Year: 1873

change took place ia his conduct. the
secret OF which was that he had con-
ceiscd sinful passion for the inno-
cent maiden cast upon his protection,
aud had determined to crafty il at
any hazard.


When cruising alone he was abso-
lutte in his authority, and none To
call him to account. In any case our
tyrant's civil rank and influence would
have protected him in any arbitrary
exercise of power. Probably, how
ever, Sir Edward Martin cared moth
ing for the consequences TO himself.
Carried away by his unholy passion.
he would have dared almost anything
to accomplish his purpose, and once
resolved. no law human or divine, was
regarded as an obstacle.


His first step was to deprive Laura
of the protection OF her father and
myself, and this was accomplished
with the cunning of a vertible demon.
The first intimation that we had of
his changed attitude toward us was
an order to place Mr.. Manson and
myself in irons. we having been al
lowed perfect liberty up to that time.
On the afternoon of the same day we
were taken into the captains cabin,
and. in the the presence of the Diana's
officers, formally charged with PIRACY.


My indignant denial of the charge
was cut short by the tyrant, who
curtly informed us that we would be
allowed TO deIend ourselves before a
court-martial the next morning and
we were Immediately hurried back TO
our place of confinement. between
decks.


Quite stunned by this unexpected
calamity, we were utterly unable To
divine its cause, but during the even.
ing one OF the mariners who guarded
us slipped into Mr.. Manson's hand
note which threw flood of light up
on our bewiidcrment. Il was from
Laura, stating that the brutal com
mander had plainly told her her
fathers life was at his mercy, and
that it dedepended upon her 10 save
him.


Mr.. Manson was really frantic for
time; but all his fury was oil no avail,
and thus, in darkness, chains aud de-
spair, we passed the weary night, un-
Ill the red morning dawned which was
TO seal our fate.


need not detail the particulars of
the court-martial, which was n mere
mockery ut the best. With cunning
that was absolutely tiendish, the faith
less commander had marshaled the
evidence against us. The Snakes
letters of marque were suppressed,
perhaps destroyed by him, aud viii
ling tool of his testified that no such
papers had been found on board Of
her. This, together with the large
crew we had carried, and the cargo,
was enough TO condemn US. The
Spaniards We had rescued were stated
TO be part OF our crew; and therefore
not allowed To testify in our behalf
Mr.. Manson was made to appear TO be
the owner OF the Snake, and the utter
absurelity of carrying refined lady
to sea with us on piratical cruise
was passed over as having no weight
at all.


The whole thing was cruel farce
We were formally condemned as and
formally sentenced TO be hanged at
the yardarm ut sunrise the following
morning.


NV feelings when we were once
more chained down between decks
are impossible 10 hint at. How much
more agon,zing, then, must have been
the emotions of the wretched father
about TO be murdered in cold blood,
and forced to leave his only child in
the power OF such villain as the cap
tain proved TO be? / cannot dwell
on the horrors of that awful night
The guard was changed and the
friendly marine could not approach
us, so that il Laura was in q condi-
tion TO send another message she
could not do so. Thus without tid-
ings of the unfortunate girl, and ut
terly despairing our own fate, we
sleepiessly passed the hours Of dark
ness. May heaven grant that no kin
of mine may ever endure tithe oi
the agony l suffered, and witnessed
in the person OF the sorrowing father
that terrible night.


Dawn came at length, and with its
first glimmer the sbriil notes of thu
fife and the hoarse rattle of the drum
summoning the crew TO quarters, an
nounced that the preparation for oul
execution were already made. Very
soon afterward the officer, lieutenant
appeared with file OF his men; oul
shackles were removed and our arm,
pinioned with ropes and we were ther
led upon deck.


Several times during the night Mr.
Manson had cntreated TO be allowed
to see daughter, aud he now made .
final appeal for this poor favor. Tb,
brutal myrmidon of a still more bruta
tyrant harshly refused to bear the re
quest to his commander, and evei
cursed and struck the unfortunate mar
when he persisted in imploring hi
pity. My blood boiled within me
and all thought of my peril wa
swallowed up in the rage which woult
: have prompted me, had | been free, Il
have slain the crowd with my naket
hands.


A platform was erected between
two of the starboard guns abreast 0
the mainmast, on level with tn,
hammock nettings, and when we hat
been forced to mount this, perceivet
that the vessel was close to th.
shore of large island. Of course


did not know where we were at th'
time, but l may as well say now tha
| afterwards discovered that it wa
the island OF Hayti, the frigate havin!