Middletown transcript., 1877-07-07
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THE GOLDEN ISLAND.

OuIIuS lue hel8u OI lerfOf ii
France, while the cruel Robespierre
was the ruling power, | had the mis-
fortune to fall under the suspicion Of
the Jacobins, because although alone
in the world l was the scion of a noble
family. Aware that between suspicion
and the guillotine there were but few
hours of existence, l contrived to get
on board Of an Italian brig, that had
put in from stress Of weather, and made
my escape. The vessel was bound to
North America for cargo of salt fish,
to be consumed on the ensuing Lent,
and had crew of fifteen men. The
captain was very i'll when we sailed,
owing, as he said, to a cup of wine
which his wife had mixed with her
tears, and persuaded him to drink at
their parting. He gradually declined
as we proceeded on our voyage, until
at last he was not able to quit his bed /;
and no person on board except myself
having any knowledge of keeping
ships reckoning, that duty devolved
upon me.
A few days before his death the cap
tain sent for me: "Francois, said he.
my wife has poisoned me, that I might
not return to interrupt a connection
which she had formed during my alb
sence. I have no children, and no re-
lations that ever cared for me. / am
the owner Of the cargo, as well as the
captain of this vessel, and it is my in
tention to make it over to you; con-
slider that you have the greatest claim
to it, as there is nobody on board ex-
cept yourself who can navigate her.
Understand me, it is not out of any
particular regard, so much as to pre-
vent my wife from obtaining any prop
erty, that | select you as my heir; you
have, therefore, to thank heaven for
your good fortune, more than you have
me. have but one request to make
in return, which is, that you will faith
fully promise to cause five hundred
masses to be said for my soul, upon
your arrival in Italy"
l readily made the promise which
he required, and the captain drew up
a will, which he read and executed
before the whole Of the crew, by which
the vessel and cargo were made over
to me. Two days afterward he expired.
We sewed him up in hammock, and
threw him overheard. Although it was
quite calm at the time, gale sprung
npimmediately afterward, which event
lally increased to a hurricane.
We were obliged to bear up, and for
several days scudded under bare poles,
until found that we were in the very
centre of the Atlantic, out of the track
# any vessels. Gradually the weather
became more settled, and we again
spread our canvas to the breeze. To
ny surprise l observed, that although
~ my reckoning we were nearly one
thousand miles from any land, several
lquatic birds were lowering about the
hip, Of description that seldom 20
ar from the shore. | watched them
Is the sun went down, and perceived .
hat they took their fight to the south
asst. Anxious to discover any land 1
lot hitherto described, l steered the
hip in that direction during the night, !
nd early the next morning we found {
ourselves close to an island, apparently {
en- or fifteen miles long, very high, and t
f conical shape, which I knew was a
ot laid down upon any chart. re- S
Olved to examine it, and dropped my
nchor in small bay, at the bottom |
f which a few houses announced that I
was inhabited, although I could not I
anything like guns or for t
fcation. We had not furled our o
ails, when boat showed off from the 5
lore and pulled toward US. She soon t
lme alongside, and astonished us as a
luch by the popularity of her struc- p