Year: 1876

Then knew that .e three villains lad

 killed the three me.l whom the poisca

 hadrendered helpless, and that only n.y.

 self and the two fearfuhy sick officers re- mained. The latter were already ct the

 point of death.

 Etold Bacalardo that Lwould come on Ideck when the captain and mate should

 have passed all suffering. It seemed Edfeadful that the impatient wretcbes ishould murder them with knives; and EheneeI could not bear to leave them Ny refusal to do so, however, availed lnothing, for crowding into the cabin, the fpirates at once dispatched their victims, I'and passed the bodies out of the win dows.

 The pirates divided the money-about Iten thousand dollars; and they then in- fformed me that must navigate the ves- Esel to South America. They were all ksailJrs. and the brig being easily handled, the task would not be very difficult: But to think of heading for distant seas, with that sickening horror upon my heartl There were blood-stains upon the deck, in the cabin. and in the forecastle-and how could I remain in such a vessel !? But no one knows what he can do until suffering has taught him.

 We were now becalmed, and with the full strength of the Gulf Stream were drifting northerly at the rate of four miles an hour. The ignorant pirates, whose operations had never brought them much to the northward of Cuba, had no idea that the current was thus bear Ing us along, while it was iupon this fact Ithat T built almost my only hope. In high spirits at the success of their enterprise, they laughed over their gold and were continually boasting of the murders they had at one or another time committed. Bacalardo remarked that he had probably sent more persons into eternity than any other man living: and had little doubt of my being added to the list, whenever my services should no longer be required.

 Three days were passed in this manner; and in the meantime had assured the Spaniards that it would be madness to proceed on the South American voyage without further supply of water. I had, at favorable opportunity, let out the contents of two casks in the hold. At the end of this time, the wind spraug up, and it was decided to enter an in let which described as upon wild portion of the southern coast, with which they were entirely unacquainted, and there obtain the needed supply. ... Though it was the month of August, the weather now, fortunately for my purpose, became tempestuous, with squalls and heavy gales from the south and west. We were obliged to shorten sail, and somesimes to lie to; and all the while managed to keep the brig in the Gulf Stream, so that even while lying with her head to the westward, she had a strong northerly drift. The pirates kept me almost all the time at the helm E-I dared not let them suspect that this was tu5 vvry t11..iss ouulta l.us-o wIsneu and two or three times I wedged the compass so that it could not play. I was afraid they would discover that we were making too much northing, and though their ignorance of the lay of the coast was a most hopeful circumstance in this connection, dared not wholly trust to it.

 At last ran out of the Gulf Stream, and, just after had taken an observa- tion of the sun, which till then had not shown itself for several days, s,leaving me to be guided by theg gulf weed.and the waters temperature-the wind came out north east, piping in right good earnest. My heart beat quickly, for the quadrant had shown me that my hour had come. I was in latitude thirty-six, ten; longitude seventy -four, eight.

 Our water casks were almost empty, and the pirates. who had all this time supposed me to be beating and banging about to gain the southern inlet, were very glad when told them we should reach the coast in few hours. And l. you cannot imagine my sensations. Oh, if the wind should die out-if it should head us off morning should dawn, and my plan be only half accomplished ! Often had the villains drawn their knives across my throat, in signifcation of what would come should I play them false; and now it was success or death.

 Headed west-north-west, the little brig bounded along, and you may we'll believe that watched every variation of the breeze, and the drawing of every sail, as I have never watched before. over and over I revolved my previous reckoning-Yes, yesterdayI struck out for the Gulf Stream; last night headed. thus and thus; to-day was sure of my figures. It must be sol have made no mistake. Yet, how, if cannot manage at last !? A single error, a shadow of sus- picion, and knife will end all." Thus mentally conversed with myself. Here and there were vessels eailing upon various courses, but I dared not approach, dared hardly look at them. As evening approached. 1 saw the land. It would Ee dark ere we should reach it; and thus far all went hopefully. Yet never had the blood-stains upon the briggs 6eck. looked more hideous than now. Hope had in measure broken the nightmare of horror, and more fully than before realized the awfulness of tie tragedy which had been perpetrated. Strongly the north-easter pipsd-it would not fail me now-and the clouds were thick, and the night would be very dark. Then upon the lee bow gleamed Q light and presently away off tho l weather bow shone faintly another. Oh, the anxiety of that moment! l was right. There they were, the two beauti- fullights-yes, beautiful indeed to me. But the hour of greatest peril was at hand; and, like dramatic author who fears for his last act, studied again and again the various contingencies that might cross my plans, and reveal my ia- tentions to the murderous Spaniards.