Year: 1870

- II


THIRTY years ago was second mate Of
the Warsaw, lyingin the port of Auckland,
New Zealand. AS we were bound to Japan
the next season, touching at the Sandwich
Islands, we received on board as passen.
gers Scotchhan, who had been FOR
several years resident of the colonies
and his only child, little girl of twelve.


David Cameron had recently lost his
wife, who had long been IN delicate health
and, closing Cup all his affairs, determined
upon change of residence, with q view
of pushing his fortunes elsewhere. He
had been a seaman in his youth, and was,
of course, able to adapt himself easily to
such accommodations as we could offer
him in whsler. He was tenderly at
tached to his little daughter, who soon be
came favorite with every one on board.


1t needed not the assurance of the
stricken widowerto satisfy us that Jessie
had bean in the hands of an excellent
mother She was an Interesting and in
telligent child, and had made the most of
her opportunities in situation where
educational advantages were necessarily
very limited z ~ -.|-, e.


Thrown into daily contact with her, as
l was, it was not strange that l found n
strong attraction drawing me to her. She
was study to me; for / could not help
contrasting her, every hour in the day,
with a little sister of mine, about the same
age, wholL had left at home. 1t was
true, Maria was q bright and pretty child,
and 80 proud and fond of me, her sailor.
brotherl She believed that Priam Oar
rell was the incarnation of all that was
grand and noble in manhood. But she
had nothing of the quiet self reliance to
be observed in this child, who had been
thrown so much upon her own resources.
In book knowledge,ss we'll az in the thou
sand little graees and arts required in So
ciety, she was, ,-of. course, superior of
Jessie Cameron; but in strength and
force Of character, she might well have
been several years the eyoungsr. p y


When near the French Rock, we en-
countered gale of wind which exceeded
in violence anything which I have ever
experienced, before or since, in the Pacific
But our little passenger was quite at home
on shipboard, and appeared to have little
fear or uneasiness. She remained on
deck nearly all the time, until the wind
and sea increased to such degree that
her father was compelled, by fears FOR her
safety, to order. her to keep close in the
cabin.


The old Warsaw, owing to her stiff,
ness, was very ugly sea-boat in gale
And on the second day of the blow, all
her storm canvass having been torn from
the bolt-ropcs, she lay wallowing at the
mercy of the elements. 1t was found
quite impossible to bend and set any new
sails, and our situation became really
dangerous.


We lay thus for several hours, occa
sionally shipping the top of sea, but no
material damage had been done. Toward
night, we were favored with lull, and ad-
vantage was taken of it to set new mis-
zen staysail, that we might have some
thing to keep her head up to the sea.


All hands were above the deck at the
time ( and j myself was on the mizzen-
stay, half way up the mainmast, doing
the last work of bending the sail to its
hanks. The halyards and sheet were
strongly manned, and every one in readi
ness, waiting for the word to hoist away"


was just about to slide down from my
perch, when great wall of water came
roaring down upon US, and l knew, by
the feeling of the ship under me, that she
would not rise clear of it. On it came |;
i clung involuntarily to the stay, hearing
confused cries of "Hold onp "Look
outI' 1t met us with shock that seemed
to have driven in the whole broadside of
our stout craft. .-


. 1t combed in nearly the whole length
of. the ship, fore and aft, giving no one
time to escape, or to do anything but to
cling instinctively to the nearest support.
All below me was raging gulf OF water,
in which men and inanimate objects were
promiscuously dashed about. l had
enough to do to Resin my hold where l
was, looking down upon the dreadful
sight ] felt that my fate would be de.
cided in another minute or two 1t must
be the same as that of my shipmates, who
were vainly stretching their hands toward
me for succor, while here and there q cry
rang in my ears, breaking the ceaseless
roar of sea and wind. We were all to die
together, unheard of; the simple record
attached to our names, Probably found
cred at sea-"


But, shivering in every timber of her
ancient fabric the Warsaw rose again tri-
umphant from what seemed her death
struggle with the elements. Her bare deck
came into view as she shook herself free of
the burden; for nearly all the bulwarks
were swept away on both sides, as well as
everything OF q movable nature. But not
human being was to be seen, as, still
clinging IN my elevated position, looked
about me. All had been swallowed up
and gone to their final account. ~--'---


had no time for, sentiment; indeed !





was one of astonlshn1ent at feeling the ship
still buoyant, for l had no idea that she
couldeyer rise again. slid down to the
deck, and watching my opportunity,
darted below into the cabin. Everything
was atiost there for the companion way
had been dashed into splinters, and the
sea had poured down In a cataract.
stood in the doorway leading into the after
cabin, drenched and shivering, looking up
at thei now opened hatchWay, and won
deTfng how long 1t might be ere should
be ingulfed; for the next sea that boarded
us would probably fill and water-log the
already shattered hull. l,4lf,
"Where's father" said tremulous lit
tie voice behind me. - -'.-s- % y


Until then j had not thought of the
child. turned at the sound, and saw the
bright head protruding from the narroW "
opening of state room door. The blut
eyes were unnaturally expanded will
wonder and anxiety; but there was non'
of the childish weakness OF fear tina
might have been looked for under the Cir
cumstances.


"Mr. Darrell, where's fatherf" she re
peated.


How could answer the question Only
bya sign TO her to keep close within he
room, as l moved forward out OF he
range of vision, that my tell-tale fac
might be hidden.


Powerless, as regarded any effort


could make for safety against the storm,
awaited the moment when the ship shoul'
be ingulfed, with little Jessie aud myself
But as if the demon of wrath had been go
tiated, she now appeared to make bette
weather of it than she had done for hour
before. Hope again revived, and / has
tened TO explain our position to the ol
phaned girl.


| knew not how TO begin, roug
seaman that was, to break the sad inte
lgence 70 Jher. 8 But I found il unnecei
sary to speak she had already guesse
this truth, in part, and single look in m
face was sufficient for her quick con
prehension TO take in the rest.


After the first burst of grief, which
eulfyred her to indulge unchecked, she b.
came calm, wonderfully SO, and was pr
pared to look the matter squArely In tb