The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-06-15
"Would that she and her cargo were
5aan within tha seaiu


"Would that she and her cargo were
deep within the seal"
AS he reached his own door; as he
paused ere entering, some one address.
ed him. 1t was Jean, the pilot, whose
turn 1t would be to answer the signal
gun OF the Volant.
"Hast thou any commands, master
Devereux ?" asked Jean.
Devereux made no reply, but open.
ing his door he assembled the stairs
The pilot followed. Devereux enter.
ed hfs apartment and closed the door
Jean stood within side.
He leaned his hand upon the spring
lock of an ancient bureau, and the
carved portals flew wide open at his
touch; there were many bags Of gold
within.
"The halfof this,' said Devereux
III would give that the Velant were
deep within the sea-"
the pilot spoke: .
"Give me all, and IL shall be done.'
Devereux hesitated for o moment.
III will give thee ALL"
The gun sounded and the pilot hur.
ried to his post. The pilot boat spec
merrily across the waves; but nigh
was falling over blackening waves
and whitening foam, and ere she reach
ed the Volant, neither boat nor shiI
were visible.
The dawn of morning showed the
Volant stranded on those dangerous
rocks 80 well known to the pilot Of the
sea, the rocks on the right to the Gu
trance of the harbor. But with the
morning came 9, calm the wind fell
the turbulence Of the ocean subsidized tc
gentle swell; and so near was the
Volant to the shore, so hushed was
the tempest, that the voices of those
within could be distinctly heard upon
the pier.
All that day boats went to and fro
between the wreck and the shore; all
the rich cargo, the heavy ore, the rich
caskets of diamonds, were safely land.
ed and consigned to the warehouses OF
st. Victor; even the good ship her.
self-Iightened Of her load, somewhat
strained, but still sound and buoyant-
was saved.
The pilot stood before Devereux
claiming his reward, but the latter
said:
"The freightage and vessel were saw
ed.n
"No fault Of mine,n muttered Jean.
III have done my best, but the tenn
pest fell and she lived through the
night"
Devereux threw him the gold; he
dared not resist the claim. AS the pilot
was passing from the presence Of the
old man, he turned and said:
zone life was lost!"
Devereux was Indifferent to this !;
he made no comment. The pilot
continued:
"Not one Of the crew, but youth
they were bringing home-a lad OF
Marseilles; his vessel had standed in
the Streits."
Devereux rocked little Of his death.
Why did the pilot presist In talking OF
it.
He resumed the subject:
"The boy was washed from the deck
by q wave, just as she was struck; ii
was dark, and there was no means OF
saving him."
Devereux coolly replied:
"Poor youth, Pm sorryp Then
turning to his previous occupation, he
showed that he desired the absence of
the pilot.
But the man still spoke:
"They have tried all means Of res
toration, but in vain; 1t is a pity, for
he Is q fair youth, and seems to be Of
gentle blood"
Now Devereux became impatient.
Why should the pilot linger, still tor
menting him with this idle recital?
What was all this to him?
e.pilot repeated the last sentences:
"He seems to be Of gentle blood"
and he added, "and he is the only
child of his father"
The old man laid down his pen,
struck by the pertinancy Of the pilot,
and gazed at him with look OF in
quiry. A noise was heard below, q
noise Of feet, staggering as though be-
meath burden-a noise Of many voic-
es speaking in hurried whispers.
"They are bringing the drowned
man here" said the pilot, as he turn
ed and departed.
With sharp, wild cry, the old man
rose to his feet. The truth with all its
terror and its anguish, broke upon his
SOUL at once; he had murdered his
own son!
The old man lived for many years
after this day, but he never became
conscious Of what had passed; he was
blessed beyond his desert, in complete
fOrgetfulness.
'"The wind Is rising" he would say.
"God grant there be no storm! My
son Is at sea.n
Then when night fell he would say !:
ut is late, and L can see the white
sails no longer; but If the wind Is fair,
he will come tomorrow. Drowning
is fearful death. God grant there be
no stermW
st. Victor gradually recovered from
his embarrassment, and gaining pru-
dence from past difficulties, became
again the greet merchant Of Marseil-
les-the prosperous st. Victor.
But his name and race are now ex>
tinct; and the splendor and the wealth,
and the prosperity Of the great house
have passed away forever.