The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-05-23

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the engine of my apparently ineyita-
BILE doom, aud felt as il the Pre-.
server himself had quite iorsaken me.
The.lesson ! received has given me
steadiast faith, and, amid the most
fearful perils of my subsequent life, I
have never since doubted His al.
mighty power 10 save.
The morning was beautiful beyond
description. The air was soft and
balmy, tho water calm and still, and
the light OF dawn shed radiance like
that OF Paradise upon sea and shore.
But the supreme moment of my death
was close ut hand, and though every
feature of the scene has remained in.
delibly impressed upon my memory it
did not seem to me, then, that saw
anything. Even the misery of my
fellow-sufferers made no impression
on me. Selfisliness in such an hour
may be indeed pardoned IN mere
mortals, and though did perceive
that he was at the point OF fainting,
my own peril engrossed my whole
attention, and prevented me from
offering him amy consolation even If
had been permitted to speak TO him.
The astonishing occurrence of the
next few minates took away from me
all power TO think of anything but
how TO profit by them. Two whips
had beed roved through tho jewel
blocks on the starboard, maipyard
arm, and their nooses hung down close
over our heads. Their other ends
were manned by score or more of
stalwart sailors, who were TO run us up
the yard arm, when the report of a
gun, ready at our feet, gave the awful
signal.
The lieutenant and his marines had
halted at the foot Of the scaffold, aud
we were now attended by two brawny,
sunburnt scamen, whose rough hands
were busy tying our feet together at
the ankles, and seeing that the fasten-
ings which secured our hands behind
our necks were firmly knotted At
least this was the duty they had been
set TO perform. but | suddenly became
conscious that my attendant was loos.
ening the rope around my. ankles so
that slight exertion would serve TO
free me OF it.
Astonished At this, attempted TO
turn TO look at him. but he grasped
me firmly so as TO prevent any mo.
ton, and instantly a:terYard n thrill
ing whisper in my car caused every
nerve in my hedy to quiver with ex-
citement.
Can you swim?"
Imagine, il You can, the food OF
hope that surged through my brain at
the sound OF this singular question;
l could not reply. but my looks must
have told him that ! understood his
meaning. for he continued rapidly,
while still pretending 10 be busy with
my bonds:
The young woman has promised
TO pay US well for trying TO save YOU
two. We believe she will keep her
word, and besides we think it's a
shame that you should be strung up
for nothing. Now, listenl I've cast
loose the rope round your ankles, and
there is only one turn of tho line on
your wrists. When | stop speaking
Ill cut that with one slash of my
knife. Keep your hands together as
il You were still bound, and jump
overheard the instant say Now r.
Dive deep, and come up on the other
side of the ship. Swim TO the rudder
chains and hold on there until night.
They'll think you wanted to drown
yourself rather than be hung, and
won't lower a boat. When night
comes you must try 10 swim ashore.
There that's all / can do for you.-.
Be readyp
can scarcely make you understand
how rapidly all this was said, but ye,
how clearly heard and treasured ev.
cry word. There was q momentary
pause-a sharp tug at my wrists, as
with one slash, the keen knife severed
my bonds-aEd then the low whisper
ed but fearfully clear signal.word
"Nowln
/ stood just inside the hammock
rail, and without hesitation threw my
self head first overheard. The shou
of surprise that rang upward from thu
frigate's deck reached my ears before
] struck the water, and then down
dosn went as il l meant to dive Il
the bottom. l was an excellent swim
mer, and had no difficulty in following
my preserver's directions. When
turned to come up, could plainly Sc,
the loom of the frigate's hull throngl
the clear water, and easily guidet
myself SO as TO reach the surface oi
the port side of her rudder post
Once there, I seized the chains undc
water, and keeping my head out onl.
far enough to breathe, prepared Il
keep vigilant watch SO that I nigh
conceal myself entirely if boat wa
lowered.
This did not occur, and I clun.
there quite safely all that weary day
What happened on deck, of course
could only guess at, but | heard shot
fired into the water on the starboar.
side as if the marines were watchin,
TOR my temperance, and aiming a
anything that looked human. Vcr,
soon, however, hustle and noise ceas
ed, and have no doubt that the ty
rant and his men accepted my pre-
servers account of the affair as tn
truth, and believed that I was drown
ed. Years aftcrward I learned tha
the guard had fred q volley after m
as ] sprang from the platform, an
that stray bullet had slain the un
happy father OF Laura. Better thu
than II he had been hanged like dog
but though vengeance overlook hi
murderer even in this world, ] hav
the firm faith that Sir Edward M
e4:lI drror 4 hc f<,nt..noa = & L. la.,a =,