, 1876-06-18

1eel much different and can't well see the
change. That was in one Of the Cape steamer.
af9t to9k t9 stoktn Thsy were ltte
II was that more weren't lost puzzles me. It
| Vas more due to the weather than the make OF
nnding OF the ships, I can tell vou, that they
used to lind their way safe to port; and yet the
asa passengers, poor things, knowing no better,
useu TO take passage, aye, and make voyage
| too from which they never got back.
] vel, was working on board 4 steamer as
tneY used to call the Equator, and heavy-laden,
| and N1ta about twenty passengers on board, we
! staf1ea down Channel with all well till We got
| right down off the west coast Of Africa, when
there came one Of the heaviest storms I Was
| ever IN. Even for well-found steamer, such
! as thay can build to-day, it would have been
naru nght, but with our poor, shaky wooden
TUB, 1t was hopeless case from the first.
Onr skipper made brave fight Of It, though,
and tried hard to make for one Of the ports
out, blees you, what can q man do when, after
ten days knocking about, the Goals run out, aud
the ilres that have been kept going with wood
aud gu, and everything that can be thrust into
the furnaces, are drowned; when the paddle
wheels are only In the way, every bit of sail set
Is blown clean ont OF the boltcropes, and at
last the ship begins to drift fast for q lee
shore2
That was our case, and every honr the sea
seemed to get higher and the wind more fierce,
while heard from more than one man how fast
the water Was gaining below.
Ny mateaud didn't want any telling, though.
We'd been driven up out OF the stoke-hole like
pair OF drowned rats, and came on deck to find
the hulwarks ripped away, and the sen every now
and then lcaptng aboard, and washing the lum-
ber about In all directions,
The skipper was behaving very well, and he
kept us all at the pumps turn and turn In spells,
but VIC might as well have tried to pump the sen
dry, and when, with the water gaining fast, We
told him what nc thought, be owned 1t was no
use, and We gave up.
We'd ali been at #, crew and passengers, about
forty Of lis altogether, including the women
five Of them they were, aud they were all on
deck, lashed in sheltered place, close to the
poop. And very pitiful it was to see them fight
ing hard at first and clinging to the side, but
only to grow weaker, half.lrowned as they we're;
and saw two sink down atlast, and hang droop-
inglike from their lashipgs, dead, for not soul
was holding on By the shrouds when the
mate got to the shippers side, and saw In his
blank, white face what he was telling him. OF
course we couldn't hear his words fn such q
storm, but we didn't want to, for his lips said
plain enough:
"6he's sinkng!"
Next moment there was rush made for the
boats, and two of the passengers cut loose
couple Of the women; place was made for them
before the first boat was too full; size was low
cred down, cast of, and big wave carried her
clear Of the steamer. saw her for moment
on the top of the ridge, aud then she plunged
down the other side out Of our sight-and that
OF everybody else; for how long she lived, who
can saye She was never picked up or heard OF
again.
Giving bit Of cheer, our chaps turned to
The next, and we're getting in, when there came
wave like q monntain,. ripped her from the
dayfts, and, when shook the water from my
eyes, there she was hanging BY one end, stove
in, and the men who had fried to launch her
gone,-skippcr and mate as well.
There we're only seven Of us now, and could
see besides the three women 1ashed to the side,
and only one Of them was alive; and for a bit
with horror; but there came lull, and, ceiling
that the steamer was sinking under our feet, I
shouted out to the boys to come on, and we ran
to the last boat, climbed in, and were castfng
women lashcd under the bnlwarks there
"Hold hard!'' roars, for saw one Of thcm
wave her hand.
going DOWN."
pray may never be put to It again ike that,
against him. For . moment shut my eyes,
aud they began to lower; but was obliged to |
open them again, and, as did SO, I saw 4 wild, |
scared face, with long. wet hair clinging round
It, and pair of little white hands were stretched
out to me as If for help.
" Hold hard!" shouts.
"No, no,'' roarcd out two or three, " there
isn't moment; and, IS tho boat was being low
cred from the dagits, made jump, caught
Lhe bu1warks with my hands, md climbed on
and floated away. ..e:
Then, as crept, hand-over-hand, to the girls
side, whipped out my knife, and was cutting her
loose, while her weak arms clung me, I felt |
he boat was leaving us, and I knew what
coward was ut heart, as 1had to tight with
myself SO not to leave the girl to her fate and
cap overheard to Swim for my lie. I got the
% as not to see the boat, and got The poor
rembling, clinging creature loose.
Now, my 1ass,'' says, "qulck ''-and
aised her up" hold on by the side while
make fast rope around your
oat as warn't there, for in those brief moments
he must hare capsized, and we were alone On
he sinking steamer, which now lay in the
roughs Of the sea. -
As soon as I got over the horror Of the feel
ng, q sort Of stony despair came over me; hut
'hon saw that pale, appealing face at my side,
ooling to me for help, that brought the man.
ood back, and, in SAYING encouraging things to
or, did myself good.
'ould float us, but gave that up directly, for
could feel tllat was helpless; and, getting !
he poor girl more into shelter, I took a bit Of
obacco in a sort Of stolid way, and sat down
Itf1 cork lifc-buoy over my arm, one which t
nd cut loose from where it had hung forgotten
chind the wheel.
But never used it, for the storm went down !.
st and tho steamer floated still, water-logged,
II three days, when We we're picked up By :.
assing vessel, half-starvcd, but hoping. And
lring that time my companion had told nc
lat she was the attendant Of one Of the lady !
on hoard; and at last, when We l
.rtcd at the Capc, she kissed my hand, and | h
lied me her hero, who had saved her life
,or gT1my me, you know. +
we warn't long, though, before VIC met again, :. !,
r somehow we'd settled that we'd write; and, =
after. Mary was back in Eng1nnd, u
ID my wife. That's why said took her like =
IT of way, being far, you know, from per-
ct, But what I say, speaking as Edward
own, stoker, is this: Make n good fight Of it,
matter how black things may look, and leave
- ~.xE I