Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-11-17


4 querors remained to await our attack -
This utter desertion boded no good for US.
and would OF any other time have cooled
our ardor.. But when reflected upon the
danger to which /, Beatrice was exposed
when Remembered that even now she
might be calling in vain for help from the
insults o! some brutal barbarian, cutched
my sword and prayed fervently that
might not be too late Suddenly, howey-
er, heard piercing shriek-it was a
voice even in its agony knew-and starts
ing wildly up in the Stern sheets, beheld
q sight, which for n moment crushed oil
hopes in my bosom.. ..ss s=.as, a+. u ll
We were some distance from the dis.
mantled ship, when its conquerors saw thal
if We reached them our overpow ering num-
bers would put an end to all successful re-
sistance. Their only hope was in flight
ahey could yet insure o. fair s,art--ihere
was yet but Il little more than a mile and
a half distant-desper would aod sin
ews to their arms-and al least they would
possess nearly as many advantages for a
combat as if they should remain on board
by. this means they could secure the rich
est of their booty. Bot though unwilling
to incommode themselves with prisoners
the exit eme loveliness of Beatrice made.
her prize too valuable to be lost-and her
wild, heart broken shrieks,Y MS they bore
her from her parents, " ere the sounds
which had arrested my attention. ST s-s
| shouted 10 The lieutenant what beheId
and scarcely waiting for expected orders,
dashed around the stern OF the deserted
wreck at the same instant that he shot
swiftly across her bow. = sas4 .arf,
'Oh! my chlld-my child-for the love
Of heaven save nv child" shrieked the
agonized mother, as she whirled past the
quarter. - .a
"Quicker, quicker!'' shouted, rising
and cheering my men, ga purse Of gold il
you oyertuke the iugitiyes-give way
give way" 'r 80 := 'H
And they did give way. have seen
men pulling for their lives from battery
when The iron tempest fell around them like
hail, but | never saw men pull rs that
crew. Eager as they were TO behold their
foe, they never even looked around; but
steadily gazed astern, ben. to their task,
aud drove US on like u hurricane. We
were already despite the exerlions of the
fugi,ives, rapidly approaching them, and
their only hope was in reaching narrow,
inlet almost dead ahead, the opening be-
tween the rocks which guarded the coast,
atf,rded them the chance of defensive
position. 10 trust to my companions be
hind would bo useless, for we had left them
some rods behind on the other quarter of
the boat, and The utmost exerlions would
not Le able TO bring them up in lime for
the struggle. 1t was much the larger boat,
hence my Iorce was greatly inferior to tha,
Of my enemy-but did Lot hesitate q mo
men,. felt wos match, in my present
wild excitement, Tor any three Of The bar
barians. Not moment was to be lost
DreadiDg least we should open n fire OF
muskelry upon them, the fellow IN the Stern
sheets OF the fugitive had placed Beatrice
in such way as almost completely to
shield himself and his crew They were
within few strokes Of the inlel-if they
gained that, they could defend it against
zen times our nuniber-a desperate fort
was to be made or all would be in vain. -
Seizing loaded mu>ket, | pointed towards
the Turk al the bow oar, but my purpose
was anticipated by the wretch from behind
and ! saw that could not fire without be
ing the murderer of BEATRICE took il
IRON my shoulder with half mullered ex-
ecration. A desperation came over me;
her death seemed inevitable on either hand.
resolved to venture all upon The cast
Again lifted my musket, again dropped
it in despair. A taunlIpg shout broke from
the Williams for the bow was already with.
in few fa,homs of the inlet, shooting like
an arrow directly towards its mouth.
paused no longer, but raised the piece, aim.
ed directly at himself Self preservation
threw him an instant off his guard, and
gave me an opportunity for which
ardently wished. The head of the fore
most Turk was for an instant exposed. In
that moment was cool, aye! cooler Than
am now. My hand was like iron; as rap,
idly changing The direction of my piece. |
glanced along its giltering tube. pulled
the trigger, and the bow oarsman fell dead
across the thwart. In an instant the boat
losing his aid, fell off little, missed the
inlet, jumped in the 70 cks and ! remem-
bered wild huzza, momentary fash OF
firearms, a crossing Of blades in deadly
strife, a fierce wild struggle above the body
of Beatrice, and thrill Of almost deIirous
joy as the last fugitive jumped into the
wafer, and | clasped the cold, nunima;e,
yet breathing girl TO my bosom. God
knows how grateful ! was that we had
come in lime. A life time shall never
efface that moment from my memory.
The ardor Of our men. however, had
carried them along the rocks IN pursuit of
the enemy, and for moment found my.
self alone with Beatrice. She opened her
eyes. and perceiving who it was that had
preserved her, limidly gazed into my face
with look, oh! how tender and grateful.
A geam of hope sho. through my mind.
could refrain no longer. The pent up
emotions Of my heart broke from all con-
lroI, and a torrent oil wild, incoherent
words rushed forth. She made me no an-
swer, bu, her fair head rested heavily upon