The morning call., 1891-10-05
THE STRATAGEM.

In 1S- | found myself aboard the brig
Mermaid, bowling along through the Per-
sian Gulf on her way TO COnstantinople.
There were two passengers-a stately,
fierce-ooking Turk, and young CiTcassian
girl, whose SURPRISING beauty 1t were lmpos-
sible to perfectly describe.
Me, and melancholy, she would stand by
the side of the Turk, her taperlng fingers
ln;erlocked across her breast, the blue eyes
often suffused with tears.
She had been sold to the Turk by her
own father; snatched away from young
man whom she tenderly loyed-a stately,
handsome pearI-diver, the brayest and most
skillful on the Persian coast, near which the
girl had lived.
We had gained considerably on our
course, when we beheld, one morning,
gigantic cloud, SHAPED like human being,
sLriding along toward us at great rate.
As far as we could see to windward the
water was one mass Of boiling, bubbllng,
kissing spray.
Then there was strange rumbling roar,
as of an earthquake under tue sea, and vast
columns Of water, tossed far upward,
mingled with the sound and rack OF the
storm.
For two hours we were driven along, be-
wildered, almost blinded by flying rack and
spray, when, the tempest having slightly
sbated, we were enabled TO move about the
deck.
The captain loosened his topsail, and en-
deavored to edge up close 10 the wind.
Vain the attempt; the brig would not
come up, and we were rapidly driven, with
wind and current, back toward the port
which VI had left few days before.
The CircasSian girl came up and when she
OWNED what was taking place her blue eyes
shOne with joy.
In broken English she explained TO me
during a few minutes conversation which l
held with her while the Turk was below
filing his pipe that she believed her lover,
Gustave MOronO, would start in pursuit OF
tile brig in his little fshng-smack the
moment he should hear that she had been
carried away; aud she hoped that now she
would soon fall in with him. Even as she
spoke an erratic blast struck the brig
Man the pumps. was the order.
1t was executed; the men worked hard,
but the water gained on US. In few hours
the craft was waterlOgged so that we would
be Obliged to abandon her. a siX-oared cut
ter-our only boat-was lowered, provisions
were deposited therein, and we quttei the
little Mermaid with feelings Of deep regret
Tie Turk kept grumbling and growing
as the boat WAS whiIled wildly along before
the blast, and held on firmly I the arm of
his fair property, as If now fearful that she
might escape him.
There were fifteen men in all in the cut
ter, and many lowering glances were di-
rected toward the Turk by the sailors. They
all sympathiZad with the maiden, and wished
something would happen to free her from
her purchaser,
All night We tossed upon wild sea, ex-
pectiug every moment to be swamped, but
at daylight the gale abated considerably,
and We saw land ahead. Something else We
saw, too; a small 1Shing-Smack shooting
along toward Us, cose-hauled, ike a bird on
the wing.
''Gustave's boatW exclaimed the girl, de-
lighted, clapping her small hands; tank,
oh, tank tOusand times, de storm for dis!"
The Turk fruwned darkly and drew his
ugly looking scimitar. He knew enough of
English to understand the girl; and with
angry motions If his weapon he nov inti-
mated that he would chop off her lovers
head if he attempted to take her away from
him.
"No, you wontP' shouted sturdy En-
glish tar springing to his feet, " fair play
a fair fight for the girl. What say you,
mates ?"
"Ay. az. ay!" was heard on all sides.
The hshmg-boat came nearer every mo-
ment aud soon We were all taken aboard,
when, with a glad cry, the Circassian girl
rushed into her lovers arms, The Turk ad-
vauced, fire cleaning in his eyes.
"A fair hghlw shouted several sailors,
interposing.
mo, no." cried the captain. g the girl be-
longs to the Turk; he purchased her,"
mo difference, no difference!' cried all
hands. They must fight for her. He had
no right to buy her"
First the young pearl-diYer, gently putting
the girl to one side, drew a long knife then
he struck the Turk over the cheek with his
left hand. The merchant, flaming with
rage, dashed toward him, and the combat
commenced within about fifty yards of the
very coast whence GusiRve was wont to
dive for his pearls.
The knives Of the combatants clashed
again and again; many cuts were given and
received on both sides. The Turk grew
more furious every moment Finally he
aimed at the young mans neck terrible
blow, which must have taken off his head
but Tor his leaplng quickly backward. This
brought him close To the gangway, when he
succeeded in inflcting a sharp stab under
the Turks right arInplt causing him to
drop his sclmitaT overheard. The MOham-
medau, however, now drawing pistol with
his left hand, was about to discharge it at
his enemy's head, when the maiden threw
herself on her lovers breast to protect hin.
This caused his foot to Slip and, the rail
being low, overheard he went with the girl
in lis arms.
With a curse the Turk discharged his
pistol after them.
''YoW have shot himv' exclaimed the cap
tain, as the spectators vainly waited for the
Teappearance Of the lovers. shot him and
the girl, too"
two-three-four-fv minutes-the
longest period diver can remain under
water, elapsed, and still they rose not to
view.
The Turk, with lowering brow, smoked
his pipe, and grayely declared he was sorry
he had paid SO much both in money and
blood Che was covered from head TO foot
with slight stabs) for the girl, to be cheated
out of her in the end.
Four days after yainly hunting for YES
sci 10 carry me to Constantinople, whom
should | meet aboard an American craft,
Just getting ready to sail home, but Gus
lave, the pearl-dlVer, and the Circassian girl.
l expressed my surprise, when Gustave
explained that after going overheard he had
swan under alter, diver fashion, to a little
bay ashore shielded from the view of those
aboard The fishing vessel by jutting rock.
Under the cover of night he had then
made his way to the American vessel, re-
solved to carry his beautiful prize to a free
land.
have to add that the vessel safely reached
New York Harbor, aud that [ witnessed the
narriage.ot GustaVe with the pretty Cir
sassian.-EX.