The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-05-17

the steerage and rushed up The companion s,air
way, 10 lowed by his faithful wife, who, although
much alarmed, determined TO remain by the eicis,
of her husband in danger as we'll in security
Bu, one Of the Spanards was stationed al the bend
OF The steps as guard and the moment The unfor
tunate Captain Howard thrust his head above tho
companion way. he received blow from Il hand
spike (which shattered his sknl-and he fell bleel-
ing and senseless into the arms Of his wife, who
was at the bottom of The stairs .,rr at
Few women could have retained their courage
ana presence of mind at such time. Caroline
! howard was in n moment made sensible of the
horrors oi her situation. She knew then that Dir.
! rates had possession of the vesse-that thew had
| murdered The naie--and that her husband whom
she so dearly loved was also victim to the trench.
cry ana cruelty TO these sangunary monsters.---
She knew too, for she felt it lnstnctiy. that her
life must be also sacrifced--and perhaps what was
| lar dearer, her hGnor-fort he words of Garcia, in
iVng characters appeared bazoned on her memo
ry-'ilow would she like to be Spanaid's wife?
but nor resolution did not fail her in that dread
hour; although her cup of happiness, which few
minutes belure filled To the brn was dashed
to the earth although nfamy and death stared
her IN the face yet she did give way 10 despair
and INCREASINGLY resign hersslf to her terrible fate
The instinct Of self preservation braced her nerves
IN that dreadful hour-and, gentle, kind, affection
strange, and I'LL then unknown feeling, 10 avepae.
| u possible, her husbands deaih
The pirates busy in throwing overheard
the body of poor Newton, and did not INN edately
proceed below, In the mean time Caroline called
upon Edward the cabin boy. Alarmed at tho
strange noises which had awak ened him he had
already crept our Of his birth in the seerage, and
was standing terrified and amazed the entrance
OF the cabin Edward loved and respected Mrs
Howard and her husband. They had ever treated
| him with kindness -nnd when he heard the sound
OF her voice calling him for aid, ano saw her
wild aud palid features deeply agitated with the
! contcnding passions, that ragged within, he shook
oil the convusive fears, which had almost parat
yzed his ene ges, and with courage and mani
ness which could hardly have ben expected from
one so young and feeble, lie told his mistress that
his life was at her service-lhat whate. or orders
she might give, he would obey
AS the body of her husband Law on the floor oI
the cabin, the rays OF light from the cabin ainti
fell on his changed features, and confirmed the
terrible conviction that he dead But she
knew there time for vain iamcnts and ,yail
ings. She to s from her husbands reIaxed praso.
loaded pistol and handed it to Edward She pick
ed up the poniard from the floor, and placed IL
within Inc iods OF her garment Theo taking
mother pistol from the rack she babe the cabin boy
follow, and boldly went upon deck.
The pirates were then standing in group neas
The companion way consulting with regard to ths
best step To be taken and much started at the
sudden appearance Of Mrs Howard among them,
The moon had risen hours before. aud threw n
bright aud silver light over This nf iniquity
and her pure aud holy rays never illumir ated fea
lures, where 0uiain was stamped in more les;ble
characters, than on those of the Spanard Gareia !
and his swarthy accomplices. BY that light, too,
the beautiful feature vi Caroline Huwurd--lhe
mingled expression Of o, fear, and ,evenge--and
The compressed lps,denoting stern resolution were
distinctly visible. f n t.,.g
She stood upon tina; deck clad in an airy costumo
of dazzling white, with her hair loose and dis
hevelled, and resenbed the Pythoness of oldeu
times, who, urged by preternatura excitement and
the spirit Oh prophecy, uttered tie oracles Of fate.
For moment, the hearts of the pirates quaIed
aud they forgot that the distracted being before
them was aooman-- young, weak, delicate wo .
man-unable to contend ,bu who deficient in phys Z
lcal strength, must submit almost without strFy
gle, to whatever terrible fate they nigh, design lor
her. f,ert
The wretch Garcia, wi it'll a irown and horrible
oath, moved towards her, with the intention OF
compelling her to to the cabin but with a
me nacng gesture she warned him to keep off, 4
With scornful laugh the villain continued to on, \
proach, uttering language of insul, and rbaldry.
But ere he could lay his uphallowed hand upon
her, she presented her pistol his headand freds
The ball performed It's mission well-it penetrated
TO the brain of The pirate, and stretched him upon
the deck. His comrades beheld the act--lhey saw
their leader killed, and, towards they wer they
began To trembe for their safety. Caroline !
saw them falter, and snatchng pslol from The !
boy who stood by her side, in firm voice, ordes-
ed them to go forward under pain of instant death
They saw before them unbounded proof of her
determined sprit--tbey knew thai she had tho
means to execute her threats, and the cowardiy
wreches, after hesitating for moment land remon 4
stratng in vain, took warning by the fate of their
comrsde and leader, and reluctantly obcyed her ,
mandate. They went forward they did nore---
awed by her unearthly appearance, aud repeated
menaces they descended into the forecastle! With .
the assistance OF iward she instantly closed the g
scutue, Piaceu upon heuSe aHCnor, atu several
other heavy articles to prevent the possibility OF
opening 1t from beow-and then, believing her
self safe from any immediate danger, she threw
herself the deck and INDUCED in all the eauay
agance Of grief. And when she thought OF the q
terrible change which had been effected 10 her coo,
dition in the course of a few short hours, durihy
which SHE had been plunged Fl ON The sumt Of Bliss
into tho lowest depths of woe, she could hardly
retain possession of her reason land more than onca
was strongly tempted TO terminate her intense and
agonizing suferings by voluntary death, "a
hnsu al sod m Hnpc sad
reverie, by the voice of Edward who told her that
the pirates attempting to get out, by raising
the scuttle. The feat was difficult one, and
there other of egress from their con-
6nement. She assured them, however, il they
did not cease any attempt of the kind, she would
feel compelled to shoot them without mercy
They felt convinced that she would be as good as
her word, and with horribe curses desis.ed from
their desperate Efforts - q
Caroline then put pistol into The hands OF tho
boy, for she knew that she could trust his ceur-
age and fidelity and stationed him The fore scut-
tic, with directions TO shoot down the first Span,
lard who should attempt to regain the deck; and,