Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-06-05


logged, so that we should be obliged to
abandon her.
A siX-oared cutter-our only boat
was lowered, provisions were deposited
therein, and we quilted the little Mer-
maid with feelings of deep regret.
The Turk kept grumbling and growl-
ing as the boat was whirled wildly
along before the blast, and held on firm
ly to the arm of his fair property, as if
now fearful that she might escape him.
There were fifteen men in all in the
cutter, and many lowering glances
were 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 favors 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 ma
ton. His speech grated upon the ears
Of the pretty Circassian girl, accustom-
ed to the rich, musical language of her
own countrymen. More than once she
raised her hand to her little, pink ears,
while a slight frown contracted her
brow.
All night we were tossed upon a wild
sea, expecting every moment to be
swamped, but at daylight the gale
abated considerably, and we saw land
right ahead.
Something else we saw, too-a small
fishing smack shooting along toward
us, close hauled. like a bird on the
wing.
"Gustave's boat" exclaimed the girl.
delighted. clapping her small hands.
storm for dis"'
The Turk frowned darkly and drew
his ugly looking scimitar. He knew
enough of English to understand the
girl, and, with angry motions of his
weapon, he now intimated that he
would chop off her lovers head If he
attempted to take her away from him.
mo, you won't!' shouted a sturdy
English tar, springing to his feet. Fair
playa fair fight for the girl! What say
you, mates"
"Aye, ayev' was heard on all sides.
The fishing boat came nearer every
moment, and soon we were all taken
aboard, when, with glad cry, the Cir
cassian girl rushed into her lovers
arms.
The Turk advanced, fire cleaning in
his eye.
"a fair fightv' shouted several sail
ors, interpOsing.
NO, no." cried the captain. ''The girl
belongs to the Turk; he purchased her."
mo difference, no differencew cried
all hands. ''They must fight for her.
He had no right to buy her"
As there was no help for it the cap
tain was obliged to witness what fol-
lowed.
First the young pearl-diver, gently
putting the girl to one side, drew 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
tAC NCAy NooSA "hOhSC 1uoInNC Was
wont to dive for his pearls. He had
tackled the moment he picked up the
party, and was now running along al
most in the shadow Of a low rock
crowned with verdure and projecting
far out into the water.
The knives of the combatants clashed
again and again; many cuts we're given
and received on both sides. The Turk
grew more furious every moment. FL
nally he aimed at the young mans neck
terrible blow, which must have taken
off his head but for his leaping quickly
backward. This brought him close to
the gangway, where he succeeded in in
fiicting a sharp stab under the Turks
right armpit, causing him to drop his
scimitar overheard. The Mohamme-
dan, however, now drawing a pistol
with his left hand, was about discharg-
ing 1t at his enemy's head, when the
maiden threw herself on her lovers
breast to protect him. This caused his
foot to slip, and, the rail being low,
overheard he went, with the girl in his
arms.
With a curse the Turk discharged his
pistol after them; he was good shot,
and seldom missed, having had much
practice with firearms in his youth.
"You have shot him!' exclaimed the
captain, as the spectators vainly waited
for the temperance of the lovers.
| ''Shot him and the girl, too!''
One, two, three, four-flve minutes
the longest period a diver can remain
under water-elapsed, and still they
rose not to view.
The Turk, with lowering brow,
smoked his pipe and gravely declared
he was sorry he had paid so much both
in money and blood the was covered
from head to foot with slight stabs) for
a girl, to be cheated out of her in the
end. The sailors, however. shaking
their heads and rolling their guilds, SOL
emnly averred that 1t was better the
girl should be the property of Davy
Jones than that Of heather Turk.
Four days later, having vainly hunt
ed for a vessel to carry me to Constan-
tinople, who should meet aboard an
| American craft just getting ready to
sail for home but Gustave, the pearl
diver, and the Circassian girl.
1 expressed my surprise, when Gus
tave explained that after going over
board he had swan, under water, diver
| fashion ashore in a little sheltered BAY