The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-05-05


Armstrong was undoubtedly the favo-
rite with ever lady on board. 1t was
clear as the day that each one looked
best pleased when he was her cavalier
Perhaps 1t was from seeing this that
Miss Bellamy laid herself out to at
tract him. She certainly did do so.
For q long time he took it all for what
it was worth, and tried to pay her of
i'm kind. With him, however, into
something deeper. But she was prO0l
against all shafts, and only laughed al
him.
And so the ship sailed on the time
flying by. So pleasantly did it pass
that we were well down south and
across the southeast trades before any
one began to talk ofgetting to the Cape.
The weather kept fine; the evening
promonades were continued, as well
rs the flirting; aud MT. Armstrong was
invariably the companion of Miss Bell
amy. In short, it was with him, the
old story; he lad played with edged
tools and cut his fingers.
One night I was keeping the first
watch, walking fore and aft the poop,
when he came up and turned about
with me. I thought I'd rally him.
"Well, Armstrong, so you're in for
it at last!"
"Pooh! nonsense!" returned he, turn
ing as red as q crimson sunset.
ut is useless your trying to deceive
me, man-and perhaps yourself, also.
1 see it all plainly"
"Well, upon my word, believe it is
as yOk say, old fellow" he acknowl-
edged, coming round. 81 can't help
myself.n .-.-.
"Now, Armstrong, look here-take a
FOOLS advice. Don't let the fancy &c
on. Get out of it while you can. De
pend upon it, you will only be wasting
your time and love upon her. She is a
charming gi:l; believe truly good
girl; but she knows how to take the
best care of herself. She is going out to
India, as her sisters all did before her,
to find rich husbandu'
'You know her people, don't you?''
Eyes, know them. And / know
the creed they have brought her up in
Believe me, Armstrong, Louisa Bella
my will never LOOK seriously on a poor
man like YOU"
~ suppose yO- E.e right" he said,
after a pause. ~ have thought ali
along that she was only amusing her.
self with me. It's this; she attracts a
man against his will. But I'll cut the
matter short from tonight"
Toward morning the weather chang
ed. The wind hauled into the south
east, and came on to blow. For two
days we had strong gale with a heavy
cross sea, and the ship was knocked
about good deal. The passengers
showed out very little. This was the
first bad weather experienced, and ma
ny of them were qualElisE and kept to
their state-rOems. Armstrong and
Miss Bellamy were among the few who
could remain about as usual. He
seemed to be keeping to his determina-
ton, for he did not speak tc her more
than common civility demanded, and
when i'm the cuddy, always seated him
self at a safe distance.
But this could not last. The ice in
George ArmstrOng's bosom melted; his
good resolve gave way. When fine
weather returned, and the evening
walks were resumed, he and Miss
Bellamy We're again prOmenading the
poop side by side. And, all this time
was she smitten? Not a bit, that l could
detect; and watched her closely. /
felt sure that 1 had taken her true esti-
mate; she was of the world, worldly.
Some two months after leaving Eng
land, we made the Cape. The weath-
er was fine, and the ship put into Ia
ble Bay. Ostensibly for water, fresh
meat and vegetable; in reality to af-
ford the passengers an opportunity of
seeing the place and having run Oh
shore. They had great fun; Ionly wish
L had been with them; but we had
sprung topmast aud sustained some
other damage shortly before and l had
to remain on board to look after the
refitting. Table Bay was left, after a
sojOurn of two days. The weather was
fine, and the wind southernly and mod
crate. The next day but one, break
fast being ended, and most of the pas
sengers assembled on the poop, some
of the men began fishing over the stern
for Cape pigeons and albatrosses. Tue
ship was going about five knots, with
the yard braced up. l stood looking
out at the fishing and then went for
ward to the forecastle ladder, when
there was loud cry from the helms
man.
"Man OverbOard!'
Of all the different calls on board
ship in moments of sudden danger this
is to me, the most startling and i'm
pressive. 1t sends through me pecu-
liar thrill, and imparts a feeling of in
definable dread and gloom that no
other cry does. have, unfortunately,
heard it often. l have also heard near
ly all the others, from "Bralkers under
the bows" to "Fire" Blu. none ever
SO painfully impressed me as that of
''Nlan overboard."t
"Man overbOard!' How instantane-
ously the cry was caught up and echo
ed by twenty voices! What state of
panic and confusion the passengers
were in! All the crew came on deck in
an instant; even they who had been in
their hunks
"Where?' 1 cried, bounding back to
the poop, and running aft. "WhO il
is?"
"Armstrong. Mr.. Armstrong"
"Hard down the helm, hard down,
my iad." l said, as l seized life buoy
and threw it as far as / could toward
where he was padding about in the
water, a hundred and fifty yards as
tern. Although the buoys were close
at hand, strange to say nobody had
thought of throwing one overheard.
The one I threw did not so thirty-yard.
from the ship.
"Hard down the helm. All hands
on deck. Let go the maintack and
| bOwline, main sheet, back the maiI
yard. Mr. Green, take four hands will
you and clear away the small life boat
get into her and lower away as soon al
you're ready. Jone," to a MILDLY
'.jump up in the mizzen-top, and keel
your eye on the man overheard"
In a very short time the ship wa
stopped, and the boat travelling as fas
as four good men could pull toward thu
place where Armstrong could be seel
from aloft swimming about. Unfor
tunately, he had not reached the life
buoy. 1t was question of how Ion:
he could keep up. The weather wa
fine, and the water comparativel,
smooth; but there was good deal o
swell on. .--
One good thing, it was daylight. /
he were onlya tolerably good swim
mer, there was fair chance of his be
ing saved. But-cOuld he swim well
None of US knew!
1t was most anxious time. Tn
suspense was terrible. Most Ct til
passengers, certainly all the ladies
were literally in fear and trembling TO
a human life. Presently Jones SAN
out from the mizzen-top: at all right
the boat sees him. They are pullini
straight for him." A minute or tw
later, the youngster was at my elboy
on the deck, very much to my aston