Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-03
THE PIRATE APPROACHING.
his name

must now strengthen her heart. The
sight of the captains pallid face and
the cries of fear rising on every side
from crew and passengers showed that
there could be no mistake; Kwan Dab
was indeed upon them.
Sho Mai knew what it was to face
death amid the shrieking of tempest
and in the darkness of night and storm;
but to feel that destruction was adj
vancing over this fair sea and in this
glorious sunlight was far more terrible.
And life itself had now a new delight
which love had lent it. She turned to-
ward Ii Xiii and looked into his face.
1t was pale and the lips were tightly
drawn, but it was the face of a brave
man, and as she gazed upon him thus
Sho Mails heart knew the ultimate con-
ISOLATION that love is stronger than fear
and more subtle than death.
To one SO full of vigor as Ii Xiii in
action at such a time was impossible.
He turned to the captain.
''Why do you not summon your men
to defend the ship" he began, but broke
off in disgust, for the man whom he ad
dressed stood wringing his hands in
abject terror, and muttering words
which were half prayers, half curses.
Then Ii Xiii, stepping forward, endeav-
ored to make his voice heard over the
tumult. He shouted words of encour-
agement, but no one needed him. Tho
few men among the passengers and
crew whose courage was equal to this
emergency were powerless amid the
frantic cowardice of the others, who
rushed first one way and then another,
some aimlessly under the blind infu-
ence of panic, others vainly seeking
hiding places orstriving to get into the
boats which were being lowered.
Despair seized upon Ii Xiii and his
heart was Like lead in his breast as he
returned to Sho Mails side.
Cali is in vain," he said; "they are all
mad with fear. Ali Sho Mai, could
die thousand times and feel no pang
like this, that am powerless to protect
you; but alone, without a single man
to stand by my side and strike one
| blow" He ground his teeth with rage.
"Cowards!' he shrieked, shaking his
clenched hand at the struggling crowd
of sailors, ''you deserve the death that
| awaits your
His voice was lost in the tumult.
"We must join in their fight since no
| one will make a stand" said Sho Mai
| and she led the way to one of the boats.
| A hundred frantic men surged toward
| the rail as the boat was lowered, and
some in their impotence sprang into the
sea. Ii Xiii, putting forth all his great
| strength, forced way for himself and
| Sho Mai to the rail, whence with ire
mendous effort he lowered her into the
| boat.
| He was about to follow her when
those who had the oars pushed off, and
in a moment an expanse of water sep
arated the lovers. In despair he flung
himself from the ships side, and swan
after the boat which bore Sho Mai, but
he could not overtake it. The weeping
| girl saw him grasp the rail of another
boat as it passed him and climb on
board, though those who were in it tried
to push him off again into the sea. The
two boats took different courses despite
the efforts of the lovers, and in a few
minutes were far apart.
The sailors rowed with all their
might away from their ship, upon
| which the pirate was now rapidly bear
ing down. The terrible black flag with
its white crescent futtered from the
mast, and the decks were swarming
with armed men. She soon ran up
alongside the little merchantmen, and
the pirates poured out upon her decks.
The shrieks which came across the
water showed the fate of those who had
not escaped in the boats.