Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-01

ne faithless com mander b d MARSHALL the evil
ience sgainst Us. The Snake'sletters Of marqne
sSsi pspeT
had been found op board Of her. This, together
W 18th the large crew we had carried, and the
cargo, was enough TO eondemn u.s. The span
iards we had rescued were stated TO be part OF /
our crew, and therefore not allowed TO testify In
our behalf. Mr.. Manson was made to appear |
the owner Of the Snake, and the utter absurdity |
a. pipa.ieal srn vas ps.sed over ss having no
weight at all.
The whole thing was cruel farce. We were
formally condemned, and as formally sentenced
to be hanged at the yardarm at sunrise the fol-
Nv feelings When we were once more chained
down between decks are impossible to hint at.
been the emotions Of the wretched father about
to be murdered in cold blood, and forced 10 leave
his only child IN the power Of such villain as
the horrors of that awful night The guard had
been changed, and the friendly marine could
not approach us, 80 that II Laura was in q con-
20 send ; another she could mot q.
sleeplessly passed the hours Of darkness. May
heaven grant that no kin Of mine may ever en-
messed N the person Of the sorrowing father that
terrible, terrible night.
Dawn came at length, and with its first glim-
mer the shrin notes of the fife and the hcarse
rattle of the drum summoning the crew to quar-
tiers, announced that the preparations for our
execution were already made. Very soon after
ward the marine officer, lieutenant, appeared
with a fle OF his men; our shackles were re-
raoved and our arms pinioned with ropes and
we were then led upon deck.
Several times during the night Mr.. Manson
had entreated 30 be allowed to see his daughter,
and he now made a final appeal for this poor
favor: The brutal myrmidon of still more
brutal tyrant harshly refused 10 bear the re-
quest to his commander, and even cursed and
struck the unfortunate man when he per-
sisted in imploring his pity. Ny blood boiled
within me, and all thought of my peril was
swallowed up in the rage which would have
prompted me. had / been free, to have slain
the coward with my naked hands
starboa1i guns abreast OF the mainmast. on
level with the Misunderstanding. and when we
had been forced to mount this, perceived that
sanS or e1e da the NE, inore OF Large
were at the time, but may well say now
mat ! afterwards discovered that IL was the
10 Jamaica when we unfortunately met her,
and she had now reached the Mona Passage on
her way thither. This was a most providential
Sr ere IN ,n;n ior me; a. you will soon learn
It's smiling green shores and picturesq ne cliffs
was an intolerable aggravation of my misery
IT seemed as IL Heaven had given me this
whelm me with an awful sense of my utter
heiplessness. Like the patriarch Of old was
ready to curse God and die, for there, within
my head swung the engine OF nv apparently
inevitable doom, and felt as IL the Preseryer
himself had quite forsaken me. The lesson |
received has given me . steadfast faith, and.
amid the most fearful perils of nv SUBSEQUENT
lie, have never since doubted His almighty
ton. The air was soft and balmy, the water
calm and still, and the rosy light of dawn shed
a radiance like that of Paradise upon sea and
shore. But the supreme moment of NV death
n I, f.s
the scene has remained indelibly impressed
upon my memory II did pot seem to me, then,
that saw anything. Even the misery of my
fell0w-sufferer made no impression on me-
Selfishness in such an hour may be indeed par
dOned in mere mOrtals, and though did per-
ceive that he was at the point Of fainting nv
prevented me from offering him any cOnso-
lation even had been permitted to speak to
him.
The astonishing occurrence of the next few
minutes took away from me all power to think
of anything but how to profit by them. Two
whips had been rOved through jewel-blocks on
hung down close over our heads. Their other
ends were manned by a score or more of stall
wart sailors, who were to run US up the yard
arm mnen sne report Oh gum ready at our
The lieutenant and his marines had halted at
the foot of the scafiold, and we were now
attended by two brawny, sunburnt seameR,
together at the ankles, and seeing that the
which secured oar lands behind
our necks were firmly knotted. At least this
but suddenly became conscious that my at
tendant was lOOsening the rope around nv
ankles so that slight exertion would serve
Astonished at this, attempted to turn TO
look at him, but he grasped me firmly 50 as to
prevent any motion, and instantly afterward
thrilling whisper in my ear caused every nerve
in my body to culver with excitement
"Can you swim?"
Imagine, If you can, the food of hope that
surged through my brain at the sound of this
looks must have told him that understood his
meaning, for he continued rapidly, while still
pr ..The ng to be busy with It'll my bonds;
well Tor trying to save you two. We believe she
will keep her word, and besides, we think it's a
shame that yon should be strung up for nothing
Now, listen! I've cast loose the rope round YOUR
ankles, and there IL only one turn of the line on
your wrists. When stop speaking, III cut that
line with one slash OF my knife. Keep your
jump overheard the instant say, sNowv Dive
deep, and come up on the other side of the ship.
Swim to the rudder chains, and hold ON there |
yourself rather than be hung, and won't lower
a boat. When night comes, Won must try to
swim ashore There that's all can do for you.
can scarcely make you understand how rap
IDLY all this was said, but yet how clearly |
heard and treasured every word. There was a |
lnoihSEtaIy pauSt-A sharp tug at my wrists, As /
with one slash, the keen knife severed nv |
bonds-and then the low-whispered but fear |
fully clear signal-word, now"
i stood just inside the hammock rail- and /
without hesitation i threw myself overheard, |
head first. The shout OF surprise that rang up- /
ward from the frigate's deck reached my ears /
before struck the water, and then down. down
went as If meant to dive to the bottom. | |
vas an excellent swimmer, and had no difficulty
n following my preserver's directions. WhenI |
urned to come up, could plainly see the loom
y the frigate's hull through the clear water, |
md easily guided myself 80 as to reach the sur
ace on the port side of her rudder-post Once
here, 1 seized the chains under water, anil l
<eeping my head out only far enough to breathe,
prepared to keep a viglant watch So that /
might conceal myself entirely il boat should /
be lowered.
This did not occur, and chung there quite
afely all that weary day. What happened on
ieck, OF course could only guess at, but L /
heard shots fired into the water on the star
,card side, as il the marines were watching for
ny reappearance, aud aiming at anything that
cooked liked human. Very soon, however the
,ustle and noise ceased, and 1 have no doubt
hat the tyrant and his men accepted my pre-
erver's account of the affair as the truth. anil
believed that was drowned. Years arterward
learned that the guard had fred volley after
ne as L sprang from the platform, and that a |
tray bullet had slain the unhappy father OF |
aura. Better thus than If he had been hanged |
Ike dog, but though vengeance overlook his
murderer even In this world, have the firm |