, 1859-07-01
TIE MAD ENGINEER.

her sable veil lowering over the mourning city
Of New Orleans.
The shrill roar Of the escaping steam told ali
who heard it that the steamer Restern Belle
had cast of her shore lines, and was now, like
an uncaged wild.bird, posing herself on the
wind, ready to start her flight up the mighty Mis-
sissiPpi.
was not moment too soon, for ere I had
reached the promcnade-deck, the gang-plank was
drawn in. Goodbye" was said to those gath.
cred on the wharf-handkerchi huttered in the
breeze, waving an adieu, and we were of.
twas when the cholera was raging so fearfully
at the southwest, almost depopuiating whole
cities in Q single day, and carrying death and
desolation in nearly every family.
The panic was at its height in New Orleans.
Business Of all kinds appeared to be utterly pros
trated before the resistless march Of the dread
destroyer. All, or nearly all, who had friends or
pecuniary ability, were intent only on placing
themselves or families at safe distance from the
deadly visitant
As q natural consequence, every boat or other
conveyance, which had not ceased running, was
crowded with the flying and fear-stricken citi.
zens
The Western Belle formed no exception to the
general rule, and on this occasion, as she swung
of into the stream, an observer could readily
have seen that she was crowded to her utmost
capacity.
Ere we had reached the channel, observed the
captain hurry past me, muttering to himself ap-
parently in great agitation:
Had only known before we cast of:-yet,
something must be done, that is evident-but
what?"
"Give me the charged"
Captain Reynolds raised his eyes at the sound
Of the clear and sonorous but somewhat impera
tive voice that uttered the words, and beheld
tall, dark featured and strikingly handsome man,
who had hastily approached from the opposite
direction, and who, instantly scizing his hand,
sid:
"Captain, the engineer has left his post-gone
upward-dead-the cholera I" and his gestures
were significant as he spoke.
Z" am already aware Of the fact |" said the
captain, with anxiety in his tones, but why do
you evince such an interest in the matteri" while
his momentarily stern gaze rested upon the coun.
tenance of the strdhger, whose face was partly
concealed by heavy beard and moustache Of
glossy blackness. .,,.
alan Lieutenant George Hilton, Of the United
States Army, but formerly chief engineer Of the
Prdirie Bird, at your service" said the stranger,
in hurried manner, mentioning well known
boat, noted in years gone BY, for her speed and
superior accommodations
anu yCs yOuA OgICCb - W OuGT IOuT teINlCe3
to me as engineer for the up trip I" said Captain
Reynolds, inquiringly. 9H
"As you have intuitively perceived It is"
"Sir-lieutenant, thank yOu-dOubly thank
You, and will avail myself Of your kind offer; ac-
cepting In the same generous spirit with which Il
is made, and without further ceremony !" said the
captain, as he warmly pressed the hand Of the
other. "knowing that the fremen were all
green hands, l was just Fastening to take charge,
and manage, as best might, the engineers depart
ment-but now shall feel at ease. u-L
"Then let me at once enter upon my duties;
there is no time to lose !" said the lieutenant and
there was strange gleam in his wild restless
eyes and q nervous peculiarity in bis gesture
It was unnOticed by the captain-or II he no
ticed, evidently considered the idiosyncracies Of
an ardent tempeFament-as he replied, with sat
isiactin expressed in his voice,
"True, truel fear you will find things in q
somewhat confused state, but you can send for
ward for me at any moment"
They passed beyond my hearing, and leisurely
assembled the hurricane deck 10 enjoy . siesta
and cigar for an hour, after which 1 sought out
my state-room-iound, entered, elosed the door
and was on the point Of congratulating myself
on having been enabled to secure Il, when my
attention was arrested by the earnest intOnation
Of q musical voice Of peculiar beauty-One that
could never afterward be forgotten, tho heard
mid the wild beauty and grandeur Of an ocean
storm-the roar and carnage Of battle, or the
discordant murmurs Of an assembled universal
Spell bound and attentive, listened.
"Oh, sir, whoever you are, for the love Of Hea-
ven, assist me to get out Of this rOom-and ut
oncel Our safety aye, the LIVES Of every one
on board Is pending on-l shudder tc think
perhaps the issue Of Q few moments"
There was an indescribablO eaTnestness in the
utterance Of the words that thrilled me TO the
soul To think was to act, and knowing by the
sound that only thin board partition separated
me from the fair pleader-lOr that she was iair I
would have staked my existence Immediately
drew my heavy bowie" and, first assuring her
Of speedy deliverance, commenced cutting away
ut the top Of one Of the boards
In two minutes Il was loose-in four, ! took Il
out and stepped through the opening. What a
picture was revealed.
Seated on low stool, with her auburn ring
lets floating over her shoulders Of Slabaster white
ness.
"In the wildness Of disheVeled charms!" was
beautiful maiden Of seemingly not over seven
teen summers, and eyes as bright as the jewels
Of a regal dladem.
Her hands were tied behind, and in her strug-
giles to free herself the delicate flesh was cruelty
iacerated
One stroke Of my knife and the cords were
severed in an instant, and observing the increas-
ing pallOr Of her features, quicker than il takes
me to tell it, had caught her in my arms, and
borne her through the entrance which my good
blade had effected. To dash open the window,
and to bathe her leverish brow with water, was
but the work Of q moment
She soon revived, and to my eager questioning
as to the cause Of her painful situation, replied,
.k. ka1 - ~. IL