The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-12-15

ture OF loneliness, and he-l shuddered as
remembered to have noticed the increasing
speed of the boat and the heavy roar of the
exhaust pipe-was a madman!
No time was to be lost. Hastily telling her
the little / knew OF the lieutenant's movements
| escorted her to the grand saloon and promis-
ing to return the moment found her brother,
| went in search Of the captain
Hardly had reached the staircase, when
my attention was arrested by wild yell of
apparent exultation, which rose high and
shrill above all other sounds, chilling in its de-
morlac intonaticn, and seeming the dread har
binger Of coming doom! -u
involuntary raised my hands to my ears,
as did others, to shut out the terrific sound
''In Gods name, what was that?" exclaimed
an elderly gentlemen by my side to an officer
of the boat, who rushed past us iii the direc
ton of the eng gine room. .4-.
s'The mad engineer Our lives are in fearful
peril! Follow if you would know morep'
A moment later, and we were at the scene
of excitement, and beheld sight to chill the
blood in the stoutest heart! -.r
With coat off-eyes flashing menace-a re-
volver in his hand, commanding the rage of
the entrance, and the 'regster' showing an
amount of steam far beyond the rated capacity
of the boilers-the engineer was seated on the
safety valve to keep it down! and giving occa-
siona utterance to wild yell ,as with his weapon
he threatened the horror stricken crowd with
out. .r-
No questions were asked-none were need
ed-it was evident that the engineer had driven
the firemen from their station soon after taking
his position-had transferred several barrels of
oil and rosin to the fire under the boilers, and
the sharp shrill roar from the escape pipe, as
well as the quivering Of the steamer from truck
to keson, as she leapcd through the water with
the impetuosity of mad racer, told each and
all the fearful nature Of the peril which was
momentarily increasing
"We shall be blown to eternity! Shoot the
wild beast down! Our lives are in the balanced"
The words were ominously echoed by the sharp
click of a revolver.
'sStay! Hold! On your life fire not!'' And
the voice rang like a clarion, yet, with all the
wild music of an seolian harp, as the crowd
parted right and left and the maiden of my
story-the sister, magnificent even in her paid
beauty, rushed to the entrance.
George! My brotherr'
sVirginia You here?''
The fire in the eyes OF the madu1an burned
with less flame than before, and hand and wea-
pom fell to his side. His ferceness was gone
in moment, when her bri ght orbs gazed
searchingly upon him.
"Glve me the plstoi!'
"Now come with meH'
"But my commission from Satan?''
"Has been fulflled!'
With her eyes calmly reading his, she took
his arm and led him quietly away to his state
room.
Captain Reynolds Immediately ordered them
to open the fire-doors, and by thus reducing
steam, we were soon comparatively safe.
I have but little more to add.
We reached st. Louis in due time, and with
out any return of lieutenant Hilton's malady,
and as may be supposed, it needed but little
urging for me to accompany them to the house
of their uncle-a retired merchant of that city
who gave us princely welcome, worthy bis
generous heart.
Under the careful treatment of several of
the most skllful physicians in the city the lieu
tenant was soon entirely recovered.
And l?
Need l add that my friendship for the beau
tiful Virginia had ripened into something
warmer! Into love!
THE JAPANEsE.-Japan, so long closed to all
the rest of the world, has been thrown open to
great extent to the commerce and christianity
of Europe and America. The results Of this
will probably lead, at no distant day, to quite
intimate relations between that people and those
of our Pacific States. The way was paved by
the visit of commodore Perry, and the presents
to the emperor from our government, which he
took out. These appear to have made very
favorable impression upon the japanese gov
ernment and people, and made them willing, to
some extent at least, to cultivate further ac-
quaintance with America and the American
people. Hence, when Mr.. Harris visited Simoda
only two years ago, in the character of United
States consul, he found it comparatively easy to
make treaty with the japanese officials, which
secures to Americans the right to reside in the
ports already opened, Of building churches and
enjoying, unmoested, christian worship; of
trading at two additional ports, and of purchas
ing japanese goods without paying the six per
cent duly heretofore imposed; and provides for
japanese minister to The United States, who
is expected here some time next year. Lord
Elgin, following Mr.. Harris, has since negotia
ted similar treaty on he part of Great Britain,
and the other principal nations of Europe will
doubtless ere long follow suit.
The insight we have thus already obtained
into the affairs and condition of Japan, shows
that we have all been heretofore good deal in
the dark respecting the Japanese. We have
always supposed that it has been the govern
ment of Japan that has been opposed to any
intercourse with the rest of the world, but it
appears that the government, at least the pres
ent one, is in favor of such intercourse, while
it is the people who oppose it. I seems, too,
that the people there have much more inhu-
ence with the government than has been gene
rally supposed. Indeed Japan appears to be a
sort of democratic despotism. When the ques-
ton as to foreign intercourse began to be agita-
ted, and the government showed signs of favor
ing it, some of the leaders of the people issued
what We should probably call a poster, threat
ening death to the official who should dare to
countenance any such innovation. But the
ardor of this japanese demagogue probably
cooled off, as we do not hear that any official
has lost his head, been assassinated or other
wise been put out of the way.
The present emperor, instead Of living in all