Middletown transcript., 1875-06-12

o " There is but one course. MI
Graham. The boats. excepting one
are washed away, the schooner can re
main only few hours ahoat, so wi
: at once set about building raft whic
can hold all of u.s." said Gervaise turn
: ing to Mr. Graham.
"We are all in your hands, sir; bu
what says the captain" 2"
Il say" and Hart Woodruff steppe'
forward, ''the mate is mistaken; th
schooner will float for many days. AM
, yet would not expose Mrs. and Mis-
| Graham to risk; so propose that you
sir, with your wife and daughter, &C
; companied by myself and four of th'
. crew, take the life-boat. In two days
at the farthest. we can reach some O
, the caribbean Islands. While Mr.
Wilde, with the remainder of the crew
can remain with the vessel, which, un.
der jury masts, can be run into The
nearest port.
"A good plan, perhaps, captain, but
as ] agree with Wilde regarding the in.
ability of the schooner to keep afoa'
many hours, | think we had better
trust to the raft''
! A frown passed over the captains
brow which was not unnoticed, at Mr..
Graham's words, but he added, I" the
schooner will not sink, sir; her pumps
will keep it up"
"Captain, l do not wish to shrink
from any duty devolving on me, so l
will abide by the decision Of the men.
Call them and ask them if this vessel
can be kept above water for half day" !"
said Gervaise
Here, my men, called out Mr..
Graham, "come hither moment, and
give US your opinion. How long can
we keep our heads above water by re-
naming on this vessel ?"
ga few hours, sir, perhaps half a
day." rejoined the men, and. as if sat
isfied with their answer, Mr.. Graham
said:
"Mr. Wilde, commence the raft at
once; and captain, please see that our
baggage and all valuables are brought
on deck, with sufficient provisions to
last us two weeks"
Six hours after large and stout raft
had been built, which was capable of
sustaining three times the number on
the schooner. and upon it Gervaise had
securely bound the caboose. to serve as
apartments for the ladies, and other
wise protected the centre of the raft in
such way as to keep the baggage and
provisions secure.
All being in readiness, Mr.. and Mrs.
Graham. with Corinne, got on board,
and were followed by the captain, mate
and crew, and the bulwarks amidships
having been cut away, they awaited the
coming of wave to wash them off the
schooner, which was rapidly sinking to
a watery grave.
Soon it came-a huge, foam-capped
mountain of water, and the raft was
lifted on its shoulders and borne off
upon the ocean, while the ill-fated
schooner was buried by the same large
wave, never more to reappear.
Eight days the huge raft drifted about
on the mighty deep, and no succor COM
ing. the large part of the crew arose in
mutiny, and, seizing the life which
had been brought along, took the great
er portion of the provisions and desert
ed their companions in distress; but
their desertion was not bloodless one,
for three of their number fell dead be-
meath the unerring aim of Gervaise
Wilde's pistol, for he stoutly resisted
them to the last.
Five more days passed, and then star
vation stared the shipwrecked crew in
the face, for the provisions and water
left them by the deserters had all been
consumed.
Then it was that the captain, Hart
Woodruff. and the remaining four men
Of the crew became troublesome, and
that Gervaise alone could be trusted,
Mr.. Graham, with bis wife and daugh-
ter, placed their only hope in him /; and
his noble conduct won their admiration
and Corinne's love.
Another day passed, and night set
tied again upon the ocean, but full
moon rising made the sea silvery with
its light.
Suddenly Hart Woodruff started up
from forward on the raft. and, accom-
panied by four seamen, came aft toward
Gervaise Wild, who, seeing their hos
tile advance, wheeled and said sternly:
Back back, I say all Of you, or
I'll send bullet into your midst"
The men hesitated, and Hart Wood
ruff exclaimed:
"Gervaise Wilde, you are the one 1
seek. You have stolen from me the
love of that girl, and I intend to slay
you; and your vile flesh shall be our
food until succor shall reach u.s. We
are starving, and yet | would enjoy