Year: 1866

that was laid aside for more pious purpose
than this and she-my little sister-she
would be glad that l so used it Well,
we'll will write the draft and one of you
can go and get it cashed and as stay
till he returns, you canuot of course be de.
ceived !


The leader of tie pirates then took the
lieutenant by the arm, and placed him with
his back against portion of the cavern
into which they had conducted him; and
then be called out, roughly:


Barnes Barnes say1
sAy, ayp was the response Of an ill.fa-
vored specimen of humanity n Guernesy
frock and fisherman boots.


Shoot him if be stirs 7


sAy, ayp


you will remain where you are, sir,
while we step aside little to consider!


Barnes then brought a small cask on
which be took seat, and amused himself
by taking imaginary aims at the eyes of the
lieutenant with large ships pistol that he
took from one of his fsherman's boots,
while the leacer took the rest Of the party
aside


The deciion was soon made, by the
leader saying in low tones:


Look you, mates That young fellow
knows too much to let him live, even if
the captain hadn't ordered the death Of all
who escaped from the Wave, but as we are
to remain here until his return from the is
land, which will be in day or two, we may
as we'll send for this money to divide among
ourselves, and that all may be fair, we will
keep him alive till then!


sAy, ay' said another-'and then set
him free =


Free of the world-yesp


sThat'll do!


Writing materials from an old sea-chest
we're brought to the lieutenant, and he
wrote the draft, while one Of the pirate
crew made some alterations in his dress to
go for the money.


The young officer was then, at his re-
quest, given something in the way of re-
fresbments, and permitted to lie down on
some tarpaulins that we're in the cavern,
and several hours wore away to him in
painful thought. It was of the fair girl
who bad encbained his heart that he thought
With all the anxiety and anguish of fond
and devoted lover. What had become of
her? Had she, too, fallen victim to that
strange destiny which seemed to oppress
them both If he GOULD but think that she
really lived, he could bear anything and
everything which Fate might heap upon
him, with the blessed hope of being once
again united to her; but if she was no
more, he cared not how soon he bade adieu
to the world, and all its hopes and fears, for
happiness and he could no more be .ac.
quainted.


1t was towards the close of the day that
the young officer heard an unusual stir a,
mong the pirates, and by the tones Of their
voices he could guess that they were well
enough pleased at something that had ia,
ken place That something, he did not
doubt, was the reception of the money on
his draft


Redeem your promise ? he said, loudly,
and set me free =


Patience = replied the leader, grufly.
you will soon be free !


A whispered consultation then took place,
in which the word 'welP was repeated sew.
eral times and the lieutenant could not
fail to engender the idea that they meant
to throw him into the deep sea-well, of the
terrors of which the reader has already a
conception By desperate effort he thought
it first possible that he might sufficiently
contend with them to bring upon himself
some other mode of death-for anything
seemed to him preferable to being cast in
to the well.


Then several advanced towards him, and
one waved u wick over his head and dash.
ed it against the wall, to give it the power
of emitting a clearer fame. Then the
leader spoke in tone of sarcastic brutality


well, sir, we promised to set you free,
and we will do so-frce of the world, and
US! Your time is come =


you would murder me 2


sOh no !-merely put you of the way!


Villains, | will not 60 quietly to death
at your pleasure! At least some of you
shall find freedom on the same conditions! !!


The young officer had prepared every
muscle of his body for the dash he now
made at the leader of the party; and seiz
ing by its hilt the cutlass he wore, with his
right hand, and with his left the butt of
one of the huge ships pistols that stuck in
his belt, be possessed himself of both -
for he had calculated the distance and the
act we'll.


To cut down the rufhan BY one we'll d.
rected slash of the cutass was the work of
q moment, and then the lieutenant retreat
ed to the wall of the cavern, and presenting
the pistol before him, he cried
This is one mans life Who will sac.
rifce himself that the rest may capture and
kill me?'


There was home truth in these words
An argument that reached the minds of
all, and though there we're five still left of
them, they all shrank back from that one
man, for no one wished to bo the particular