Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-06-13

looking Turk an,
q young Circassian girl whose surpas
sing beauty it WAS impossible to per
fsctly describe.
Her motions were as graceful a
those of the crested waves that threw
rainbowed spray around our bows; he
skin was as white as pearl; the cheek
Just tnged with a delicate rose color
10 that, In the sunlight, they looked al
most transparent. Her eyes wer,
almond-shaped. of a dark, bewitching
blue color, and her hair-her shining
glorious hair-fell almost to her feet, II
thick. undulating masses.
Meek and melancholy, she woult
stand by the side Of the Turk, her tn
pering fingers interlocked across hel
breast, the blue eyes often suffused ". II
tears.
How could she help feeling melan
choly? She had been sold to the Turk
by her own father; sold for the Turks
harem; snatched away from a youns
man whom she tenderly loved-a stute
~, handsome pearl-diver, the brayest
and most skilfful on the Persian coast
near which this girl had lived
When l learned this from our stew.
ard. an inqufsitive, talkative French
man, must confess that my heart was
stirred with pity for the unfortunate
damsel, and felt that it would be no
more than right for some good -natured
person to snatch the girl from the Turk
and restore her to the arms Of her lover.
This, however, seemed an impossibili-
ty. as she was bought and paid for, and
the lynx-eyed Turk followed her care
fully wherever she went.
We had gained considerably on our
course, when to windward we beheld
one morning a gigantic cloud, shaped
Hike a human being, striding along to-
ward us at a great rate. 1t whirled
round and round as 1t advanced Pres
entity off went its head; fash of light
ming darted up from its trunk, and then
-then-gods! what a crash-what a
whirling-what a humming!
AS far as We could see to windward
the water was one mass of boiling.
hissing spray.
Then there was a strange, rumbling
roar, as of an earthquake under the
sea, and vast columns of water, tossed
far upward, mingled with the sound
and rack Of the storm. The captain
had every stitch of canvas taken in, SO
when the tempest struck us away we
went, driving along before 1t on our
beam-ends, under bare poles. On our
beam ends, with the water blowing
over us. almost engulfing us, with every
timber cracking and the masts swaying
and swapping like dry twigs.
For two hours we were thus driven
along, bewildered, almost blinded, by
flying rack and spray, when the tenn
pest having slightly abated. we were
enabled to move about the deck.
The captain loosened his topsails and
underworld to edge up close to the
wind.
Vain the attempt; the brig would not
come up, and We were rapidly driven
by wind and current back toward the
port which we had left a few days be-
fore.
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 conversat ton
which l held with her while the Turk
was below filling his pipe. that she be-
Hevsd her lover, Gustave Morono,
would start in pursuit of the brig in his
little fishing smack the moment he
should hear that she had been carried
av,I ~bA hot
would soon fall In with 1t. Even as she
spoke an erratic blast struck the brig.
Down went the vessel making a furi-
GUS plunge. There was a loud, snap
ping sound, and over went the main
mast by the board. The wreck was
cleared with axes, but the brig now
rolled wildly, shipping enormous seas
every time.
Man the pumpsr was the order.
It was executed; the men worked
hard, but the water gained on us. In
few hours the craft would be water
ogged, so that we should be obliged to
Ibendon her.
A six-oared cutter-Our only boat
was lowered, provisions were deposited
herein, and we quilted the little Mer-
maid with feelings Of deep regret
The Turk kept grumbling and growl
ing as the beat was whirled wildly
tlong before the blast, and held On firm
y to the arm of his fair property, As II
aow fearful that she might escape him.
There We're fifteen men in all in the
,ptter. and many lowering glances
we're directed toward the Turk by the
sailors. They all sympathized with the
maiden, and wished something would
happen to free her from her purchaser
The captain, however, who was under
obligations to the Turk-a wealthy
merchant-fOr many fayors in the way
Of trade and presents and in other
ways, would reprove the hands for
their behavior. He was a Russian, and
his words were delivered in the harsh
tones peculiar to the people Of that na-
ton. His speech grated upon the ears
of the pretty Circassian girl, aecustom-
ed to the rich, musical language of her
own countrymen. Mere 6aa eees she