Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-07-21
Z Serial Storp.
FORCED APART.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.
CHAPTER XIV-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER RXIV-CoNTINUED.
So they went together to where the sick
man lay. But first some medical forms must
be gone through, and when the tongue was
inspected, and the pulls, felt, and feeble an
swers made, the doctor softly asked ques-
tions.
@Pray, my dear young man, who are your
two companions, and how camo you to be in
this miserable plight"
"They are both dead, SIR"
@Alas, yes-stone dead! and all their
troubles over"
"They belonged to an English brig of war
call the Cleopatra, and one Of them is Mr..
Transom first lieutenant of the vessel"
"Dear me-frst lieutenant! Poor man!
Promoted higher than any admiral now, sir.
And the other man is sailors"
"Yes, SIR" he said, in feeble voice; and
then rallying, and propping himself on his
elbow to speak: "My name is Cuthbert
Shaw, and was impressed in error to serve
on board the Cleopatra. We fell in with
large French frigate AMI fought her; but our
captain was killed. with more than half our
men, and a great number wounded, after
few broadsides and we struck. 1t was
cruel fight, most unequal, and all chance for
the brig was gone when her wheel was car
ried away. We made up our minds tobe
carried to France; but the Frenchman, who
was same distance astern of us when we
struck, and standing toward us, altered her
course suddenly and headed away to the east,
under all the sail they could pile upon her
broken masts. Mr. Transom believed that,
from her superior elevation, she had sighted
ol -,b;oh pot m ha 1iccorpad
from our deck, and that she had
hauled away for safety, as, in her
crippled state, she would have to strike
to any British vessel that might fall in
with her. So hot had been the action, We
had scarcely time to notice the condition Of
the brig; but soon after the Frenchman left
us, we found the hull settling under our feet
There was rush for the boats, and most OF
the men got away in the pinnace and yawl
and Mr.. Transom and l and the boatswain,
who were left behind, had just time to scram-
BILE into the dingey and cut ourselves adrift,
when the bi ig went down. 1t then came on
to blow, and the boats got separated and in
the night the boatswain, who had been siot
in the throat, died; and, within few hours
othis death, moor Mr.. Transom died, quite
suddenly and was left -aiune, without food
or water, and God knows how many hours
passed before my senses left me- That IS sLns
story, gentlemen" and. the poor young fellow
dropped his head wearily on the pillow and
closed his eyes.
"Bad news! bad newsw exclaimed Cap
tain Turbulent, striking his leg with his fist.
"An Englishman sunk by Frenchman, by
jingo!"
Gentlemen. please tell me where am, and
what ship this is?" said Cuthbert, in faint
voice.
"This is the ship Elizabeth, my lad, bound
to Bombay, and we hope to clear the Settles
by sundown."
To the astonishment of doctor and COM
mander, Cuthbert sat with vehement move
ment upright in his bed.
II implore you" he cried-"I implore you,
in the name of God, to set me ashore on the
English coast. I engage, gentlemen, that
you shall not suffer for the delay, if money
can compensate you have wife who will
not know why have left her-you will save
us both deep misery by landing me! have
strength to row myself ashore, if you will
lend me boat. I-I-Oh, gentlemen, in
Gods name, do not carry me to India!"
The pen cannot put into these words the
agony of voice that was in them, nor impart
the pathetic force they took from his clasped
hands and pale and working face. Captain
Turbulent and Dr. Cotton stared at each
other. Their minds were slow at the digestion
OF facts, and it was very odd to them-ex-
tremely odd, indeed-tnat the salvation Of
this young man from death was not sufficing.
"As to setting you ashore, Mr-Mr.-"
"Shaw," suggested the doctor, whose men,
ory was good
aMr. Shaw, do not see how that can be
done Indeed, with this wind it is impos-
sible; and with any wind, sir, it would be a
bad job for me to attempt, with a-a-
damned black thief of native prince to re-
port me for delaying the journey. Besides,
Mr. Shaw, there is feet of US, and I'm COM
modore, and / give you my word, sir, if
stood in for land the rest Of them would
think themselves in duty bound to follow.
No, sir, with Frenchmen about, my business
is clear-a midship helm, Mr.. Shaw, and the
true course, sir"
"What you have to do" said DR.. Cotton,
ais to write a letter and keep it by you,
ready to put on board any homeward bound
ship we may come across. I'll answer that
Captain Turbulent will help you in this
way"
aOh, to be sure. But to land you," ex-
claimed the captain, shakin, his head,
against this wind, with that black rascal
ready to swear me out of my ship-if you Of
fered me thousand pounds, Mr.. Shaw,
wouldn't dare do it."
and, to save himself the pa n of beholding
Cuthbert's face, he quilted the cabin.
The young fellow turned his face from the
door, and sobbed aloud. But on deck all was
bright and breezy; and under the blue of the
windy sky, and over the long green sweep Of
water, went the stately ship, broadening,
with every plunge and burst of foam, her
distance from the English coast.