Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-05-08
V0LU ME- a, NO. 2i.

stnTe I'ACo anu lAl'lHNes W h"' w" "h'
at the same time hinted at the idea then
spoken Of by the hands, Of sacrificing oneof
the men to satisfy the aPpctit's Of the Others.
"rll not listen to H." said the captain;
e" we are in the track Of the Fast India yes-
sels, and 1t surely cannot be long before ono
will pas us. Let " hold out a little longer,
Il possible, before rrsorting tn such dreadful
extremity, and II ny tomorrow noon we do
not receive assistance, will not only give
my consent. but willingly put my name
among the other. u be drawn FOR, and trus.
10 Proyilcnc, r,r the result"
"Thc h-ll You will" exclaimed tho
Grst mate, you arr very accommodating,
but our own willingness has only made un-
necessary our determination. Wcwill, how
ever, give you the time YOU require; then.
rno sail appears in sight, tho lots will bo
drawn as we have agreed" And saying
this they went forward and announced tho
result OF their interview, after which tho
crew resumed their Iebaucherc', and with
two or three exc p,ions they were all bent
uron passing thif time in rlvslry.
The most thoughtful % thc sober ones was
my friend Tom. Nothing could diycst his
mind OF the pr,scn,im,nt which haunted
him, that his day, were numbered, and that
Do, name was the unlucky one destined 10
Do drawn from among all tho other, when
they stood the hazard OF the die on the lol-
lovin. day. tricl 70 encourage and rid
him OF such gloomy IDEAS, but al my efforts
wrr, in vain. IIc was convinced he had
hut short time to live, and be cnieavor,d
90 make the best u.s. Of ilc few m1manisye.
lelt, and with his Blhl, in hand be took =
.,at upon the wiul.a.s and commenced read
ing. The whole might W.. spant in this
WY, with thr exception of tho umo spent
upon Dos knees in silent hut earnest prayer.
I saw hun in a., morning, completely cy-
hlu.rrI from %, oT,,. % watching amt
anxiety of mind. he took M notice %. mr.
nut slzel about t's horzn with - vacant
.nr., u..ai,ully hri.htniuc up auI
stretching .ur h.s lRnl.us Of hc saw % .'lp
in t0' distance, AMI tun shouting "SnI
hope would drop upon h, knees, where 10
vorlI remain for hours 10 state OF 'tuPJr
but htilc removed from death i''nlt Ills
actions attracted tl' attention " biz ship
mates, most Of whom cur,rl him Tor
whtr,l'rr'l coward who was AFRAID %
take bic chance with tI'r''t, hut none oi
'.rm us'i Oh" l.is; cuia'or 20 cheer him
np. They war't' much interested ia thcm.
.,'y.s
The dreaded hour cam. AZ last. anIina
l.w moment. d, rpu!l %, I,s.!.l wai,h ON,
oftha crew wa. &, safer da'h in orlgrtha.
hi, .t,ryin. ,hirnatr. mi,ht r.,.yn, tieir
miserable lives.
oYa,,,v or lp,t,,. co,r..r,,ji,.
v,l ,bs number or tho .bip.. c,mr,,y
osr, mn, in,,a.,ck anil hmm, nm in r.,
..ri,..r;...io..f,.,l,;..L .,,,.L ,,L,,,,,b-
~ ,. -',.T - N IT,, 49,. ..,,,;..I
,ri,,,.on, ,,,i,, bg,,.p. ami on, ll,,L o,o
,,I !, ,,,, well urJ.r.,,.I Ala, ,I,.v.,
ea. urnr.upat, enough Z, draw on, N,
black one woulI b, the victim. 4 lst hal
been mad, ont. and the order Of drawin:
"a, dcccl.I hy lot. and placed opposite tho
name, AMI when ,ht, t,.k wa, done, tho
more serious affair OF drawing the buttons
commenced. The fr.i on 10, l,twas tall
.on of York, and though be bracci himself
up and approached tho bag with firm and
stately step, as d. be was regardless OF tho
consequence th' tear which he had 'IenIth-
ily wp"l from hi' eye when he Aw that no
bad drawn white button betskcncI tho
grailiul'o' hs h'ari AZ having e'capeiH
doom which h' hai but moment before
thought possibly might b'i-II him.
Five moro hacslr'i aud lami'Aci spcci-
mems OF humanity FOLLOWED, aud betrlyet
their excessive Tear OF the consequences by
'"'' ''''''''' ,''',., '"' 'O'I'''"S '"l',
WV "'''' '"''''' ''.' '"'"'' Nv" ""'
.''''''' ',''' '''''' "Fi ''''',''. '''
'"T' uI''" ~. 1'''O'''' '''' ''''' . "'' NV
''' l''1''
" Number seven " was roHi called out
and a chill struck to my heart at the thought
that my name stood opposite to thisnumbcr,
and that my chance Tor lll' or death was
now IN b, tricl There was no escaping tho
trial. and could not deny rskins a. much