The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-02-25
A DUEL AT SEA.

a tumultuous chaos, as ii the tempest
and the occasion we're rivals, each
striving TO prove the greatest power Of
destruction. t." li &
Yet through the long, anxious hours
of the stormy night the brave schooner
Idle Waif nobly breasted the fury Of
the gale, her officers hoping against
hope almost, that she would be able TO
survive The terrible dangers through
which she was struggling.
A month before, she had sailed up
on her voyage 10 New York from a
South American port, and among her
passengers was her owner Robert Gra-
BAN, Of the wealthy firm Of Graham
Il Co., accompanied by his wife and
daughter Coriune, a lovely maiden Of
eighteen, accomplished, pure in
thought, aud as innocent as a child.
Mr.. and Mrs. Graham idolized their
only child, aud when the father found
that he had to visit South America on
business for the firm, Corinne at once
begged TO accompany him, and, yield
ing 10 her entreaty, few days after
found the mother and daughter COM
fortably cat home," in the commodi-
Gus cabin Of the Idle Waif, large
three masted schooner, ably com
manded and with an efficieut crew. ID
The captain of the Idle Waif was a
man of about thirty.age, and Of stern
nature. He had man-of.war manner
with his crew, which he had acquired
when an officer in the English navy,
from which, il had been said, he was
dismissed in disgrace, for allowing a
SLAYER, when it was certain, had hem
been bribbed, he could have captured
the craft trading in human flesh,
At any rate, he was an able com
mander, and the FIVE years he had
been in the service of Graham & Co.,
Captain Hart Woodruff had proved
himself most trustworthy in every re-
spect. ''.F' hAsr '--r '7'a'',''ia-i 90
The Erst nGte of the Idle Waif was
a young man of twenty FIVE, who had
become an officer of the schooner
while she was in South America, In
place of the mate, who had resigned
to accept the captaincy of q vessel Of
fered him. ,ii i. .i4,5l 81 ~,
| Gervaise Wilde had offered to take
the place of the resigned officer, but
he frankly told Graham he coald offer
no testimonials as to his charac acter and
ability that he was an American
a Marylander-had. been for seven
years an officer in the United States
Navy, from which he had resigned in
a foreign port, for reasons he did not
care to mention. aa sa0 ea.a.
Mr. Graham gazed into the strange.
| ly, handsome face of the man before
him, beheld the dark, fearless eve for
moment, and then glancing at the
slight but elegant figure, replied:
| gE.H will trust you, Mr. Nyilde. Go
I aboard the schooner as soon as posi-,
| ble,p-)J i0U AuI .Ilc ITt7Ff t
The Idle Waif sailed upon her
homeward bound voyage, and it was
evident to all on board that no better
seaman than Gervaise Wilde ever
tired a vessels deck and yet between
him and the captain there was Ger;
tain restraint. From the first of the
home trip Hart Woodruff had treated
his first efficer with an oyerbearing
manner noticeable to all, and which
the mate received with, cold ald iniif.
ferent politeness. - nur'g 8
| Corinne Graham narrowly watched
the two officers, and her woman's eye
soon read the secret cause of the cap-
laih's feeling toward bis mate It was
Jealousy for Hart Woodruff had
from the first loved the maiden, and
seeing that she accepted the polite aud
geptlemaply attention of Gervaiss
with a feeling of pleasure, he deter
mined TO rid himself of a man he be.
lieved his rival. 20.
| On sailed the noble vessel until
when nearing the waters of the gulf q
terrible storm burst upon her, and in.
credsing toward night, thFeateHed her
with destruction. $40 7alr.uar
Bravely did the crew sland at their
| posts, and twice during the night did
Geryaise ascend the rigging, when
hFaEe hearts hesitated, aud Securely
&rl some sail that the wind had torn
from its sastenings. a smI }
Mr., Graham, with his wife md
Corinne, had ascended to the deck,
and were grouped together anxiously
watching the black storm and raging
ocean, while at the same time they
| could not but admire the cool manner
or Gervaise, added to his daring man.
ner of springihg at once to every post
Of danger, and the comparison drawn
between the captain and bis mate re-
bounded to the latter's credit. q
! All that human skill and courage
could do to save the schooner
proved useless, for she was dismastod