South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-11-03
A FALL FOR LIFE.

bay for London. lay becalmed off the
west coast of Hindoostap. between Goa
and Mongalore. where the Ghautz noun.
tains were seen towering in savage gran.
deur. thousands Of feet in the air. with
wild torrents leaping down the rocks,
flashing through the dark green shrub.
berry, and rushing with the din of thun-
Ger.
If the wind,doesn't rise ere tomorrow
morning. we will have to anchor. said
the Captain TO Robert Winfield. hand.
some young naval lieutenant on leave
of absence from his frigatc, stationed at
Bombay.
don't want TO leave the ships bones
on that coast, nor do | like TO get too
near it. have heard bad stories about
the natives there; atany rate. believe
that almost every Hindoo is n thief and
murderer by nature.
Bell Upton, daughter OF Major Up.
ton, who was bound home from his India
regiment on sick leave. heard these
words. and. shuddering. drew closely to
the side Of her invalid father.
A quick glance was then exchanged
between her and the young lieutenant,
20 d:spel her fear.
Major Upton, noticing the glance.
frowning said to his daughter. Come,
Bell, let us 90 below.
Winfield had been sutton Of Bells
since she came to visit her father ut
Bombay. some months before. The girl
favored him, but not so the major. who
wanted her to choose weather. lover.
Bell was beautiful with form OF un.
riyaled grace. brown eyes, a clear, pearl
white skin, with very little color, and
masses over pair Of magnificent shout.
ders.
The lieutenant watched her admiring.
ly until she disappeared in the cabin.
No harm shall befall her, not while
live he thought, as he glanced uneasily
towards the coast. We have arms on
boards have we not? lac added aloud to
the captain.
Ay ay, sir: but it isn't likely we shall
be attacked. We are full two leagues
from the coast, and before we arc near
enough 20 be boarded n breeze will
spring up, I've no doubt.
A few hours later night closed round
the ship. The sky was covered by thick
clouds which obscured the moon and
seemed to betoken that breeze would
come before long.
Meanwhile, the ship having drifted a
league nearer the coast, the lieutenant
thought the captain very careless not to
have more than his one lookout forward
posted or SO dark night.
Before eleven o'clock the quarter deck
was deserted by all save the officer of
the watch, lazy fellow, who was now
stretched on the carpenters chest halt
asleep while the watch, rs Winfield, who
stood leaning over the rail amidshps.
could perceive by the light of lantern
In the fore rigging. lay reclining on the
hatch. some OF them snoring.
Not feeling sleepy, the young lieu.
tenant resolved to go alort on the miz,
zeatops sail yard TO watch for the first
sign Of breeze.
Arrived on the yard, the gloom was
so intense that he could not see the
water below although he still gazed in
that direction: was it realty or only
/ imagination? he thought he could de.
tect a dim outline OF something shooting
round the ships stern.
lie was about descending, when the
clouds parting over the moon, n flood OF
slippery light was poured down on ship
/ and water. revealing spectacle that
filed the young man with horror-a
scene so sudden and unexpected. that
his very heart set med to stand still
While lie was aloft, Bell Upton had
come out on tho quarter deck, and now
stood with her back to the rail, about
two feet from it, her head bowed, as il
she was in deep thought. 80 that her
beautiful white neck shone like polished
ivory in the clear moonlight.
Unseen, unheard b. the young GIL, n
Hindoo, with long 1.-the body. naked
to the waist, had clamberei the side,
from long canoe, containing half 2
dozen of lis companions had contrved
to glide, serpent like, on the outside OF
the ship, until I've had obtained posi-.
ton directly behind her, when he had
drawn large dirk, which lie was now
on the point of plunging into the snowy
neck of the fair passenger, that she
might give no alarm.
The licutepancs hand clcnchcd tho
yard like n vice as he bohcl1 the young
iady's peril.
lie must save her he would save her
nc thought and yet, how was this to
be done!
To give an alarm would only hasten
the girls doom 20 descend, no matter
bow quickly. by means Of one OF the
back doors. would be Of no more nae. ne
she would perish before he could reach
the deck and attempt TO stay the dead.
~ hand.
There was no time 90 lose in three
seconds the dirk would descend and the
girl would be killed at one stroke. so
that the murderer's companions, who
had already begun to ascend the vessels
side, could pOuuce on the drowsy male
occupants OF the deck, and Staying them
make themselves masters OF the ship,
almost before n warning could be given !