The Van Buren press., 1860-06-22

neney of our danger in case Of an explo-I
sion. The poor wretches on the quarter
deck of the burning ship answered back
with hysteric shout. Our gallant tars
started like nettled hounds at the cry, and
with few vigorous strokes we dashed up
TO the quarter
Keep her off there !" l shouted, see
ing that we should be swampcd by the ca
gerness of the sufferers to escape .. keep
her \olf-iump overheard, and Wen pick
you up" l continued, AS we fell off from
her quarter again and in less than three
minutes the deck was bare and our boats
full of the rescued crew.
"Mr. Danforth," at this moment shout
ed Jack, from the other boat ahead !" there
lis latlvs sY her fatleri H1ay sRys Assss--
still ON board-for Heavens sake let us try
to save them"
| For one moment, as remembered my
orders and the extremity of our danger,
paused; but when l reflected that by de
parting, we should abandon two human
beings to horrid death, hesitatcd no lon-
ger. Hastily learning from the matii of
| the vessel that they We're their only pass SEN
gers, and having taken refuge in the Ibid
during the late chase, had since been ior-
gotten-anl not feeling warranted in oylser-
ing any on SO dangerous 4 journey, l aavc
the boat in charge of Irvine, who had Ii TX
lily smuggled himself on board, sternlySsid
| one or two OF my crew, who attempted to
follow to keep their stations, mounted ber
side by a rope that hung over her quattsr,
rapidly traverscd the deck in the midst Tof
| tremendous heat, and dartcd down the otsfn-
panion way, leaving the flames roaring not
five feet from its entrance.
The cabin was a large one, and fitted up
we taste. The decorations were even luxu-
rious and such as had at that time rarely
seen on merchantmen. The state rooms
were OF mahogany, inlaid with ebony, and
finished Off with the greatest elegance. Cur
tains, apparently of damask, hung around
and the show of silver and cut glass by the
companion way was even brilliant. The
cabinwas, however, still as death. A ladv's
glove lay on an ottoman, and beside it was
| an open book; but no other traces of hui
man beings were disccrnblc around. Where
could the owner Of that small delicate glove
be Was she already victim to that
frightiul clement? Had the mate deceived
himself in supposing that she had been re-
moved from the hold ? Was there no hope
if she still lived, of reaching her in time of
!
questions flashed rapidly across my mind,
and my heart sickened as L owned | could
not answer them.
The danger, meanwhile, grew more and
more imminent. l was standing, as it were
above a mine that had been sprung, for
should the flames reach the magazine iaevi-
table destruction must ensue. Nor could
that catastrophe be much longer posspon ed.
The dcvouring element had already gained
possession of all around, and even NOW
might be eating its way ravenously toward
it. Besides, if paused moment longer,
the fire would reach the companion way,
and all hope of escape from the cabin be
cut off
Had it been my own life that was endan-
Gcrcd, | would not have hesitated in Seril-
ing it to the utmost but when | relnem-
bcrcd that dozen gallant fellows frofn my
crew, as well as score of others FROM the
rescued sufferers, would be involved il my
own fate. | could not as to my own iutv.
These reflections, however, had not oseupi-
ed more than the instant in which I had
been throwing oDen successfully the doors
of the statc-rcoms. Alas all We're eta PITY
With a heavy heart L was about to mount
the companion when | noticed that a
massive curtain at the further end, scemed
to divide off Il smaller cabin, aft of the one
| was in. Without moments de Wy
rushed toward 1t, hastily lifted it aside, and
there bcheld a sight | shall never forget
This after cabin was much smaller, but
far more luxurious than the other. 1t was
adorned with everything that taste could
suggest or wealth afford. Ottomans -an
completely round it, forming kind of di-
van. At one side was harp, and beside
it some music was scattered on the floor.
But after the first hasty survey, saw moth
ing but group of two beings before me-
One of them was a gray haired man appar
emily about sixty-iivc, dressed in the gen
tlemanly costume of former day. He was
bending wildly above the almost inanimate
form OF a fair girl, recling on the cushions.
Never had seen a being who looked more
beautiful than that pale, halffainting crca-
ture seemed at that moment. One arm sup
ported her on the d!van, and the other was
thrown around her fathers neck, the blue
veins just discernihle as they stole along
beneath the ivory skin.
Her head rested on the bosom of her pa
rent, and the hair, loose and unbound,
strcamed in dark, glossy ringlets over her
snowy shoulders. At the noise made by
my entrance she started, raised her head,
and could sec through the tears that glis-
tened on her lashes, one of the sweetest ha-
zel eyes have ever looked upon. Aquick
| flush shot over her face. crimsoning it like
a rose leaf as she beheld stranger; and
half-starting to her feet, she essayed mo-
ment to speak. and then stood with half
opened lips, gazing almost wildly upon me.
I" For Gods sake. fly - | cried,r" the
ships on fire in every part-we can barely
escape by the companion -way-in another
instant she will blow up-why hesitate :?
For heavens sake, come"
"Oh, sir, God bless You for this kind
ness--there is then hope - exclaimed the
old man" but Isabel has fainted," he
continued " Go, fly, will die witlrher, -
he said in voice of agony, vainly ehdeav-
oring to raise, in his enfeebled arms, the
seemingly lifeless form Of his daughter.
| looked into her face. The tramsition
from despair to hope had been too great,
an i she had indeed tainted. 1t was no time
to hesitate Hastily raising the beautiful
stranger in my arms, l called upon tho old
man to follow, dashed into the front cabin,
up the companion way, and to my utter
horror. found the flames had Just crossed
the entrance. For second paused. Death
was behind. destruction, perhaps. before.
| Iavinc- nav hand on the old mans shoulde,