The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-10

sima Bella Donna, az recoir; 2 and he bowed
mocklngly as he went out, singing, in his gay.
est tones, catch from Beranger:
"Lise,te, ma Lisette,
t. fu ma a trompe iou,ours
Mas vive la grisslt4
Je veux, Lii eue
Boire a nos amours -
he will not come back here again. nut
tered Senior Pedro, in Spanish, as he rose, and
crept out, quietly, and with a noiseless step,
after Jasper. I
Scene Fomfh.-The waves, black in the
black midnight, wash sulenly against the pier
at the foot OF Clay street A few stars shine
silently out above over the waters comes the
dull sound OF cables chatting at the hawse holes
OF anchored ships; from the city come down
the distant shouts and ribald laughter Of drunk
en- revellers The man who stands there at the
loot OF Clay street, looking into the black waters
hears both sounds, but heeds neither There he
is, on the outer edge of the pier, with head bent
down, grave-thoughted sombre, bordering many
thmgs-perhaps bordering that chiefest thing
tet ALL" last scene in this eventlu history
" what use is life? What evils follow death ?
Can any evils or woes come after, more poig-
nant than the very woe itself Of living? Why
must ceteTrina mors be also miSeyrina moys
Should not that hell gate inscription, that dread
summons to lay aside all hope, and assume the
sombre mantle Of an eternal despair. be rather
inscribed over the portals of life? Efforts all
have failed, things rush ever fatally downward :
such life is that he loathes, and he loathes him
self for living such life. Shall not the deed
succeed the thought, making the frstlngs of
his hand follow close upon the frstlings of
his thought"
"rhe fighiy purpose is o'ertook
Unless the dee go with it
Shall he not plunge, and, with one gasp, one
shudder, one memorial bubble rising above,
end it all? Why not? Is it fancy, or does
tattooed spot upon his arm burn as if a hot
iron pierced it? Is it fancy, or do the creak-
ing cables out yonder frame words for his ears :
p" by us the ship rides safely; 50 may you" Is
it a fancy, or do the jewelled stars above there,
as he glances up at them, group themselves
into the semblance of a giant anchor, and smile
down upon him with smile of encouragement?
Facts or fancies, he is overpowered by them ;
they give him pause !" he draws hastily back,
murmuring to himself:
"Once more-once more but, i'll fail henn-
He is reused and startled by a shril whistle
from the upper end of the pier, whistle fol
lowed by yell, and the tramp of rapid feet
He hears quick step behind him, half turns,
Is met by gruff voice in his ear: " Take that
damn vel" stunning blow, and he reels,
catches in the air, and falls prone into the
waters which even now he was contemplating
AS he rises again, there is another plunge, he
IS grasped, and ere he can quite recover from
his bewilderment, is dragged back upon the
pier.
Thank God, Jasp., my lad, said Brawny
Back, I'VE followed you, and saw him just in
time
"Who?"
Pedro-there he is
Jasper rose to his feet, and saw Abdullah
kneellng over PROSTATE man, gnashing his
white teeth, which seemed to CLEAN even in the
darkness, and upraising knife. Jasper sprang
forward, caught the appraised arm, drew the sui
len Malay off, and motoned the gambler to
rise. He did so, wrapping at the same time a
handkerchief about his arm, which bled pro-
fusely.
Now be off, Pedro, as fast as you can, and
| will say nothing of this affair."
many steps off. began to raise the cry of muir
der! A crowd speedily gathered, and Jasper
and his followers were seized, while the gam
bier, pretending that they had tried to murder
him, exerted himself to the utmost to nflame
the rapidly-increasing mob against them. AS
they were rudey dragged along, sullen muir
muir arose, and grew louder each moment, break
ing out at last with shout
Hang them! hang the murderers Find a
lamp-post and rope Hang them!'
Then Jasper spoke out in his clear ringing
tones above the roar and yells
AT least, you will give us a trial, and con-
front us with our accusers.'
That is fair enough said the voices. . The
Vigilance Committee. Take them to the rooms
of the Committee. Ring the bell!"
''And bring that man along also" said Jas
per- pointing to Pedro And then, amid the
crush and roar of mighty crowd by midnight,
while the fearful notes of q heavy alarm bell
pealed out, the three were carried forward, up
a dark stairway, and thrust into a room, the key
of which was then turned on the outside.
B. b. had made up his mind TO die, and was
busy chewing what he doubtless fanced would
be his last quid of tobacco Abdullah's eyes,
flashing as if he were mad, watched every mo
tion Of Jasper, who paced up and down the
room in a state of excitement that was rather
pleasurabe than otherwise. The great emer-
gency aroused the energies of his soul, and
made the blood course warmly through his
veins.
'Master," said Abdullah, "they not hang
you, never You too big chief die that way.
He die now;" and he united from a knot in his
sash quill, filled with some dark-colored sub
stance. "We take this, both us, master
Tongue-touch kill us. Our chiefs die so, when
people tired of 'em--Or they tired Of emsclves.'
So saying, he divided it in two, and handed
half to Jasper.
Il will keep it, Abduali; but do not fear.
We are not in any danger. 1 know how to
manage a mob. Do you not remember the In
dian horse thieves? Only speak out, you and
b. b., when | tell you."
Soon the three were summoned into a large
lighted hall, where mass of people were gath
cred in an impromptu but very Solemn tribu-
nal Jasper glanced around at the crowd a
moment, and then advanced to the table at the
upper end of the room, where those who ap-
peared to he the officers of the meeting were
seated. #|
g What is your name?" I|
Jasper told the questioner.
"Your occupation?" I|I
"Here-a student of law, IN form--in fact,
a student of rascality in its various manifesto
tions;" and, as he said this, he fixed his eye
sternly upon Pedro, who quailed before him.
"Who are your companions?'
"One-you can see what he is-an honest
old seaman, who wouldn't harm fiea who
has doubled the Horn oftener than some here
have years, and can give you references to any
whale-ship in the Pacific fisheries for his char.
acter. Thel other, unfortunately, happens to
be Malay and a pirate-though have always
found him 4 good enough fellow, and, for that
matter, esteem his vices above many Of the So
called virtues of the San Franciscans."
There was general laugh.
QUEsrIoNER.--( sternly)'' Young man, this is
no time for you to trife. If we find you guilty
we shall most certainly hang you
JAsPER.-" don't doubt it i'll the least, hui
the difficulty will be to find me guilty"
QUEsTIoNER.-" The fact of your consorting
with Malay pirate certainly does not initiate
much in your favor"
Here Abdpllah sprang forward, and, in few
impassioned words, stated that his master could