Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-08-15


that we should run a greater risk of
losing our lives by quitting the ship
than by staying in her.
But would they not give US some
sign, some assurance, that they meant
to stand by us?
The agony of my doubts of their in
tentions was exquisite.
''Are they goin' to lower that boatP"
| exclaimed the boatswain, suddenly
starting out of his apathetic manner.
There was a crowd of men around
the starboard davits where TIL quarter
boat hung, but it was not until
brought the telescope to bear upon
| them that l could see they were hold
ing an animated discussion.
The man who had motioned to us,
and whom took to be master of the
ship, stood aft, in company with two
others and a woman, and gestlculated
very vehemently, sometimes pointing
at us and sometimes at the sea.
His meaning was ineligible enough
| to me, but l was not disheartened; for
though it was plain that he was repre-
| senting the waves as too rough to per-
NIT them to lower boat, which was a
conclusive sign, at least, thaS those
whom he addressed were urging him
to save us; yet his refusal was no proof
that he did not mean to keep by US I'M
til it should be safe to send boat to
our ship.
''What will they do, Mr.. Royle," ex-
claimed Miss Robertson, speaking in
voice sharpened by the terrible excite
| ment under which she labored.
''They will not leave us, " answered.
''They are men-and it is enough that
they should have seen you among us
to make them stay. Oh!'' l cried, sit
is hard that those waves do not sub
side! But patience! The wind is lull-
ing-we have a long spell of daylight
before us. Would to God she were an
English ship! should have no fear
then" again pointed the glass at the
| vessel.
The captain was still dcclaiming and
| gesticulating; but the men had with
drawn from the quarter-boat and were
watching us over the bulwarks.
| Since the boat was not to be lowered,
why did he continue arguing?
l watched him intently, watched
him until my eyes grew bleared and
the metal rim of the telescope seemed
| to burn into the flesh around my eye.
| / put the = Ass down, and turned to
| glance at tho flags streaming over my
head.
"There she goes! I knew it. tt "
never shows no pity" exclaimed the
| boatswain, in deep voice.
| 1 looked and saw the figures or the
men hauling on the lee MAIN braces.
The yards swung round; the vessels
head paid off; they squared away for
| ward, and in few minutes her stern
was at us, and she went Lway, solemn
ly rolling and plunging; the main-top-
| gallant-sail being sheeted home and
the yard hoisted as she surged forward
| on her course.
We remained staring after her no
| one speaking-no one believing in the
reality of what he beheld.
| OF all the trials that had befallen us,
this was the worst.
| When the steward saw that we were
abandoned he uttered loud scream
and rushed headlong down into the
cuddy.
l took no notice of him.
| Cornish ran from the wheel, and,
springing onto the rail, shook his fist
at the departing vessel, raving and
cursing her with horrible, blasphemous
words, black in the face with his made
and useless rage.
The boatswain took his place and
grasped the wheel, never speaking a
| word.
I was aroused from the stupor that
had come over me, the effect of excess
sive emotion, by Miss Robertson putting
her hand in mine.
BE braveP" she whispered, with
her mouth close to my ear. God is
with us still. My dead father would
not deceive me. We shall be saved
yet. Have courage, and be your own
true self again.
looked into her shining eyes, out of
which all the excitement that had fired
them while the Russian remained hove
to had departed. There was a beauti-
full tranquility, there was courage
Heaven-inspired, there was a soft and
hopeful smile upon her pale face, which
fell upon the tempest in my breast and
stilled it.
over me, and yielded to it as though
He himself had commanded me-
"Cornish!'' 1 cried, recovering my
self, and Selling the man by the arms
as he stood shouting at the fast lessen
ing ship, 'what is the use of those
oaths? Let them go their ways-the
pitiless towards! We are Englishmen,
and our lives are still our own. Come,
brave companion! we have all under
gone too much to permit this trial to
break us. See this lady! she swears
that we shall be saved yet Be of her
heart and mine and the boson's there,
and help us to make another fight for
it. Come!'
He suffered me to pull him off his
perilous perch, and tn n sat himself
down upon a coil of rope, trembling
all over, and hid his face in his hands.
But new trouble awaited me.
At this moment the steward came
staggering up the companion-ladder
his face purple, his eyes protruding,
and talking loudly and incoherently.
He clasped the sea-chest belonging to
himself, which certainly was of greater
weight than he in his enfeebled state
would have been able to bear had he
not been mad. The chest was corded,
and he had no doubt packed it.
He rushed to the ship's side and