Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-09


wife,
"Ahr' CALCULATED the captain.
"That would do just as WELL" said the
mate; g so bring her aft, here; you're not
the first in the world who would like to got
so sure divorce"
Away went that incarnate devil, and IN
two minutes he was seen Juggling along his
miserable victim by the hair of the head;
one or two more of that sex came on deck,
but were instantly sent below again.
"Here, YOU CANAAN, jump IN the cask,
and show this young lady how she Is TO SIT,
for none hut the devil can talk the negro
language
Ibid as | was desired and then got out
Iaga;n The Girl was then told TO do as
had done: but she hestated, as if warned
bv some unseen power of the danger which
awaited her. AS she could not succeed the
| first time, Twas desired TO place her proper
lly. which did The cooper was told to
| fix the head i'll, fitting the part about her
neck.
.Come, down with you," said the mate;
"now, cooper, fix on her necklace, and take
care that it does not fit too tight, for she Is
going into strange company"
The romance of conscience, which had at
first exhibited itself in this worthy associate
of the captains, had entirely vanished; IKE
many others, who, having made one false
step, from that instant fly to the other eN-
IRENE. Thus we not unfrequently see wo-
men whose virtues have been sacrificed;
suddenly assume the open countenance OF
vice, and, from being modest and reserved,
become shameless and impudent.
| The last stroke of the mallet had driven
| home the upper hoop of the cask; the poor
girl, who imagined, perhaps, that some KIND
of amusement was to follow, kept laughing
and smiling, and vainly endeavoured to make
Ius understand her delight, as she poured
forth volume of words. The captain had
walked aft and called the mate; the stranger
! had evidently gained so much that IN two
| hours she would have had US under her guns;
and. after remarking this aloud, the former
said, " Well, it is our only alternative; but,
used as am to scenes of horror, cannot
bear to see a person smile, when such
chance awaits them.'
"The stranger,' said the master, SIS
right astern, and it is impossible for them
not to see the cask; now let us see if their
Christian charity can overcome their love of
prize-money If you intend to do it, we
have no time to lose"
ssDo it!'' said the captain.
The mate walked to the gangway, and
put the cask close to the side. IL was now
that the poor imprisoned wretch imagined
her destiny; she gave shrek so loud and
piercing that every slave below started at
the sound, and, ere she could continue her
| loud cry for mercy, the mate and one of the
seamen had lifted the cask clear of the side,
and, vibrating it once and twice, the third
poor creature, who had been sold to enrich
ntharS 1,nxx- found bor-alf tho victim fnr their
security.
The cask, when it fell into the water,
Itwirled round and round with fearful rapid
| ity, but owing to the ballast, it always kept
end up, leaving the girls head plainly visi-
BILE. Her eve, whenever the twirl of the
cask allowed it to rest on the ship, had more
of imploring mercy than the words of the
most frightened convict: she screamed for
pity-alas! pity was not known to those
who had purchased her life; flight, safety
was the only thought which occupied her
half-murderer's mind. The freshness of the
breeze, the noise occasioned by the rapidity
of the vessels way, soon predominated, and
the shrek of the negro girl was lost i'll the
distance. The eyes of the crew now rested
on the cask: the captain kept his glass stead
ily fixed on what the mate called the water
nymph, and a quarter of an hour would de-
eide the fate of the girl, the Rapid, and the
Captain. Then was conjecture at its ut
most. The cask being small, appeared at a
greater distance than the stranger, and as,
from the slight variation in steering, and the
send of the sea, the cask was to leeward of
the vessel, it was imagined that either the
negress had passed unseen, or was left to
inevitable death, the spirit of gain having
predominated over the spirit of charity
But twas only the fears of the villains which
could have harbored such an idea; for sail
ors are generally the most humane beings
alive, and when a woman is concerned, they
would risk more than almost any of the
blped race.
Soon, however, the Eden was seen to
lower her sails, and presently she hove to,
and cast her anchors. The unfortunate VIC
tim in the barrel was taken on board, but at
the expense of the freedom of the rest, COM
posing the Rapids cargo, for, as night was
fast falling, the SLAYER escaped.