The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-10-23
Who is to Die9


Stand by to lower the boat! shout
cd the captain; and then he mutter-
ed gloomily to himself, It's our only
chance now.
1t was indeed. For three days the
French brig, st. Pierre, homeward
bound from Isle de Bourbon, had
fought against as fierce gale as ever
swept around the stormy Cape of
Good Hope. Captain and crew had
done all that men could do to save
the ship, but in vain. Their only
chance now was in taking to the one
boat that the storm had left them.
AS Captain Picard turned around
from giving his orders he found him
self suddenly face to face with pale,
delicate-looking lady in deep mourn
ing, who had just come up the after
hatchway with a little boy in her
arms.
Poor Madame Lachaux! She might
well look worn and sad. Her hus-
band had gone home an invalid; her
only daughter had died few weeks
before; and now, just as there seemed
a chance of her seeing home and
friends once more, death, in his
worst form, was lowering over her.
self.
Captain Picard broke to her, as
gently as possible, the fatal news that
the ship was sinking and that their
only hope was to take to the sea in a
small boat. AT this announcement
the poor mothers sickly face grew
paler still, and she pressed her child
convulsively i'll her arms.
Ma'amselle no fear, said a huge
Senegal negro, emerging from the
hatchway at that moment; old
Achille and Perriot take care of her
and Monsieur Henri too--Monsieur
Henri. come to Achille?
He took the child in his nrms as he
spoke, while second negro came up
to help the captain in lowering Mad
anne Lachaux into the boat, which
was so fiercely tossed by the surging
waves that it was no easy matter to
reach II,
At last the boat was full, and they
showed off. Hardly had she got clear
of the ship when she gave a violent
roll, plunged forward, rose again, and
then with q sound like distant thun-
der, the in-rushing water blew up the
docks, and down went the doomed
ship head-foremost.
But those in the overloaded boat
found that they had only exchanged
one danger for another, The huge
waves that broke over her every mo-
ment, drenching them all to the skin,
filed the boat faster than they could
bale her out; and crowded together
as they were, they had no room eth
er to row or make sail. The SAILORS
whispered together and looked
gloomily at the lady and her party,
and at last one was heard to NUT
ter: q
Better get rio of them that can't
work than of them that can, any
how.
Our lives are as precious to us as
theirs are to them, growled another.
If the boats got to be lightened, they
are the ones to 60.
The captain, who had heard and
understood, felt for his pistol, but it
was gone. Several sailors were al
ready on their feet to fling the help
less mother and child overheard,
when the two gigantic negroes
stepped between.
Look, see, you men, cried Achille,
you want tighten boat. Black man
heavier than white lady. Suppose
you swear let madame and Monsieur
Henri live, ! and Pierrot jump over
board. i
1t was all over in moment.
Scarcely had the savage crew, moved
in spite of themselves, given the re.
quired pledge, than the brave fellows
kissing their mistress's hand and en-
bracing little Henri, with quiet
good-by, little master, plunged head
long into the sea,
The heroic sacrifice was not made
in vain, The boat, they lightened,
could be more easily managed, while
the gale began at length to show
signs of abating. On the following
afternoon they were seen and picked
un by an English schooner, and few
| weeks more saw Madame Lachauy