The Press., 1891-04-23
A TERRIBLE NIGHT.

h lEnhlDLE NULL.
 ~Cheerily, boysl" shouted the master. We must be nearing the coast. Hold hard the helm, Jeanl Make fast the rope, Pierrep,
 Over the raging sea the fishing smack shot like 8 flash. The previous day they had set out amid superb weather. There was stiff breeze, covering with light foam the waves, upon the surface of which the sun was mirrored with bright silvery re- factions Nevertheless. on passing the lookout house Pere Landure, the master, had paused with an uneasy air. In less than an hour the barometer, the column of mercury of which gittered at the door, had fallen centimeter. The old man had remained there second, seeming to reflect. Then he had glanced at the sky, sniffed the wind, and had ended by struggling his shoulders. A tempest in such weather, was that possibles He would have felt it; he who scented the gales day in advance, and he did not scent anything at all save a good catch of fish. The barometer was cer- tainly wide of the mark.
 That was why Pere Landure had set out with his two young men, Pierre and Jean.
 Were they his sons? No; Pere Landure had only 8 daughter, Marie, the pearl of the coast, & superb lass of % robust and delightful, with eyes of velvet and skin like a ripe peach. Pierre and Jean were mari ners of the district, very resolute fellows, persistent workers, understanding their business, whom he had employed for a year past to go fishing on his vessel. With them everything went splendidly. It was ques- tion which of the twain had had most heart in his toil They were genuine rivals. for soothl The master had his suspicious as to what caused this laudable zeal. The young fellows were after his daughter That was clear. There was a struggle be- tween them as to which of the pair should be accepted as Marie's husband. We'll, let that go aheadl Pere I4andure was not dis turbed. His daughter was sage, and sound in mind as we'll as ill body. When she wished she would make her choice, and everything would be arranged.
 She would perhaps do we'll not to delay too long all the same. For to wait thus in impatience is not the best thing for two lads equally smitten. For about a month past Pere Landure had detected black looks between them, on Jean's side partic- ularly who was more ardent than Pierre, more choleric also, perhaps, and more un derhanded. But that would be settled on the wedding day, and the rejected lover would console himself with double share of cider. It would not be the first time such thing had been seen. vexation drowned i'll u stout bulnper--nnd pretty girls were not scarce in the ncighborhoodl Meanwhile they had worked hard ali the afternoon, very calmly. But suddenly, toward o'clock, the breeze had freshened.
 ''Holal sailors, what does this meany" Pere Landure had raised his head, put his hand above his eyes and scanned the hori- zon. Down there, away down there, a black cloud was scurrying along at the ut most speed.
 "Let go behind," the master had shout ed, "and make for landr'
 And they had hastened toward the coast But suddenly the wind had shifted, driy- ing the vessel before it toward the open sea. What tempest, great Jupiter! Never had the two young fellows, never had Pere Landure himself, old as he was. seen anything like it. It was surely one of those dabolical hurricanes mentioned by those who have voyaged in southern seas; one of those frightful cyclones that surround one with 8 circle of furious winds had made a mistake as to the ocean and had fallen upon the wrong waters Every half hour the wind shifted and the mad bark, turning about, shot off in an unknown direction through whirlpools of waves as high as houses. How was it that it had not foundered twenty timesS Its ribs must beeolidly boltedi Stoutly decked as it was, it rolled from wave to wave, plunging, then rising as if by miracle, shaken, tossed, dashed, speeding along constantly at a fearful rate. Where was it going now? That, for sooth, the three sailors would have found it very difficult to say. The night had come on-an inky night-and they could ,sx xrAxx Roo Sv~& oR 1 instant they had perceived the Belle Isle lighthouse. Now they saw nothing save | the horror of the darkness, heard nothing but the sinister howls of the wind as. it | tore it's way through the cordage "Master," said Pierre suddenly, ''the | watch light is outl'
 "Try to light it below, and be careful of | the fire," answered Pere Landure. ."Rnt | mo-" added he, taking a second thought. | q will do it myself"
 And quitting the mast to which he had been cinging, the aged sailor took two steps toward the hatchway. Just at that moment the sea swept the deck. A cry burst forth. The deck was empty. 'Malheur!' cried Pierre, ''the master is overboardp'
 "He is done forl" said Jean, still clinging to the tilier.
 | The two men leaned over the rail, seareh. | ing the darkness with their dilated eyes. They saw nothing
 'Tonnerrer' resumed Pierre, "what will Marie say?"
 ''.rhe chances are that we shall never l knowi' replied Jean.
 "Whyf"
 Because we also shall be drowned" "Do you think so?"
 ''It looks like itl'
 But we do not know" "I know. At all events have an idea. ' What is it?"
 "That if the smack should escape il | should take only one of us back to land" "Why?" Because of Marie.'
 | "You are mad, JeanP'