The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-06-11

improper design, he would put them in
irons' or shsot them down on the spot
but nothing passed dnrinr thai da. IN
conarm ihs suspicious Of Mr.. Newton
the Spaniards were obedieut aud respect.
fol. and conversed but little with each
other. Blu, there was fierce
malignant expression in their eyes, which
reminded one Of the venomed serpent, jus.
as he is about to plant his deadly fangs in
his unsuspec,ing victim. Mrs. Howard
could not look upon these men wi,hou,
shuddeling. although they were respectful
TO her. and smiled as they passed her. in
the performance Of their various duties. Blu.
Captain Howard saw nothing TO excite
ala.m. He hardly deemed i, possible that
his men would dare plan and execute q
scheme for mutiny and murder.-But he
knew little Of the character Of The men who
were on board,
| The succeeding evening was remarkably
pleasant The wind was light, and hardly
ruffled The surface of the ocean the sky
a iich canopy. thickIy studded with spark.
ing gems, never locked more lovely--,he
air was soft and balmy-ths schooner glid-
ed gently on her way. leaving behind her
a bTllian! and illuminated wave, which
the eye could follow TO a grea, distance.
The whols scene was of 4 tranquilizing
character, and furnished rich source Of en-
joyment 10 the happy par who took pos
session of the quarter deck that evening; for
itwas capt. Howard's first watch and Car.
olne would no, suffer heihusband 10 remain
on deck, solitary and alone, on sucha nigh,
as that.
A..twelve o'clock the larboard watch
was called, and Mr.. Newton came on deck.
Howard a afier he had communicated some
instructions to his mate, retired to his state,
room, with his wife hanging on his arm.
1t was abou. three o'clock ~ the morning,
when this couple were aroused from sleep
by noise on deck, as of the fall Of a
heavy body-at the same lime cry of
murder was heard, inlermingled with sup.
plcalons for mercy. Captain Howard
sp.ang from his berth. A light was burn.
ing in the cabin. He seized pistol in one
hand and his poinard in the other, passed
through the sleerage and rushed up the
copanlon stairway, followed by his faith
ful wife, who, although much alarmed;
determined to re main BY the side Of her
husband in danger as we'll as in security
But one OF the Spsniards was stationed a,
the head OF the steps as guard. and the
moment tho unfortunate CAPTAIN Howard
thrust his head abo,s tho companion way,
he received a blow from handspike, which
shattered his skull, and ne fell bleeding and
senseiess into the arms ofhs wife, who
was al The bottom of the stairs!
Few women could have retained their
courage and presence OF mind a. such
time. Caroline Howard WAS in a moment
made sensible Of the horrors Of her silua.
tion. She knew then that pirates had pos
session of the vesse-that they had mur-
dered the male-and that her hus band
whom she so dearly loved, was also vic.
tim to the sreschsry and cruelty of these
sangnlnary monsters. She knew too, for
she felt i. inssinclivsly, that her life must
also he sacrificed and perhaps, wha, was
far desrer, her honor-for the words of
Garcia, in living characters, appeared
blazoacd on her menory-How would she
like to be Spaniard's wife! But her resolu
ton did not fail her in that dread hour; al.
though her cup Of happiness, which, a few
minutes before, was illsd TO the brim, was
dashed TO the earth; although infamy and
death stared her in the face, ye, she did not
give way to despair and irresis,ingly resign
herself TO her terribls fate. The instinct of
self'preservatlon braced her nerves in that
dreadful hour, and gentle kind and affection
ale woman as she was she felt stimulated
by strange; and lill then, unknown feel.
ing 10 avenge, if possible, her husbands
death.