The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-07-10

lessp y
The Captain was maryelously firm and
cool, and by his example made us all the
same.
The boats were rapidly lowered and
filed, while, thank heaven, the storm
seemed to abate. The women went first,
of course, and all was proceeding well,
when, just as the last boat was being
filled, l remembered that in my hurry
had left my mothers miniature in my
chest. There was plenty OF time to fe tch
1 it, and in second I was down in the
cabin. Flingihg open the lid, my hand
was already upon the likeness, when 1
5 heard a foot upon the stairs. 1 turned.
and by the dim light swinging from the
roof perceived Jacob Kiel.
Good Heavens! The diabolical express
sion upon his face, The tiendish malice
IN his dark snake.like eyes, revealed his
intention in moment. He had come to
do me some bodily harm. Leaping up, i
{seized my revolver to be ON my guard;
but an attack was not his purpose. Be-
| fore could prevent him, he mad quickly
closed The cabin door, aud locked 1t on
the outsidel
Like a fash of lightning all the horrors
of my position instantly flashed before
me. was aprisoner In the sinking ship!
lUttering loud shout of Jury, sprang
|
from Jacob Kiel. heard him say
l"Who will marry Mary Brodstone
nowr and then his feet went rapidly up
the stairs.
called aloud for help; the uproar Of
the storm drowned my voice. l paused.
just then The wind lulled, and 1 heard
an order to push off; the speaker was
Jacob Kiel. again shouted in my ag-
ony, but my voice and the wind rose to-
getner-I was not heard. l continued
to shout like madman, though knew
that all hope was gone-that was alone
like a trapped rat, In the sinking ship!
Furiously 1 beat the door, all the while
painfully conscious that rescue was i'm
possible and death certain, for 1T was
night, and, as no doubt the storm would
separate the boats, my absence would
not be discovered until the vessel had
loundered.
Could | expect aught else, when in the
occasional lull of the hurricane i heard
the rush of the deadly waters in the
T hold, and felt the ship lurch more heavily
each moment as sue plunged III the
trough OF the scar Suddenly she gave u
terrific heel over, and a wave came rat
ting down the companion ladder like
thunder, rushed under the door, and in-
undated the cabin.
l shreked in agony, believing that all
was over, that l was to die thus, not
, even with the chance Of battling Tor life.
l felt that could meet death firmly ii
| were on deck, with the heavens ABOVE
me; but my very hair stirred at the hor-
| rible thought of being buried in the sea
way OF escape? / looked round and gave
great cry OF joy, then leaped forward,
careless now that the water mounted
=. higher and higher,
"Fool! IdiotI" I exclaimed. sWhy
did you not think of it before? You are
your own murdererp'
My eyes mad rested upon my revolver.
In a second had fired Two of its barrels
into the lock of the door, shiyering it to
pieces, and the next moment was upon
the deck-oniy just In time, for the yes-
sci was settling fast. 1t would have set
tied long before, but that the storm had
abated.
With a wild hope I looked for the.
boats. Near and far all was alike-dark-
ness hid the waters, but having succeed
ed SO Tar resolved not to despair. One
by one discharged the remaining bar
rels of my revolver, and then plunged
into the sea, to swim as far as / could
from the ship before it sank, hoping that
should find some pieces of wreck. l
did so before Il had proceeded far-a
|
helped ME; for, after lashing myself to
the mast as we'll as l coula, the waves
bore me away. Suddenly, however, a
fearful rush of water seized me. l was
drawn rapidly back, and then down, as
in whirlpool-fung, it seemed, here,
there and everywhere, after which re-
membcred no more. When L came to,
was in one of the boats, with May Brod-
stone leaning over me.
Il 1t appeared that directly morning
dawned the boats were called together,
and the captain went over the names,
when mine was found missing; upon
which he had resolved to row back, and
see if he could not find me, urged there
to by many of his companions, who won
dered-as did not Jacob kiel-what
could have prevented my getting into
one Of the boats.
The sea was nearly calm, the sun shi-
ming, and their search was not difficult.
They soon perceived a dark object. APP
preaching it they found it to be myself,
cIinging like grim death to the wreck,
but laughing and yelling like maniac.
In fact, ! was mad, and for some time
after they managed to get me into the
| boat l remained SO; then 1 became
calmer, though / Was delirious for a
whole day and night.
| Directly sensibility returned told my
story, filing every one with horror, es-
pecially May Brodstone.
| Il see it alp exclaimed the Captain.
sThe villain! Last night our boats sep
arated in the darkness; this morning the
one bearing Jacob Kiel and the worst Of
| the crew was missing. He had either
steered the boat upon different track
or paid the fellows to desert US, fearful OF
| the punishment that might have awaited
him when he touched the land.'
| Whether this was SO do not know, for
| we never heard oi Jacob Kiel again. :
That day we were picked up by one OF
lGreen's SHIPS hOmeward bound, and in
due time were landed in England, where
May and were married, and where we
now reside; for my wife will not near OF
crossing the ocean again, as she can not
| forget-as indeed 1 can not-that most
terrible moment of my life.
Mrs. Tong Check nee Emma Eargesen,
a middle-aged white lady who recently
| marriad A. MOngOlian ia a constant