Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/131

Rh save me ! save me ! They have murdered my father- they will murder me ! You will save me !' and she pressed her pale cheek fondly against my knees, while the wildest affright was depicted in her countenance, and her bosom heaved violently with deep and convulsive sobs.

" I WILL save you, dearest,' I replied, 6 and woe be to him who shall dare to lay a rude finger upon you !'

You will, Sir ?' said the captain, who had been eyeing the scene, with a smile of scorn and derision. ' Do you presume to threaten me?'

"Ay, villain !' I retorted, fiercely, ' you, or any one else, who shall venture to soil a hair of her head :' and I shook my clenched hand in his face. Transported with rage at my threat, he seized a boarding-pike which lay on the trunk, and with its staff struck me a violent blow on the head. So sudden was the attack, that I had not time to arrest or shun the stroke. My senses wandered-thick darkness came over my sight-and I fell, insensible, on deck.

" When recollection returned, I found myself swinging in a hammock, my head throbbing with pain, and my pulse bounding as if ready to burst. ' Where am I ? -what has happened ?' —said I, as a shadowy and indistinct remembrance of the past flitted across my mind.

" Where should you be, honey, but in my bunk ? ' said a kind-hearted Irishman, from beneath me, where he was sitting, mending a jacket ; ' and little thanks to the captain, that ye've a head upon ye, to ax the question. By Saint Pathrick ! I thought, when I seed the blow he give ye, ye'd have lost the number of your miss ; and ' ud be making a straight wake for Abraham's bosom. Sowl of me ! but the tatoo the divil beat on the impty whiskey-barrel was a thrifle to it, any how.'

" But how came I here ?' I interrupted.

" How should you, but in my arms ? Faith, I picked ye off the deck when ye'd no more sinse or motion in ye nor a dead pig ; for ye see I'd a kindness toward ye, for the small mather of setting me shoulther, which ye did so gintly off the Cape, when I unshipped it in a drunken frolic.'

" But where is my unfortunate girl ?-What have they done with her ?'

" Where,' he replied, but in the cabin with the captain.

" Good God !' said I ! ' Heaven have mercy on the poor child ! Help me up !'

"Lay still, honey, where ye are,' said he, endeavouring to prevent my rising, and keep out of sight of the captain, or it may be worse for ye.' FEB . 1839.