Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-06
Gales aud Skttthes.
THE WRECK OF THE ..SIREN."
CONCLUDED FROM YESTERDAYS PAPER. ]

struck, with a tremendous shock that shat
tered the unhappy vessel. on great rec
two miles to the south of Cape Algo. The
water instantly poured in with such terrific
force that before more than twenty of The
crew had escaped, screaming and shout
ing, to the maintop, the ship had filed tC
her decks. In that wild driving storm, In
the darkness and the terror, no one of the
half-clothed men who chung to the main
top knew at first who was saved, except
now and then that a name was shouted OF
replied to. The captain and his wife
were there, Mackay was saved, and Pat
terson and Watson were also among the
survivors. Patterson and a ships boy had
dashed themselves to the rigging higher
up than the rest the hungry waves roared
ceaselessly below for their prey.
When day broke luridly on the unhappy
band it shone on the pale face of the cap
tain, who had been injured in his efforts to
escape, and had with difficulty been reseu-
ed. He was delirious. His brave wife
held him up in her arms, and was trying
in vain to soothe him. 1t would have
made savage's heart bleed to see her
wiping away the clammy moisture that
kept rising upon his brow.
They're starving me I" he cried;
..they're starving me! They tied me here
Mary and her lover, curse them tied me
here to starve! They've tied me in reach
of the sharks; there. ! see one now COM
ing at me; he is turning now. Oh, save
me! gracious God. save me from: this hor-
rible death Who's this holding me? What,
Mary let me strike her in the face, the
wanton; let me kill her; she has come to
mock mel"
Weak as he was, the mailman would
have struck the poor weeping woman who
chung beside him, had not Mackay and
another sailor held him back.
'.Mr. Mackav," she said, 'for the love
of Heaven, tell me if any one that has
escaped has saved any food, and would
give me only mouthful for Donald. Have
we any hope Is there any hope ?" (She
said these last words in whisper.)
"There is but little hope, Mrs. Cameron,
said Mackay, in a low, voice-"bnt little
hope. We have no food, and unless some
vessel pass within hail within a few hours
we must one by one be washed off in the
first storm that RISES
Mr.. Mackay asked the men all round.
Some, sullen with despair, and huddled
together, cold and shivering, would not
utter word in reply, There was no food.
One man had had a bit of bread and meat
he had found in his pocket when the shock
came, but that he had eaten. Then Mr..
Mackay shouted to Patterson and the boy.
mot crumb, Mr.. Mackay," said Pat
terson. 1.-The Lord forgive me for what
I've wasted when was in the land of
Goshen, by which mean Fifeshire! All,
Mr.. Mackay, food is no use now; its but
a short time we have to liver
The boy shouted that he had two bis
cults. but he ment to keep them.
go up and killhim," said Watson.
Mrs. Cameron raised herself on to her
knees.
MIR. Mackay." she said, II know you
are generous and brave; you will help me
to save Donald Under his waistcoat there
is belt; that belt contains five thousand
pounds of the owners money Offer the
boy money for enc Of those biscuits.
Mackay took the belt, the captain all
the while screaming, They II murder me,
Mary has sent them to murder me and
steal my money! The sharks are nearer
now; can see their teeth glitter in the
foam; they are close to me now; merci-
full God, save me, save mep'
81 only wish they had you tight, growl-
ed Watson.
Mackay took the money, and held up
half dozen sovereigns to the boy, who
leaned over and glared at the money.
Tom" said he, "Tgive sou six sover-
eigns for that biscuit -
s.Go up and tear it from him." said Wat
son.
Wont take it, said the boy. ,"Therem
"A dozenPn
II want it to keep my own life in. What
use is money to me now, misterT'
"Twenty? Think Of twenty pounds for
q biscuit
mo, Mr.. Mackay, it's not enough. /
know the value Of the grub; it'll keep
me alive for a day"
Forty Fifty Toni P"
"No; life's as dear to me as to you. |
tell you don't want to part with the bis
cult"
"a hundred?n Mackay shook the belt. :"
mo; my lile's dearer to me than the
captains isl
1.-TWO hundredP"
NO"
8 "Five hundred?F
mo"
Eight hundredp"
mo; but give me a thousand shouted
the boy sullenly, yet greedily, land I'll
take my chance of ayessel coming or not
Hear it is. hand up the money If I'm
saved, I'll go home to Dundee rich man
Hoorah!'
Bring down the biscuit
Eyes, likely! and have you snatch ii
before get the money. Not likely"
Mackay, faint as he was, clamberet
slowly to where the boy lay tied to spar
and angrily handing the money, received
the biscuit.
''Ah, man." said Patterson, who was toe
weak to rise, "what did / say about the
Siren Didn't ! always say there was NJ
luck about her? A curse ON her and she
who named her. But no, no; / won'
curse the bonny lady. Look at her wonder
bless her See she's praying for us,'
MARY" said Mackay-for DANCE,
seemed to render this familiarity natura
now Mary, there is the biscuit. Lee
me crush it into paste with some salt
water, and give it to poor Donald"
Mary wept for JOY when she saw tn
food, pressed Mackay's hand, and crept to
ward the delirious man with the treasure
But he pushed her sayagely from him.
No." he said, mo; it's poisoned.