Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-01-10
saw them safely launched along

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side.
By Ingram's direction, MIR. Jones
took charge of one boat, with his por-
ton of the ships company, while he
directed the movements of the other.
Miss LIE Moyne, the owners daugh-
ter, accompanied him, and with a
wave of mis- hand the brave seaman
directed the boats crews to shove
off.
Rising on the crest of q huge sea,
the boats were rapidly swept to leward
and the waterIogged ship, covered
with spray, and plungirg bows under,
was soon lost to view.
AS near as possible the two boats
remained in company, and with anx-
ious eyes the seaman gazed about the
horizon as the sun slowly disappeared
from sight.
Ingram's heart ached as he gazed
upon the slight form of the lady pas
senger, who had been reared in the
lap of luxury, aud a shade Of sorrow
darkened his countenance as he
thought of the long days and nights
that must intervene before land could
be sighted.
Enveloped in a long coat, to shield
her from the binding spray, she
crouched by his side, pale and silent.
The boats rode the seas with the
buoyancy of ducks, shipping but little
water as they iioated on.
! But limited supply of provisions
and water had been laid in, for fear
of overlooking the boats, and all
hands were at once placed upon short
allowance. Mr.. Ingram had taken
the precaution to stow the supplies
in the stern-sheets, where he could
keep an eye upon them; AMI for fear
that the pangs of hunger and thirst
might assail the young lazy, the brave
fellow managed to reserve of his
share. unknown 20 anyone.
The night passed slowly by, and
with the first gDay streaks of dawn
the men we're gazing eagerly about
them, searching the horizon for some
signs of sail. Soon it become ap-
parent to them that during the night
they had parted company with the
other boat, which WAS nowhere to be
seen.
The sun rose III mclouded splen- |
dor, the waters, but slightly aqitated !
from the late gale, shone and spark |
led in the brilliant rays. rejecting
back all the colors Of the rainbow, as |
some mimic spray flew over the low
gunwale of the boat.
The small portion of bread, the
mere thimbleiui of water, were served |
out with an impartial hand by the
mate, and, weary with watching, the
men sought to forget their troubles
by indulging in slumber.
Three days and nights Wore steadi-
" by, bringing with them no relief
from the dangers that again envelop-
ed the shipwrecked crew. No sail
appeared on the horizon to cheer
their aching eyes, no welcome ap-
pearance of laud TO revive their cour-
age
At noon of the third day Mr.. III
gram served out the last morsel of
bread and the remaining supply of
water, which was eagerly seized upon
by the suffering and half-tamished
scanenr
The mate, with 4 courage and firm
ness almost superhunan, smothered :
the fearful pangs gnawing at his Vi
tails, and resoluteiy put away por-
ton with the amount already saved. /
Miss lie Moyne suffered less than =
the rest of the boats crew, owing 4
probably to the fact of her remaining
perfectly STILL Her color had fled,
her checks were wan and eyes sunk
EN-, but her little frame contained a
Il considerable amount Of vitality.
The mate watched over her with
jealous care, and during the night
found an opportunity to moisten her :
lips with water. She at first refused
to accept the precious liquid. but the I
mate insisted, and finally prevail ed 1
upon her to eat {. bit of cracker.
On the fourth morning the sun
rose upon cloudless sky. Not q
breath of air ruflled the CLASSY sur #
face of the bay, and the bright blue l
waters sparkled and shone before the
tantalz ing eyes Of the seaman. They
could no longer forget their misery
in sleep. Their tongues were swol-
len and parched, they could not swal- t
low, and If they closed their eyes, i
Ehey were haunted by visions of foun-
ta.ins, and clear, running streams of I
pure crystal water.
The day wore on, the sun beat t
down upon them with remorseless
fury, increasing their agony and suf- 8
fering. One poor fellow, his brain
tortured by fantastic ddlusions. jump I
ed overheard in Il frenzy, and slowly {
sank to the depths below. $
In the sunken eyes of the men '
woliish are was perceptible as they 8
gazed at one another. Everything s
that could be chewed had been dis
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