Year: 1877

The good ship Americus, engaged in
the East India merchant service, was OF
her homeward passage. Her crew were
iubilant at the prospect Of soon reaching
home but probably no one aboard the
ship was in better spirits than the skipper
pretty daughter Mabel Stanford, who bac
accompanied her father on this voyage
when suddenly, like thunderbolt from {
sky, dark cloud Of wrongs and suferings
which had been hanging over the ship
broke upon them in all its terrible power
sending broken hearts and death into their
midst, chilling the hopes Of the crew, and
driving the captain and his daughter near
Iy distracted with grief.


Mabel Stanford was the general fayorite
of that ships company. None could help
liking and admiring her pleasant ways
and she, all unconscious Of the fearful web
She was so innocently weaving, did her best
10 make the voyage pleasant.


Among Miss Stanford's ardent admirers,
and one whom she seemed especi lily to
favor, was the second mate, young Frank
Haywood, who loved her with all his
heart


1t was whispered among the crew that
they would make a fine match; but the
skipper did not look upon the would be
union in that light, and it was generally
known that he would prefer the first mate,
Warren Gregg, who was also a suitor for
his daughters hand.


Warren Gregg, the first mate, was a man
not far from thirty, who had followed the
sea from his boyhood, and was considered
a hrst-class seaman. He was little be-
low medium height with stout, thick-set
frame and frank, open features, which
greatly belied lis true disposition.


This was his. second trip as mate OF me
Americas; and though he had succeeded,
in winning the good will of the captain, he
was generally disliked by the crew for bis
naughty and overbearing ways. That he
loved Miss Stanford with all the ardor OF
which his nature was capable, there was
no doubt and it is perhaps needless to
say that he ooked upon the attention the
handsome manly Haywood paid her with
any thing but pleasure. In fact, he was
mad with jeal ousy, and the opportunity
only was wanting for his pent up passion
to break forth into torrent Of hatred and
vengeance. However, he had SO managed
to govern his actions that no one dreamed
Of the fierce mental conflict which was
racking his brain.


Affairs were at this state-Miss Mabel
openly receiving the attentions Of Haywood
while her father and brother, the suPerear
90 we're silently working to bring about
different result, and Gregg still trying t
win her from his rival, his passion growing
Gercer and fercer as his case grew mor
hopeless, till plans for revengeful triumph
went fitting through his brain, ready to b.
tried in case fair means should fail-wher
an incident occurred which tended to brin!
about an arrangement between the cap
tain and his daughters lover.


1t had been the aim ofthe unscrupulou
Gregg from tile first to bring about qual
rel between the captain, or his sou Lewis
and Hevwood. Thus he was continual.
cmbittering the minds of both against tn
Young mate, until at last has object was ae
complshed.


Haywood and young Stanford had a
open quarrel, brought abont by the shrew
Vaccinations Of the first mate, who ha
caused the hot headed supercargo to az
cuse the other of stealing a ring he ha'
mysteriousIy lost, which Of course quiekl
aroused the temper of the latter, when
hotdiscussion followed that would nodout
ended in blows if some Of the crew had M
interfered


The sympathies of the captain in th
quarrel were with his son, and those
Mabel with her lover, whom she did ~
consider at all to blame.


1t was not far from the middle OF Il
night following the quarrel between lie
wood and Stanford, and, save the gent


moaning Of the wind through the rigglr
and the ripping Of the water as the sh


ploughed on her course, all was silent


death when the helmsman, peerlng g


with straining eyes into the impenetfao


gloom Of the black expanse beyond, "


suddenly aroused from the drowsiness tn


was stealing over him by hearing cry


help, aud then splash in the water tro


off the lee bow. He quickly turned to 2


the supercargo, who but moment betc


had been standing By his side, the can


of the noise, when be saw that the You


man was gone Then the truth instan


flashed through his mind, and he shoutt


IN startling, excited tone:


ttMau ovarboo,.5 ~