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

ish before he could reach the deck and at
tempt to ,tay the deadly hand.
There was no time to lose. In three
seconds the drk would descend, and the
girl would be killed ut one stroke, 30 that
he murderer's companions, who had al
ready begun to ascend the vessels side,
could pounce on the drowsy male occupants
of the deck, and, Staying them, make
themselves masters of the ship almost be-
fore warning could be gwen.
Like a lightning flash, 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 Hmdoo 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, whose
arm and body, as already stated, were
drawn back from the bulwarks to give force
to the meditated blow. The young man,
therefore, deemed it would be an easy mat
ter to reach the Hlndoo in the only way it
could now be done wi h sufficient rapidity
to prevent the accomplishment of his deadly
purpose-s way at once novel and despe-
rate, and which would, perhaps, involve
his own destruction.
In word, not hesitating to risk lie or
limb for the woman he loved, Lieutenant
Winfield resolved to drop down from near
the end of the mizzen topsail yard upon the
Hlndoo, forty feet below, and thus dash
him from the rail into the sea, perhaps
killing himself, ere he could deal the fatal
blow with the uplifted dirk. He would
utter shrill cry-a warning to the crew
as he cleaved the air, thus roIsing them,
perhaps, in time TO meet the attack OF the
robbers, and ensure the 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 a second to make
sure he was in a line with the Hindoo be-
meath, then, just as the dirk was about to
descend, he let 90 of the spar with long,
wild cry that pierced every corner OF the
ship, and down he went, cleaving through
the air with terrible velocity. There was
awhnling, rushing sound, then a 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 so suddenly and uneX-
pectedly 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 so be-
wlldered by that sudden, fearful cry she
had heard, and the subsequent splash Of
the bodies in the 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
pened. 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 10 the con-
trary.
The 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 the sea, his lower limbs, although
partially paralyzed for the time, were not
broken. He had, however, fallen danger
ousy near to the rail. A roll of the ship
to the other side, ere he could let 60 of the
topsail yard to descend, would have caused
him to fall on the bulwarks, 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 heutenant's, and turned his head away
to hide few tears upon his bronzed cheek.
Immediately after the young man had
been brought aboard, an off.shore breeze
sprang up, enabling the captain to head
seaward. In due time the vessel reached
her home port, when the lieutenant, who
by thIs time had fully recovered from the
effects OF his fall, claimed his beautiful and
willing br4de.