Year: 1873

1hcn L mad q good look at the
ring, and felt ashamed of my suspi-
ciOns. The device was common
heart, which certainly bore no re-
Isemblance to a chariot wheel.


After a general conversation to
recover my self possession, L turned
away, resolving in future to have a
better opinion of my fellow crea-
lures. @


The strangers good looks seemed
to attract the attention of good
many of the ladies'. One, especially
understanding little thing attired
in black, kept directing furtive
glances at the handsome passenger.
Finally she glided so close to him
that in turning he brushed against
her.


An apology, smilingly received by
the little lady, remark about the
weather on the part of the gentle
mar, and the two were soon con-
versing with animation. Meanwhile,
the blushing cheek and bright eyes
of the fair one seemed to betOken
that she was well pleased with her
companion, whose air was more con
ceited than ever.


Il am afraid we shall have a
storm" she remarked, pointing to-
wards a dark cloud upon which the
captain of the boat was gazing anx-
iously.


"We may, but do not feel alarmed
madam"


With an air of nonehalence he
pulled red cigar-case from his
pocket and asked his companion il
she objected to a smoke. Then he
started, and quickly returning the
red one to his pocket, pulled forth
another of blue color.


"How many cigars do you smoke
in day?' inquired the lady, evi-
IDENTIFY amused at the sight of two
cases.


The other colored, and it struck
me that his voice slightly faltered
and his hand trembled, as he made
some laughing reply.


Soon the storm came pouncing
down upon us. We were midway
in the channel, so that we caught
the full force of the sea and gale. Both
were terrific.


The sea swept the boat, which lay
so far over that her machinery was
soon damaged so that it could not
work. The wind, screaming like a
demon, threw her over still further
Suddenly we observed the sailors
endevoring to loosen a long boat on
the davits at the stern. Meanwhile,
there was an OminOus grinding,
smashing noise under the counter.
The truth could not be coneesled;
VIC were sinking.


The ladies screamed; the hand
some passenger lost his self posses
siyn, and ran hither and thither.


The cool behavior of the little Ia
dy in black eontrasUed strangely
with the agitated demeanor of those
iaround her.


There she stood, calm and immov-
able, her bright, steel blue eyes fixed
upon the handsome stranger, ofWho
she did not lose sight of for q mo-
ment.


''Keep quiet, ladies and gentle
mem" sang out the captain-'Keep
quiet, and don't crowd around the
boat so! There will be room in it
for you all; and, besides there is a
schooner coming to our assistance" "
pointing TO a vessel blowing towards
us before the wind.


There was however, a panic among
those addressed. The moment the
boat was lowered, into it they all
bundled, among them the handsome
passenger.


A huge sea coming along, roaring
thunder, parted the tackles, tearing
the boat from the stermer before
either the lady in black, or I could
enter it. The handsome passenger,
loosing his balancs fell over the
gunwale, and unable to swim, wildly
threw up his arms.


must acknowledge that I was so
engrossed with the perilous situa-
ton of my fair companion and my
self-noW the only two left aboard
the steamer-that / paid little at
tention to the drowning man.


The steamer was, in fact, going
down fast-Was already nearly en-
quilted in the stormy waves, her
heated and half submerged boiler
kissing, as the steam came gushing
out like the spout from a whale.


was advancing to throw an arm
around the little lady, fearing to see
her washed away, when, quietly
motioning me back with one hand,
she seized coil of rope, and threw
the end to the handsome passenger
He caught it, when, turning TO- me,
the lady requested me to help haul
the man aboard. l complied, mar
Yelling at the love and devotion thus
shown by a woman towards an &C
duaintance of an hour.


His power over the female sex
must be great, thought. He is
conceited, but not without reason.
The idea flashed clearly across my
mind, in spite of my danger. The
schooner, however, was very near
and had every reason to believe
we should be picked up,


l was right. We were all taker
aboard the schooner, the handsOm'
passenger among the rest. Ther
the lady in black, pulling fourth
revolver, pointing it at the head o
him whom she had rescued.
"Out with that red cigar caseF
she said, sternly. II would like Il
see what monsieur carries in it."


.'Why-why, 'stammered the stran
ger, "what is"


Before he could say another word
the little Amazon thrust her Olsen
gagged hand in his pocket, pulle,
forth the red cigar case, and open
- . ,.s~o- l-o-,ol - Aho looIz