Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-06

| the TWO strongest men surviving 10 unlasi
the captains body and let it fall into the
sea.
''He ought to have gone there day
sooner" said Watson; he wasn't woitl
keeping alive. If | loved mans wife,
wouldn't so much care what became of the
husband. But what matter? we shall
none of us last another day"
"Who was that fell off in the night
said Mackay to the miserable wretch whom
no suffering could soften. Death was IA
miliar to them now.
1T was that fool, Tom. Much good his
thousand pounds did him. said Watson,
very family, but still in his old bitter way.
There were only six aliytlnow.
By the faint morning light of the third
day Mackay bent over the insensible wo-
man who lay by his side. She looked very
beautiful in her sleep. calm and peaceful,
as if sorrow had never Swallowed her brow.
Her glorious hair was disheveled and en-
tangled with the rigging. Mackay freed
it with lovers care. Gle felt now a
love unutterable and hitherto reprcsscd
filling his hearty Her eyes opened slow
", smile of peace passed over her face.
He pressed her hand softly and uttered her
name.
81 am ready for death now" she said :
I'm ready to join Donald. | have been
dreaming that he was calling me from
heaven to join him.
There is no help for u.s. Mackay.
"Mary, now is our last hour let us recon-
mend ourselves to God. All hope is over"
She placed her hand calmly in his, and
they prayed together feryently for a speedy
and peaceful death Then a faintness
siezed them, and they fell asleep. 1t was
Just then that Patterson above gave a faint
cry of joy, but they heard him not.
".
English voices aroused them, English
hands were unlashing them from the rig
ging. An English vessel, the Swiftsure
frigate, had seen the fragment of the
wreck and its flying signals. and had borne
down to their help. A few days of care
full nursing restored them to some reason
able strength. Mary Cameron. to Mac
kay's great joy, recovered quickly.
The first night of their convalescence
Watson came to Mackay and drew him
apart.
.'Mackay," said he, II see you'll marry
that young widow, but don't envy you.
| look to more substantial prizes. Come,
L
pounds in the captains belt"
That belt l shall restore tomorrow to
Mrs. Cameron; it is none of mine''
1.-Two thousand pounds mean to have,
whether you choose or no. want to start
fair again after this cursed business"
"Then get the money if you can; ]
sha'nt help you to it. 1t belongs to
M'Guffog and M'Cash, and to them it
goes
'Only Patterson, man, knows it has been
saved; and we'll soon buy his secrecy.
Don't affect sanctity at your time of life.
Come, let's share it, lad"
"Watson, | tell you once for all you
mistake me. shall surrender that money
to- morrow"
Then, Mackay you shall repent ii as
sure as the sun rises, for that money |
mean to have"
''Do your worst"
IL will do my worst. and bad it shall
be-
And so, with mutual threat and defiance,
the two men parted. The frozen snake
had soon revived.
Take care of that man," said Patter-
son: ''he's a limb of Satan, and, depend
upon it, he made that mischief for you
with the captain. He was always jealous
OF you. Aweel. aweel, the Siren was an
unlucky craft for all of us.
''In those long, burning days and those
stormy nights, when the waves beat in
drifts of white fire around us, and one by
one the dying men let go their hold or
died dashed to their places. one thought
cheered me. only" said Mackay that even
ing to Mary Cameron as they stood watch
ing the moon rising above the great sea of
fluid silver; and that thought was, that
while my heart still beat | could guard
you, Mary"
The answer was woman's answer
silence. But there was hope for Mackay
even in that silence; their two hearts were
beginning to beat in unison; love was
rising bright above their path.
Mackay would say no more then. AT
future time, when her grief lessened, he
would press his suit for he knew how
Mary had.loved Donald
AT that moment the captains boy ran
up, and requested Mr. Mackay and Mrs.
Cameron would come TO the captain in his
cabin; he wished to see them on business
They went, and found the chief officers
assembled, and Watson seated near them
at table. There was IL malignant COM
preston about his lips as they entered
Alexander Mackay," said the captain,
1--WE rescued you five days ago from !,
situation OF extreme peril. You had sur
vived, indeed, hardships ncredible---cold,
heat, hunger, thirst, and wreck We re-
joiced as any Englishman would, in that
work of mercy You described yourself
to us as the first mate of the Siren, bound
from Glasgow to Benny for palm-oil and
gold dust. You told lis the vessel ran on
the reef where we found you, owing to
the captain having rejected your advice.
We now find that you ran the vessel on
the reef by accident, after having, by
| help Of the woman whom we saved, muir
dered the captain, aided by this man Pat
| terson."
That's d--lie," said Patterson, who
was standing among the spectators.
"Silence there !" roared the first lieuten-
ant.
-Four thousand pounds belonging tc
fthe lost vessel you now carry secreted on
your person. What do you say to this
charge? Do you deny that you have that
money about you9"
81 do not deny it. said Mackay, boldly
placing Mrs. Cameron who had tainted