Year: 1874

| 1t was fearful night at sea, and wild
winds howled in fury, and the mad waves
lashed themselves into tumultuous chaos,
as ifthe tempest and the ocean were rivals,
each striving to prove the greater power
of destruction.


Yet through the long anxious hours of
the stormy night the brave schooner Idle
Waif nobly breasted the fury of the gale,
her officers hoping against hope almost
that she would be able to survive the terri
BILE dangers through which she was strug-
Cling.


A month before she had sailed upon her
voyage to New York from South Ameri-
can port, and among her passengers was
her owner, Robert Graham, of the wealthy
| firm of Graham & Co., accompanied by
his wife and daughter, Corinne, a lovely
maiden of eighteen accomplished, pure in
thought and as innocent as a child.


MIR. and Mrs. Graham idolized their only
child, and when the father found he had
to visit South America on business for the
firm, Corinne at once begged to accompa-
ny him, and, yielding to her entreaty,
few days after found the mother and
daughter comfortably "at home' in the
commodous cabin of the Idle Waif, a
large three masted schooner, ably COM
manded and with an efficient crew.
| The captain of the Idle Waif was
man of thrty-five and of stern nature.
He had man of wars manner with his
crew, which he had acquired when an Of
cficer in the English navy, from which, it
had been said, he was dismissed in dis
grace, allowing SLAYER to escape, when
it was certain, had he not been bribed. he
could have captured the craft trading in
human flesh.


At any rate, he was an able commander.
and the five years he had been in the SER
vice of Graham & Co., Capt. Woodruff
had proved himself most trustworthy in
every respect.


The first mate of the Idle Waif was
young man of twenty-five who had be-
come an officer of the schooner while she
was in South America, in place of the
mate who had resigned to accept the cap
taincy of vessel offered him.
Gervase Wild had offered to take the
place of the resigned officer, but he frank
ly told Mr.. Graham he could offer no tes-
timonials as to his character and ability
that he was an Americana Marylander
had been for seven years an officer in
the United States navy, from which he
had resigned in forign port. for reasons
he did not care to mention.


Mr.. Graham gazed into the strangely
handsome face of the man before him, be-
held the dark, fearless eyes for a moment,
and then glanced at the slight but elegant
figure, and replied:


Il will trust you, Mr.. Wild. Go aboard
the schooner as soon as possible"


The Idle Wait sailed upon her home
ward bound voyage, and it was evident to
all on board that no better seaman than
Garya;So Wild oyar trol vnSSafs Apck
and vet between him and the captain
there was certain restraint. From the
first OF the home trip Hart Woodruff had
treated his first officer with an overbear-
ing manner, noticeable to all, and which
the mate received with cold and inditfrent
politeness.


Corinne Graham narrowly watched the
two officers, and her woman's eye soon
read the secret of the captains feeling
toward his mate. 1t was jealousy; for
Hart Woodruff had from the first loved
the maiden, and seeing that she accepted
the polite and gentlemanly attention of
Gervaise Wild with feeling of pleasure
he determined to rid himself of the man
he believed his rival.


On sailed the noble vessel until, when
nearing the waters OF the gulf, terrible
storm burst upon her, and, increasing to-
ward night, threatened her with destruc-
ton.


Bravely did the crew stand at their posts,
and twice during the long night did Ger
vaise Wild ascend the riggin g, when
brave hearts hesitated, and securely furled
some sail that the wind had torn from its
iastings.


Mr.. Graham, with his wife and Corinne,
had assembled to the deck, and Were
grouped together, anXiously watching the
black storm and raging ocean, while at
the same time they could not but admire
the cool manner of Gervaise. added to his
daring manner OF springing at once to
every post of DAGGER, and the comparison
drawn between the captain and his mate
redounded to the latterS credit.


All that human skill and courage could
do save the schooner, proved useless, Tor
she was dismasted, became wreck, and
leaking in many places, it was found she
could no longer hold out against the storm,
which. though abating at daylight, was
still raging.


There is but one course, Mr.. Graham.
The boats, excepting one. are washed
away, and the schooner can remain only a
few hours ahoat, so | will at once set
about building a raft, which can hold all



ham.


I've are in your hands, sir; but wha,
says the captain p


II say" aud Hart Woodruff stepped
forward, 'that the mate is mistaken the
schooner will float for many days. And
yet would not expose Mrs. and Miss
Graham to risk; so propose that you, sir,
with your wife and daughter, accompan-
led by myself and four of the crew, take
the llte-boat. In two days at farthest We
can reach some of the Caribbean islands,
milde, with the remainder of the crew,
can remain with the vessel, which, under
the Jury masts, can be run into the near
est port.


IA good plan, perhaps, Captain, but as
| agree with Mr.. Wilde regarding the in
ability of the schooner to be kept atioat
many hours, l think we had all better
trust to the raft"


A frown passed over the captains brow.
which was not unnoticed, at Mr.. Graham's