The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-06-21

and groans, but there is no hope. Gilbert
Drew knows it. The Lapwing was sound
vessel and she had borne much; all her out
ward voyage was unprosperQus, they were
veXed by calms one day and tormented by
tempests the next. And now the Lapwing
will never see the end of the homeward voy-
age on which she has started and there is
little doubt but that before this tempest has
spent itself, captain and crew will have gone
on that longer voyage from which there is
10 homecoming. The hold was filing rap
idly.
''We must take the boats; it is our only
hope, though no boat can live long in such
a sea as this" the captain said hoarsely.-
lie was no coward, Luz this looking for
ward to certain death was terrible to him.
Life was so strong and fresh in all his veins
and though Fate had been very unllind to
him, and all his dearest hopes had been
ruthlessly dashed, it was still precious to
him, for
Whatever crazy sorrow saith
No life that breathes with human breath
Has ever truly longed for death. -
SIT is certain death to take the boats"
the mate said. 'Let us fire the gun once
more. There might be some other ship
near.'
''lf there were, who would run to certain
death for the chance of helping us ?'' said
Gilbert Drew.
But the gun went booming out over the
waters, and there they waited for what
seemed an eternity, and then, far off and
faint, an answer came,- was it only a
distant peal of thunder? But there was no
time to wait longer. The boats were low
cred and quickly filed-more than filed
Gilbert Drew leaned over the vessels side.
after they were all in the boats but him, and
looked at the little crowded boat that wait
ed him.
"The boat is full already; there is no
| chance for so many l shall stand by the
ship" he said.
Prayers were of no avail, and they went,
at last, and left, knowing that the Lapwing
when she sunk would draw them in also.
| Gilbert Drew stood alone on the vessels
deck, waiting for death.
But suddenly in a pause Of the wind, he
heard shout; with a sudden thrill of hope
he answered. A moment after. a boat
that rode the waves gallantly. was beside
the Lapwing. There were five or six men
in it; one Of them was standing up straight
and tall and sudden flash of lightning re-
vealed his face to Gilbert-it was CAPTAIN
Matthews. Just as Gilbert Drew swung
himself into the boat flying spar struck
Captain Matthews on the head and knock
ed him-thanll God, not into the sea-but
into the boat, white and senseless. With
out word Gilbert took his oar, and they
rowed away for life toward the Winged Ro-
yer, that Gilbert had last seen in the quiet
little harbor Of Rockport 1t was but a
short distance, and two boats from his own
ship had already reached it, the crews faint
and exhausted but without one man miss
ing. They lifted Captain Matthews over
the vessels side, and laid him on the deck.
A stream of blood was flowing from his
mouth, but he opened his eyes and looked
upward into Gilbert's face as he bent over
him.
81 told you we might meet again." he
said family.
" You are too weak to talk, 7 said Gil
bert %
In spite of himself he still had tskfeelino
OF enmity against this man who had saved
his life That life was scarcely precious
gift when coming from his hands, he
thought.
mo, am not too weak, but x blink I
am dying. No matter; your liGeds worth
more than mine. But had something TO
do; you must do it for me. You must
stop Phebe from marrying that man! Why
you don't know who he is! He is what |
am, an escaped convict-only he is thous-
and times worse than ever l was," he add
ed, looking up eagerly as if to see whether