Year: 1869

now We were in the middle of the Bos-
phorous, at night, in caique at the mer-
cy OF man rendered lrantically mad by
opium.


In the midst of his devotionshe seized
the sculs again, yowing he would serve
Giagour, turned the boat round by sheer
strength and made for the Asatic shore.
We were absolutely helpless. Violence
was out ofthe question. 1t requires some
practice to sit safely in caiquc; to
struggle in one is simply to upset it. Poor
Fred, on whose forehead [ could see the
cold perspiration standing in beads, tried
persuasion. He would give him double
the promised fare if he would 90 ON to
Therapia. No answer.


8" Very well" said Fred, "go back and
Twill take the other caique. have a
right to do so now, as you have not kept
your contract" This mention of his rival
was too much for the madman. He sprang
up and drew his knife. Oh the agony of
that moment. You have never been in
such deadly peril, May dear, and you
may imagine what strange thoughts crowd
ones mind. We were in peril perhaps
half a minute; but it would take me
twenty times that to tell you what Thought.
| gave up all hope. | wondered where
he would stab poor Fred if | should die
at once on his knife, Or be drowned,
wounded to death. | wondered where
our bodies would be found, if they would
be found together, and what they would
look like; who would find us how the
news would be broken to papa; where
they would bury us and dozen others
conjectures whilst the mailman balanc-
ing the boat as only mailman could made
three cat-like steps towards Fred.


Fred, taken by surprise, had only time
to half raise him self and push me back,
when at the third step the wretched man
lac stumbled. In a moment Fred had
him by the ankle, and with a dexterous
twist threw him overheard. But this sent
the light boats gunwale under, and filed
her three parts with water. In his fall
the wretch dropped his knife, which Fred
seized. He said behaved beautifully
did not move OF scream, and baled out
the water with his hat, as he made me.
| do not know what | did, May; | was
too terrified to scream. [ saw him crawl
forward and take one Of the sculls, and
felt him crawl past me aft again with it.
| knew what he must be doing-keeping
off the madman, who was swimming like
a fish after lis as we drifted. If he had
even got hold of the boat he would have
drowned us all. | saw the other man
leave his oars, and crawl aft,with his knife
in his hand, 10 help his fellow-countryman.
| felt at the utmost could do nothing
but die first for Fred must have his
back to one of his enemies, and opposing
one, the other must prevail was in the
act Of throwing myself on the second cal
quejee, when | heard the sharp swish and
steady rumple Of oars, real, oars such as
men-of.war's men pull. knew it was
the gig of the Stationaire.


Then screamed. My dear, did
scream then.


When ] came to my senses the caique
was lashed alongside the gig, and baled
quite dry. The first thing | remember
was Capt. Roberts shouting, what on
earth are you doing, Perry Do you want
to drown the man :"


Perry was the bowman of the gig-a
bright-eyed boy of twenty. He had
hitched the boat hook in the waistband of
our chief opponent, and was holding him
under the water.


90 Please, sir" replied Perry, with a
grin" was only washing him bit alore
hauling him in."


1t would have been service of dam
ger to move me into the gig,so they towed
the caique into Therapia and there we
discovered what had caused the mailman
to stumble at the critical moment. 1t
was our old friend the pipe case, which,
Fred had dropped as he helped me in
when We started from the Asiatic shore.


"Papa was awful angry with Fred !;
said he had behaved dishonoraby in max
ing me miss our party at the picnic, and
great deal more. Fred behaved beauti-
fully, and only said he hoped to be allow
ed to explain in the morning. Before the
morning, however, talked papa quite
around, and he ended the discussion with
one of his grunts, and Well, | know
how it will end


You know how it has ended, May, |
am tho happiest little woman in the world,
dear; and if had the queens palace that
pipe case should have the place of honor
in its best room. But hark that is Fred's
ring. Run up and dress for dinner, birdie
he likes me to meet him in the hall.