Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-11-13
THE LOST GIRL.
BY ROGER sTARBUcK.

BY ROGER sTARBUCK.
Two weeks out from New London,
the whaleship Thalaba was booming
along; roaring like a thunderbolt, in
a gale that made everything CULVER
and crack.
The man at the wheel being green
hand, the Captain was about order
ing couple Of experienced sailors to
take his place, when he (the helms
MANI luffing up, the canvass Topping
with the din OF discharged cannon,
gave the three top-masts such jerk
that they came down with tremen-
dous crash.
Men with axes cleared away the
wreck, and when the gale had abated
the skipper rugged jury masts. Then
the vessel was headed for Tayal,
where the Captain intended to go for
repairs.
Meanwhile beautiful girl, Mary
Bandon by name, the daughter of the
second mate, had come up on deck
She stood by the rail, her bright hair
flowing in silky, rippling curls, back
from her cheeks, which bore the soft
tints of the seashell. She was great
favorite with all the hands, who
would have done almost anything for
one 30 kind and affectionate. The
first mate, Wardock, fine looking
young fellow Of twenty-five, was
smitten with Mary's charms at once,
and she had shown by her manner
that she was not at all averse to the
society Of one who was the son of an
Old friend Of har father
When on this night she went be-
low, she thought Of the handsome
mate for long time. She also tho't
Of her father, who, being rather stern,
had unfortunately incurred the III
will Of the crew, principally Portu-
guese Kankakas.
When she fell asleep, she dreamed
that one Of these persons came be-
hind her father, as he stood by the
lee rail, and pushed him over into the
sea. She thought she screamed, and
obeying the impulse Of the moment
jumped over after him. That scream
awoke her, when to her dismay, she
perceived that she really had quilted
the ship; that she had crawled thro
the one Of the cabin windows, and en-
tered a whaleboat which one of the
men in the daytime had lowered
astern to repair the damage done to Q
part of the rudder during the gale
She also perceived that the warp, BY
which the boat had been attached t.
the ship, had parted, and that tn,
Eight vessel, therefore, was rapidly
Idrifting astern. She shouted, bu
from terror or some other cause, sht
could not speak loud enough to max,
herself heard. Meanwhile the shiI
was soon out of sight in the darkness
and the girl, with low moan, sanl
down upon her knees, giving hersel
up for lost.
She was not missed until morning
and then Brandon was driven almos
wild by her strange disappearance.
OF course he could not tell il tn
absence of the whaleboat was con
nected with 1t. He feared that per
haps she had fallen overheard in tn,
night.
Wardock, not less grieved, but NOR
, hopeful, believed that she had drifte
off in the boat. All day he was alofl
with a good spy glass, but no sign G
the missing girl could be discovered
Brandon, when night came, wa
/, almost deprived of his senses. III
walked the deck, talking to himsel
and ravihg like maniac.
Wardock vainly endeavored to cot
sole him.
"Cheer up" said the young mar
hopefully, 1--WE will find her in tn
morning"
. He was mistaken. No sign of he
was discovered when morning came
lao A. e., 4 4,
missing girl.was continued, withou
success.
The Captain shook his head, an
said IL was no use longer to della
their progress towards the Wester
, Islands. The wind was fair now ft
the islands; but there was no know
ing when storm might arise, and
caught In n storm In her preser
!, crippled condition, the ship woul
Z suffer severely. As the ship cam
around, Brandon, swinging himse
into the main shrouds, mounted int
the fore-top TO take last look
Straining his eyes, he fancied h
could Just make out black speck fl
away astern. He proclaimed his dii
coyery, when the Captain, spy glai
In hand, mounted aloft.
al sec nothing" he said, sweepin
. the horizon in all directions.
"rhen my miserable eye must ha,
deceived me-" said Brandon, hoars
ly, the tears streaming down h
cheeks.
: Ben Burke, an old tar, on the yai
below, looking up, saw the grie
stricken parent, and shook his hea
ominoilsly. =.
"It's no use," muttered he, ~
use. The craft will never have luo
with q tyrant In her. The gal wi
never be found"
= Fate seemed destined to strengths
y his superstitious belief. A man VIII
by Brandon's order, had gone alofto
the maintop gallant yard, missin
his hold, while loosenifig the sail, Il
into the sea and never rose again.
The man was the brother of Mar
n one of the Kankakas, a tall, fierc
al looking fellow, with hair hanging
$. his shoulders, and gifted with Il
4. strength Of three ordinary men.