The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-02-13

ueatil uuu uireuhy piuceu uiS biSnet'
"Mr uerno," he gasped. "toll
them at home.--tell mother, Mary
l-lovod them,--Their address is.-
in--my staterooin. But--wy hair
mother, MARY y"
A strong shulder passed over bis
frame it was the soul, strug Cling
to FREQ itself from the last links OF
tho chain that bound it to its prison
house.
Day had now dawued upon us,
tut the sky was drdped in heavy
clouds, tit canopy, l thought, for
that dark, sad sceno.
Revereutly wo placed a sail over
the two bodies, aud then, turned
onr gaze forward, we saw. to our
surprise, that the mutineers hal un
consciously followed our extmpls
A barricale, composed Of ham-
mocks and empty casks, bad been
thrown across the forecastle, iutor-
stices being left here and there be-
tween them, for a purpose which |
ee,ily OWNED, even ibad not my first
glance revealed the protruding bar
rel of muskot, behind which APP
peared the villainous conntenance Of
the mate, evidently on the watch for
the first ono OF our party, who
should rashly expose himself.
An instant's reflection, decided
my course There before me, was
the ringleader, the instigator Of
tho mutiny. which had already cost
two valuable lives, seven now the
villain was eagerly watching for
opportunity to add another t. the
sad list, aud while he lived, | felt
that to hopo for mercy, or com
promise with tho mutineers, would
be vain,
had always beon accounto I \
good shot, and with teeth tightly
clenched, | raised my revolver,
taking deliberate aim at the glaring
eyes that flashed from behind the
row of hamnocks aud casks.
Bang how the sharp report broke
the stiffness of tho early morn
/ did not need to fire again the
mate bounded to his feet, and fell
headlong upon tho barricade before
him, where his body remained,
swinging ut each movement OF tue
vessel.
Several OF tho more venturesome
# our party now urged upon me
tho advisability OF storming the
mu,ineers' stronghold, confused as
they must be by tho loss of their
leader but speedily showed them
that such an attempt would be mad
ness.
We resolved to act simply on the
defensive, and to await tue course OF
events.
Our patience was not severely
tasted.
SO cngres.ed had we ali been in
the scenes enacting around us, that
we had not observed the threatening
OF the hesvens.
The wind now began to rise, and
in two hours time the full force OF
the gale was on us.
Hitherto, so calm had been the
sea, that it had been merely neces.
sary to lash the helm, but now cast
loose, calling on three OF the passn.
gers to aid me. and onr whole united
strength was barely sufh i n. to keep
the Neptune" on her proper
course, or to prevent her from
broaching to, and wallowing III the
trough OF the sea.
And now the fault in the steamers
become evident.
She pitched terribly into the bill
lows, instead OF mounting them
being too short to extend over two
waves, too long to ride easily on
one
The result was to bring all the
strain anidsbips, where she was
least able to bear it.
The waters rose higher and high
er, and as they occasionally swept
over tho deck, directed the passen'
gers to lash tue cutters in their
places. acd to secure themselves also,
by means OF the ropes
Scarcely had this precaution been
adopted, when an enormous green
sea came rushing on behind us,
with terrific force, foaming, roaring,
fearful object to look at
Hold on, hold on for your lives!
| shouted.
And then. with shock that made
The steamer reel aud culver, the
mighty wave came abroad.
was swept from my grasp on
he wheel, aud borne on its resistless
,ourse.
The next thing | was conscious OF,
found myself lying in the waist OF
he vessel, which, fortunately for
ne, was some four feet deeper than
The quarter. deck. | rose to my feet,
against the bulkhead that
had saved me.
Looking about me, as l recovered
from the shock, found that four o,
The passengers were oil who remain
ID to share my escape from wstery
grave.
That terrible wave had swept the
leck OF all else, animate and iuani
mate. barricades, boats, mutiueers
As though satisfied with the havoc
i had made, the fury OF the storm