Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/54

Rh assumed his former besotted expression, " who are you ?--what ship is this ?—and how came you in this sad plight ?' " To these questions he made no reply, but buried his face in his hands, and groaned deeply. " Come, come,' said the mate- who, though a rough, was a kind-hearted man-laying a hand on his shoulder, ' troubles that can't be cured must be endured ; and we who go to sea, God knows, have our share of ' em. Our skipper has got some prime old French aboard ; 't will raise your spirits. You shall have some ofit.' " The mate's rough attempt at consolation failed in its effect, however ; and I thereupon proposed calling some of the crew into the cabin, to sew up the deceased in her cot, and bury her, before removing the survivor to our brig. The mate called two of the sailors, and set them at work to lash her up. So soon as they commenced, the stranger threw himself upon the body, and with tears streaming down his wan cheeks, cried out, in a voice of agony ;— " Oh don't take her away from me !-do n't hurt her !— she can be of no use to you now- she's dead ! -her parents are dead !-she said she'd be mine !' And then suddenly raising himself, he added, with a furious look : Hands off, villain !' and aimed a blow at the mate, which weak as he was, would inevitably have felled him to the deck had not one ofthe sailors observed the intention, and arrested his arm in time to avert the stroke. " Take him out,' said the mate ; there is no use in keepThe man's mad. ' ing66him 6 here any longer. No, no do n't take me out ! I will not go hence ! Dearest Ann- --- stop !' he said, passing his hand across his forehead, and seeming to collect his faculties ; ' let me give her but one kiss, and then take me where you will.' " He approached the corpse, bent down, and impressed one long impassioned kiss on the shrivelled lips, and turning wildly around, left the cabin. " The preparations were soon completed ; and having taken the precaution to cut off a lock of her hair, we were about passing her out of the cabin, to launch her overboard, when one of the sailors suggested that it might be as well to leave her where she was, and to set the hull on fire ; for some vessel might be injured, or sunk by running into her in the night, and she could not be got into port without the greatest trouble ; while, if the corpse were thrown into the sea, the sharks would get it before ten minutes had elapsed.