The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-08-03
Selfrt Shry.
LIFE FOR LIFE.

LII u OlO LII l. Is
"Save him! save my son! He can,
not swim!' The mothers eyes were
wild, her gray locks streaming ir the
wind, her hands clasped
She was aboard little schooner,
bound from Axua TO st. Domingo, on
the island of Hayti-one of the West
Indies. There were aboard, beside the
distracted woman, several passengers,
among them Herbert Wentworth, fine
looking midshipman of eighteen, on his
wav to his sloop-of-war, the Congress,
then at anchor in the harbor of St Do
mingo.
| Hearing the cries of the woman, he
turned round to see her amidships, now
wildly addressing herself to Spaniard
one of the passengers.
"Pedro, for the love of God, save my
poor boy! You can swim!'
cay" answered the Spaniard, shrug
eing his shoulders, $50 can the sharks
There are plenty of them hereabout,and
Santa Maria / don't want to get in
their jaws! Besides, the schooner has
no boat to pick US up"
Wentworth, rushing to the rail and
looking astern, as the schooner was now
brought up into the wind, saw the wo
mans son who, as it afterward appeared
had been knocked overheard by the jib
ing of the main. boom, struggling in the
sea.
Near the young midshipman lay col
of rope. He fastened an end about his
breast beneath the arm pits and, throw
ing off his shoes, sprang overheard
Reaching the spot where he had last seen
the drowning youth, he dove, and was
fortunate enough to clutch his hair and
bring him up to the surface. Soon the
men aboard the schooner had hauled
him and his burden to the vessel, and, 9
few minutes later, the youth was clasped
to his mothers breast.
"t1od bless you, sirr' she said to the
young officer, and overwhelmed him with
her thanks.
That day the schooner arrived at St
Domingo, and parting from the mother
and her son, Wentworth hired boat
and boarded his vessel.
AS may be imagined, the youth in 9
few years was promoted. Five years at,
ter the adventure above recorded ne
found himself in command of the Ar
gus, neat little gun-brig, making one ol
the fleet under Commodore Porter, SEM
out to break up the nest of pirates al
that time among the West India Islands
With him he took his beautiful young
wife, Florence, who having relatives at
Cuba, was to remain there until her hus
bands cruise was ended.
At length, as the vessel neared the
coast of Cuba, in the neighborhopd oi
old Bahama Channel, whittier she had
been driven by head winds. Florence
standing on the quarterback by Her
bert's side, could not repress her tears al
the thought OF their coming parting
She tossed her long, ripping tresses o.
brown hair back from her shoulders, and
her supple, well-developed form quiver-
ed. Had she and her husband beer
screened from observers, she would have
thrown herself into his arms and wep
upon his breast.
Ahead of the Argus was low, suspi'
cious looking schooser, standing under
full sail for the shallow water among th'
reeds along the coast. Wentworth, wht
had been watching her keenly, crowded
canvas in pursuit.
| Meanwhile the sun dimmed by a vel
Ilowish mist, and dark, lowering cloud
rolling along to windward betokened
gale at hand, so the captain made ever,
effort to overtake the schooner befor
the storm. just as she was within
quarter of mile of the reefs, he sent
| shot across her bows, compelling be
captain to heave to, the breeze havin!
moderated so that at present he coul
not hope to escape his pursuer.
Wentworth kept on until within half
mile of the schooner, when. not carin
with his vessels draught tc stand up an
closer to the reef rocks, he lowered hi
cutter, and manning it with a good GREY
pulled alongside the Schooner
i Just as he sprung aboard q squa
struck the vessel, and down she went al
most on her beam ends, driven wit
roaring bows toward the rocks.
"Brace forward!' screamed a tai
fierce-looking fellow, evidently the car
tain, who, at the same time casting loos
the cutters warp, thus lett the boat wit
its crew far astern.
Wentworth laid his hand on the hi
of his sword.
sNo use, sir; you are my prisoner,
, said the schooner's captain.
He made sign, and in a moment th
Young man found himself surrounded b
armed ut-throats-brown, stalwart fe
Ilows,wi blue and red caps pushed bac
from their foreheads, showing their knit
ted brows and cleaning eyes.
, 81 see," said Herbert, betraying n
outward sign of fear, while his heart bes
fast; sit is as thought-you are p
lrates!"
!. SAY! with everlasting hatred again!
you naval officers. who hunt us lik
bloodhounds," answered tie tall cal
tain. "What say, men? ?''
GAY! ayp screamed the savage GREY
with one accord.
Then the points of thirty daggers CO.
cred the young mans breast.
"No," said the captain: "such a deaf
would be too good for him."
He looked as he spoke toward I'll
brig, on which Wentworth's anxiol
gaze was also now turned. The vess
was booming along ON course parall
with the outer line of reef rocks, the 0
fcers in command not daring to ventu
10 nearer, although by this time Herbert
perilous situation was known by all wi
II had seen the other captain cast loose Il
i warp and set the cutter adrift. Unfo
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