The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-26
elined To think that she was a mere trad


sleep, when 7 wns startled to wakeful-
ness by the boom of heavy gun, while
the crash of falling spars, mingling with
its echoing thunder, told me plainly that
our vessel was attacked, and that The
first shot had taken terrible effect upon
her.
gfasped my revolver, and rushed
through the saloon toward the compan-
ion-way, only halting for an instant near
the mizzen-mast to CLEAN cutlass from
the rack which surrounded il, ere I as
cended to the deck. The scene that met
my eyes on gaining II battles oil des.
cription. Tangled corduge, rent sails
and riven spars lay in confused heaps
around, and from under the chaotic r,,iae
issued deep groans of agony from the
wounded and dying, while myriads of
torches aboard huge junk that had
ranged alongside, shed across the sea a
weird, yellow glare, revealing only too
plainly the dread effects of wanton car
mage.
AS the junk ran under our bows, q
multitude OF fierce demons, powder
grimed and Unsuitable ih theif lust for
blood, canbeirl to Our deck, and
pressed their Way aft. The fallen spars
and multifarious impediments effectua,ly
prevented any one passing along the
port side, SO Captain Moore. three sea-
men and myself, the only survivors,
rushed into the alley-way to starboard of
the deck house, and there stood resolute-
ly at bay.
Our murderous antagonists possessed
no firearms, but each one carried short,
ponderous native sword, called n pa
keem; these, however, wefe of but little
avail against the winged messengers of
death Our trusty revolvers sent into the
midst Of the advancing horde, until it
became apparent to them and to us that
our ammunition was giving out.
"Find Lottie, Mr.. Garter. We have
no chance; but, for heavens sake save
her from those merciless wretches. 1
have my death wound now," cried the
skipper.
L sprang down the cabin stairway,
and found the fair girl kneeling at the
table imploring succor from on high.
Her face was gbastly pale, and tremor
visibly convulsed her frame when she
saw my blood-stained brow.
care they subdued? Where is my
father ?" she cried, as she sprang to her
feet.
/ caught her in my srms, and bore her
bodily on deck, 1t had been my inten-
ton to place her in the captains gig,
that hung in the quarterdavits, and
lower it into the sea; but hardly had we
emerged from the companion hatch,
when above the clash of steel, and the
groans of the wounded, I heard ring out
from three hundred throats, word of
dreadful import" ,Ming" (VictoryN
and knew that my brave comrades had
been beaten down-that the pirates
held undisputed possession of the vessel.
While in Swatow the ships jolly boat,
or dingy, had been injured; and, since
our departure, the carpenter had been
employed repairing her bottom, as she
lay inverted on the poop. I knew that
when l heard the war-cry change to a
note of triumph; and instinctiyely felt
that our only chance of escaping death
lay in concealing ourselves beneath the
little dingy, as the cabin and hold would
be thoroughly searched for plunder.
"Crawl under, quickly. L will follow
you," 1 whispered in the ear of the ter
rified girl, as 1 raised the stern of the
| light craft.
AS if mechanically, she obeyed me;
then, with much difficulty, managed
to creep under myself; and scarcely
had L lowered our frail tenement to the
deck ere it was surrounded by a horde
of miscreants, who were yociferating
loudly.
Even at this hour, shudder when /
remember the agony of suspense l en-
dured during the ransacking of the
vessel.
At length it became obvious that the
pirates had accomplished their work of
plunder, for heard one direct his satel-
lites to set fire to the ship, and hurry
back to their own vessel.
Soon the sound of FLASHING oars told
me that the piratical craft was speeding
away from the hapless vessel she had
destroyed; so 7 cautiously uplifted the
dingy and crept from honoath her. A
bright, glowing flame, shooting skyward
from the fore-hatch, plainly indicated
how well the marauder chiefs mandate
had been obeyed, and told me in words
of fire that must Immediately bear
Lottie from the Heather Bell and trust
to less greedy element for safety. I
quickly lowered the gig, but she sank on
touching the water; the pirates had
STAYED in her bottom: The increasing
roar of the grasping flames, that twined
like glittering serpents up the shrouds
and masts, inspired me with extra
energy. Iuplifted the dingy, and, when
Lottie crawled from beneath it, with her
assistance bore it to the taft all.
"We have no time to lower it; we
must launch it bodily" I said. catching
my darling in my arms. "Be not afraid,
dear love-" 1 cried, then sprang with
her into the seething sea.
We sank deep beneath the briny food,
but L struck vigorously upward, and
soon gained the surface. Then, drawing
the lovely girls head upon my shoulder,
1 swan rapidly toward the drifting din
gy. 1t was ON it's keel and floating buoy
antly; SO 1 clambered in, drew Lottie
after me, and then sank weak aud pros
trate from over-exhaustion, in the stern
sheets. My fair companion raised my
head, and gently tended me until 1 re-
covered my faculties them
just in time to see the pretty Heather
Bell sink, holocaust, to her grave IN
the coral depths.
Soon after, vessel, which proved to
be the Lily, rescued us from our peril
GUS position and carried us in safety to
Hong Kong, in which city, twelve
months subsequently, l led to the hyme-
NAL altar the dear, brave girl who had
shared my peril on that eventful night.