American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-11-15

and replied:
81 will trust you, Mr.. Wilde. CT
aboard the schooner rs soon as posi-
BILE"
The Idle Wait sailed upon her home
ward-bouud voyage, and it was evident
| to all ON board that no better seaman
than Gervaisc Wilde ever trusi IA vessel.
deck, and yet between him and tn,
| Captain there was certain restraint
| From the first of the home trip Hart
Woodruff had treated his first officer
| with an overbearing manner, noticeable
to all, and which the Mate received witt
cold and indifferent polteness.
Corinne Graham narrowly watched
the two officers, and her woman's eyes
soon read the secret cause of the Cap
tain's feeling towards his Mate. 1t was
! jealousy; for Hart Woodruff had from
the first loved the maiden, and seeing
that she accepted the polite and gentle
manly attentions of Gervaise Wilde with
feeling of pleasure, he determined to
rid himself of the man he believed to be
his rival.
On sailed the noble vessel until, when
nearing the waters of the gulf, a terrible
storm burst upon her, and increasing
toward night threatened her with de-
struction. Bravely did the crew stand
at their posts, and twice during that
long night Gervaise Wilde assembled the
rigging, when brave hearts hesitatcd,
and securely furl some sail that the wind
had torn from its fastenings.
Mr.. Graham, with his wife and Co
rhine, had assembled to the deck and
were grouped together, anxiously watch
ing the black storm and raging ocean,
while nj the same time they could not
but admire the cool manner of SPRING
ing at once to every post of danger,
and the comparison drawn between the
Captain and his Mate redounded to the
latter's credit
All that human skill and courage
could do to save the schooner proved
useless; she was dismasted, became q
wreck, and, leaking in many places, it
was found she could no longer hold out
against the storm.
"There is but one course, Mr.. Graz
ham. The boats, excepting ole, are
washed away, and the schooner can re-
main only few hours afloat, so 1 will
at once set about building raft which
can hold all of u.s." and Gervaise turned
to Mr.. Graham.
"We are in your hands, sir; but what
says the CaptainP"
81 say" and Hart Woodruff stepped
forward, " that the Mate is mistaken !;
that the schooner will float for many
days. And yet would not expose Mrs.
and Miss Graham to risk; SO propose
that you, sir, with your wife and daugh-
ter, accompanied by myself and four of
the crew, take the life-boat. In two
days at farthest we can reach some of
the caribbean Islands; while Mr.. Wilde,
with the remainder of the crew, can re-
main with the vessel, which, under
jury -masts, can be run into the nearest
port.
ga good plan, perhaps, Captain, but
as 1 agree with Mr.. Wilde regarding
the inability of the. the schooner to be
kept afioat for many hours, think we
had better trust to the raft
"A frown passed over the Captain s
brow, which was not unnoticed, at Mr..
Graham's words, but he added:
"The schooner will not sink, sir; her
pumps will keep it up
s'Captain, do not wish to shrink my
duty devolving on me, so will abide by
the decision of the men. Call them and
ask them if this vessel can be kept
above water for half day." said Mr..
Gervaise.
Here, my men," called out Mr..
Graham, " come hither u moment and
give us your opinion. How long can
we keep our heads above water by re-
naming on this vessel?"
ga few hours, sir; perhaps half a
day." rejoined the men; and as if sat
isiied with their answer, Mr.. Graham
said:
"Mr. Wilde, commence the raft ut
once Captain, please see that all our
baggage and valuables are brought on
deck with sufficient provisions to last us
two weeks
Six hours after, a large and stout raft
had been built which was capable of
sustaining three times the number on
the schooner, and upon it Gervaise had
securely bound the caboose, to serve as
apartments for the ladies, and other
wise protected the center of the raft in
such way as to keep the baggage and
provisions secure.
An being in readiness, Mr.. and Mrs.
Graham, with Corinne, got on board,
and were followed by the Captain, Mate,
and crew, and the bulwarks amidship
having been cut away, they waited the
coming of a wave to wash them off the
schooner, which was rapidly sinking to
a watery grave.
Soon it came, huge, foam-capped
mountains of water, and the raft was
lifted on its shoulders and borne off up
on the ocean, while the Inflated schoon-
er was buried by the same large wave,
never more to reappear.
Eight days the huge raft drifted about
on the mighty deep, and no succor COM
ing, the larger part of the crew arose in
mutiny, and, Selling the life-boat which
had been brought along, took the greater
portion of the provisions and deserted
their companions in distress; but their
desertion was not bloodless one, for
three of their number fell dead beneath
IL IS L.,