The Empire County argus., 1854-06-10

In the spring of 1886 my ship was lying at Dia-
mond Point, on the river Hoogly, where | was re-
ceving q cargo from Calcutta One day, after my
cargo was nearly all on board went on shore to
spend an afternoon and evening with party of En-
glish officers Just after supper, while the wine and
the wit were flowing in abundance, I was seized
with sudden faintness and with whrling brain
| sank to the floor. | remembered nothing more
until the next morning At that time | found my
self in a comfortable bed, with old English ply
sician by my side but was so weak and exhaus-
ted that could speak but with difficulty. My whole
frame seemingly palsied and hot, sufocating
sensation pervaded my head. On the following af-
ternoon again lost my recollection, and when rea-
son next visited me | was informed that had been
sick over week. My first expressed wish was to
be conveyed on board my ship, but the old doctor
would listen to no such thing. He told me that
had the most malignant form of an indian fever,
and that to move me would be sure death and he
furthermore conveyed to the dlsagreabe intelli-
gencc that it would be three weeks at least before
l could leave my bed
knew that my owners very anxious that
their cargo should be delivered speedily posi-
Bile, and dared not have the ship remain for my
recovery so sent for the supercargo and mate, and
after short conference-for | was too weak to
hold long one-it was arranged that the mate
should take charge of the ship and start at once for
home | supposed there would be plenty of chan
ces for to get 10 the United States when should
have recovered SO gave myself no uneasness on
that score. My ship sailed, and was left in charge
of the English physician, who proved himself
wholesouled man and friend If was a month be-
fore | could get out of doors, and even then could
not walk without support; but after this | gained
rapidly, and in monh more | was quite strong
again. In fact, thought felt better than had
tor year previous.
AS soon as | was able TO be out began to look
about me for the purpose of securing u passage
home There were several ships at the Point but
they were all going around to Canton, and thus
three weeks passed away without any sign of the
chance sought At length learned that there
was Spanish brig down at Rangafalla which was
bound for the Mediterranean, and knowing that if
| could be landed at Gibraltar | could easily get
passage from thence, | resolved to 90 down and see
the captain of the brig. To this end hired boat
man to take me down the river, and having got all
my luggage together set off. | found the brig
anchored off the northern point of Sugar Island.
Her captain was Spaniard but spoke the English
language well. He was a tall, pale looking man,
with the strangest black eye ever saw. 1t seemed
to be cold, icy eye shooting forth sharp rays of
light that possessed sort of freezing power |
asked him if he was bound for the Mediterranean
and he told mo yes. | then asked him if he could
give passage far Gibraltar, at the same
time stating the circumstances under which had
been left behind by my ship AT first he was un-
willing to answer me. After thinking for few
moments he called some of his officers one side and
conversed with them in q tone too low for me to
hear; yet could see that the discussion was quite
animated and that there was differences ofopinion
upon the subject. At length the captain turned to
me again
"What is your name Y' he asked, very cooly, and
at the same time cycling me sharply.
AJohn Barclay" returned |.
"Well, MIR. Barclay do you think you can keep
a secretp
81 think have followed the sea long enough to
understand the value ofsuch trait that returned
/, without hesitation.
AWell, then" returned he, Il will tell you that
we sometimes lay ourselves liable to the penalties
of the revenue laws"
"Smugglers" said l.
''1es--exactly' responded he with sort of cold
smile about the corners of his mouth. ave do con-
siderable in that line, and you must of course know
that VIC wouldn't stop at any ordinary measures to
secure ourselves against betrayal"
well knew the meaning of that remark knew
that my life would answer for my secrecy; but
had determined to 90, and would rot now be put
back. had laid too long already upon my oars,
and as there was likely to be no other chance for
some time to come, | resolved to take up with the
present one at all hazards. If they could turn
penny by smuggling and were willing to run all
the risks, why, it was none of my business They
did not defraud me, nor my government. So told
the captain would go with him. and pay him what
was right My luggage was accordingly brought
on board, and was allowed berth in the cabin
| could see that there some dissatisfaction on
the part of the other officers but they yielded to the
decision of their commander
: On the following morning the brig got under
weigh and passed cut through the eastern channel
She was a staunch craft, Of about three hundred
tons burden, with raised quarterback, and with !