, 1859-07-01

I
when he drew revolver, and told her that The
trst words she uttered would be her lastl ihsn
she became alarmed, and begged to be released.
With strange ealmness and voice which bfcskeh
no reply, he commanded her to silence, and stat
ing that he was an embassy Of satan, duly CON-
mlssioned to drive the steamer to he'll, locked the
door and departed.
She paused, and faint smile shono through
her tears, like the sunshine in Q midsummer
rain.
Alight dawned upon my mind. The engineer
was, then, the brother Of this angelic picture of
loveliness, and he-I shuddered as I remembered
to have noticed the increasing speed Of the boat
and the heavy roar cf the exhaust Pipe--he vas
q madmdR!
No time was to be lost. Hastily telling her tfs
little knew Of the lieutenant's movements. e.
corted her to the grand saloon, and promising 10
return the moment found her brother, l went
in search Of the captain i'tl slfi'i
Hardly had reached the staircase, when my
attention was arrested by wild yell Of apparent
exultation, which rose high and shTil above al
other sounds, chilling In its demoniac intona-
ton and seeming the dread harbinger Of coming
doOmi
Involuntary raised my hands to my ears, Is
did others, to shut out the terrific sound 'ip
"ln Gods naInel what Is thatp exclaimedan
elderly gentleman by my side to an officer Of the
boat who rushed past us in the direction of tho
engine room. s.ia z 10 fii3 ~
"THE MAD ENoNEERl Our lives are 10 fearful
PERIL Follow, If you would know more y
A moment later, and We were at the scene Of
excitement, and beheld q sight to chill the blood
in the stoutest hearth o..s f5., iJ.,,:.,
With coat of-eyes flashing menace-Fevolver
in hand, commanding the range Of tha entrance,
and the "regiSteF" showing great amount of
steam far beyond the rated capacity Of the boilers
the engineer was seated upon tie fgfety sdIge
to keep it dOteR! and giving an occasional utter
ance to Q wild yell, as his weapon threatened with
death the horror-stricken crowd without
No questions were asked-none were needed
i was evident that the engineer had driven the
firemen from their station soon afer taxing bis po-
sition-had transferred several barrels Of Oh and
rOsin to the fire under the boilers, and the sharp,
shrill roar from the escape pipe, as well as tho
quivering Of the steamer from truck 70 kelson, q
she leaped with the impetnosity Of mad racer,
told each and all the fearful nature Of the peril
which was momentarily increasing aas ~ IS
I'VE shall be blown 70 eternity Shoe. the
wild beast downi Our lives are m the balancers
The words were ominously echoed BY the sharp
click Of Q revolver. --aaf lflf III ~
"Stayi Holdi On your life fire not r And
the voice rang like clarion, yet with al the wild
music Of an Rolian harp, Is The crowd parted
IBub buu telS anu tllo mAl0tn u ny eluII~-
sister, magnificent even in her pallid beauty,
rushed to the entrance.
"Georgei Ny brotherin t i aafI
| "Virgnial You herel" aif
The fire IN the eyes Of the madman burned with
less fame than before, and hand and weapon fell
to his side. His fercsnass was gone IN mo-
ment when her brigh. orbs gAasd scArehingly
Breathlessly we awaited the issue. X a3si
"Give me the pistoll" i sr; iil
II was done. -t.f4s y,
"Now come with mel
"But my commission from SAtanip g1i
Has been falfllledln
| With her eyes calmly reading his, she took
his arm and led him quietly away to his state
room. ,1i l 1I giia1 aIt
Capt Reynolds Immediately ordered the damp
ening Of the furnace fires, and BY thus reducing
steam, we were soon comparatively safe.
] have but little more 10 add. 40 - .st
We reached St Louis IN due time, and without
any return Of Lieut. Hilton's hlaiady, and as may
be supposed, It needed but little urging lof me 70
accompany them 10 the house Of their dnclc--a
wealthy retired merchant Of that cily-wh0 gave
us aPrineely welcome, worthy bis generous bach
elor heart. . p1i1ug9n sad asiwglli
Under the careful treatment ef several of tha,
most skfal physicians IN the city, the licntrnana
was soon entirely recovered
Need add that my friendship fsr the beau,i-
ful Virginia had ripened into something werner