The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-29

A.
failed.
"By nv directions, the Don, as be
called himself, was secured; the men
manned the eapstan, and we kedged
down the river as rapidly as the
darkness would admit. The decks
were cleansed from all signs of the
attack we had sustained, and then
nv wife, who had recovered from
her fright, found time to dress my
wound, which had become exceed
ingly painful.
"By daylight we were lying at the
mouth Of the river, with our lower
sails set, W aiting for an opportunity
to cross the bar. The mate bad dis
covered a spring close by the left
bank of the river, and you may de-
pend, young man. it did not take me
long TO obtain limited supply.
"The land breeze had sprang up |
was in readiness to leave the Internal
heedlands of Pongo astern, and moth
ing remained for me but to punish
the treachery ofthe Portuguese, who,
pale aad trembling. was brought on
deck, begging in abject tones for his
life.
"Now | did not intend to harm
him, but that be should suffer for his
treachery. | was fully determined.
All hands were called, a whip rove
off, and the lashiags removed from
the Don's arms, who, in a trembli1A
zone, asked me ifthe rope was iEend-
ed for him.
Il replied that it was, and that be
richly deserved the fate for which
! sternly bade him prepare.
"In an agony Of terror be threw
himself az the feet ofmy Sallie, who,
however, turned Indignantly away
from him, and a sailor, by nv orders,
approached the Den to put the fatal
moose about his neck.
"a cry Of horror burst from his
paid lips as he felt the heavy hand
laid on bis shoulder, and with a
movement quick as lightning be
sprang forward and cleared the rail
at a bound; falling with a splash in
the turbid waters Of the Po0go.
"The rail was lined by the men,
who greeted the swimmer with fero-
cious yell as be struck out for the
shore with long, powerful strokes.
No doubt the rascalimagined be was
swimming for his life-and, to tell
the truth, young man, be was
but | did not know it at the time.
The mate, with a shudder, re-
marked to me that the place was
full Of alligators, who would scarcely
allow so dainty a morsel to slip
through their voracious jaws if once
they sighted him. Sallie had over
beard the remark, and, leaning on my
arm, watched the fellow with fear
ful interest as be neared the muddy
shore.
suddenly three or four dark, ON
inous-looking objects, which bad
been floating with the tide, became
endowed with life, and with scarcely
a ripple, disappeared beneath the
surface.
THE Portuguese swan on uncon-
scious cfthe danger be was in, and
urged on by the appeals Of SaIlie,
shouted to the fellow, warning him
Of his peril. Bat all the reply | re-
ceived was the clenched hand of the
Don, which be shook for a moment
above his head, then with renewed
energy directed his course for the
bank, thea but few yards distant.
The overhanging branches of q
mangrove tree jutted out from the
Shiny shore, and grasping one Of them,
the Portuguese was on the point Of
drawing himself up, when a rush of
half a dozen widespread jaws caused
the wretched man to loss his hold.
"a yell of terrible intensity caused
as all to sbudder, and as | led the
half-faintine Sallie TO the cabin, |
saw tinge of blood mangling with
the foam and dirty brown water Of
the river.
80 you see, young man, Don Man
uel met with a fear ful retribution, for
have no doubt his soul was black
with crimes he had committed but |
never intended, never imagined for
one moment, that his emu would have
been so horrible.
But YOU must not imagine that |
shed any tears over his untimel V fate
On the contrary, ] ordered all hands
aft to splice the main brace, and my
Sallie then gave each one of the old
salts bright twenty-dOllar gold piece,
and thew deserved it, too.
1--WE manned the jit halliards, and
as the schooner gathered Roadway |
babe nv wife to take her last look at
the low, reedy shores of Africa, which
she did, and. although she has been
my faithful companion on many q
voyage, | never would take her back
to that land where we had escaped
so narrowly.
There young man, you have the
yarn, and now what do you say to a
stiff second mates nip of eognac!
Somehow the remembrances which
spinning that twister brings up al
ways makes me dry, and / think
Sallie will join US in glass Of wine"