Connecticut western news., 1871-07-28
VOL. L.

"Why, you see, we had fever on board in August, and I was obliged to leave eight of my best men in ho >pital at South ampton, and replace them with such as I could get. They are a mean set, picked up round the docks, and not to be trusted boat's-lcngth out of sight"
 The book that Eleanor Grant was read ing fell from her hand. Philip turned at the sound it made, and one glance at her white face told him she had heard all. He her; but she treasured him with a ges- ture. "Wait," she said; "I will speak presently" When she did speak it was steadily, almost coolly:
 "A burning ship, and haIf-mutinous crew! It is cheerful prospect we have before us.2 .......
 T am glad to perceive that it does not daunt you. Dangers often vanish as we face them. -'
 '2. ;" Imaginary ones; but this is evidently real enongh. Do not suppose pretend to be superior to fear" s-..-aa-7 ? 's-s ...
 " No; but you have plainly that better courage which can overcome fear"
 Both were silent for moment. In the minds of both there was sudden sense of the incongruity of the situation that in such an awful crisis of danger they two should stand there talking conventional platitudes to each other, barred by com mon memory of the past from even that frank sympathy which, had they. really been strangers, would have drawn them instantly together. re
 As quickly as possible Eleanor escaped to the privacy of her own room. How she passed the next few hours she never knew whether she prayed, or thought, or slept, she could not tell. It was past midnight when there came jap at the door. She rose instantly from the berth in which she was lying, dressed, and opened 1t. In- stead of the captain, whom she had ex- pected to see, there stood Philip Arm strong. ,,.i. ...~ -:.:...,. .5
 ct has come," he said, briefly. "Are you ready ?" U
 She signifed her ascent. He took up her cloak and wrapped it warmly about her, drew cut her arm into his, and led her on deck. - -.. .s 5.es- 4o3a s .s. #
 There the scene was ono of confusion and terror. The hatches were closely fastened down; but the thick smoke burst ing through every trevice told of the fear ful progress the fire was making below. The crew, sulky and disorderly, were get ting out the boats, which were. three in number two of them large, and strongly built, the other too small to be really ser viceable now. The wind had changed and was blowing hard, and the fire was not long in bursting its bounds. Soon the rigging was in flames, and the falling spars added new. source of danger. One of these struck the captain upon the head and laid him scnseless another, falling endwise over the side, stove the largest oi the boats, which filled and immediately sank. . ~
 At tLis fresh disaster the crew became manageable. They had been drinking, and the ruffian element among them was in the ascendant The remaining long boat would not now afford safe room for all, and, swearing that their lives were as good as any ones, they took possession oi it; and, regardless of the commands of the mate and the entreaties of the passengers pushed off from the burning ship.
 There were now six passengers, the cap tain, tbe mate, and two seamen--in all ter souls-to be lntrusted in one small boat But the flames left them no choice, and they quickly conveyed themselves to this forlorn refuge, carrying with them the still insensiblc captain. Morton, the mate was faithful fellow and good seaman but somehow, it was Philip Armstrong who now became the governing force O the party It was he who gave orders and assigned to each one his place and task it was he who checked the angry oaths O the sailors at the dcsertion of their com rades, and calmed the fears of the passen gers. Even Eleanor, rebellious as sh' might have felt at another time, acceptet his authority, and followed his slightes glance to obey it. i" = ..e-. --
 Alone now on the wide, painless sea The sky above was thick with clouds, tn, Graq EaGle blazing on the horizon thei only beacon. All night they drifted, ant the morning broke gray and cold. I'm wind steadily increased, and before noon i
 blew gale. The sea ran so Ligh tha every moment it threatened to ingulf them They were drenched with the dash of th
 waves and with the cold rain that hat Bbegun to fall. Their small stock of foot almost uncatable, and even this poor mor sel they were obliged to apportlon rigidl,,
 lest the supply should fail. 'n 4 .as 1 Days and days went by, yet no hel came. They grew weak with hunger ant
 the toll of rowing. They suffered alternatel from the scorching, sun and the bitter cold
 Eleanor felt that she must have perishe
 but for the watchful care of Philip. H took off his own cloak to add to hers, an
 his coat to wrap her half-frozen feet. Sh J would have prevented hun, but he wa stronger than she, and forced the thing upon her. =. Next she detected him stintin
 his own scanty ration to increase her:
 She put it back with her hand. "No, no
 she said, in passionate whisper. ' It } too much. You strip yourself that may ]; warm; you starve yourself to give me foo' } You kill me with. your limitless torgiv' ' ness 2" .-s%
 l ''Oh, Eleanor" he answered, claspir
 the hand she extended, ''it is you vt
 should forgivel How meanly I wronge you! how cruel were my petulant doubts 3 Something like her old, bright, playfl smile broke over Eleanor's pale face a . frankly leaving her hand in his clasp, st
 answered i'll the same low tone, "Ne al D equal in poverty at last, are we not? W
 can afford to be friends now" !, Philip pressed the thin hand convulsivel !, to his lips and so, silently, the new GOV :. nant between them was scaled.
 Will you believe me if tell you tn; p these two were actually happy ? Not a
 the horrors of their situation could owe r balance their joy ir the recovered posse g sionof each other They smiled now, al + evenjested gayly at the sutferings and, pl l. yatlons that had seemed so terrible. Tht n excited tue wonder and admiration of the d companions, who mistook for the very su a limity of courage what was merely t F. triumphant rapture of love, victorious ov d time and circumstance. Nevertheless, tht e situation was growing desperate. Tn t had now been thirteen lays adrift. Th' e food was exhausted; tbey had no wat e exec pt such as when tho rain fell tn 5. wrung from their own garments. Tn iii had no longer strenpth to TOM and tn