The Hawaiian gazette., 1880-12-22

seeing him thrus. into the waves, sprung over
board and wrapping her arms round him sank
In the sunset gilded waters to rise no more.
The rush to the port side at the first moment
was not so great. Romilly and Trevor both
noticed this anil at once seizing Lucy by each
hand they dashed to that side and all scram-
bled in quickly; following them were the third
mate and eight sailors; the rope was cut by
one of the latter the moment he touched the
boat and in an instant they were drifting away
from the burning wreck, others who were fol-
lowing them found themselves cut off from
this means Of escape and began 10 implore
them with curses and entreaties to put back
for them, but the sailors would not there
were enough in the boat they said and if they
came near the ship they would be swamped.
Lucy hid her eyes and prayed. Trevor and
Romilly stormed and raved at the GOODNESS of
heart of the men but to no purpose. Romiily
even drew his revolver, but he dared not fire |;
they hat the oars and were numerically SUI
perior so, he had to submit. As the boat glided
away into the twilight they watched with
fascinated eyes the last scene played out
around the doomed ship. The starboard boat
was swamIed and most of lis living freight were
drowned. A few crawled back by means Of
ropes up the sides Of the ship; there to hang
in misery and terror for while longer and
finally to drop half roasted into the hungry
waters. Az night closed in all that could be
seen was red glow, like beacon light float
ing upon the surface of the waters and no
human beings existed out of all those who
had set sail week before from Southampton,
save those twelve people in the boat. : > =
Twelve people in an open boat in the tropical
part of the Atlantic-with no sail, no awning !;
only key of salt pork, a few pounds of hard
braaJ a,d sunall kaer IF Haxuayar
the Atlantic is the worlds high way and they
must surely be picked up by some passing
vessel ere two days are over. A consultation
was held and it was decided to steer for st.
Thomas. 1t was arranged that they should
form themselves into three watches, four men
would pull and then four more, and finally
two, leaving the girl and boy out. The latter
was to take charge of the provisions and deal
them out evenly and sparingly. One day
passed, two days, three days, four days. No
sail in sight. insufficient food, broken rest,
blistering sun by day; cold dews by night
began to tell they began to look holow-eyed
and wolfish. Five days, six days. The water.
was now being dealt out as if it were liquid
gold. There had been many whispered talk
between the lovers and the brother the girl
and lad watched anxiously over the scanty
store of provisions and finally told Romilly
that they could not last more than two days
more and the three planned how it could be
made to last The seventh day dawned and
the pork was reduced to about pound, the
biscuits to twelve, the wafer to six quarts. The
men could row no more, but sail had been
improvised from one of Lucy's petticoats and
with that they foated on. A council was cnce
more held, life as Romilly represented citing
many instances from cases of previous ship
wrecks, could be supported upon very little.
Tier chance of living lay in holding out as
long as they could, ship must within the next
few days fall in with them, best therein divide
what provisions they had into twelve portions,
biscuit. little more than an ounce of pork
and a pint of water was to be the rations
for dozen people every day. Romilly argued
his case well the men saw the wisdom of
hurrying on even at diet that was sheer
starvation and they agreed. After four days
two men declared they could not stand it, they
would have one drink and they would die;
they made dash for the water cask but
Ramilly and the mate were prepared, one fell
low was cast overheard, the other was stunned
by blow from stretcher that night he died
and so did another, weakly fellow who had
been ailing even since he had been i'll the boat
Romilly and Trevor never dared sleep at the
same time, each took it in turns with revolver
cooked to watch over Lucy. What fearful mo-
ments were these long silent night watches.
The moon would play upon the waters making
them look SO cool and inviting, hooking the
burning thirst of those poor souls in the boat.
During the fifth night the five men had been
whispering together and towards dawn as
Romilly sat half doing in the thwarts he was
suddenly reused by hearing a stealthy creep
ing sOund, he raised hs head and saw the whole
five advancing towards him. He gave cry
and stirred the sleeping mate with his foot;
the latter rose and as he did so one of the men
sprang forward and grappled with him, Romil-
ly raised his revolver and shot the second man
through the head one became frightened and
backed for the bows but the otlrs came on,
the wolfish look cleaning strong in their eyes.
Romilly held mis- fire. There might be need of it
afterwards. He seized one of the iron row-locks
and hurled it at one mans forehead. He fell
like stone, his head hanging over the gunwale
The thirst of bloodwas on Romilly. He advanced
towards his PROSTATE foe, and seiZng his legs he
edged him overheard edged, for his power was 80
weakened by fasting that it all he could do to
lift the legs over the thwarts. Meanwhile the
mate, Trevor, and the two sailors were having an
awful struggle. One, had fastened his teeth into
the mates arm and was tearing at it like a canni-
bal. Lucy sprang up from her sleep and was in
time 70 fling her arms round her brother and save
him from rolling out of the boat the others went
over locked in deadly embrace. Lucy and Harry
strained their eyes into the waters. Deep down in
the clear blue sea the fight went on; the grasp of
the two sailors never gave way; the mates face
blackened and his eye-balls started Both on
lockers hid their eyes. When they looked again
all was over and the bodies had sunk out of view.
The shock was too much for Lucy. She tainted.
Romilly, turning from his task of murder, saw her
lying unconscious across the seat. My God,'' he
exclaimed, Lucy, darling Lucy, have they killed
you /" lie raised her his arm and reached
over to the precious water-keg Harry, Harry"
he cried, water Harry filled the little tin cup
and passed it to him. his eyes looking greedily at
the fluid. As her lips were moistened, she
breathed again. Gradually her eyes opened The
man forward had watched the scene. Now was
his opportunity, he thought. He began climbing
over the seats, and while Philip bent his head, and
with his hat was tanning the reyiving girl raised
an oar to fell him. Harry Trevor looked up and
saw what was coming. Romilly's pistol lay on the
seat. He caught it up and fred. The man dropped.
Romilly laid Lucy gently down. Then he and
Harry silently rolled the body overheard. Only
three people In the boat now. The dawn was at
bands would il bring them the long-looked-for
sail ? The sun rose magnifcently; an artist would
have reyelled in the colos which tinted and
blazoned the heavens. But alas the sun only
rose TO show them FURNISHED sea, a cloudless sky
and not spec to break the horizon line.
Three days more they had been floating; three
days more OF gnawing hunger and parching thirst
only intensified by the driblets of food and drink
which they allowed themselves. They seldom
talked but lay istless at tine bottom of the boat.
On the fifth day after the death-struggle with the
sailors, the biscuits and water would only last four
days more, when they made their division. Philip
poured back his share of the water while Lucys
back was turned and laid his morsel of biscuit
under the seat. He would save his darling if he
could. She should have his share and i've A
ship must come soon. YEARLY that day passed,
and then the next. Harry was so weak that he
seldom sat up. Strange that the girl seemed to
bear the privatlon best.
Two DAYS since Ror,;lIv hac taatad food nv