The weekly standard., 1869-09-29
SELECTED STORIES.
A Duel at Sea.


A nuo1 at Saa.
n O"o' W
had settled up the Duslness winch Aau
called me to Caicu1a, anu sa Sn,taS pas
sage on board the nne cnP cei'on
Captain Hays-Jack nays ~ H'0 Ifienus
called him.
The cabin OF the Suitan was Pecunarly
adapted for the accommodation OF the pas
sengers, being large, airy, ana roomy; WINE
the state rooms were finished with all the
requisites to make one comfortable on long
passage.
There were three passengers besides my
self who had determined to trust thelr nves
to the care and guidance OF our young ana
popular Captain-viz !: Nh. King, who was
q tall. pale, slender young man, In the last
stages of consumption, accompanied oy ms
wife. a fine, handsome young lady. Ring,
by the advice and persuasions of his doctor
and friends, had been induced to try the
benefit of trip on salt water, hoping 1t
might have the desired effect OF prolonglng
his life. With his wife, he had travelled ex-
tensiyely, but now had decided to return to
his native land and die surrounded by his
family and friends. He was wealthy, and
had been married but little over year; with
everything at his command but health, he
was doomed to die at sea, finding last
resting place in the bosom OF the restless,
ever changing deep.
Our third passenger was man with fea-
lures which once seen, would almost instant
ly give rise to feeling OF repugnance and
distrust.
He was introduced by the Captain as Mr.
Osborn, and dislked him at frst sight.
OF rather below than above the medlum
height, with large square shoulders, short
full neck, coarse bushy nan, and iace Dear
ing the unmlstakable stamp OF bully and
rascal.
such were the passengers t9at tae good
ship Sultan was expected to bear In safety
across thousands OF miles OF the treacherous
deep:
With talr tide and wind, the Sultan
dropped safely down the river, under the
skillful guidance OF Calcutta pilot, and
for once, as fortune or luck would have 1t,
we escaped all the bars, sand-banks, and
shoals, which abound from the mouth to
the source OF the sacred River Ganges.
With sigh of satisfaction, saw the pilot
pass over the side, wishing US quick and
pleasant passage as he showed OF The
weather braces were checked in, sheets
hauled aft, and at last we were plowing
the blue waters OF the Bay Of Bengal,
with southwest moonsoons blowing freshly.
We were hauled on taut bowline, with
all the canvas spread that the Sultan could
well stagger under. Jack Hays was noted
for the quick passages he made, and when
the order was given to clue upa topgallant-
sail on board OF vessel when he comman-
ded, other less reckless mariners would be
putting in the double reefs. Days passed
by. With but few exceptions the passengers
seldom met, except at the dining-table. The
voyage had scarcely begun. That restless
feeling, want of change, monotony, and lone
someness had not syet been experienced on
board our gallant craft, which glided oyel
the sparkling waves Like thing of Life.
-Four months previous to the day OF my
sailing with Captain Hays, l had landed il
Calcutta, having Travelled by the overland
route from Southampton. 5ss .1 re.sa goo
l was quite lad when my brother lef
the old homestead to try his fortune in
strange country; ne nad, through the In
fuence OF friends, obtained position In I
large mercantile tirm, well known through
out the East Indies, and bade Us all farewell
his heart beating high with ambition, hope
and aspirations: Years rolled on: wa
rapidly advancing 10 mans estate. fre
quent ana numerous were the letters tina
passed between my prother N the East AMI
hlsloying parents and Drotner.
Finally, l. too, entered into the busy, bust
hng arena OF mercannle me- ana was iavor
ed by the smile OF fortune;
was rapldiy accumulatlng . fortune
wnen we were nearly stunned oy receiving
letter IN an unknown nano, informing m!
nearly 1rsnrc iatner ana motner tnat fthei
son was dead that ne had faiien In an at
fair OF honor with man personally un
known to the writer. His effects were in
the hands of the American Consul, and
without delay resolved to start at once, and
endeayor to pierce the mystery which enyel
r arrived at Calcutta made ;nouir;e.
searched and investigated, but could leafn
nothing 1safisfactoryI with a sorrovfnl
heart 1tooE Tossess;on of NV n, .s.tsa h,s.h
or,s ,,.o,,artf .nd the -. = ai.n.S-
ers properly, anu the reaoer Is ALREADY
Sm,a.s Ma.e ho" Pa'sase on i'l ooaio tne
II bad ,or~,r.a1 kha r,~rn - T,d, o.
-. neI 20 ae'l IL .no nsne e VI 'unn uley
thiet MIeh 'er. sne s.I.s .a. u My naslYe lang,
araata. % p..aP .Sa sna' .t:.e .sus pursue 70
S-cs.el aufantago f'N lne oDJoct Vi my eIand
ana journey. -,
0ra9ualy tne passengers became acquaint-
ee, ana Dy tne time We mad gained the In
;.l aiah ocean M had become quite intimate
with MI. and Mrs. Ring, spending many
happy hours in their company, and assisting
the patient. atfectiorate wife to entertain
and sooth her fast-sinking husband. c
One afternoon I was lying on an old sail,
on the ieeside Of the poop, reading volume
At Sa,s shakespearen to the sick man. Who.
by my sSe y s ss ~Se Ts. %osns snsls
cigar, left the Sumpiin-bits. Iwhers s he was 3
finished ID the, passage was % resdine, i Nh, n
Ring made some continents: 1 : and the harsh 81
discordant voice Of Osborn also Joined IN