The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-05-07
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A FALL FOR LJFE.

The merchant ship Druid from Bombay
for London, lay becalmed off the west
coast of Hindostan. between Goa and Man
galore, where the Ghauts Mountains were
seen, touring in savage grandeur thou
sands of feet 10 the air, with wild torrents
leaping down the rocks, flashing through
the dark green shrubbcry, and rushing with
the din Of thunder.
eff the wind does not rise before To-
morrow morning we viii have to anchor,
said the captain to Robert Winfield, 4
handsome young naval lieutenant on leave
of absence from ihe frigate stationed at
Bombay. Il don { want TO lay the ships
bones on the coast, nor do like to get too
near it. | have heard bad stories Of the
natives there; at any rate, | believe that
almost every Hindoo IS a thief aud mar-
derer by nature.
Bell Upton, daughter Of Major Upton,
who was on his way home from his India
regiment, on sick leave, heard the words
and, shuddering, drew closer TO her invalid
father.
A quick glance was exchanged between
her aud the young naval lieutenant, whose
reassuring look seemed At once TO disPcrse
her tears.
Major Upton, noticing the glance, frown-
ing, said to his daughter, Come, Bell, LEI
Us 90 below
Winfield bad been a suitor Of Bells since
she came to visit her father at Bombay,
some mouths before The girl favored
him, but not so the major, who wanted her
to choose wealthy lover.
Bell was beautiful, with fern Of un-
rivaIed grace, browu eyes, clear, pearl
white skin, With litile color, and dark
golden hair that fell 10 ripping masses
over pair Of magnificent shoulders. The
lieutenant watched her admiringly until
she disappeared 10 the cabin.
mo harm shall belall her, not while |
live, he thought, as be nov glanced un-
easily towards the coast. I'VE have arms
aboard, have We not p he added aloud TO
the captain.
Gay, ay, sir; bu. it Is nos likely We shall
be attacked We are full two leagues
from the coast, aud before we are near
enough to be boarded breeze will spring
up, | have no doubt
A few hours later night closed around
the ship. The sky was covered by thick
clouds which obseured the moon aud
seemed to betokeB that 4 breeze would
spring up before long.
Meanwhile the ship having drifted
league nearer the coast, the lieutenant
thought the captain very careless not to
have more than his one lookout posted for
ward on SO dark a night.
Before eleyen O'Clock the quarter deck
was deserted BY all save the officer of the
watch. a lazy fellow who was now stretched
on the carpenters chest, half asleep, while
the watch forward, as Winfield { who stood
leaning over the rail amidships) could per
eeive by the light Of a lantern ia the fore
rigging, lay reclining on the hatch, some
Of them snoring.
Not feeling sleepy, the lieutenant re-
solved to 20 aloft on the miEzen topsail
yard aud watch for the first sign Of breeze.
Arrived on the yard, the gloom was so iu-
tense that be could not sec the waters be-
low, although he still gazed in that direc-
ton. Was it reality or imaginationg 2 He
thought he could detect the dim outline Of
something shooting around the ships stern.
He was about descending, when, the
moon parting the clouds, food Of silvery
light was poured down on the ship and
water, revealing a sight that filed the
Young man with horror scene 50 sudden
aud unexpected that his heart seemed to
stand still.
While he was aloft Bell Upton had come
out on the quarter deck, and now stood
with her back to the rail, about two feet
from it, her head bowed as If in deep
thought, so that her beautiful white face
shone like polished ivory in the bright
moonlight. Then unseen, unheard by the
young girl, HindOo, with a long 1.-THE
body naked to the waist, had clambered
up the side from a large canoe containing
u halfdozen of his companions, and had
contrived to glide, serpent-like, on the out
side Of the ship until he had gained a po
sition directly behind her, when he drew
large dirk, which he was now on the point
of pluuging into the snowy neck Of the fair
passenger, that she might not give an
alarm
The lieutenant's hand clenched the yard
like wise, as he beheld the young LADY,
peril. He must save her-he would save
her, he thought; yet, how was it to be
done? To give an alarm would only has
ten the girls doom; to descend, no matter
how quickly, by means of one of the back
stays, would be of no use, as she must per-
ish before be could reach the deck and
attempt to stay the deadly hand.
There was no time to lose. In three
seconds the dirk would descend, aud the
girl would be killed at one stroke, so that
the murderers companions, who had al
ready begun to ascend the vessels side,
could pounce on the drowsy male occu-
pants Of the deck, and, staying them, make
themselves masters of the ship almost be-
fore a warning could be given.
Like lightning fash, the instinct of
love, the resolution to save Bell in some
way from his immediate attack, sent a
sudden thought through the brain of the
agonized spectator.
The Hindoo murderer, in his position
on the outside of the ship, was under the
yard, although about forty feet below him,
while the girl, standing two feet from the
rail, was within easy reach Of the native,