The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-09-24

appalling peals of thunder which crashed
increasingly above them. The sea, dashed.
to fury, was enveloped in feathery foam,
and flew over the ship in binding showers
Groaning and creakipg in every timber
the ship bowed before the gale, and, as all
hands had been called to shorten sail, On
cut away the tattered remnants of what
had been blown away, Captain jackson
himself took the wheel, that the helnsman
might lend a hand in aiding his struggling
shpmates.
No human being can ever conceive the
feelings which ragged in the unfortu-
nate shipmaster's breast that memorable
night.
The roaring of the waves, the rush of
the pelting rain, the howl of the gale as it
swept through the cordage of the ship, and
the beating of the surf on the beach and
reefs in the distance, mingled with the
clear word of command of the mates, and
the CHEEKY cry of the nimbia sailors aloft
as they roared out, "haul out ta leeward p
or slight over to windward ~
The last man had laid down from aloft,
the men We're clustering aft to "splice the
main brace" when sudden g1'umble and
grating ran through the ship. A shock, a
bump-followed BY a second shock, which
threw the men off their feet violently, and
then the good ship Exporter struck heavily
on coral reef, and was forced high up on
, the dangerous shoal.
With a succession of crashes the tall,
wavering masts went over the side, the
affrighted cries of the men, the shouts of
the officers, and the terrible ominous grind
ing on the ships keel rang out on the mid
night air.
But the calm, steady voice of the cap
tain was heard above all, calling on them
to obey his orders, and Jackson's coolness
had the desired effect.
Watching for the next vivid flash, jackson
scanned the scene and saw that it war
comparatively easy TO reach the main land
by the coral reef.
Carefully and cautiously the men were
directed 20 scramble for the land, and Jack
son was the last man to leave the doomed
ship. A sharp cry of anguish escaped
from him as he leaped over the rail, but it
gale, which now set in with redoubled
fury.
All night long it ragged, and as daylight
dswned the furious waves were running
high, while the breakers roared like so
| many angry and hungry wolves.
Not vestige of ship or cargo remained
save few remnants of shattered spars,
Al
was found comparatively uniujured. BY
some means it had escaped the undertow,
aud was half buried in the sand, a sad
relic of the once noble ship.
jackson had performed his difficult task
well, not breath of suspicion could attach
itself to him, and all hands endeavored to
speak word of comfort to their pale, de-
jected superior.
But other matters soon engro ssed the at
tention of both officers and men. With
the first rays of the morning sun which
pierced the dispensing storm clouds, a
numerous and well armed body of natives
suddenly made their appearance, and with
loud and menaciug cries rushed upon the
defenseless, shipwrecked seamen.
BY the advice of the captain, no attempt
was made to resist the half-naked, swarthy
natives, who bore the entire ships company
in their midst 10 their regning prince,
who was attired in more than barbaric
splendor. ...
Malay stepped forward to act as in
| terpreter, having served on board a coun-
try wallat as seaman, where he had learn
ed a smattering of the English language
He informed Capt. jackson that the ship
had struck a reef making out from Sara
wax, on the island of Borneo, and that they
were now the prisoners and slaves
of the prince bearing the name of the
town.
In a low, confidential tone, he added that
he wished them no harm, but advised them
TO strain every effort to escape, as the
raiah was a bloodthirsty fellow, who de-
lighted in putting his prisoners to death by
the most cruel tortures, that could be de-
vised. The Malay added that the poten.
tate was greatly depressed at present on
account of the severe illness of the young
princess his favorite daughter; and al
the ia-iu men on the island had failed to
{
relieve her, their heads had paid the forfeit
She was hourly growing worse, and the
father was almost frantic at the thought ol
losing his idol.
Captain Jackson listened in deep silence,
and ray of hope darted across his really
fine features as he reflected for a moment
In his many leisure hours at sea he had
made the science of medicine study-sc
much SO that he felt perfectly conf
! dent to grapple with any ordinary disease
The men were standing between the
( well-armed natives, who were only await
ing the wel-known signal of their ruler to
dash their brains out or reserve them for 9
worse fate. But the dusky potentate had
! relapsed into a reverie, and had appa
/ rently forgotten the presence OF the whitt
men.
l., n,