Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/134

Rh change of air and scene was deemed essential by her physician. To this her affrighted father- having lost his wife a short time before by consumption - readily consented, and with his daughter, took passage for the West Indies, a few days afterward, in the vessel which met the disastrous fate I have already described.

" While the dying girl was yet speaking, in broken sentences, the masts, which were no longer supported by the rigging, at a deeper roll of the vessel suddently went by the board, with a tremendous crash. Startled by the noise, she sprang violently up in the cot, while streams of blood gushed from her mouth at the exertion. I used all the remedies that were at hand to stop it, but without effect. She grew weaker every minute, and though at length the discharges became less frequent, her last moment was evidently approaching. ' I am dying ! ' said she, in a languid voice : my eyes are becoming darkened. I shall see you no more ! Press my hand- there, there may heaven bless and preserve you, dear Charles. Oh, my Saviour ! receive my spirit !' And having uttered these words she sunk back-a corpse.

" I cannot describe my feelings at this dreadful bereavement. I tore my hair in agony, and, I believe, raved and blasphemed like a madman. I know little of what passed, from that time until you discovered me ; for a settled feeling of despair was brooding over my soul ; and I neither sought to preserve my life, nor regarded anything around me.'

" I was about to offer him some words of sympathy," continued the clerk, " when our attention was arrested by the cry of Sail ho !' 'Where away ?' cried the captain. ' Broad off the lee-beam, ' was the reply ; and all eyes were turned in that direction. The wind being light, she rapidly neared us; and when her hull became distinctly visible, my friend, who was gazing intently at her through the spy-glass, suddenly exclaimed, as he dropped it from his eye :"

It's the villanous pirate ; I know her by the new cloths in her fore-sail.' " She looks suspicious enough, ' said the captain ; and if she attacks us, we must only defend ourselves to the last grasp; for, by everything holy ! I shall never yield myself up alive to the murderous wretches . Muster the crew aft, Mr. Tompkins, ' he continued, addressing the mate.

" The crew were soon assembled on the quarter-deck, when the captain, pointing to the schooner, said : -"

Do you see that craft to leeward, my boys ? She's a pirate. If we are captured, we shall assuredly be murdered,