Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-05-06


soon was heard.
"Stand by to take in sail Dye hear,
there2 Stand byp was the hoarse cry
which followed.
A moment later the man -of-war's men
covered yards and booms as they took in
sail. The huge folds of canvas were
rolled up with the regularity of clock-work,
and in Ave minutes the stately vessel was
reduced to her close-resfed main-toEsa |.
foresail, and fore-topmast staysail.
The captain then ordered Granville to
board the schooner with cutters crew and
look into her character.
Just as he got alongside of her, AMI a
rope was caught and made fast TO her bow
there was roar aud n shrek as of thou
| sand demons, and the schooner, for an in
slant thrown almost on her beam ends,
was hurled through the now whirling wa
| ters before the full fury of a white sluall
Granville sprang aboard AS he reached
the deck, tall fellow daited past him, and
jerked from the pin, either purpo ;ely or
accidentally, the rope that held the boat,
thus leaving the latter, with alliis occupants
adrift.
The lieutenant laid hand upon his
sword hilt.
"Rascal!" he cried. "Who-"
any orders" interrupted n deep voice.
And, turning, the lieutenant behe.d AL
fonso Riol.
At the same moment, beneath him, he
heard yells and the clanking of chains.
This, then, is n slaver," cried Granville,
rs soon as he had recovered from lis sur
prise at seeing Riol, sand you are her cap
tain?"
"Ay, Granville. The story is told in q
few words, if you have lot already
guessed it. 1 headed the crew of
the naval schooner in mutiny. l
killed the captain and his officers.
l made alterations in the cmft, changed her
name, and then went into the slave trade
with her. At last have won my promo
ton pith my Opn hand, for Inow command
this vessel. Better than all, have had my
| revenge on the captain, who was tyrant
Will you shake hands with me?"
"No. Your hand is stained with crime
which British officer can not overlook"
"And, were it in your power, you would
make prisoner of the uncle of Helena
Riol?"
II would"
"And marry his niece aftorward?"
"Was Helena with you when you mu-
tined? Surely she is not aboard?"
'No; for she would not have approved of
the mutiny. She wanted me to take my
revenge by simply obtaining my discharge
from the navy. did not even hint to her
of my design, but, long before its execu-
ton, left her at Monrovia."
Drawing the young officer further aft,
beyond hearing of the sailors, he continued.
"Promise me that you will not betray tho
character of this vessel to your captain?"
Il will give no such promise"
"Then you and shall both go down in
the same coffin"
"What do you mean?"
81 can soon explain. My craft is not a
swift sailor, and she cou'd not get away
from your frgate. When sighted the ship
l knew l could not escape in that manner.
But l hoped that the naval appearance of
my schooner, and the exchange of one or
two signals, would allay your captains sus-
picions, and that he would then keep away
from me. When my VESSELS name was
questioned, feared that all hope was
gone. hoisted my signal of Lost which
had ready for such an occasion, still
thinking that that might possibly sat
isfy your commander. When l perceived
that it did not, / resolved TO scuttle my
craft and go down with all on board--slaves
and all-sooner than fall into the hands
OF your naval people. l saw YOU coming,
however, | recognized YOU, and resolved
that You alone should get aboard here, for
wanted to make my proposition TO YOU.
Now, all / have to say 10 you is this:
There, by the after sail, is n good life pre-
server, and l still give you chance TO save
yourself by changing your mind, and also
| to make my niece your wife. Promise me
that if / do not scuttle this craft, you will,
when YOU return 10 yours, inform your cap
tain that you found my vessel and papers
| perfectly right and lawful. Promise that,
and will send you aboard when this brief
squall passes in one of my boats. You can
then we'd with my niece aud welcome, as
soon as you have the opportunity, for /
know you both love each other; although
will own that did not ut one time like the
thought of wedding her to Britisher, and
| endeavored to prejudice her against You"
81 refuse to make the promise you ask,
even for the sake of winningyour niece, who
| is dearer to me than life! / am an English
man, and as such still repeat that l would
do my duty by reporting the character of
your craft and her captain"
THAT is your determinations"
at is. My duty before all other consid-
erations."
The SLAYER ordered Granville TO be locked
up in a room in the cabin.
A few minutes later he heard the roaring,
rushing sound of the water as ii poured in
to the hold, and he knew tina. Riol had
scuttled the schooner. The yells and shrieks
of the poor chained slaves, dreadful TO
hear, were soon succeeded by their gurg-
ling cries, as the water rolled over their
| heads.
In that storm the vessel sank fast. Gran
vile could hear the men on deck making
| vain efforts to lower boat in time to save
| themselves.
| The prisoner WAS fortunate enough to
| find an ak. He beat down tine door of his
room as the schooner was making h er las I
plunge, and flung himself towarl the open
companion He clutched spare spar.
which, with other things, was being swept
past him, and to this he chung.
| The squall had nearly gone to leeward;
the violence Of the gale had abated; and,
after tossing about for some time in the
heaving seas, the young officer, with about
half dozen of the schooner's mel who
had also clung TO floating objects, was
picked up by the drifting cutter, which,
with difficulty, had been kept from swamp
ing during the squall.
On arriving aboard the frigate, Granville,
gave a true account of what had happened.
| Some time afterward he had the painful
task of telling the story to Helena Riol.
Sad news it was to the beautiful gitl;
but, even while almost distracted by h !
uncle's crime aud fate, she owned that she
esteemed her lover for having so firmly adj
hered to his duty. The twain were mar
ried few months later.
ACCOUNTS show that the saltpetei
beds of Nevada are far better situated
for their development than the mite
I of IL, =,