The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-11-18
THE RESCUE.

! 'lne TWO DTlgS were IakGu EOuuu u
London, loaded and fitted for sea, and
both sailed on the same day-the Dart
with myself as suPercargo, for Porto
Sauto, where we we're to discharge oul
outward cargo, and then run over to the
main island, whittier the Courier, Captain
Ir;ton, was bound direct, where we were
both to load for home.
we had beautiful passage out, and
fine, pleasant weather for discharging, SO
that in much less time than was ordinari-
ly occupied in making a passage in those
days, We were all ready to get under
weigh for Madeira proper, when, Just as
we we're getting our anchor, boat having
a most beautiful Portuguese girl in the
stern sheets. and named by two fisher
men, pulled off alongside, and the lady
coming on deck, begged of the captain
in so earnest a manner to be taken to
Madeira, that both Of US we're convinced
there must be some extraordinary oeel-
sion for her importantly aud anxiety to
get away from Porto Santo.
you shall 60, senorita, said Captain
Alwyn; and scarcely had the earnest and
most musical 'Huito olrigado SenOr Cap
itano ? been spoken By the lovely girl in
reply, when two or three small parcels
were flung upon deck by the fishermen
and the next moment their little craft
darted away towards the shore, avoiding
by circui GUS course, larger and more
ciumsy-lOoking boat, which came dash,
ing out from the landing towards the
brig.
'Deos me slaUer exclaimed the maiden,
in accents of terror, grasping the young
captains arm, and quivering like an as
pen, as her eye fell upon the approach
ing boat, which contained four oarsmcn
four soldiers armed with muskets, anC
an individual in the stern sheets Sc
muf1ed up in heavy cloak that we eoulC
not make out who or what he Was.
THE anchor was a.Weigh, the foretop'
sail and to gallant sail were shcetcC
home, the head sails were run up, anC
the brig swung round head off shore, anc
Just begun to walk off before the ligh
bre, ze as the boat ranged up to th'
gangway, aud the man in the cloak leap
ing to his feet, demanded tie iast-nt sur
render of lis runaway daughter. '
He lies, captainl o, save me ! j
am not his daughter--in Iced l am not ]
almost screamed the trembling girl, cling.
ing still closer to Alwyn, and shrinking
behind him for protection.
Come up here and convince me tha
this lady is your child, and you shal
take her hence; but otherwise, you shal
uotP said the captain, approaching the
side, and looking down into the bat.
The invitation was quickly r'sp'nded
to by the cloIked stranger, who seized
the manropes and sprang up the side
ladder with the agility ofa cat; but hl;
ascent had disarranged the folds of hi:
cloak so that his features, and the breast
of gold laced military coat were partial
" revealed; and scarcely had he gained
u footing upon the deck, when AlWyn
with his teeth hard set, and face as pal,
as marble, sprang upon, and lifting the
intruder from his feet as though he haC
been but an infant, be hurled him ovel
the side, headlOng down into the boat
full upon the heads of two Of the oars
; men.
Fire = shouted the discounted POrtu
guese, sorambling to his feet, and stand
ing there with the loss of his cloak, re
vealed to US as Captain Manuel Cortano
the military governor Of Porto Santo, a
vile, treacherous a scOuudrel as ever dis
graced the uniform of any nation.
The soldiers hesitated until the Urdel
to fire was repeated by the infuriate'
rufian, aud then four bullets hissed b,
Alwyn's head, who shouted in thunde
tones to the mate and crew:
, 'Ho, there, Mr.. Alertonl jump for
ward, sir, with all hands, and bring tha
kedge anchor this way. Over with hir
heaven ? be cried, as the anchor wa
poised on the brig rail above the bOaI
'Heave, my souls, and sink the rascals
and down went the kedge, but the POrtu
gnese had showed of, just in time t
I avoid the destructive missile, that wOul
r otherwise have gone square through tht
bottom Of Il cir boat.
, 'Never mind, sir, said Captain -Alwyr
more calmly, as he saw The anchor 6
: down clear Of the boat, never mind, Nj
e Allerton, an glad after all, that "
E didn't kill Gu; aud now hope SenC
Cortano will 20 off home and mind b
? own business; for, by my soul, if h
, orders another musket fired at US, I'll ru
his boat down with the brig, just so SUI
' as I'm au Englishman. Bur, put sail 0
s her as fast as you please, sir and in les
then fifteen minutes the little Dart Wa
t walking off from the land, under ever
.l inch Of canvas, while the Portuguese
s boat was last Disappearing in the deeper
I ing twilight astern, as sue pulled in tt
d wards the shore,
; Captain Alwyn ordered the steward
l. carry the packages that had been fur
o on deck down ioto the cabin, and tn,
/ went down himself with the young lad,
/ where he remained for more than an hou
f aud when he came on deck again,
is merely informed me that he had learnt
Is the girls history, aud that he consider
O. ed it as one of tue lappiest events Of h
life, her seeking protection on board Il
4 brig, and bis having secured her from q
! scouudgel eortepo. But what the mai
n Wig "a considered llil
81 T n her