The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-02-17

boat with tw0 mcn in her, Aailipg as
repeatedly, and then sailing quietly
alongside, was the most tangible in
preston. Next, Mobile-prizes--Iit-
tic lIarry-Mi3siss sissippi--northers drum.
ken sprces-bgandy casls-ilnncnse
boxes Of specic-battlc--blood, and
long and earnest whispered CONVERSE
tons with the two mysterious visitors,
a word Of which did not understand,
although a confidential participant and
adviser, were incxtricahly mingled in
torturing confusion, while, to add to
the chaos, an indciinabie sense Of some
horrid danger, some irightfnl catas.
trophc impending, pcryaded all, and
like a hdcous nightmare, weighed
down and paralyzed my system like a
mountain Of lead Bill Wamwright's
mother, her grey hair dishcvelled, and
mullled in shroud, rushed shrieking
from the cabin and commenced ring
, ing our bell, the Changing Of which
echoed through my brain like pcals Of
thunder, and the huge volcanoic cone
! OF Grizaba seemed suspended in mid
air, directly overheard, sending forth
eruptions OF flame and smoke, and
gradually descending like vast extin-
g,lisher upon us. Through all this
turmoil could still hear the murmur-
Iirg of the strange mems voices, and 1
| had an idea that somehow they were
connected with ii. When, however, !
would have demonstrated with them,
as | thought, they retired as mysteri-
ously as they came, and | could hear
their oars, as they pulled softly away
! from the vessel. Then, all was for a
time blank and silent, and ! was con
scious of nothing but that vague fore
shadowing Of danger, which grew
more and more oppressive, and at
length perfectly agonizing. At last
| suddenly became aware in my dream,
that number Of strange men were on
board, and, as | thought, mardertag
mr. Sieepiag comradeS, With an cXcla
Imation Of horror awokc, sprang t.
my feet, and was instantly frlled to thC
deck by violent blow upon the head
"Whcn recovered my senses, thl
first sight saw was almost sufficient tC
drive them away. The vessel was ii
possession Of the McXicans, Two fish
crmcn in small skih, who were
caught in the northcr, pulling past u'
on their way back to the shore, haile'
us, and receiving no answer, came OF
board during the night, and goin4
ashore, gave information Of our plight
A party instantly set out to recaptur'
us in our helpless condition-most o
them being the very prisoners we hat
released that morning-and how the,
had succeeded was hut too apparent
Bill Wainwright and | were lying boun'
, and wounded abait the mainmast.-
Right before us lay poor Ham, hi
throat cut from year TO ear, 50 that hi
head was nearly severed from hi
; shoulders. And little Harry lay still
beside him, pinned through the brcas
to the deck by Il fragment Of u board
ing-pikc, his golden hair dabbling il
the mingled pool Of his own and hi
brothers blood; their faces ghastly il
death, and contorted in their last ago
ny, seemed to look ut us reproachi'ull.
, from their filmed and CLASSY eyes
, Around the deck lay the bodies of tn
+ rest Of our unfortunate shipmates,, al
slaughtered in their unconscious, drum
= ken iuthargy. by the revengcful Mex
y i...u-- nm was found by them alone j.
the cabin, and secured alive for tn
purpose of giving his captors what in
formation they might require. And
was found to have been only stunno
: by an il!-directcd blow from a cutlass
! after the Mcxicans' thirst for rcvcng
had been satiated by the butchery o
our comrades. 1t was now broad day
light. Poor Bill Wainwright sat wit
his hands tied behind him, 'lookin.
with strong tiXedncss Of gaze on hi
murdered brothcrs-not muscle, no
4 feature moved. He sat silent an,
eYprcssionlcss as q statue, but tn
great tears fell slowly one by one dowl
his cheek. spoke to him, but he di,
not seem to hear me.
"One ofthe Mexicans now approach
ed-a humane looking man-and aite
a few words of apparent remonstranc'
with his comrades, cut the seizing
that bound w. lie then requested Bill
to show them where the specie wa.
slowed, and thus save them the troubl,
in looking for it-promising at til,
same time that we should be we'll treat
ed. He assented, and taking out ci
gar asked for q light, which was giver
him. lie took out another, and giving
it to me, while l was lighting it at his
said in Il whiper, with glance Of in.
telligence:
"'It is in the run with the powder
II understood him, and my hear
felt for IN instant like an icicle. But
whispered in reply:
"'Do it-don't mind me-
"'God bless you Paul ! replied poor
Bill. Ifyou wish to jump, jump when
l whistle, Good by"
Those were the last words that Bill
Wainwright ever spoke. He went slow
" down the companionway, followed
by the Mexican officer, but just before
he disappeared from view, he turned
and looked at ME once more. His face
WAS deadly pale, and his eyes, CLASSY
and lustrcless as those of u corpse, were
E fixed on me with meaningless stare.
Recovering himself, he started, flushed
r up TO his very hair and went down in
| to the cabin. l tell you shipmates, I've
| been in some awful situations in my
t lifetime, but my Heart never beat, nor
: my limbs trembled, as they did ut that
: moment. A minute passed, and then
l from the depth of the after hold heard
faint whistle, and rushing suddenly