Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-04-21
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A. Fail For Life.

The merchant ship Druid, from Bonn
bay for London, lay becalmed of the west
coast of Hindostan, between Goa and Man
galore. where the Ghauts Mountains were
seen, towering III savage grandeur thou
sands of feet in aif, with wild torrents
leaplng down the rocks, flashing through
the dark green shrubbery, and rushil &
with the din of thunder.
If the wind does not rise before to
morrow morning we will have to anchor,
said the captain to Robert Winfield,
handsome young naval lieutenant on leave
of absence from the frigate stationed at
Bombay. i don't want to lay the ships
bones on the coast, nor do like to get too
near il haye heard bad stories of the
natives there at any rate, believe that
almost every Hindoo is thief and mur-
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, shudderlng, drew closer to her inva-
lid father.
A quick glance was exchanged between
her and the young naval lieutenant, whose
reassuring look seemed at once 10 dispes
her fears.
Major Upton, noticing the glance, frown-
ing, said to his daughter, Some, Bell, let
us 20 below
Winfield had been q suitor of Bells since
she came to visit her father at Bombay,
some months before. The girl favored
him, but not 80 the major, who wanted her
to choose wealthy lover.
Bell was beautiful, with form of un-
rivaled grace, brown eyes, clear, pearl
white skin, with little color, and dark
golden hair that fell in ripping masses over
a pair of magnificent shoulders The lieu
tenant watched her admiringly until she
disappeared in the cabin.
No harm shall befall her, not while
live, he thought, as he now glanced un-
easily towards the coast 'We have arms
aboard, have we not q he added aloud to
the captain.
'Ay, ay, sir but 1t Is not likely we shall
be attacked. We are full two leagues
from the coast, and before we are near
enough to be boarded a breeze will spring
up, have no doubt
A few hours later night closed around
the ship. The sky was covered by thick
clouds which obscured the moon and
seemed to betoken that q breeze would
spring Up before long.
Meanwhile the ship having drifted a
league nearer the coast, the lieutenant
thought the captain very careless not to
have more than his one lookout posted for
ward on 50 dark night.
Before eleven o'clock the quarter deck
was deserted by all save the officer OF the
watch, lazy fellow who was now stretched
on the carpenters chest, half asleep, while
the watch for n ard, as Winfield (who stood
leaning over the rail amidships) could per-
ceive by the light of lantern in the fore
Raging, lay reclining on the hatch, some
of them snoring.
Not feeling sleepy: the lieutenant re-
solved to 60 aloft on the mizzen topsail
yard and watch for the first sign of breeze.
Anived on the yard, the gloom was so in
tense that he could not see the waters be-
low, although he still gazed in that direc-
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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-a scene SO sudden
and 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
shene like polished ivory in the bright
4ACA uLSCOLg dALCoId Ny IAC
young grl, Hindoo, with a long 1.-THE
body naked to the waist, had clambered
up the slte from large canoe containing
a half-dozen of his companions, and had
contrived to glide, serpent-lke, on the out
side OF the ship until he had gained a po-
sition directly behind her, when he drew a
large dirk, which he was now on the point
of plunglng 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's
peril. He must save her-he would save
her, he thought; yet, how was 1t 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