Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-11-11


OF the ship, were all on deck He placed his
hand upon the latch of the Counts door: but
the door Yielded moi to his touch. He knock
ed gentiy--a bolt was Withdrawn inside
".4h!" he thought within himself, s'thae there
is some one there! I" He opened the door
and entered the cabin, which was involved in
darkness until the glare of his lantern illumi
mated il.
The moment he set foot in the little cham
Der. faint scream met his ears, and form
OF low but beautiful symmetrical stature and
attired in male clothing, Instantly rushed To-
wards the couch, But the piercing eyes Of
thai stern and sarcastic man had already seen
enough 10 convince him that the inmate of
that cabin was female in disguise-and he
had then no difficulty in comprehending how
she could originally have obtained abundance
unsupported Into the ship. And very beau,i-
ful was the countenance of that young and
mysterious being her Grecian features, ex.
pressiye black eyes, glossy hair, (Which BY its
rangement would alone have betrayed her
sex, sweet mouth, and delicate complexion
all of which the intruder noticed as she cast
an afrghted glance towards him--lofmed an
assembage OF charms calculated to rayish the
least susceptible heart,
"Ah. my bird oil PARADISE" cried The ma
rine officer, with 6 diabolical smile otuumph,
"haye | discovered the secret of your exis-
tence q"
sSir-do not betray me--do not say that
you have seen female here" exclaimed the
lady, falling upon her knees at the marines
feet.
"IIo! as for that" cried the officer brutally
81 do not know why should show any CT
Witty towards de Brissac--"
But TO me, sir2 have never offended
you," said the beauteous stranger. 'Oh do
not betray me! | have left home--kndred
and friends--I have dared everything 10 fol-
him whom | love Oh do not betray
me -
you must know, young lady," returned
the officer, ''tha; this is serious breach Odds
clplne; and the punishment is"
lis what?" demanded the disguised fair
one, turning ashy pale.
SIS death!" answered the marine, smiling
vindictively.
"Death-death to all,raitorous scoundrels !"
calculated stern voice, and in moment the
marine staggered and fell, stabbed with a
sharp dirk IN the back. He uttered not a
word, but died almost Immediately. Al the
same time Adolphe closed the door carefully,
and snatching his loved one in his arms, said,
"'Tis thus that punish those who dare 10
inuude upon thy privacy, dearest Marianne"
"Ah! what fearful EVENT." murmured
the lady, her countenance expressing emotion
Of unutterable horror.
"Silence--and couragel" cried the young
man. "Thestorm still rages--the ocean roars !:
we can consign the corpse of that william to
the deep, without arouslng suspicion"
Then raising the lleess form the floor.
Adolphe opened the port hole OF his cabin,
and plunged his victim into the pillows that
boiled around the vessel.
AT that moment a terrific burst Of thunder
echoed through the vault of heaven, and was
prolonged for some instan,s. Adolphe and
Marianne exchanged looks Of alarm and ter
ror: il seemed as il the voice of the Deity
was proclaiming his Indignation at the tell
deed.
When the officers assembled in the gun
room at their morning repast, the marine was
missed. The steward proceeded to his cabin !;
but he was not there. Al ,englh ii was ascef-
tanned that he had altogether disappeared from
the ship. II was then observed by the cap
tam, that he had most probably been washed
overheard by the sea that had broken so vio-
leutly over the frigate during the night This
opinion was Immediately considered the most
feasible; few words of regret were uttered
by those who thus discussed his probable fate;
and the crime Of Adolphe remained unsus-
pec,ed.
The storm died away; the clouds dspered !;
the sea grew calm; and the pattering OF the
rain ceased Towards four O'Clock on the Sc
cond day after the tempest, man at the
mast head cried, Land 10 leeward - and the
captain gave orders TO steer that direction
BY degrees dark brown line OF coast rose in
the horizon and in short time the trees and
green hills OF small island became distinctly
visible. On nearer approach the entrance
to beautiful bay was deserted; and The ship
running for that anchorage, when she sudden
ly struck upon coral reef.
The gallant barque trembled from stem TO
stern, with the violence of the conclusion !;
and. TO the horror of all on board-lmmedi-
atey began to ill. Not a moment was to
be lost. The boats were lowered, and scarce
ly was there time TO throw into them 4 few
weapons and some casks Of biscuit, when the
captain peceived that the Louise was sinking
by the stern. One boat had already showed
off; the other was Just about TO quit the wreck,
when some one exclaimed, "Where is the
Count de BTissac!"
AT that moment the first lieutenant appear
ed upon the deck Of the trigate, bearing 10 his
arms female in mans ATTIRE. This was,
however, no time for conjecture or surprise at
this singular occurrence for scarcely had the
count, with his precious burthen, entered the
boat, when the captain commanded the men
10 push off without a moments delay The
order was given only just in time; for hardly
had the shallop got clear Of the wreck, when
the latter gave a lurcf TO windward, and went
down stern foremost There was deep
ehasm opened for moment in the bosom Of
the ocean then the waters rolled together
again, and terrific swell reached the boats
The one in which the captain Adolphe and
Marianne, together with nearly hundred
men, had taken refuge, rode gallanily over the
pillows; the other, although the largest Of the
two, was overwhelmed by the mountain
waves; and nearly every soul on board per-
shed A few were picked up with dltliculty,
and dragged into the surviving boat,
The captain now ordered the men to row
towards the shore, which was a mile and half
distant, as they approached the strand, taey
perceived the natives fastening 10 crowds
TO the coast; and, on advancing nearer, they
found 10 their dismay, that those savage and
halfnaked islanders, were making violent
gestures 10 order the shipwrecked mariners 10
keep off. The boat was, however, brought
in close 10 the shore; and a parley was at
tempted. The only reply was fight Of ar
rows; and three men in the boat were killed.
Two others were dangerously wounded. The
eif,,atinn nf the unfnrtunafr Erenchmen was