The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-12-10

death soon."
"Arc you so supersitious as that
8 WaIlie p said Edgar. 81 am not, q
4 any rate but we have seen something
which is not often seen in these seas anC
i, the largest Of the kind ever behold"
8 at was terrible creature, indeed,
, said Mildred, with shuddcr. "Do they
ever seize human beings Z"
"Often, if the yarns of sailors are true
But here comes the breeze, sooner than
; any of us imagined"
1t WIS true. The wind was coming
in itful putts, which filed the sails OF
the CcltSe only 10 let them drop against
the mast as before Then il came steadi-
ly, and the ship began to creep away TO
the east with everything set which
would draw. Night came, and the great
ship was sailing steadily on before the
wind which had increased to fair sail
ing brrezc Wallace had the deck, and
the captain and his wife were in the cab
in. Leaving the second mate on deck for
a moment the mate ran below and car G
4 up with pale face, taxing his place near
the wheel. One Of the boats, (which had
become dry by lying so long in the sun,
was towing astern in order 10 swell the
seams, and the oars, by accident, had
been left in her.
Suddenly, without warning, there
burst out of the matches dense sitting
smoke, and cry Of horrorrose Oh every
side.
A ship on fire,
There is nothing mere terrible to the
seaman than a fire at sea, or anything
which will drive him mad more quickly.
Some of the hands on deck sprang at the
boats, but the hoarse voice of the mate
restrained them, and they saw him
standing with II pistol in each hand,
threatening the man to death who dared
to touch the boats. One only disobey-
ed him, and instantly fell, shot through
the brain. The captain rushed out of
the cabin, closely followed by his wife,
and rs be SAW thc smoke rolling out Of
the matches be realized The dungcr.
"Close the hatches" he cried. wal
lace, you have done your duty in kill
ing that man, who would have fed at
the approach Of danger. Watch the
boats, and let all work"
"Wai,," cried the mate. "Shall take
Mildred into the boat astcrn, in case OF
Danger
"Yes; go with him, Mildred Mr.
Frazer, turning TO his second officer,
watch the men, and kill the first one
who shirks his duty
i will not 60, cried Mildred. "A
wife cannot desert her husband, in !. mo.
ment like this
Wallace Floyd caught her in his strong
arms and carried her to the stern, lower
ing her into tho boat with an arm OF
iron. A moment more and be was with
her. and the boat was towing in the
wake OF the ship. A single cut from
bis sharp knife and the rope was sever
cd, letting them drift astern.
'Why did you do that, Wallace? 2 she
cried, as be took up the oars.
do you want a dozen 10 jump into
the boat at once and swamp her p was
the reply. There is no wind, and can
keep up with the ship easily
The wind was indeed dying away and
he cast an angry look at the sky, as If
this fact annoyed him. lie could hear
the pumps going, drawing water, not
from the hold, but from the sea, and
pouring it down through the scuttles
But the smoke still increased, aud he
uttered 4 laugh so dcmoniac that she /!
looked at him in horror.
This is my vengeance, mine" cried |
the mailman. q fred the ship: and out
of all her company only you and | will
escape. Do you hear there, Edgar Con
nor? Do you hear you snake ? Your
boats are scuttled, your ship is heap Of
glowing Goals under your, feet, and | |
shall look on and laugh while you DIE
Conner heard him,and uttered a groan
Of dlsmay, while the men rushed 10 the
boats. Icrc they saw that not one of
them was sound, for at touch great !
pieces tell out from the bottoms. If they
could not save the ship, they were doom,
cd.
Work, my lads" cried Conner. Of
We must die, let us die like men. God
forgive you for this wicked deed, Wal
lac Floyd
lie only answered by that fierce laugh
and sent the boat spinning through the
waiter a hundred feet astcrn. He did
not think of his own danger in an open
boat, four hundred miles from any land :;
le only thought OF vengeance.
Die, like rat in a trap he cried.
Ia. ha ha 1t is warm en- board the
CeliSe, messmates.
Conner rushed into the cabin and
anne up with rifle in his hand. But
Floyd ciutched Mildred by tho should.
II, and held her before him rs shield.
why don't you fre?' he screamed
! have 4 shield here which think will
TO-.
The rife dropped from the captains
land, for he dared not risk a shot at his
nemy while she was in the boat. The
Wind had died away entirely, and the
tream Of water poured down INFO the
iold through two scuitles.
Il will leave you TO take care of your :
Gives, my friend, cried Floyd. What
10 YOU think of my prophecy now 2
The bow OF Tho boat receded from the
hip, and he dipped the oars into the ,
water. At this moment there rose close
o the slde of the heat another Of those
uge polyps which they had seen that
az, the roundtglistening eyes staring
i'm in the face. One long trem ulous
rm shot up, and fastened about the