The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-06-05


candle, even on bright starry night,
knows that the sudden transition from a
greater to a less degree of light, produ-
ces for second or two, the effect of OBJ
solute darkness. And thus our place Of
concealment lay enveloped in utter
darkness TO our captains eyes, dazzled
by the mornings first flood of light
But il was difficult for the half breath
less beings, so entirely in his power to
realize this fact, when they saw him ad-
vancing towards them, his eyes fixed on
the spot where they stood, though he
saw them not it was difficult to see and
yet retnn a conviction that we were not
seen. The captain replaced the sacks in
stantly, and we felt half doubtful, as he
pushed them with violence against the
beams where We stood, whether he had
not actually discovered our persons, and
taken this method Of at once destroying
them by bruises and sufocation. His
work was, however, only accompanied
by an imprecatory running comment on
Girod's careless manner Of stownge.-
We were now again buried in our con-
cealment, but another danger awaited
US. Jacqueminot descended to the cab
in. An involuntary, though half stifled
shrek escaped him when he saw the
trap door open. He sprang into the
hold, and when we beheld the ca aptain, his
ghastly smile ofinquiry, for lie spoke not
demanded if his ruin were sealed. III
have been seeing all your pretty work
here Monsieur" said the grufF captain,
pointing to the deranged sacks, behind
which we were concealed. / caught q
glimpse through them of Girod's des-
pairing countenance. 1t was fearful
moment, for it seemed as if we were a.
bout to be involuntarily betrayed by our
ally at the very instant when he had es-
capped our enemy. Girod's teeth literally
chattered, and murmured something a
bout French gallantry and honour and
the countess being lady, and the Cap
tain Francillon sn old acquaintance
"And so because you cut the throats of a
couple of solan geese--as your duty was,
at your captains command, you think
we must not even see to the righting of
his own sternhold ?" said the captain
with gruff and abortiye effort at pleas
antry, for he felt Girod's Importance in
amusing and keeping in good humor his
motely crew. Jacqueminot showed that
he was now au fait, and thus we had a
fourth rescue from the very jaws of
death.
Day after day passed away and still
we were the miserable half-staryed,
half-suffocated, though unknown prison
ers of this Demon gang, holding our
lives, as it were, by a thread, hanging,
with scarce the distance Of pace, be-
tween time and eternity, and counting
every prolonged moment of our existence
as miracle. Girod at this peroid rare-
! ly dared to visit us. He came only
when the business Of the ship actually
sent him. The cabin above was now
occupied at night by the captain and
some of his most depraved associates, SO
that small alienation OF our fears--small
relaxation from our comfor,less position
small occasion Of addressing a few
consolatory words to each other, was
afforded US, either by day or by night
At length l began to fear that Margaret
would sink under the confined air, and
the constant excitement. Her breath
became short and difficult. The blood
passed through her veins in feverish, yet
feeble and intermittent pulsa,ion. 1t
was agony indeed TO feel her convulsed
frame, and hear her family drawn and
dying breath, and know that could not
carry her into the reviving breszes of
heaven, or afford single alienation of
her suffering, without at once snap
ping that thread of life which was now
waveriDg away by slow and lingering
death. AT length her respiration began
to partake of the loud and irrepressble
character which is so oftenthe precursor
Of dissolution. She deemed her hour
drawing on, yet feebly essayed, for my
sake to stif1e those last faint moans of
expiring nature which might betray our
concealment. became sensible that
the latter could not much longer remain
a secret, and, with strange calm
ness, made up my mind to the COM
ing decisive hour. i supported Marga-
ret's head, poured faltering prayer in
to her dying ear, wiped the death dews
from her face. and essayed to whisper
expressions Of deep & unutterable affec-
ton. Happily for US there was such a
tempest of wind and sea, as drowned in
its wild warfare the expiring sighs Of
Margaret. At this moment Girod de.
scended to the hold. He put his finger
on his lips significantly, and then whis-
pered IN French-"Courage-Rescu
There is sail on our weather bow
She is yet in the ofing. Our captain
marks her not but ! have watched her
! some time with plass. md if .bo ho nor