Monmouth weekly herald., 1859-02-03

ooihS lauuCueu III the storm OF yeStel
day, two of the boats had been lost, an
Igrave doubts arose in Trente Leycroff'
mind as to whether the remainder woul
suffice for their safety. AS calm as thoug
each instant were not bringing them clio
ser to the grasp of destruction, he stoo,
and issued his quick, stern orders.
hundred souls depended upon him now
and in the hour of trial they should no
find they trusted in vain. The sharp re
port OF the minute gun echoed afar owe
the sea, and above the sound came thu
clear ringing voice of the young captain
The smoke obscured the sight, but his
quick eye saw everything, and hi.
thoughtful mind suggested everything o
comfort that might alleviate the suffer
lngs probably in store for those who soor
would be tossed about upon che trackless
waste of waters. And still amidst it all
the good ship slowly but surely sunk still
deeper In the bosom of the vast encirclipe
food. .a
The hardy sailors, taking pattern
from their calm commander, worked
away in quick but silent obedience to his
orders, and one by one the boats were
filled and slowly left the side of the doom
ed vessel. The sky was cloudIess and the
sun shone down in food of pleasant
light; and from the steady and unruffled
manner in which the orders were execu.
ted, one could not, but for glance al
their faces, guess that the sailors were
occupied in other than their usual ayoca-
tlons. But there was written whole vol
umes OF manly fortitude and courage, in
the Knit brows, set teeth, and bleodless
hue OF their countenances, and it was
plainly to be seen that the race of heroes
had not yet quite departed, nor was true
courage laid forever to rest in the grave
OF the long.gone past.
y, God the boats were now nearly
full, and there yet remained some eight
or ten human beings on boisd the Sink
ing. ship! Some OF them were women,
and their shrleks deafened the sound OF
the boomiug gun, beside which the young
captain himseif stood, firing it as quickly
as 1T could be loaded. The Changing of
the ships bell added to the horrid din of
that agonizlng moment, and the hand OF
mercy seemed withheld at the moment
from the ill-fated beings upon the wreck !.
The sun still shone down, and saw the
good ship as it slowly but surely sank
deeper III the bosom OF the vast encrc
ling Hood.
! There is but room for just one more T.
Trente Leycrof heard the voice FROM
the boat, ami as he wiped the cold sweat
from his brow, looked fer a moment
round him. A young boy sto-d by his
side andifeoked up into his face. Not a
muscle OF the boys face quiyered, as he
raised his hand aud pointing towards
the boat said:
Captain Leycrof, VIXEN you see my
father tell him that died like man, anu
That we shall meet again in another
world r
lie knew the boy now; he had been
sent as clerk III q foreign mercantile
house, aud was now on visit to his only
paIent-his father. The father had not
seeii him for three long years, and he
pictured With the quickness of lightning
tie fond and hopeful expectation of that
man TO embrace his boy again. 10 his
own home his Thoughts reverted, and the
instlnct was strong within him. His
father-mother should he? Mol
They would not be altogether desolate :
they would have each other still while
this boys father has lost his all! He
seized him in his arms, aud in an instant
he was in a place of safety. The sacri.
ice was inade--the rest was in the hands
of God
Again the loud boom of the minute
gun echoed far and wide over the deep
The shrieks and piercing cries of :hc
surviving woman mingled again with the
soand, and again the hurried changing OF
the bells filled his ears. Some Of those
who remained had sunk down senseless on
the deck, and one or two had cast them
selves headlong luto the sea, and now
doated away upon the frail support Of a
spar, trusting themselves to their fate
The rats sprang affrighted from their
hiding places down in the cabin and hold,
and mingled with the human beings on
the deck. The edge of the vessel almost
touched the surface. of the water, and the
eyes of those in the boats were fixed in
horror upon the doomed vessel as she
slowly sank before their eyes. They
saw the heroic soung man as he stood al
his post loading and firing the gun, and
prayers went up from their hearts that
Heaven in its mercy might spare him
yet.
The sun looked down to take one
glance of farewell as the good snip heaved
heavily, turned over on one side, and
then--sank forever from its sight, down
deep down in the bosom Of the vast en-
eircling food
They pulled hastily away from thai
fearful SIGHT. and the clouds Of nigh
soon settled over the sceno Of the drama
hey had witnessed. Gods mercy on ths
souls of those who had perishea thus fear
fully in, the bright light Of day, and il
tue facs Of tds Sailing and uacloudes
heavens.