Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-12-08

slightly inclined and finally Aared almost
outward from the wick. Sim
ultaneously | felt on my check nearly inn
perceptible puff Of air. But our sanguine
feelings we're of short duration. Again the
candle burned up steadily, and as minute
after minute passed, during which, though
we watched the light anxiously, no percepti-
Bile effect was produced on it, our hearts
sunk within US.
There is no feeling so agonizng as sus-
Pense. Ash watched the candle, my anxiety
gradually became so intense that l could
hear the beating of my heart increasing ner-
vously in rapidly and strength until it smote
on my ear like the strokes of force pump.
Soon, too, other sounds reached me-they
were those of the quick rollicking Of oars at
distance. started, and, selling night.
glass, gazed at the approaching barge, deter
mined to know the worst at once. Good
God |! l counted no less than thirty ruffianly
negroes. Our own force, all told, did not
amount to ten. Sick at soul, I shut the
glass and turned to the skipper. We ex-
changed look Of mutual intelligence, and
then again he fixed his eye on the candle.
fancied that it fared slightly. Wetting my
hand held ii up and felt, yes! felt the
water evaporaiing on the palm. l turned to
the light II now bent steadily over. Half
a minute passed, during which my heart
beat faster and faster with anxiety, and I
tremblcd nervously lest the flame should
again resume the perpendicular, but it grad
ually inclined nearer to the Horizon, and f.
nally streamed out nearly at right angles to
the wick, in which position it continued
moment, when it suddenly went ont. At
the same instant heard light murmur in
the rigging, while steady though light breeze
poured gently by my cheek.
"Thank Heaven mere it comes at last"
said the skipper in cheering tone: then,
lifting his Voice, he cried with startling ener-
gy. "All hands make sail-lay aloft tout
to'gallant sails and royals. Away there
cheerily my lads. 1t is for life or DEATH"
The men sprung TO their duty tho sails
were quickly distended, and the glad sound
of the water ripping under our bows soon
met our cars, telling us that we were in mo-
ton. With sudden feeling of exhlaration
I turned ns.ern, and i, seemed a. if we had
already increased our distance from the foe.
Unconsciously uttered an exclamation of
joy. AT this instant heard deep respira-
ton at my side. The sound proceeded
from Ellen, who, attracted by my words,
had read hope in my face, and thus given
utterance to her relief.
Sc ou 20 think we shall escape I" she
said eagerly.
:" hope so-indced am nearly sure We
SHALL" l added quickly, observing the sud-
den expression of agony on her face at my
first doubtful words, eff the wind continues
to freshen we shall IN an hour run them out
of sight,"
She clasped her hands and turned her
eyes to heaven with a look of mingled hope
and gratitude Undesirable. That look
gave me courage to face dozen foes. |
mentally resolved to lay down my life SOON
er than suffer her to fall into the hands of the
pirates.
lie next fifteen minutes we're passed in a
state of the most agonizing suspense. AT
first, she fancied that the pirates were drop
ping astern. and general feeling of relief
passed through the ship, p erceptible in the
altered and gayer demeanor of the n,en, but
particularly Of the passengers. But, when
had watched the barge for several minutes,
my heart misgave me, and at most l could
only hope that the buccaneers did not gan on
us. Anxious to conceal my fears from the
sisters-for they studied my face continually
as If it were an indcxte our peril assum-
ed cheerfulness l did not feel, and endeay-
ored to divert their minds from the contem-
pla,ion of their dangerous situation. But
my efforts we're in vain. In spite of my at
tempts 10 appear composed, there was an
increasing nervousness about me which re-
awakened the fears Of the sisters, and when
Ellen caught stolen glance, which direc-
ted anxiously from the horizon to our sails,
she laid her hand on my arm, and said,
"Do not deceive US. They-the-" she
could not utter the word, and SAID abruptly,
they are gaining on US"
She looked up into my face so pleadingly
that. for my life. could not tell her false
hood. Yet l hesitated to acknowledge the
truth. My silence convinced her that her
suspicion had not been false. She looked
to heaven again mutely, clasping her hands /;
but this time her expression was one of ago
ny and supplication. How my heart bled
for her.
stroye to encourage her with hope, and,
tor the few succeeding minutes, there seemed
faint chance of yet escaping from the pi.
rates. The wind coming 6tfully and in puffs
forged US ahead one moment, and then, al
most dying out, left US comparatively mo-
tionless. Sometimes we would gain half a
cables length on our pursuers, but, Just as
the sisters eyes began to sparkle with hope,
the breeze would decline. and the dark forms
on board the barge again perccp,bly grow
larger. But. during The whole time, we
could hear the quick rollicking of their oars,
the sounds becoming fainter as the boat
dropped astern, but increasing as the pirates
gained onus. These fluctuations, from hope
to despair grew momently more frequent
and terrible. Never before in real life had
l experienced so fully the horrors of sus-
pense. | remember once, when a boy,
dreaming that an enemy pursued me with a
drawn sword, and never shall | forge, nv
emotions as looked back and behed him,
now at some PAGES behind, and now within
step or two Of me. But that had been
only feverish dream-now felt the hor.
rible reality. Yet. it was not for myself
that l cared. Had those lovely sisters been