The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-05-14
CINCINNATI, o. FR BAY, MAY IA, 1852.

which the wrcckers waited n
The Indiaman was evidently coming oa
shore, and all the Efforts Of her gallant
crew seemed powerless to save her. Her
almost naked masts, and her dark hull
with couple of lanterns, could now plain
ly be distinguished as she rose aud fell on
the waters. Suddenly she seemed to be-
come motionless, though quivering in every
fibre, and then huge wave washed clean
over her decks
"She has struck on the Mistral Rock, /"
said Pierre Good she will be in. pieces
in an hour, and every atom will come on
shore
"They are putting out the boats" OBJ
served Jean.
The wreckers clutched their weapons
If the crew landed in safety, their hopes
were gone. But no crew had, for many
years, landed in safety on that part Of the
coast by some mysterious fatality, they
had always Perished.
Presently, three boats were observed pull
ing for the shore, and coming towards the
sandy beach at the mouth of the gorge.
They were evidently crammed full of peo-
pie, and pulling all for one point. The
boats appibached they were within fifty
yards of the shore, and pulling still abreast.
They had entered the narrow gut of water
leading to the gorge, and were already out
of reach of the huge waves, which, minute
before, threatened to submerge them. The
wreckers extinguished the lantern on the
cows horn. There was no chance Of the
boats being able to put back to sea.
Suddenly a figure pushed through the
crowd, and approached the fire near which
Pierre Sandeau stood. 1t appeared to be
one of the wreckers but thevoice, that al
most whispered in the old mans S ear, made
him start.
"Father said Madeleine, in low sol.
emn voice, what are you about to do
"Fool what want you here3" replied
Pierre, amazed and angry at the same time.
al come to prevent murder Father,
think what you are about to do Here are
fifty fellow. creatures coming in search "
life and shelter, and you will give them
death /"
"This is no place for you, Madeleinsl =
cried the other, in a husky voice. Go
home, girl, and never let me see you out
again at night i"
"Away, Madeleine -awayl" said the
crowd, angrily.
81 will not away IL will stay here TO
see you do your foul deed-to fix it on my
mind, that day and night l may shout in
your ears that ye are murderers Father
added she, solemnly, "imbrue your hands
in the blood of one man tonight, and l am
no child of yours. will beg, l will crawl
through the world on my hands, but never
more will eat the bread of crime
"Take her away, Pierre" said one more
rufianly than the rest, cor you may repent
it,"
"Go, girl, go, whispered Pierre, family,
while the wreckers moved in body to the
shore, where the boats were about to strike.
"Never I" shrieked Madeleine, clinging
franticly to her fathers clothes,
"Let me go cried Pierre, dragging her
with him.
At that moment terrible event inter
rupted their struggle" A man stood up
right in the foremost boat, guiding their
progress. Just as they were within two
yards of the shore, this man saw the wreck
ers coming down in a body.
GAS 1 expected !" he cried, in loud
ringing voice. "Fire i-shoot every one Of
the villains
A volley of small arms, within pistol-shot
of the body of wreckers, was the unexpected
greeting which these men received. A loud
and terrible discharge showed the way in
which the discharge had told, One half Of
the pillagers fell on the stony beach, the
other half fled.
Among those who remained, was Made
leine. She was kneeling by her father, who
had received several shots, and lay on the
ground in agony.
"You were right, girl" he groaned 4
see it now, when it is too late, and feei /
have deserved it"
"Better," sobbed Madeleine, "better be
here, than have imbrued your hands in the
blood of one of those miraculously-d y-deliv-
cred sailors"
"Say you so, woman 2" said a loud voice
near her. "Then you are not one of the
gang. l knew them of old, as well as
their internal cut-throat gorge, and pulled
straight for it, but quite prepared to give
them warm reception"
Madeline looked up She saw around her
more than fifty men, three women, and
some children. She shuddered again at the
thought of the awfnl massacre which would
have occurred, but for the sailors pru-
dence.
"My good girl, 1" continued the man, eve
are cold, wet, and hungry; can you shew
us some shelter
Eyes; but do you bid some Of your men
carry my father, who, ] fear, is dying"
"ltisno more than he merits, replied the
man :" but for your sake will have him
taken care of.
1t is what / merit, said Pierre, in
strange and loud tone " but not from your
hands, Jacques"
"Mercifui God p cried the sailor, whose
voice is thatT
You will soon know but do as your
sister bids you, and then we can talk more
at ease."
Madelaine cast herself sobbing into her
brothers arms, who, gently disengaglng
her, had a litter prepared for his father, and
then, guided by Madelaine, the procession
advanced on its way. An. armed party
marched at the head and in quarter Of an
hour the village of Montreaux was reached.
It was entirely deserted. There were fires
in the houses, and lamps Lit, and even snp-