Smyrna times., 1890-02-05
A LUCKY SHOT.

nd she sailed from Bristol. We were on
'ur homeward passage when the incident |
am about to describe took place.
must premise that we had four passen-
,ers, two gentlemen and two ladies'; the |
after the wife and daughter of a planter, |
~ name Carmichael The elder lady |
vas about As, handsome, gracious sort |
If woman, such as planters wife ought |
20 be, and such as were not uncommon |
n the days of which am writing. The
laughter was about two-and-twenty;
girl, with all the bewitching
graces and fascinating charms of a true
born creole.
We were twenty-One days out from
and Notwithstanding that
old bark was by no means a fast sailer,
we had made good progress, and were as
near as possible in mid-ocean. 1t was
the end of July, and the weather had
been of the most glorious description,
and very hot; but, after the sultry heat
of the tropics, we did not find it oppres-
sive. For two days past we had made
little progress. The wind had been light
and variable, and now it was a dead
calm. The ship was motiOnless as far as
progress was concerned; but her head
was boxing all round the compass. We
had awnings up fore and aft; for, where
there was nothing to intercept the burn
ing rays of the July sun, the decks were
so hot that the pitch boiled out of the
seams.
The dinner was over; the sun was
slowly sinking in the west, and we had
all come on deck, being anxious to get
as much air as we could, for the cabin
of a sugar ship is generally stuffy. The
deep, placid sea was more peacefully
calm than l had ever before seen it.
Not flaw, not a ripple, not an undula.
ton broke the tranquil surface Of the
glass-like sea. Capt. Sarsfield and the
two gentlemen, Mr.. Cheeseman and Mr.
Thompson, were sitting on the taffrai
smoking their cigars, and Mrs. Car.
michael and Miss Julia were reclining
in wicker chairs and tanning them.
selves. At the young lady's feet lay
large Newfoundland dog belonging tc
Capt. Sarsfield, blinking in the sunlight
which came slanting in under the avn.
ing, and now and again looking up into
her face and putting out his tongue, as
much as to say: Its dreadfully hot,
isn't it?''
No one who has not seen a creole girl
reclining at her ease can realize the
beautiful picture which Julia Carmi.
chael presented as she sat there languidIy
tanning herself Apart from the beauty
of her features and the striking fairness
of her skin, her figure was almost fault
less in its symmetry, in the curve of its
lines, and beautiful in its flexible sinu.
Osity. She had, too, that natural grace,
that untrammeled ease, that refined vo-
luptuousness of attitude and movement
which are the natural gifts of the creole
and which no art can counterfeit. But
the crowning charm Of all was her sweet
and gentle disposition. Mrs. Carmichae
was a general favorite, but Julia wal
queen of the ship. Capt. Sarsfeld, the
gentlemen, and the ships company gen
orally were her devoted slaves.
She had been sitting in silence gazing
out on the calm sea. Suddenly she turned
her head and spoke:
Capt. Sarsfeld," she said, in a soft
musical voice, 81 think we are going t,
have a breeze"
Certainly By all means, my dea
young lady. l see no signs of it at pres
ent; but if you say there is a breeze com
ing, there is no one on board this shiI
would think Of contTadicting you"
mo; but-Capt. Sarsfield"-
"Not another word, my dear lady
Mr.. Turnbull, see all clear for breeze.
cay, ay. sir" answered. Forward
thereI Run up the foretopmast staysail
there's a breeze coming"
Mr.. Turnbull," demonstrated Julia
you are too badl You are worse thal
the captain. What will the men say?"
Say, Miss Carmichel?-that the ad
miral has given his orders, and we mus
obey. So hol Well there with the hal
yards. Which side will you have tn
sheet trimmedY'
'You may trim it to starboard, Nh
Turnbull. she replied with great gravity
Take pull Of the starboard sheet"
called out. "Well. thereI belayI Wha
next. Miss Julia?"
Lower one Of the quarter boats, an
take me for n row. The sea looks yer
beautiful, and ! think 1t would do m
good"
elevated my eyebrows, and said:
'What about the breeze. Miss Cal
michaelg''
"Oh, that viii not come yet. Afte
tea will be time enough"
looked this time at the captain. win
gave a smiling assent. saying:
IF Miss Carmichael will permit me
think should like row, too.
Certainly, Capt. Sarsfield, with muc
pleasure" Then turning to ne che sale
'The captain can have the gig. and
will have the quarter boat.
LAY aft the watch, called out, ian
lower the port quarter boat and the gil
And. carpenter" went on, ''let us has
the oars up sharp. Miss Carmichael
going to have a row before the bree;
comes"
"Ay. ay, sir, responded the carpente
and he dived down below in search
the oars
The two boats were lowered and maj
ned. / took charge of one and the ca
tain Of the other.
"Come along, Nep," said Julia, whs
she had taken her seat. The dog, not
ing 10th, jumped into the boat, and to'
his station on the prov, as though
was looking out for squalls.
"Phewp exclaimed Mr.. Cheesenla
as we pushed away from the ship "hc
hot It ist'
"Not 50 hot as it Is at st. Kits" a
swered Julia.
perhaps not" replied the capital
"but it's hot enough In all conscience.
. Nep seemed Of the captains opinic
for at this moment he sprang overboa
and began swimming about IN a manr
which showed he enjoyed his bath
''I should like to follow his exampll
exclaimed Mr.. Thompson.
What about the sharks?" replied \
Cheeseman-
aSharksr" cried Mr.. Thompson; ''th'
are no sharks in these latitudes'
thereY'
AREN'T therei don't know 50 Iqu
about that" said Capt Sars1eld.
have seen sharks IN ten west, and e'
in the channel. SO that it's more II
probable that there are some hereabou'