Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-10
CAPTAIN DARREL'S WARD.


season, touching at the Sandwich Islands, we
received on board as Passengers, Scotchman,
who had been for several years resident of the
colonies and his only child little girl of twelve
David Cameron had recently lost his wife,
who had long been in delicate health; and,
closing up al his affairs, determined upon A
change OF residence. with a View of pnsbipg his
fortunes elsewhere. He had been 3 seaman in
his youth, and was, of course, able 70 adapt
himself easily TO such accommodations We
could offer him in whaler. He was tenderly
attached TO his little daughter, who soon became
aiavorite with every one on board.
lt needed not the assurance OF the stricken
vidOwer 20 satisfy that Jessie had been in the
hands of an excellent mother. She an in
tercsting and intelligent child, and had made
The most Of her opportunities, in a situation
where educational advantages were necessarily
very limited.
Thrown into daily contact with her, as was,
it was not strange that found strong attach
ment drawing me- to her. She was a study to
me; fGr could not help contrasting her, every
hour in the day, with little sister OF mine,
IL wa true, Maria was bright and pretty
child. and - proud and fond OF me, her sailor
brother. She believed that Priam Darrell was
the incarnation OF all that was grand and noble
in manhood But she had nothing OF the quiet
self-reliance to be observed in this child, who
had been thrown 50 much upon her own
sources. In book knowledge, as wen as in the
thousand little graces and arts acquired in So
Getty, she vas, of course, the superior of Jessie
Cameron; but in strength and force of character,
she hight well have been Sey eral years younger.
When near the French Rock, we encountered
n gale "a wind, which exceeded in violence any
thInE/shich have ever experienced, before or
zee, in the Pacific But our little passenger
quite 1T home on ship-bOard, and appeared
t. have little fear uneasiness. She remained
on deck nearly all the time, until the wind and
Sea increased to such degree that her father
vas compelled, by fears Tor her safety, to order
her TO keep close in the cabin.
The old Warsaw, owing to her stiffness, was a
very ugly seabCat in a gale. And on the second
Gay 81 the blow, all her storm canTas having
been torn from the bOlt-ropes, she lay wallOwing
at liz. n fhs mt.
Impossible TO bend and set any new sails, and
our situation became really dangerous.
We lay thus Tor several hours, occasionally
Shipping tie top Of sea, but no material dam
age hau been DONE Towards night we were
fsE UIcd with lUil, and advantage was taken Of
n 10 ST q new miZCn-staysail, that We might
have -omeJhiHg to keep her head up to the sea.
All hands we're above the deck at the time;
sn' Ia! self was on the miZZen-Stay, half way
uP the mainmast, doing the last work OF bending
thc s2il 10 lis hanks. The halyards and sheet
NeTC ~tT0II -iy manned. and every one in reaLi-
TC~~. waiting tor the word To- Hoist away"
va, just about 20 Slide down from my porch,
when great wall Of water came roaring down
uiCn a., and knew, by the feeling OF the ship
ul;der me. that she would not rise clear of il.
On il came; Clung invOlEntarly To the stay,
hearing confused cries OF - Hold On'' - Look
out Ii met with n shock that seemed to
have driven in the whole bIOadside Of Our stout
craft
I;ComJed in nearly the whole length of the
ShiI. ioIc ami ait, giving no time to escape. OF
q" anything but 10 cling instinctiyely 10 the
nearest support. All below me was a roaring
gull OF wafer. in which men and inaniInate OBJ
ieCts were PTomiscuOusly dashed about me. /
hal enough 10 do TO retain my hold where was,
looking down upon the dreadful sight. I felt
thai my fate would be decided in another mo-
n,Hf or two 1t must be the same as that Ofmy
shiFmates, who were yainly stretching their
hand, towards me for succOr while here,and there
cry rang on my ear ,breaEingthe ceaselesS of
and wind. We were all to die together IN
heard Of,the simple record attached to our names
Probably fOUndeTed At sea-"
BOT, shivering in every timber of her ancient
fabric, the Warsaw rose again triumphant from
what seemed her death-struggle with the ele-
mentS. Her bare deck came into view as she
shook herself free OF the burden; for nearly all
OF her bulwGrks were swept away on both sides,
a. well as everything Of movable nature.
But, rot human being was To seen, a., still
chngng. in my elevated position, looked about
THEN final account.
lad 10 time for sentiment; indeed think the
ieadius emotion in my mind was one ofastonish-
nient IT feeling the ship still buoyant, for I had
uO idea that she could ever rise again. / slid
down 10 the deck, and watching my opportu-
nifty, darted below into the cabin. EVERYTHING
was aaoat there; for the companion way had
been dashed in . splinters, and the sea had
poured down IN cataract. 4 stood in the door
way leading into the afteI-cabin, drenched and
shiveriDg, looking up at the new opened hatch
way, and wondering how long it might be ere
should be tnguifed; for the next sea that bearded
Us would probably Ill and Sater-log the already
Where's father?' said a tremulouslittle voice
behind me.
turned at the sound, and saw the bright head
.TOruding from the narrow opening OF a state
CON door. The blue ewes were uRnaturaIly
Nranded with wonder and ANXIETY; but there
a none Of the childish weaknessof fear thaf
'ght have been looked for under the eircum-
r1nces.
Mr. Darrell, where. father?- she repeated.
How could answer the question? Only by A
IN 10 her to keep close within her room
fsee en mS q her s Of VISION
Powerless, as i regarded any effort I could
AXE Tor safety against the storm, waited the
tile Jessie and myself. But as If tie demon Of
rath had been satiated, she now appeared to
AXE better weather OF il than she had done for
H"uTs before; Hope again revived, and I has
ned to explain our position 10 the orphaned
knew not how 30 begin. rough seaman that
vas, 10 break the sad intelligence to her. But
ieund it unnecessary 10 speak; she had already
EUeeoed the truth, in art, and single look in
my face was sufficient for her quick comprehen-
After the first burst Of grief, which I suffered
her To- indulge unchecked, she became calm,
wonderfully 50, and was prepared to look the
matter Squarely in the face with q coolness and
RESOLUTION far beyond her years
DO you think We shall Be drowned, Mr.. Oar
Ielli" she asked.
mo" answered. Al leas. have strong
hopes that we may be saved. I think the
worst OF the gale N over, and il We only don't
hr?Pen TO ship an unfortunate sea like that
my dear father He was all that had,-
he moaned, and once more her miraculous for
'rude gave way, and she broke down again.
The gale abated at midnight, and though the
fhip lsbored terribly In the tumbling swell, for
want o. canvas TO steady her, We shipped no
more heavy seas. i staid near my young charge
ell through the night, for Of course, neither Of
u could sleep. 1 promised her that I would
ever DC as a father % her, and that, come what
would, she should share my fortunes, and be TO
Ine a. a sacred legacy.
OF course, no such idea a. marriage with her
had anything to do with what said or felt at
that time. was twenty-five years old, and
slessie a child Besides, was under promise of
mar age 10 a young lady OF suitable age. She
jltsG rle for another, during my absence-but
that BE- nothing to do with my story.
Ni'H the morning light came the necessity for
effort. and sense OF responsibility new and
strange 10 me. l sounded the well and found
only two feet OF water in the ship, this having
yCJked down from above. L did not attempt,
alORe to pump her out; but rejoiced in the as
su.nee that still had tight vessel under me;
fHs had she sunk, should have had no DEEPEN
GeZce beyond such a raft as | could have
eNcmporized. Every boat had been swept away.
l0osed and let fall the foresail, and succeeded