Nevada County picayune., 1886-03-31

will soon behold"
 Loter in the day, a wild fierce expression gleamed in the eyes of the mel.
 They exchanged significant glan ces but at the time said not word.
 Each, however, guessed the kor. Iible thought that had entered the min of every sailor, although he hesitated as yet to express it.
 At last a man named Michael Bruno let loose the dreadful idea.
 "It must be done," he almost screamed 1.-Two hours more with. out food, will put the death seal upon us. One of us must die"
 "Oh, no, no,' cried Harriet. "We can still wait. We shall see sail before long. l feel sure we will"
 But all her pleading5 were i'' vain, Some paper was cut into strips, and these being held by Bruno, the drawings of lots to see who should die was commenced. it having been arranged that he who drew the shortest strip, was to yield up his life for the benefit of the rest.
 As pale a. death, Harriet sat watching the drawing.
 A moment later she beheld her husband looking at a small bit of paper in his hand, while the hoarse voice of Bruno grated on her ear
 MT. Rogers has drawn the short slip. He must die"
 Aye, aye, men, said Rogers; q will soon be ready"
 His wife flung herself upon his bosom.
 Never! never shall they tear you from me!n she cried, twining her arms about his neck.
 "But Harriet" he said, "it is nec- essary. 1t is only fair that l should die.'
 "You must, you shall not eX- claimed the young woman. "We can all go without food some hours longer, during which we may see q sail.1
 "No, no,' cried Rogers ship. mates simultaneously. We must have food now" Hunger had driven them to dcs- peration. Their teeth were clench- ed, their eyes wild and blood-shot, their faces more like those of wolves than of human beings.
 "Let me go, dear Harriet" said the young man to his wife. "Let me bid you goodbye, and may Heaven bless you"
 Some of the men advanced to- wards Harriet, who still held her husband in an embrace from which he could not disengage himself, Turning towards the sailors, she said
 "Back, back, never shall you tear him from me. But, if you must have a human life, take mine instead of my husband's."
 At this the men drew back. Ev- en at that dreadful moment-they could not endure the thought Of killing a woman.
 The first officer, who had watch ed his chance, now, by sudden movement, taking advantage ol his wife's head being suddenly turned. and nerved to additional strength by tic narrowing thought that his shipmates might at length some to the conclusion of accept. ing Harrict's proposition 10 sacri- flee her life, broke from her en. twinins arms and ran towards the bow of the boat.
 There he was quickly joined by the other men, one of whom now placed himself as barrier between the young woman and her husband whom she was making frantic eff forts to reach.
 Perceiving that she could not pass the man, she fell upon her knees, and in a voice of the most heart-rending agony, again begged the others to take her own instead of her husbands life.
 But her supplications were in vain.
 She saw her husband leaning back, prepared to die, while Bruno proceeded 10 sharpen his knife for the dreadful work on one of the nc tl,a hnnl.ar