Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-10-13

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driven me far from the coast from
which had embarked. | endeav
ored to change my course, bu
quickly found that if again made
the attempt the boat would be in
stantly filled with water. Thus
situated, my only resource was Il
drive before the wind. I confess
that / felt few sensations ofterror
/ had no compass with me, and was
so little acquainted with the geog.
raphy of this part of the world that
the sun was OF little benefit to me. j
! might be driven is.to the wide At.
lantic, and feel all the tortures of
starvation, or be swallowed up in
the im.neasurable waters that roar
ell and buffeted around me. had
already been out many hours, and
felt the torment of burning thirst,
prelude to my other sufferings. /
looked on the heavens, which were
covered by clouds that flew before
the wind only TO be replaced by
others: | looked upon the sea- it
was to be my grave. "Fiend I" l
exclaimed, "your task is already
fulfilledw l thought of Elizabeth,
of my father, and of Clerval; and
sunk intoa reverie, SO despairing
and frightful, that even now, when
the scene is on the point of closing
before me forever, | shuddered to
reflect ii.
Some hours passed thus; but by
degrees, as the sun declined toward
the horizon, the wind died away
into a gentle breeze, and the sea be-
came free from breakers. But
these gave place to heavy swell; /
felt sick, and hardly able to hold
the rudder, when suddenly | saw
line of high land toward the south.
Although spent, rs was by ia
tigue, and the dreadful suspense !
endured for several hours, this sud
den certainty of life rushed like a
flood of warm joy to my heart, and
tears gushed from my eyes.
How mutable are our feelings, and
how strange is that clinging love we
have OF life, even in the excess of
misery! / constructed another sail
with a part of my dress and eagerly
steered my course toward the land.
1t had a wild and rocky appearance;
but as approached nearer / easily
perceived the traces of cultivation.
: / saw vessels near the shore, and
found myself suddenly transported
back to the neighbOrhOod of civil
lied man. l eagerly traced the
windings of the land, and hailed a
steeple which / at length saw issu-
ing from behind a small pr0m0ntO-
ry. AS was in state of extreme
debility / resolved to sail directly
toward the town as a place where |
could most easily procure nOurish-
ment. Fortunately / had money
with me. ASH turned the prOmon-
tory, / perceived q small neat town
and, a good harbor, which ] entered,
my heart bounding with JOY at my
most unexpected escape. AS i was
occupied in liking my boat and ar
ranging the sails several people
crowded toward the spot. They
seemed very much surprised at my
appaarance; but, instead of Offering
me assistance, - whispered together
with gestures that at any other time
might have produced in me a slight
sensation of alarm. As it was, |
merely remarked that they spoke
English, and / therefore addressed
them i'm that language: My good
friends" said /, twill you be so
kind as TO tell me the name of this
town, and inform me where l ann"
l"YOu will know that soon
enough" replied man with gruff
voice. May be you are come to a
place that will not prove much to
your taste, but you will not be con-
suited as to your quarters, | promise
you" f 4t.
| was exceedingly surprised on
receiving so rude an answer from a
stranger; and / was also disconcert-
ed on perceiving the frOwning and
angry countenances OF his c0mpan-
ions. "Why do you answer me so
rOughly?" l replied; ''surely it is
not the custom of Englishmen to
receive strangers so inhOspitabiy."
81 do not Know" said the man,
"what the custom of the English
may be, but it is the custom OF the
Irish to hate villains"
While this strange dialogue con-
tinued / perceived the crowd rap
idly increased. Their faces ex-
pressed a mixture of curiosity and
anger, which annoyed and in some
degree alarmed me. Inquired the
way to the inn, but no one replied.
/ then moved forward, and muir
sound arose from the crowd
as they followed and surrounded
me; when an ill looking man APP
preaching, tapped me on the shoul-
der and said: ''Come, sir, you must
follow me to Mr.. Kirwin's to give
an account of yourself"
"Who is Mr.. Kirwin? Why am
l to give an account of myself? Is
not this free country?"
cay, sir, free enough for honest
folks. Mr.. KirWin is a magistrate,
and you are to give an account Of
the death of a gentleman who was
here last night"
This answer startled me; but i
presently recovered myself. l Was
that could easily be prov
ed; accordingly followed my con-
i'm silence, and was led to
one of the best houses in the town.
was ready to sink from fatigue
and hunger; but, being surrounded
by a crowd, l thought it polite tor
rouse all my strength, that no phys
ical debility might be construed into
or conscious guilt.
Little did ] then expect the calami-
ty that was in few moments to
me, and extinguish in
horror and despair all fear of igno-
miny and death.
must pause here, for it requires
all my fortItude to recall the memo
~ of the frightfui events which /
am about to relate, in proper detail,
to nay recollection. s a..