The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-28

| Drystlck, what was the proper treatment Of
! lady under these circumstances, and that the
best practice was instantly to lower the head,
Herbert (no ways reluctant be it confessed)
| caught her light and graceful figure in his arms,
and while the long dishevelled hair fell down
| streaming with water, he raised her little tiny
eet, as she lay in his embrace like pale stat
re. Even, in that time of excitement, he could
aot help momentarily CHANGING, with an admi-
ring and minute eye, on the lovely features he
pressed to his bosom; but the darkness was too
| great to do more than Just assist the magma
ton in believing that nothing could surpass her
beauty.
"Come along quickly, my boy" said he,
turning to the brother, who, to his establishment,
was so overcome with the danger through which
he had passed, that he remained houndering in
the water up to his neck, unable to rise.
"Help me, help!" cried he, all my strength
is gone"
II cannot help you, my boy; have to carry
your sister Come, jump up, like a man; all
the danger is over now-put your arms round
my waist, and will walk sloxly to the shore.
| Cheer up, my lad /; we will 60 and get draught
of wine and some dry clothes at the village inn,
and you will soon be all right"
"Oh,- 1 shall diel shall die!"
"Nonsense die! You were very near it Just
now, and that is quite enough for you. Come
along, come; put your arm out; that is it.
There, now, clasp me round the waist with the
other hand-so, that is it. Make an effort to
come along. You will soon be out of it. SO,
!, man, that is it. My eyes, what tremendous
. lightning! Alloy! there-Dittisham, ahoy
Help!" cried Herbert, shouting with the voice
of Stentor, overjoyed and restrung with the
delight of having saved two more fellow-crea-
: lures.
The flash oflightning had done good service,
for some of the old fishermen, looking out from
the village, had caught sight of the three strug
glers, and perceiving a lady lying helpless in
the arms of one, and the other foundering in
the water, two or three men rushed down.
"Here, sir, give me the lady," cried one
! "No, thank you-never while live," said
Herbert. I" Here, you may take this gentleman
off my waist if you like. That is right So,
we'll done. Now, run one of you over to the
inn, tell them to make roaring fires in their best
bedrooms, get plenty of blankets and mulled
port wine, and if they have no wine, some hot
spirits and water"
"Aye, aye, sir" cried the men, hearing at
once, from the decisive tones of Herbert's voice,
that they were speaking to one accustomed to
command, and of a rank superior to themselves;
and in five minutes more, Herbert bore his love
ly burden into the little village inn and having
moistened her lips with wine, she eventually
brotherl"
"All SAFE" said Herbert.
A gentle pressure of the hand returned the
lady's thanks, more expres.ivsly than words
could have uttered and if Herbert had doubted
how we'll his heroic labors were appreciated,
that doubt would have been dispelled by some
words that followed.
! ~ do not quite hear" kneeling, and placing
his ear close to her lips.
IL L. IL
cold"
"God bless you'll" said Herbert, ~ WILL"
pressing her fingers to his lips and then, as he
covered them carefully over from the cold, he
saw her gentle eyes close, and the big bright
tears gush from under those long and darkly
fringed lids.
: The following extract is a scene from an I'M
!, published Tragedy by LEWIS F. THOMAS The
Tragedy is historical, founded on the early con-
quest of Mexico by the Spaniards. Old and
Lugo were both captains, under Cortez. Has
san was his Moorish slave. The scene is in
the city of Mexico. Old, subsequent to the
Conquest, was beheaded in Honduras, for ia
king part with Velasquez against the authority
: of Cortez.
SCENE: Night-A aOalLed Court. Enter Old
and Lugo, IN close conference.
Old. Twill be the quickest and the way,
And set us free at once from all misgvings
Lugo like not this dark assassinaioni
! It's ignoble, cowardly-
Old. Pshaw! pshaw!
Leave that TO alone, my gallant friend
| | will absolve thee from all sin in it,
| From all compunctions, and all dreamy doubts
| The end, dear Lugo will atone the
| | will stir up the hatred of the Moor
To do the deed; and when the deed is done,
Why, let him answer it, whilst thou and
Are free from faint of any part in it;
And when the Genrars obsequies DER
We and our friends well control the rest
Lugo Well, thou wilt; but still like it not.
Old. Here Hassnn comes; prthee, away! away!
, And keep thy counsel Exit Lugo, and enter HassanI
Good eve, good Hassan!
Has,an My humble service to thee noble sir. Makes
, reverence.l
At thy behest meet thee here tonight
Old. Thanks for thy promptness. did lately hint
How thou mightst gain thy liberty,
And vengeance thy cruel tyrant Lord
And in deep griefI have bethought me much
OF thy sad lot, by Cortez so abused
Hasson He is my master and his slave am
Old. Thy master, Yes. But why thy tyrant too?
I've heard him call thee liar, and base slave,
And saw him thy person strike quick blows,
In heavy anger, with his faitened sword
saw the fiery gleamngs Of thine eyes,
Darling defiance from their shaggy brows,
Like lightning. flashing from black clouds of storm;
marked the hot blood light thy du,ty cheek,
The hard upheavings of thy stawart chest,
The nervous biting of thy neither lip,
And the csnvusive clenchng of thy hands,
AT the foul insult Heavens! how grieved,
That thou, of noble, ay, of royal blood,
Shonld'st be degraded
Hdssdn I'm in his power,
By sad reverse of war; were he in mine,
Perchance he might have strong and good
II To hatred, as now owe him.
Old. Methought the greatest luxury ofthy race
Was vengeance! Hast thou not huge-mouthed wrongs
/ That daily, nightly, loudly call for it,
Thou wear'st dagger. Knowst thou no, its use
Hassan. Ay, to defend mine honor and my life,
Not the assassin's felon blow 10 strike
For my revenge to Heaven / look up;
Allah is great and just
Old. And he is
| And in his justice puts within thy reach
| The means of vengeance. Thy cursd tyrant sleeps
And to his couch thou hast free access.
One blow-vengeance and liberty thine.
| Wilt strike?
Hassan. / cannot strike sleeping man.
Old. Would'st spare the adder for that it's asleep
That on the morrow thou may'st feel its fangs'
Sleeping waking, confessional
Or kneelng praying a the AFFAIRS foot,
| No matter where I'D pause not at the deed
Were so damnd in wrong as thou hast been,
And with all could safely do the act,
| As thou canst had'st thou but nerve to dare.
| Hassai. pve not nerve enough 10 be villain
And dare not do the deed, cen i'll dare.
| No Spanard /, or Christian either,
And can do act dishonora6le--
Old. Dishonorable! never name ii so
| IT'S no dshonor avenge a wrong.
| Mans heritance is glorious Liberty.
IL