Year: 1878

way from his immediate attack. sent a
sudden thought through the brain of the
agonized spectator.


The HindoO murderer, in his position
on the outside Of the ship, was under the
yard, although about forty feet below
him, while The girl, standing two feet
from the rall, was within easy reach Of
the native, whose arm and body, as al
ready stated, were drawn back from the
bulwarks to give force to the meditated
blow. The young man, therefore deem
ed 1t would be an easy matter to reach
the iiindoo in the only way it could now
be done with sufficient rapidity to pre-
vent the accomplishment of his deadly
purpose-a way at once novel and des-
perate, and which would, perhaps, in
volve his own destruction.


In word, not hesitating TO risk life
or limb for the woman he loved, Lieu
tenant Winfield resolved to drop down
from near the end of the mizzen topsail
yard upon the Hindoo, forty feet below,
and thus dash him from the rail into the
sea, perhaps killing himself, ere he could
deal the fatal blow with the uplifted dirk.
He would utter shrill cry-a warning
to the crew-as he cleaved the air, thus
rousing them, perhaps, in time to meet
the attack of the robbers, and insure the
further safety of Belle and the ship.


The emergency admitted of no delay
The young man, clutching the yard-arm
near the end, hung by it for second
make sure he was in line with the
Hindoo beneath, then. just as the dirk |
was about to descend, he let go of the
spar with long, wild cry that pierced |
every corner of the ship, and down he
went cleaving through the air with ter
rible velocity There was n whirling
rushing sound, then loud thud as the
heavy boot heals of the falling body |
crushed upon the head Of the native ere
he could use his knife, dashing him
from the rail into the sea, AMI killing
him instantly.


The watch heard the warning cry Of
the lieutenant, and before the other
natives could recover from their surprise
at the occurrence which had so suddenly
and Unexpectedly broken upon them,
the decks were alive with the whole
crew, and the entire gang of robbers beat
hasty retreat.


Meanwhile Bell Upton had been so
bewildered by that sudden, fearful cry
she heard, and the subsequent splash of
the bodies in the water, that not until
the boat was lowered and the lieutenant
who had been struggling in the sea, was
brought aboard and into the cabin, to
explain in faint voice how he had
saved her life, did she clearly compre-
hend all that had happened. Then she
threw herself down by the PROSTATE
form of her lover, and hung over him in
agony, fearing that he was fatally injur
ed. Soon, however, the doctor gave
cheering information to the contrary.


The young man had sustained fear
full shock from his contact with the Hin
doo's body, but as that body had offered
little resistance tohis downward progress
when he struck it, being simply driven
before him into the sea- his lower limbs,
although partially paralyzed for the time,
were not broken. lie had, however,
fallen dangerously near to the rail. a
roll of the ship to the other side, ere he
could let go Of The top sail yard 10 de-
cend, would have caused him to fall on
the bulwarks, when, of course, he would
have been killed.


Never before" said the doctor, did |
Ihear ofsuch daring performance"


"Ayw exclaimed Major Upton. GOD |
bless him. Here, Belle, he shall have
you, girl, for he has earned YOU"


He put both hands of his daughter in
the lieutenant's, and turned his head
away to hide few tears upon his bronz
ed cheek.


Immediately after the young man had
been brought aboard an off shore breeze
sprang up, enabling the cap'ain to head
seaward. In due time the vessel reached
her home port, when the lieutenant,who
by this time had fully recovered from
the effects of his fall, claimed his beauti-
ful and willing bride.