Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-10-01

feet. Ills eyes glared wildly and his
breath came quick aud short NJ be drew
knife from his bosom and poised him.
self tO strike.
All unconscious ~ his peril. Capt.
Dunnett slept on. lie had no idea u
danger from such quarter; no idea that
the mate hal for two days past becn la
boring with maniacal patience and tenac-
ity 10 clear an opening through the
cargo. and had at length succeeded In
making his way to the cabin hatch.
Jarvise stool over his intended victim,
his eyes glittering with diabolic light:
the blow was in the act ~ descending
when his arm was arrested. The cabin
was suddenly illuminated with blue
electric light, aud pcal of thunder,
loud as the crack of doom, broke over
the ship. The maniac stood with his
arm raised a. though Il had suddenly
bsen paalyzcd.
The crash ~ the thunder awoke Capt.
Dunnoit from his slumbers. aud be
sprang to his fcct. lie took In the situa-
ton at glance; and. ilinging hiinses
on his would be murderer. sought 10 dis
arm him The struggle was for dear
life. and the mate fought savagely. hut
at lat the captains superior skill and
strength prevailed and Jaryise was once
more ai his mcrcy.
Strike. man strikc!" shricked the
mate. 1t l. your life OF miner
"You are mad, JarviseF' exclaimed
the captain.
"Ycs. ana. but strike. man-strike'
I'ut an end to this torture: I can stand
nO more of IT,
"No'' cried the captain. throwing him
from him.
Then be- turned and left the cabin.
locking the door bshind him.
Out on the deck a grand and startling
sight met his view. The whole of the
northern part ~ the heavens was en-
yclopcd In the blackcst darkness. while
the southern half was clear and bright.
The next instant the northern half was
ablaze with the most vivid light. hut IL
was not this that caused such excitement
In the brcast ~ Capt. Dunnott. The
central object In this sceno was a large
brig. no, more than a mile and half
distant. l~aring down % their succor,
under a press ~ canvas.
For second OF two be- stood rooted To
the spot. Then. In a Wild transport ~
los. be- threw zap his arms and cried:
"Sayedi Slycil Thank heaven.
Thank hcav,nf'
Az thoughts VI Jlrsi'c's diabolical at
tempts on his lilc vanished. and In an
instant hc hal unlocked the cudly door,
and. stizing the maie hy thc arm. drag
gc,i him half stunned and dlzed by his
all. oli ol o. thc main dock, and. a.
another lash of lightning disclosed the
bfis -ain O. t'air view. cried;
"Thcre' thor' So what merciful
heaven has scut us'"
4 -ecund or two afterwards q vivid
nlsh ~ lightning mo,ciovcrthc miz1en
mast. 10 ran down thc mast. which tot.
tered. and. with crash. foll over the
Ile. With the Gr.t crash ~ thunder
that followed Jaryiso rushed toward the
side. and was in the act 10 springing
into the zen. when Capt Dunnett seifcd
him by the collar. AMI flung him vio-
leuily back on the deck. where he lay.
stunned and bleeding
The lightning ilashel almost inccssant-
ly The wind came Ia bot pulls. The
brig sull held on her course. by this
time She was within half q mile u them.
lut suddenly the hot pulls ceased and
,hc las mOtionlcss ou the water.
All this while Capt punnctt and the
mate. who had soon recovered his con-
.ciousncs.. stood watching her In an az
ouy ol suspcusc
The gloom was rapidly deepening. the
clouds were hurrying on. the moon and
the star. had all disappeared. and the
Ky was ouc vast pail ~ inky blackncss.
Iiruad sheets of lightning now ind again
shot up IRON the bosom of the ocean, u.
Illuminating the whole MAJ. u sca and
clouds with a blue. spectral light. which
made the portentous aspect ~ the heav-
ens more visible. while tho silence. when
unbroLcn by the thunder. was solemn
and oppressive.
But what was curling up from the
open hatch Ia the cablni IL Is smoke!
At first IL came In small wrcaths. but
nov II was pouring out In great vol
umcN
The shin l. on fire!
The lightning. which had shivercd the
mizzen mast. had descended into the
hold and sct fire 90 the cargo. aud the
conilagration was spreading rapidly.
The two men. when they made this
discovery. stood appalled, with horror
They knew they were standing, a. IL
were. ON a volcano, for In the magazine
below was stored a quantity of gunPow'
der. which might explode at any mo-
ment and blow tho ship TO atoms.
The smoke bclched forth In large vol
umes, and now aud again a bright fliek.
ering flame shot up from the haichway.
In another few minutes the flames
were pouring into the cuddy. and the
whole structure was on fire. The flames
extended. and In less than ten minutes
the whole after part of the ship was on
fire. the lurid glare lighting up the SUI
pcrincumhent clouds and leaden sea.
and producing a scene Of surprising
grandeur.
And now another danger was threaten.
ing them. Away In the distance there
was n duh. sobbing moan, which each
minute became more distinct-the tor.
nado was fast approaching.
The last time they had looked at the
brig she was lying becalmed; and they
had imagined that at the rate the coniia-
grafton was extending there was little
chance of succor arriving In time 10 save
them, for now the deck was getting hot
under their feet. and the fire had extend.
ed TO the forecastle deck house; bu, at
that moment they were startled by a
sharp cry of "Ship ahoyl Ship ahoyr'
aud looking In the direction from whence
the sound came. they saw a boat. manned
with four oars. pulling rapidly towards
them. In another minute the welcome
scund IL lin bow!' was heard, and the
boat was alongside.
No time was 10 h. lost: the storm was
brewing In the north. and II 1t burst
upon them before they reached the ship
their doom was certain. Again, the
powder In the hold might explode at any
minute. ~ they hurriedly lowered them.
selves into the boat and pushed oil.
While the second mate was rcscuing
the two men from the burning ship, the
captain and mate of the brig were max.