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


bay for London, lay becalmed off the wcs
coast of Hindostan, between Goa and Man
galore, where the Ghauts Mountains were
seen, towering III savage grandeur thou
sands of feet in air, with wild torrents
leaping down the rocks, flashing through
tho dark green shrubbery, and rushi' q
with the din of thunder.
If the wind docs not rise before to
morrow morning we will have to anchor,
said tho captain to Robert Winfield, q
handsome young naval lieutenant on leave
Of absence from the frigate stationed at
Bombay. Il don't want to lay the ships
bones on the coast, nor do like to get toe
near it. haye heard bad stories Of the
natives there; at any rate, l believe that
almost every Hindoo is thief and muir
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 to dispc..
her fears.
Major Upton, noticing the gInncc, frown-
Ing, said to his daughter, Come, Bell, let
us go below
Winfield had been a su;tor 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 IN
rivalcd grace, brown eyes, a clear, pearl
white skin, with little color, and dark
gold, Il hair that fell in ripping masses over
IL pair of magnificent shoulders. The lieu
tenant watched her adnringly until she
disappeared in the cabin.
No harm shall Defal her, not while l
live, hc thought, as he now glanced un-
easily towards the coast. eve have arms
aboard, have we not 2 he added aloud to
tho captain.
'Ay, ay, sir; but II ls not likely We shall
be attacked. We are full two leagues
from the coast, and before we are near
enough to be boarded breeze will spring
up, 1 have no doubt
\ few hours later night closed around
tho snip. The sky was covered by thick
clouds which obscurcd the moon and
seemed to betoken that breeze would
spring Up before long.
Meanwhile the ship having driftcd q
league nearer the coast, the lieutenant
thought tho captain very careless not to
have more than his one lookout posted for
ward On so dark night.
Before eleven O'clock tho quarterback
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 Wln6cld (who stood
leaning over the rail amidshps) could per.
ceive by the light of lantern in the fore
Raging, lay reclining on tho hatch, some
of them snoring.
Not feeling sleepy, the lieutenant re,
solved to 60 aloft on the mizzcn topsail
yard and watch for the first sign of a breeze.
Arrived on the yard, tho gloom was 80 in
tense that he could not SEQ tho waters be.
low, although he still gazed in that dircc.
tion. Was it reality or imagination7 Lie
thought he could detect the dim outline OF
something shooting around the ships stern.
lilo was about descending, when, the
mn ri n In pln Of oil,
light was poured down on tho ship and
water, revealing sight that filled the
young man with horror--a scene 80 sudden
and unexpected that his heart seemed to
stand sill.
While he was aloft Bell Upton rad come
out on the quarter deck, and now stood
with her back to the rail, about two feet
from 1t, her head bowed as If in deer
thought, 90 that her beautiful white face
shene like polished ivory in the brigh
moonlight. Then unseen, unhcard by the
young girl, Hindoo, with long 1.-THE
body naked to the waist, had clambercd
up the site from large canoe containing
half-dozcn Of his companions, and hat
cohtriVed to glide, scrpent-llke, on the out
side OF tho ship until he had gained q po.
sltion directly behind her, whc.l he drew
large dirk, which he was now on the point
OF plungIng into the snowy neck of The fai
passenger, that she might not give al
alarml
The licutenant's hand clonched tho yart
ike wise, as he bchcld tho young LADY,
peril. lilo must save hcr--ho would save
her' he thought; yet, how was 1t to b'
donef 10 give an alarm would only has
ten tho girls doom; to descend, no matter
now quickly, by means Of one Of the back