The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-11-01

night crept on. The moon had risen,
and now. in full-orbed splendor, was
riding high in the heavens, casting q
long wake of silvery light on the
placid sea, which danced and flickered
right away to the distant horizon.
The two lights still cleaned on the
deserted deck and the two watchers
still watched on.
Meanwhile nature had not been idle.
Away in the distant horizon great
masses of fleecy clouds began to pile
themselves up one above another,
gradually extending themselves across
the northern heavens. The cloud
packing went on for more than half an
hour. accompanied by hot puffs Of
wind which now and again rufled the
waters. The sky every minute grew
blacker and the clouds more dense;
vivid flashes Of lightning shot across
the sky, and there were mutterings Of
thunder in the distance.
The silent watcher in the cuddy saw
nothing, and heard nothing of all this.
His head had sunk heavily on his
bosom, and he slept Suddenly there
was noise beneath the deck like the
scratching Of q rat; then, slowly and
noiselessly, the trap-latch under the
table was lifted. and through the aper-
ture head, with curly red hair and
fierce eyes, appeared. They were
those OF Jarvise, the mate. After
pausing to see that all was clear, he
placed his hands on the deck, and
then, with a supreme effort, he silently
lifted himself into sitting posture,
and again he paused to listen. He
could hear the regular breathing of
his companion as he sat sleeping
peacefully, and grim smile of
satisfaction passed across his wild and
haggard face. Silently and stealthily
he crawled clear of the table, and then
stood erect on his feet. His eyes glar-
ed wildly, and his breath came quick
and short as he drew knife from his
bosom and poised himself to strike.
All unconscious of his peril, Capt.
Dunnett slept on. He had no idea of
danger from such a quarter; no idea
that the mate had for two days past
been laboring with maniacal patience
and tenacity to clear an opening
through the cargo, aud had at length
succeeded in making his way to the
cabin hatch.
Jarvise stood over his intended VIC
tim, his eyes glittering with diabolic
light; the blow was in the act of de-
scending, when his arm was arrested.
The cabin was suddenly illuminated
with a blue, electric light, and a peal
of thunder, loud as the crack of doom,
broke over the ship. The maniac
stood with his arm raised, as though it
had suddenly paralyzed.
The crash of the thunder awoke
Capt. Dunnett from his slumbers, and
he sprang to his feet. He took in the
situation at glance; and, f1inging
himself on his would-be murderer,
sought to disarm him. The struggle
was for dear life, and the mate fought
savagely. But at last the captains
superior skill and strength prevailed,
and Jarvise was once more at his
mercy.
Strike, man-strike!" shrieked the
mate. 1T is your life or mine!"
"You are mad, Jarvise!' exclaimed
the captain.
Eyes, am; but strike, strike!
Put an end to the torture; can stand
no more of it,
'No"' cried the captain, throwing
him from him.
Then he turned and left the cabin,
locking the door behind him.
Out on the deck a startling sight
met his view. A large brig, not more
than mile and half distant was
bearing down to their succor, under a
press of canvas.
For a second or two he stood rooted
to the spot. Then, in a wild transport
of joy, he threw up his arms and
cried:
Saved! Saved! Thank heaven!
Thank heaven!'
All thoughts of Jarvise's diabolical
attempts on his life vanished, and in
an instant he had unlocked the cuddy
door, and, selling the mate by the
arm, dragged him, half-stunned and
dazed by his fall. out on to the main
deck, and, as another flash of light
ming disclosed the brig again to their
view, cried:
There! there! See what q merci-
full heaven has sent us!''
A second or two afterward a vivid
flash of lightning moved over the
mizenmast; it ran down the mast,