The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-02-04

The next day the first lighter-load of
cargo for the Exporter arrived, and both
bale and box was ratified rapidly into
her capacious hold. In less than two
weeks time the ship was ready for sea,
and Jackson, who had spent the greater
portion of his time on shore, repaired
on board.
Not until too late did the entangled
seaman awake from the delusive dream
into which he had been beguiled by the
skillful Failing. The ship was loaded,
the first half of the $4,000 had been
paid, and Jackson, by the advice of the
merchant, did not bank the amount, but
negotiated for the value in diamonds,
which he wore around his body.
1t was too late to retreat he had gone
too far; and although his conscience
troubled him sadly, still he made up his
mind to carry out the fraud that had
been commenced.
The Exporter sailed down the mighty
Yangtse with q fair wind, which fresh
ened as the good ship passed Woo Sung.
Every body on board was in high spirits
at the idea of being homeward bound,
with the exception of poor Jackson who
paced the deck in moody silence. He
had solemnly sworn never to taste
champagne again, and had firmly made
up his mind not to revisit Shanghai, for
he had learned to fear the influence
which Failing exercised over him.
He kept to himself, avoided the soGe-
ty Of his First Mate, and spent most of
his time in the seclusion of his cabin,
brooding over the terrible secret which
he carried in his bosom.
The character of the cargo preyed
continually on his mind, and, waking or
sleeping, he was continually haunted by
a nightmare. He grew ervou and
impatient, SO much so, that both officers
and crew wondered at the sudden
change that had core over the ''old
man"
When alone, in the dead hour of the
night, he would pore over his charts,
and strive in vain to fix definitely upon
some shoal or reef where he could safely
carry out his intentions, and an involun.
tary curse would escape his lips as he
felt the pressure of the belt he wore
about his body, or the features of Fail.
ing, which would occasionally rise up
before him.
Favored by fair weather, the flee,
ship rapidly plowed her way down tho
China Sea, and all hands congratulated
themselves on a speedy termination OF
the voyage.
No opportunity had occurred to sacri
flee the ship, f4Y Jackson was deter
mined not to hazard the life of any ont
on board, and, keeping well to the east
ward, the high mountainous Island o.
Borneo doomed up blue and picturesque
above the horizon.
For two days the Exporter skirte,
along in sight of the island; and then
furious squall of mist and rain swep
over the ship.
The black, lowering clouds appeared
to envelope the mast-heads, and tn,
zigzag sheets of vivid lightning dartet
through the heavens, only excelled il
fury by the appalling peals of thunde
which crashed increasingly above them
The sea, dashed to fury, was envelopes
in a feathery foam, and flew over tn
ship in binding showers.
Grooming and cracking in every tim
Der, the ship bowed before the gale and
as all hands had been called to shortcI
sail, or cut away the tattered remnant
of what had been blown away, Capt
Jackson himself took the wheel, tina
the helmsman mightlend a hand in aid
ing his struggling shipmates.
No human being can ever conceiv
the feelings which ragged in the unfol
tunatc shipmaster's breast that mem
orable night.
The roaring of the waves, and rus
of the pelting rain, the howl of the gal
as it swept through the cordage of tn
ship, and the beating of the surf on tn
beach and reefs in the distance, mir
gled with the clear word of comman
of the mates, and the CHEEKY cry of tn
nimble sailors aloft, as they roared on
"haul out to leeward!" or "light owe
to windward!"
The last man had laid down froi
aloft, the men were clustering aft I
"splice the main brace" when a SUI
den grumble and grating ran throug