The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-16

| "'"ys, "ouid pe VI no use, aS she must per
lsh before he could reach the deck and at
tempt to stay the deadly hand
There was no time to lose. In three
seconds tho dirk would descend, and thu
girl would be killed at one stroke, 80 that
he murderer's companions, who had al
ready begun to ascend the vessels side,
could pounce Oh the drowsy male occupants
of the deck, and, Staying them, make
themselves masters Of the ship almost be.
fore warming could be given.
| Like lightning flash, the instinct of
love, the resolution to save Bell in some
way from his immediate attack, sent q
sudden thought through tho brain of the
agonlzcd spectator.
The Hrndoo murderer, III 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, whose
arm and body, as already stated, were
drawn back from the bulwarks to give force
to the mcditatcd blow. The young man,
therefore, deemed it would be al easy mat
ter to reach the Hlndoo in the only way it.
could now be done wi Ii sufficient rapidily
to preventive accomplishment OF his deadly
purposc-a way at once novel and despc-
rate, and which would, perhaps, involve
his own destruction.
In word, not hestating to risk life or
!, for fhn l>o
Winfield resolved to drop down from near
the end Of the mizzun topsail yard upon the
Hndoo, forty feet below, and thus dash
him from the rail into tho sea, perhaps
killing himself, ere he could deal the fatal
blow with the uplifted dirk. Lie would
utter u shrill cry-a warning to the crew.
as he cleayed the air, thus rousng them,
perhaps, in time to meet the attack of the
robbers. and ensure tho further safety of
Bell and the ship.
The emergency admitted Of no delay.
The young man, clutching the yard-arm
near the end, hung by it second to make
sure he was in line with the Hindoo be-
meath, then, just as the dirk was about to
descend, he let 60 of the spar with a long,
wild cry that pierced every corner OF the
ship, and down he went, clcaving through
the air with terrible velocity. There was
whnling, rushing sound, then u loud thud
as the heavy boot-heels of the falling body
crushed upon the head of the native ere
he could use his knite, dashing him from
the rall into the sea, aud killing him in
stantly.
The watch heard the warning cry Of
the lieutenant, and before the other natives
could recover from their surprise at the oc-
currence which had 50 suddenly and unex-
pectedIy broken upon them, the decks were
alive with the whole crew, and the entire
gang of robbers beat hasty retreat.
Meanwhile Bell Upton had been 80 be-
wlldered by that sudden. fearful cry she
had heard, and tho subsequent splash of
the bodies in tho water, then not until the
boat was lowered and the lieutenant, who
had been struggling in the sea, was brought
aboard and into the cabin, to explain in a
faint voice how he had saved her life, did
she clearly comprehend all that had hap
pencd. Then she threw herself down by
the PROSTATE form of her lover, and hung
over him In agony, fearing that he was
fatally injured. Soon, however, the doc
tor gave cheering information to the con-
trary.
Tho young man had sustained fearful
shock from his contact with the Hindoo's
body, but as that body had offered little re-
sistance to his downward progress when he
struck it, being simply driven before him
into tho sea, his lower limbs, although
partially paralyzed for the time, were not
broken. lie had, however, fallen danger
ously near TO the rail. A roll of the ship
to the other side, ere he could let go Of the
topsail yard to descend, would have caused
him to fall on the bulwarl1s, when, of
course, he would have been killed.
Never before, said the doctor, did
hear OF such daring performance.
'Ayl' exclaimed Major Upton. God
bless HIM Here, Bell, he shall have you
girl, for he has earned you.'
He put both hands of his daughter in
the llcutenant's, and turned his head away
to hide few tears upon his bronzed cheek.
Immediately after the young man ha d
been brought aboard, an off. shore breeze
sprang up, enabling the captain to head
seaward. In due time tho vessel reached
her home port, whom the lientonant, who
by this time had fully recovered from the
elects OF his fall, claimed his beautiful and
willing bride.
Cutting Hard SteoI with SOFT Iron