life, in which courage in encountering dangers, generosity of disposition, and promptness in all cases of emergency are so needful. While yet a child his father taught him to swim, and, as the boy grew older, used to throw him into the sea from the stern of his boat, and encourage him to sustain himself by swimming as long as possible. It was only when the boy appeared exhausted and in danger of sinking, that his father (a noted swimmer himself) would reply to his remark-"I don't think I can go any further, Father"by helping the panting boy into the fishing smack. It was a rough life, but it was everything to young Volney, for he was thus, from the cradle, taught to brave the dangers of the sea, and become an adept as a sailor. It is said that at six years old the boy could swim three to four miles out from his father's smack while out deep sea fishing, and would not return until completely fatigued, when he would catch a rope thrown out to him, and mount safely on to the deck, to hear his father say, approvingly, "That was a good swim, Vol!" The father and the son had the greatest affection for each other; but the former, knowing how precarious was the trade he had been brought up to, thought it better that the boy should be placed as an apprentice in a Merchant Vessel, that he might have a better chance of getting on. The young sailor boy soon rendered himself exceedingly useful; in a gale-when the wind tore the sails, and made the timbers creak-the squirrel could not climb with more agility, over the loftiest trees, than did Volney along the yards and, in the fiercest storm, he appeared as little agitated on the highest mast, as if he was lying in his

snug little hammock. Once, a passenger relates, in a hurricane which overtook them, something had gone wrong aloft ; there was danger of the ship being "taken aback," and immediately foundering; certain ropes had become entangled at the top of the lofty mainmast. Who, in such an awful Storm was to go aloft? Not a Sailor volunteered; they knew the danger amongst these loose flapping sails and swinging booms! The Mate, a rough powerful-looking man, called for the sailor boy Volney, who was below, and ordered the boy to go aloft! The Boy glanced upwardthen at the resolute, determined, face of the mate-pressed his little Scotch cap firmly on his head, and, with a kind of sigh, took hold of the rattlins, and (although he knew the danger as well as the mate did) without another word, went up with a will. The passenger expostulated with the mate for ordering the gallant boy aloft in such a storm. "He could never come down alive!" "I did it to save our lives," growled out the rough sailor; "if we were taken aback' at this moment, we should all be in Davy Jones' locker' in ten minutes! We have lost men overboard, but never a Boy; they are lighter. See how he clings on like a squirrel!" "I do hope he will come down safe"-continued the mate— his eyes anxiously fixed aloft together with the other Sailors, "He's a good one he is! We should'nt like to lose him!"

After a time of sickening suspense the Boy succeeded with the ropes-the men hauled away with a will—and the Ship was soon "snugged," (as the saying is at sea), and in comparative safety. The Boy was received with cheers from his shipmates, and the rough Mate growled out a few words of honest approval, which made the Boy's fine face glow with pleasure.

A sailor boy in those days had to lead a hard life; to be fed with biscuits so hard that they had to be either soaked, or broken with a hatchet; to be suddenly awakened—from the soundest sleep, to go aloft in darkness and rain—such was the life of Volney. But the boy soon came to regard little ordinary toils and privations; indeed, with it all, he enjoyed perfect health, and was thus free from the diseases springing from idle and pampered appetites.

Although deprived of the advantages of a good education, his own experience had rendered him intelligent, and such was his cleverness and trustworthiness that he was judged by the owners to be worthy of promotion in the vessel, and received double the usual pay. A light-hearted, merry boy, he was always ready and willing to assist his

comrades, and soon won the esteem and affection of all around him. An occasion at length arrived when the young sailor boy performed one of the most gallant actions on record.

It happened that during one of the voyages the ship made, that Volney's father was also on board.

Among the passengers was a little girl, the daughter of a rich American merchant. She had slipped away from her nurse, who was ill and lying down in the cabin, and had run upon deck. The boy Volney was sitting by his Father, and others of the Crew, on the forecastle, when the little girl, in looking over the side of the vessel, lost her footing and fell overboard, the vessel giving a sudden roll to starboard.

The quick eye of Volney's father, who was at the moment relating a story to the seamen (who, with his son Volney, now a fine boy of fifteen, were listening eagerly to him), saw in a moment what had happened, and without a moment's hesitation sprang to his feet, shouted to them to "shorten sail," and throwing off his coat, dropped over the side into the sea, in a few powerful strokes had reached the little girl, as she was sinking; held her up by her frock, and, with the greatest coolness, supported both her and himself in the water till assistance should reach them. All would have been well, for he was a powerful and noted swimmer, and the action was nothing to some of his performances, when, whilst he was swimming with one hand and supporting the child with the other, he perceived that horror of a seaman's, a pointed black fin, at a short distance advancing towards them. One glance was sufficient; it was a Shark. None but a sailor knows the danger of being exposed to these monsters. The deep sea Shark grows to an immense size! They will follow a vessel for days, the superstition amongst sailors being, that it knows when a death will take place on board, and waits till the body is thrown overboard. Much more probably the large fish is attracted by the odds and ends thrown overboard in the wake of a vessel, especially when a number of emigrants or soldiers are on board, and the cooks are kept constantly employed. The shark has several frightful rows of teeth, set backwards like a saw, and pointed. When about to tear its prey, it is, however, compelled to roll half over to seize it in its mouth. When one of these monsters has been caught and hauled upon deck it will, with one blow of its tail, make the ship tremble again. The seamen cut the tail off with a hatchet, when, after a length of time, the monster may at length be

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killed by repeated blows and stabs. The most powerful swimmer is of course entirely helpless in the water before one of these creatures, which grow to the length of a ship's boat. Volney's father knew too well their extreme peril; he shouted loud! His voice reached one faithful ear, that of his son Volney! The boy knew from that voice of terror that something had indeed now happened! He knew his Father well! In many a sudden danger had the boy seen him. He had sat and slept by his Father at the helm-their smack caught in a Gale far from the landand, through the dark night, his Father's skilful arm had guided their plunging boat; saying to the boy when he woke " All right, Vol., we shall weather it; go to sleep again ;" and the little fellow would kiss his Father, and drop off to sleep again, feeling perfectly secure. It was the first cry he had ever heard from his Father in danger. The Ship had been turned, a boat was being manned, when the lookout man raised the cry of a "shark." The mate at once ordered up two ship's muskets, and fired one over the spot where the fin could be seen occasionally out of the water, hoping thus to scare the Monster from his prey; but it was too late. The fish had seen them!

Every one was now on deck! The men straining every nerve to lower the boat, which (as too often happens in an emergency) had got its tackle in some way entangled. The powerful mate, musket in hand, watched for an opportunity for another shot. He knew he should only have time for one. At this moment a boy plunged into the sea, holding something in one hand. It was the boy Volney Beckner! Resolved, after his father's cry of agony, never to desert him, and either to save his father or die with him, the gallant boy had seized the long, keen, knife of the ship's Butcher, and diving like a fish until he saw the white body of the Monster above him, ran the long keen blade far into its body! Thus severely wounded the fish quitted its first prey, and endeavoured to roll over to seize his assailant. But Volney, long accustomed to play tricks in the water, dived here and there, and even succeeded in getting home another desperate thrust with his knife. Meanwhile his father reached the ropes thrown out to them, and mounted the deck in safety, with the little girl, still living, in his arms. It was a heartrending scene! On the one side the American gentleman trembling for his little girl, and blessing the generous seaman who had risked his life, and saved his child. On the other hand, the Captain, Mate, and the whole Crew breathless

in anxiety for their young shipmate. The Mate, pale, but determined, seized another opportunity, and (at the risk of hitting the boy he longed to save) again fired. This shot seemed successful; the fish, for a moment, disappeared; a glad roar rose from the crew! Volney, the next moment, had reached one of the dozen ropes thrown to him—a dozen hands were trembling with excitement to help him inwhen the brutal fish following him, with its usual dogged tenacity, enraged, apparently at seeing his prey about to escape him, made (as they are sometimes known to do) a sudden rush and half leap out of the water, and succeeded with its sharp teeth in tearing the body of the gallant and intrepid boy almost asunder, above the hips. A part only of poor Volney's palpitating and lifeless body was drawn up into the ship; while his father and the little girl were both saved.

Thus perished this noble sailor boy! When we reflect on the action he performed in saving his father-whom he loved so well-at the almost certain expense of his own life, we are entitled to place his name in the first rank of heroes. He was born in Londonderry in 1748, and from the account from which this history has been, in part, taken, it would appear that he at this time was about fifteen years old.

From what is known of his admirable and generous character we may hope that the boy was not unprepared to die.

And as he was at the moment of his death obeying his Creator's commandment, "Honour thy Father and thy Mother," by giving his life to save his parent's, he could hardly have chosen a nobler end, than in trying thus to do his duty to the last!

Dear young reader, do you emulate the noble example of this youth? Then remember that by not always caring for yourself alone, you will find numberless opportunities of caring for others, of being of service both to God and man, and of gaining their love in return. And once gain the love of God, and it little matters where and when you die! For we may be certain in the case of a good and noble Youth, however sudden and painful may be his death, that Almighty God will not suffer, "either height, nor depth, nor any other creature," to separate him from His love, "which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!"