Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-12-17

| cool, ana Dy MS example maue us all
the same.
The boats were rapidly lowered and
filled, while, thank heaven, the storm
seemed to abate. The woman went first,
of course, and all was proceeding well,
when, just as the last boat was being
filled, | remembered that in my hurry l
had left my mothers miniature in my
chest. There was plenty of time to
fetch it, and in second | was down in
the cabin. Flinging the lid open, my
hand was already upon the likeness when
| heard foot upon the stairs. | turn
ed, and by the dim light yet swinging
from the roof perceived Jacob Kiel.
Good heavens! The diabolical ex-
preston on his face. the fendish malace
in his dark snakc-llke eyes, revealed his
intentions in moment He had come
to do me some deadly harm. Leaping
up, seized my revolver to be on my
guard; but an attack was not his purpose.
Before l could prevent him, he had
quickly closed the cabin door, and lock-
ed it on the outside.
Like fash of lightning all the horrors
of my position instantly flashed before
me. was prisoner in the sinking
ship! Uttering loud shout, of furry.
sprang forward the cry was echoed
by laugh from Jacob KEEL | heard
him say, "Who will marry May Brod-
stone now?' and then his feet went
rapidly up the stairs.
called aloud for help; the uproar
OF the storms drowned my voice. just
then the wind lulled, and I heard an
order to push off; the speaker was Jacob
kicl. | again shouted in my agony
but my voice and the wind rose together
L was not heard. Icontinued to shout
like mailman, though | knew that all
hope was gone-that | was alone. like
trapped rat, in the sinking ship.
Furlousiy [ beat the door. all the
while painfully conscious that rescue was
impossible and death certain, for it was
night, and, as no doubt the storm would
separate the boats, my absence would not
) be discovered until the vessel had
foundered
Could | expect aught else, when in the
occasional lull of the hurricane | heard
the rush of the deadly waters in the hold,
and felt the ship lurch more heavily each
moment as she plunged in the trough Of
the sea? Suddenly she gave a terrific
keel over, and a wave came rattling
down the companion ladder like thunder
rushed under the door and inundated
the cabin.
| shreked in agony, believing that all
! was over--that was to die thus, moi
even with the chance Of battling for life
felt that / could meet death calmly
if | were on the deck, with the heavens
above me; but my very hair stirred al
the horrible thought of being buried in
the sea sit were in box. Was there
7 really no way of escape? Hooked round
and gave great cry of joy, then leaped
forward, careless now that the water
mounted higher and higher.
| "Fool IdiotP' exclaimed. "Why
, did you not think of it before You are
, your own murderer
My eyes had rested upon my revol-
: yer. In second had fired two of its
barrels into the lock of the door, shiv.
ering it to atoms, aud the next minute
: | was upon the deck-only just in time,
, for the vessel was settling fast. II
, would bave settled long before, but thai
the storm had abated
With wild hope looked for the boats
Near or far all was allke--darkncss hid
the waters, but having succeeded so far
| resolved not TO despair. One by one
discharged the remaining burrels of ny
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 did SO before | had
proceeded far--a mast with cordagc at.
tached. This helped me; for after lash.
ing myself to the mast as well as | could
the waves bore me away. Suddenly, how
ever a fearful rush of water seized me.
was drawn rapidly back and then down az
in whirlpool-auug, it seemed here
there and everywhere after which
remembered no more. When | came to, |
was in one of the boats, with May Brod-
stone leaning over me.
1t appeared directly morning dawnod
the boats we're called together, and the
captain went over the names, when mine
was found missing ; upon which be re-
solved to row back and see if he could
not find me, urged thereto by many OF
his companions, who wondered-as did
not Jacob Kicl--what could have pre-
vented my getting into one of the boats.
The sea was nearly calm, the sun
shining and their search was not diff
cult. They soon perceived a dark OBJ
jcct Approaching it they found it to
be myself, clinging like grim death to
the wreck but laughing and yelling like
a maniac Ia fact was mad, and for
some time after they bad managed to
get me into the boat | remained 50 ;
then | became calmer, though | was
delirious for whole day and night.
Directly sensibility returned | told
my story, filling every one with hor-
ror, especially May Brodstone.
II see it all ! exclaimed the captain.
"The william ! Last night our boats
separated in the darkness; this MORN
ing the one bearing Jacob Kiel and the
worst Of the crew was missing He
has either steered the boat into diff
ferent track. or paid the fellows to de-
sert US, fearful of the punishment that
might have awaited him when we touch
/ Lad -