The true northerner., 1876-02-25


ber, the ship bowed before the gale, and,
as all hands had been called to shorten
sail, or cut away the tattered remnants
of what had been blown away, Capt.
Jackson took the wheel, that the helms
man might lend hand III aiding his
struggling shipmates.
No human being can conceive the feel
ings which ragged in the unfortunate ship
masters breast that memorable night.
The roaring of the waves, and rush of
the pelting rain, the howl OF the gale rs
it swept through the cordage of the ship,
and the beating of the surf on the beach
and reefs in the distance, mingled with
the clear word of command of the
mates, and the cheery cry of the nimble
sailors aloft, as they roared out, "haul out
to leeward !" or "light over TO wind
ward |"
The last man had laid down from aloft,
the men were clustering aft to E" splice
the main brace, when sudden grUmble
and grating ran through the ship. A
shock, bump-followed by second
shock, which threw the men off their
feet violently, and then the good ship
Exporter struck heavily on coral reef,
and was forced high up on the dangerous
shoal.
With n succession of crashes the tall,
wavering masts went over the side, the
affrighted cries of the Lien, the shouts of
the officers, and the terrible ominous
grinding on the ships keel, rang on the
midnight air.
But the calm, steady voice of the Cap
tain was heard above all, calling on them
to obey his orders, and Jackson's cool
ness had the desired effect.
Watching for thenext vivid flash. Jack
son scanned the scene and saw that it
was comparatively easy to reach the main
land by the coral reef.
Carefully and cautiously the men were
directed to scramble for the land, and
Jackson was the last man to leave the
doomed ship. A sharp cry of anguish
escaped from him as he leaped over the
rail, but it was swallowed up in the
force of the gale, which now set i'll with
redoubled fury.
All night long it ragged, and as day
light dawned the furious waves were
running high, while the breakers roared
like SO many angry and hungry wolves.
Not vestige Of ship or cargo re-
mained save a few remnants of shattered
spars, and singularly enough, the medi-
cine chest was found comparatively un-
injured. BY some means it had escaped
the undertow; was one e-half buried In the
sand, sad relic of the once noble ship.
Jackson had performed his difficult
task well not n breath of suspicion
could attach itself to him, and all hands
10 l. &c
to their pale, detected superior.
But other matters soon enprossed the
attention of both officers and men.
With the first rays of the morning sun
which pierced the dispensing storm
clouds, n numerous and well-armed body
OF natives suddenly made their appear
ance, and with loud and menacing cries,
rushed upon the defenseless, shipwrecked
seamen.
BY the advice of the Captain, no at
tempt was made to resist the half-naked,
swarthy natives, who bore the entire
ships company in their midst to the
reigning Prince, who was attired in more
than barbaric splendor.
A Malay stepped forward to act as in
terpreter, having served on board a
country wallat as seaman, where he had
learned a smattering of the English Ian
guage. He informed Capt. Jackson that
the ship had struck reef making out
from Sarawak, on the Island of Borneo,
and that they were now the prisoners
and slaves OF the Prince bearing the
name of the town.
In low, confidential tone he added
that he wished them no harm, but ad-
vised them to strain every effort to es-
cape, as the Rajah was q blood-thirsty
fellow, who delighted i'll putting his
prisoners to death by the most cruel
tortures that could be devised. The
Malay added that the potentate was con-
siderably depressed mt present on ac-
count of the severe illness of the young
Princess, bis favorite daughter and as
all the ja ju men on the island had failed
to relieve her, their heads had paid the
forfeit. She was hourly growing worse,
and the father was almost frantic at the
thought of losing his idol.
Capt Jackson listened in deep silence,
and ray of hope darted across his really
fine features as he reflected for mo-
ment. In his many leisure hours at sea
he had made the science of medicine q
study---so much so that he felt perfectly
confident to grapple with any ordinary
disease.
The men were standing between the
well-armed natives, who were only
awaiting the well Anown signal of their
ruler to dash their brains out or reserve
them for worse fate. But the dusky
potentate had relapsed into reverie,
and had apparently forgotten the pres
ence of the white men.
The guard stirred impatiently, while
their dark eyes shot forth gIances which
boded no good to the trembling men
whom they had in their power.
Nerved on by desperation, and q prey
to the most terrible apprehension at the
awful predicament and danger the ships
company were in through his instrumen.
taity, Jackson whispered few words in
the ear ofthe Malay, who ventured to APP
proach his royal master.
jackson had bethought him of the for
tunate discovery of the medicine chest,
and determined so assume the risk of as
serting his power to cave the Princess
life, which he accordingly did, and the
Malay quickly conveyed the intelligence
to the Respondent father.
Tn ON inafopt tbo b;ob Iorr 80