Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-11-30

SLOWLY 10 lower uOWn t1e DOdt, meaning 10
fasten The lines at last, and slide down.
The blocks ran easy enough. but Oh such
IL silent night. do what we could there was
some noise and at last one of the wheels
gave sucn chirrup, that the noise in the
cabin stopped, and we stopped too and
directly after, some one came up the cab
in stairs and on deck; and rs we covered
close together under the bulwarks. hold
ing ON TO the ropes, and tremblinglest we
should let them slip ever SO little, Hicks
for knew his step-walked close by
us right forward, and then back on the
other side; where he kicked the man by
the wheel savagcly, and spoke to him once
or twice, but there was no answer. and
then muttering to himself, he went below
again.
| That was close. said Tom. for he had al
most brushed asainst us; and then we each
took long breath. and. amidst Il good
deal Of noisy talk. the boat kissed the WA
ter, and we lashed our ropes fast.
| Now. if we only had some more prog
said Tom, | would MT care.
Don't stop. mate. says; there's lines in
the locker, and p'ral,s they've something
i'll the cabin.
All right says Tom; and he slid over
| the side. and was in the boat in a moment:
but not without rafting one of the oars.
and trcmble,l again for fear he should
have been heard. But all was quiet, and
the ncXtmoment | was be -idc him, and as
we could mt unlock the boat. | eut the
ropes fore and aft, and then Tom slowly
worked her along and under the cabin win
dow where those demons were sitting:
then past the window of the captains cab
in, round the rudder. and then there was Il
joyful cry. for had fast hold Of the sheets
hanging down.
Make her fast 18th the painter, Tom. |
said ; and up went. and next minute stood
between those two poor creatures, both of
them clin.ing to me in that sad way it
was pitiIui.
huSh.' said-not a sound: and then
drawing np the sheet, just looked ut the
knots. md m;.de it fast round Miss Made
line. for Miss Mary would not go first.
Poor "ir. she tried all she could to help
me ; and 50, she creeping out herself.
lowered Miss Madeline down into the boat.
and the shaken sheet told me all WAS right.
| Cod bless you for this whispered Miss
Mary. as | matlr the sheet rope fast round
her BE kind TO us for we are in your hands.
did MT say anything. but did kneel
down and kiss her hand that time, She
| W:lS Il ut:ll tllDTt itttNt tlldil HIT SlSttT.
aud in another minute. had her lowered
down into the boat, and Tom east oft the
sheet.
| Shy down some blankets he whispered;
and dragged those ont that We're in the
cots, and threw them down, and the pill
lows too. On the table was biscuit. cheese.
meat. and cake. and these | slipped in.o a
pillow-casc. and lowered down In the lock-
crs. too. were biScui-tins, aud two wicker
covered bottles; and these lowered down,
for felt safe now, Knowing how sooa
could slip down. and that the ladies were
out of danger; for knew if discovered pur-
suit would be vain in the dark. So. as fast
os | could. lowered down the eases of
preserved meat. and wine. and evcrythin.
of use that could find in the lockers, when.
giving a glance round. thought, now. III
so. Thought the shect-ropc might come in
though rs an awning. so stopped down to
unite it. meaning to slip it round the lc"
after, aud Slide down with il double. SO
| that could then loose one end. and draw
if after me. 1t Was hard work. though.
| for the Knots had been strained: and
kueclcd at last, and tried my teeth: but
| they were no GOOD: and pulled my knife
ont of my belt, cut the knot. drew up
enough 80 Is it >honltl give double. and
| was pa Ssin@ it round the leg. when heard
a noise, started up, and leapcd on one side.
lust a, Hicks stood in the door. and fired
,t me. lie had lowered his revolver to
cock for another shot. but helIad not time.
| for was ON him in All Instant. with my
knife driven deep into his throat and chest;
and then. as he fell with Il wild wurgin.
cry. Wrenchcd out the knife dragged to
the door. and was out ofthe window. just IL
Tom was climbing upby means of the boat
hook for he could not reach the sheet.
Back, sayS.-back quickly. and east
off the painter: and while he was gettin"
out of my way. had time enough to see
Hicks give two OF three clutches 1T the
carpet. and then lie stll. The moment af.
ter was in the boat. and with one trcmcn-
dous shove. sent her yards away trcm the
shin. as it were into thick bank Of dark
ness.
| Lie down. whispered to the ladies: and
Miss Madeline crGpt to her sisters feet,
while Tom and got out the oars, quick
/ " rs possible padded away. not daring to
make II sound. for there was Il noise an
| board. and three or four shot, We're fired at
random out of the cabin window. Then
we could sec them on deck, aud some one
fired Il pistol oil again; but the bullet ner-
cr came near us.
They're going to try and launch boat.
4
there's the ,lin.y. ash hold two comlorta
bic and II, for the long-hoat, don't think
they'll .et her oyer the side tonight.
Pray-pray. row fast, cried Miss Mary.
Can't we help: and she moved forward
Us il to get to an oar.
God bless you, no. Miss. said IN a whis-
! per: well bend to it directly. And then
we padded little father oil. ill |
thought they could nj hear the oars in the
rowl0cks. then we both bent to it. and row-
ed stroke for stroke for a good hour, and all
on right through the thickcst darkness
ever saw. and long after the lights in the
cabin of the good ship So0hera STIR had
| disappeared.
Al z. onee Tom stopped, and threw in
his oar.
What is it? says.
Matey. he SAYS. I hay III had bit nor sup
since ten last night: and Ithink we shall
work better after something.
Ihad ut thought of it before; but Iknew
how weak felt and SO pulled in my oar
too. and Tom pulled up one Of the biscuit
tins. and found the cheese and bottle.
Lend me your knife Jack. he says, and
my hand went naturally enough to my belt
but the moment after Ishu,ldercd, and told
him to break the cheese, pretending !
could not get at 1t.
Just as we pushed of. Icould see by the
cabin lights that Miss Madeline had crept
down at her sisters feet; but on feeling
now in the dark. found they We're sitting
side by side: so got one OF the blankets
ovnr thcn and then AFTER q deal OF Dpr-