The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-15

the water. but who could not compete
with the boat. Arriving at an old
sunken schooner, a long way from
the shore, the boy climbed upon the
topmast, and looked back at Hiley,
who was rapidly approaching. The
Captain felt sure Of his prey, and
was telling his men how to seize the
boy, when Ally suddenly fell from
the topmast, as if shot, and immedi-
ately sunk from sight
Thunder and lightniDgl' cried
Hiley, he's gonel"
Gomez echoed the men IN chorus.
Yes, gone!" and Hiley spraDg to
his feet, bending forward. &" l saw
him go! He fell back into the water,
and went down like a bullet, without
the least cryl Pull for your lives"
The men obeyed. The boat was
quickly beside the tOpmast. But no
trace Of the boy could be foundl
I'll take my Bible oath" said
Hiley, " that the young salamander
has not gone towards the nearest shore
-or any other. A eramp or a shark
has took himl"
The eyes of the seeming villain lit
up strangely. almost savageiy.
And such being the fact, men.
added he, we may as well give up the
search
The men resumed their oars, the
Captain the tiller, and the boat re-
turned ia silence to the brig, with
Ally clinging quietly to the stern-his
head just far enough out Of the water
to enable him to breathe-and there
he continued to stay until the boat
returned to the brig.
And then, the boat being left ia the
water, at the stern Of the brig, it oc-
/ Cured to Ally TO unlasten the boat
from its painter, let It drift down
| stream some distance, then climb into
| il, aud row away for Norfolk, which
he at once did.
For minute or two the boat CON
tinued to speed away IN the darkness
/ And then Ally climbed out Of the
water into it, with a strong sigh of re.
lief, and seized a pair Of oars reso-
lutely.
Crouohing out Of sight in the bot
tom of the boat, he began rowing
shorewards-but softly, for be wa:
still near the brig, aud the night wa;
50 calm he feared his enemies would
hear him.
There was only too much occasion
as it proved, for this caution.
The boat had not been gone TIVE
minutes from the big when Captain
Hiley, wishing to go ashore to SCI
| Colonel Nichols, made his way aft
and discovering its disappearance, a
once sent a couple of men after it il
another boat.
Ally seeing that he must again ak
to the water, took the oars along will
him, and went drifting seward. will
nothing but a pair of oars TO supper
bim.
The night had now fully set in an,
the tide ran fast. Cramped and chill
ed By his long continuance In tn
J water. the boy was Whirled along
growing weaker every moment; Blu
just as hope was at its ebb, he sud
, denly beheld a sail behind him, rapid
ly approaching, under the force of
J freshening breeze.
A brig, certain!" he groane0
; after a long look at The nearing clou
: of canvass. 1T must be old Hiley' S
, The wind having come again, he is O.
! for the Pacific oceanl''
He regarded the brig, as it cam
, nearer, asking himself If he shout
; hail her.
Let her be what she may" h
muttered, friend or foe, 1 must hai
; herl My strength is used up!
shall soon slip off from these oars al
drown! Fortunately the brigis con-
ing straight towards me. L shall ha
/ herl"
J He waited till the brig was near hin
and then carried his resolve into ez
cution. His feeble call was hear
i and answered, the brig hove to, boa
: was lowered, and he WAS taken aboar
} the stranger. The boy had onl
strength enough to learn that the bri
, was not Hiley's, and then he fainteC