Connecticut western news., 1884-03-12

will Marie say?"
 "The chances are that we shall never know l" replied Jean.
 "Why?"
 Because we also will be drowned"
 "Do you think SOP"
 ''It looks like it !"
 "But we do not know"
 "I know. At all events I have an idea"
 "What is it"
 'That if the smack should escape il should take only one of us back to | land"
 "Why?"
 Because of Marie"
 "You are mad, Jean p 'I am not. We are one too many, and you know it. The occasion is good. If you are not coward we will profit by it."
 "How?"
 "Let one of us follow Pere Landure. ''
 ''Which ?"
 ''Iet's leave that to Fate, to the first sea shipped. If it is to starboard, it's you. If it is to larboard, it's me. Will | that work ?" "It will"
 The two men were silent. A minute elapsed--as long as 8 century. The tempest seemed to have abated trife. The waves came less swiftly. At last one of them swept the deck.
 'Larboard !" cried Jean. "It's me P
 He stood nailed to his place, silent. Then he resumed: "You are in luck Besides, the sea is growing calm. You are likely to see Marie again p He paused once more for an instant. "You have too much luck P cried he at last in choking voice. Suddenly he stood erect and walked toward the hatch way.
 "Where are you going?" demanded Pierre.
 "Where I please" replied Jean in a tone of brutal rage. "You will give me five minutes grace, I hope!"
 He opened the hatchway and went down. Pierre remained above in the darkness, his visage scourged by the foam.
 When five minutes had elapsed Jean returned to Ithe deck. He placed his back against the mast and seemed to be waiting for something. 4a e mad. You surely are not going to cast yourself into the sea?"
 "Why not ?" answered Jean. "Have not lost ?"
 "I release you. Remain on board p At that moment Pierre listened. "What is going on below p resumed he. "Is the smack on fire? ?"
 ''You had too much luck, my boy, ; said Jean, with sullen sheer. "I have fired the vessel !"
 "Coward p cried Pierre.
 "I am no coward I" replied Jean. "The proof of it is that am going tc pay my debt '" And clearing the bull warks at bound, he vanished.
 Pierre rushed to the hatchway and went down. three steps. He came uE choked. Biting smoke filled his throat The wretched Jean made good use of his five minutes grace. He had emptie6 the keg of brandy upon heap of tarred rope and already the entire hold was in flames How was Pierre to quench the fire. Five men would not have suficec for that
 Then Pierre sat down on the bench al the stern and mechanically seized tht the tIller, clinging instinctively to tht life he was about to quit. Amos at once the wind had fallen. The SCI was yet disturbed, but its fury hat visibIy weakened.
 Pierre remained upon the bench as i stupefed, hearing the plank partition crack beneath him as the fire gnaweC them. Suddenly a jet of red flames es capped through the open hatchway. Tn deck was burning.
 From minute to minute the fire in creased. Shortly before the sea sweep ing over the smack would have extin tinguished it, or, at least, fought it. Now having doubtless escaped from the furi ous circle of the hurricane, the vessel n longer shipped water. It went aloni inert, tossed from wave to wave, plung ing and coming up again, sending forth as each succeeding pillow lifted it, binding plume of fire.
 The remainder of the wind that wa blowing coming from behind, it was t the fore of the smack that the flame made headway. For the half hour hi agony had lasted Pierre had remaine motionless, staring around him at tn bloody light with which the blazin smack empurpled the waves. Now, sud denly, feeling the approaching fire, h threw himself upon his knees, made tn sign of the cross and fell fiat on the deck his face against the burning blanks. , How long did he lie there in the tol DOT of his mute resignation? A fe1 minutes, perhaps. Suddenly shout , burst upon his ear. He raised his heac there, very near him, boat manned b ' four sailors was coming on as rapidly a oars could bring it, fantastically illum } mated by the wild glare of the fire.