VICTOR MOREDANT.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 12, 24 September 1874, Page 4

VICTOR MOREDANT.

T HE L OB T B H IPS,

A TALE OF .FIPTTf. YEARS AGO

CHAPTER IV.— Continued.

;AN UNSUSPECTED ESCAPE. Yet he continued to swim and to breast the waves, and Olive lay as still an his supported arm as if she had been: insensible. But she was perfectly conscious, as he could see by tbe mute glare of. her eyes, which, was turned toward him with a grateful yet a questioning }ook far more eloquent and expressive than words could indicate. He had no courage to meet that silent steadfast gaze, lest his own eyes should • reveal the overwhelming truth ; and it wrung his honest heart to think that one so young and fair must die. His own fate had also in it much bitterness, for the thought of a loving wife who was looking for his return, and who would be left in poverty as well as grief, and all the happy past, with its love and joy, passed through his recollection, till the rising sobs threatened to betray hrm. ' Still he battled on, knowing of no better way to make the coming death more endurable. To give up in despair was to make the end more protracted and agonising. Therefore he swam and swam and swam, till they were far from the vessel, and almost beyond the light cast by the flames. A suspicion of the truth seemed at length to enter Olive's mind, and she falteringly asked if they were not yet near the boat.

What should he say ? How to tell her that the boat was out of reach, and that nothing could save them ; and yet anight it not be better for her — better for them both — that she should know it ? During the few moments that yet remained to them, might they not seek to be better prepared for death ? •" 'Taint no use biding it, miss," he answered in a husky voice. ■" The boat is out o 7 sight" * { Oh, then, we — we — must perish ?" " God help us, yes, miss. We can't keep afloat for long. I'd willingly died myself if I could have saved you, but j can't — neither you nor myself." "Then God's will he done," murjmured Olive, with a calm, upward look. " I wish I could say that and feel ft as you do-; but I'm only a rough sailor, miss, and none of us keep an open logbook as we should do. Mayhap you .could say a prayer for me, miss. The great Captain we're agoing to won't refuse to hear an angel like you. Just say as how I'm sorry I haven't kept so. trim a craft as I ought, but that I hopes for tbe sake o* .the Captain obove, as never went on a wrong tack, to have all pardoned. Won't ye now, miss — won't ye do this for poor Jack Blos-

som ?"

And Olive closed her eyes, and commended them both to the mercy of God and the love of the Saviour, seeking pardon for all their sins, and resignation to His will who had called them thus to die.

The rough but honest and warmhearted sailor, who had called himself

Jack Blossom, fairly broke down as he listened to the fervent tones of the fair^ pleader. " God bless ye, miss, for them beautiful words," be sobbed. " I can die f happy now after that last entry in the log-book. I'll just take another look j at the Cynthia, that wont be long in following us to the bottom, and then — " He stopped short all of a sudden ami .uttered a loud, animated cry, for at that moment he saw a dark object floating near them — an object larger than a human body, though what irt might be he could not yet say. But •the sight nerved him with juew energy, and with vigorous strokes of his one -disengaged arm he endeavoured to make it.

*' Why, I declare, it's an empty boat," he joyously cried, as he drew near the floating object. And, in truth, it turned out to be one of the forecastle boats of the Cynihia, which had been -dropped from its place by the progress .of the fire. It must have fallen into the sea bottom down most, and been .drifted about till providentially sent in their direction.

Hope, which had been in the lowest ebb — which, in fact, had been abandoned

altogether — once more animated the breasts of Olive and her supporter. After much labour Jack brought himself and his charge alongside the boat, and had the satisfaction to find that she

contained very little water, an evidence that the bottom was quite sound. But -?hcw were they to get into her ? that ! was the difficulty, and a formidable one, toov fdr they were both much exhausted, and the boat was unsteady in the surging .water. Jack, however, was equal •to the emergency, and had his plan .formed, provided his companion was VcooKand firm enough to follow his .directions. Having gained the lee side ie told her to grasp the gunwale with ;both hands.

" That's it, miss," he cried, approvingly: "Lor', love ye, hold on like tbat and we'll do it beautiful. But do you feel strong enough to do it, miss ? If I let you go can you keep your hold 4all I get round to the winward side ?" "Yes, Jack, quite easily," she .-answered. Don't hesitate to leave ana." JSatisfymg himself that he spoke

truly, he made bis„.way r xound v t0 ... .th©.. opposite side, and baying got ahold of , the boat there. he told her •, to", do fjier best mow to clamber in. ? Then; he allowed the boat to swing till the; side at which she was dipped almost' to the water's edge'j and the .mpimeht she obtained a position on gunwale,', he bent his weight on' the' craft jtill Qliye was - raided ; up, and coujd . slide , gently into the boat. While she was in .the act of doing so, and before her weight was fairly off the side, he drew himself over, and then they rolled together into the bottom of the poat, which lurched •fearfully for arainute,but finally regained its equilibrium.

For.some time they remained motionless, tnough deeply thankful they had got out of the water. Jack revived presently, and sat up to look about him.

His first discovery was not an encouraging one. The boat had neither oar, mast, sail, nor rudder. He could therefore do nothing to shape its course or propel it through the water. It must perforce drift where wind or current carried it.

" Still, it was something. to be on board of a water-tight craft ; and Jack having naturally a sanguine nature, and no little faith in the mythical " cherub that sits up aloft," ceased for the present co brood over the evils of their position, and turned his eyes to watch the. spectacle which the burning Cynthia now presented. ' From the seat she occupied Olive had also a view of the vessel ; and in silence they gazed on the grand but sad sight — being too far away from it to observe the heart-rending particulars — till tbe end suddenly came when the blazing ship seemed for a moment to tremble ana shudder, then the glare gave place to instant darkness, and sea and sky, which had been so luridly illuminated, were lost in profoundest gloom.

" There goes the brave old Cynthia down to Bayy Jones' locker," said Jack, with a loud sigh.

<f Ah me, and tbe lives that have been lost !" moaned Olive, with a violent shudder. " Oh, the scene was terrible — terrible. I see it now ; I think I shall see it always. But how can I thank you, Jack, for your generous devotion ? But for you I must by this time have been dead."

'* And but for you, miss, I had most likely gone down with the rest of them," responded Jack. •' It seems to me, miss, as how we've saved each other."

Jack talked as if their safety was a sure thing, for he did not wish to give pain and sadness to his tender charge • but he knew' how really desperate their situation was. They had no provisions, no water, and no means of directing the boat; they could therefore do literally nothing to help themselves. They were solely at the mercy of wind and wave, and if some passing ship did not descry and pick tbem up they must soon perish miserably and horribly of hunger and thirst.

These dire contingencies, however, be carefully refrained irom mentioning to his companion, knowing how much she required in the circumstances to be I kept fiee from apprehension. Wet, : exhausted, and nervously affected by the shock of the catastrophe and the terrible scene she had witnessed, further fear would have an overwhelming effect. Jack knew this— -knew it by instinct, somehow, for he had a great, warm, honest heart, whose pulsations divined for* him much that other people learn by knowledge add education. The reader dosen't know Jack Blossom yet, or he would not require to be told this. When we come into closer acquaintance with him- — as we are fated to do — in the course of this story, his utter unselfishness, boundless benevolence, and untiring devotion of nature will shine fully forth. At present, however, he being yet a stranger, we must intimate that such were the features of Jack's character and the admirable as well as valuable qualities of his disposition. When the scene on deck was at its wildest he had received orders from the captain to take special charge of Olive and her cousin — particularly Olive. Most people would have considered such a charge at an end when the latter was driven over the side into the water, but the faithfulness of Jack's nature set no limits to the discharge of duty, and when he saw her drop into the sea he hesitated not a moment to follow her. And now he looked upon her as more under his ,charge than .ever, and was ready to | sacrifice even his own life in her behalf. ;

i Though the wind had now moderated, I the sea still ran high, and the boat was | tossed upon its surface hither and thither, no means being available by which its course might be directed. And, indeed, suppose such means had been within reach, they would have been practically useless, for, in the deep darkness and surrounded by a shoreless sea, no intelligible course could be taken, or one more likely than another to lead to deliverance. The one and only chance lay in being picked up by a passing vessel, and no human calculation could guess where was the hest position for this chance being obtained. So, seeing that nothing could be done, Jack resigned the matter into the hands of Providence, and experienced a sense of contentment in doing so.

Their condition in any view of it was' dreary and dispiriting. Being both wet to the skin> they felt excessively cold and comfortless. Jack's rough, hardened^nwb^jj^^rjßdto exposure, he.diairofigreaSy sunter: butQlive, a

Lweakjsta jtureri, f Trembled, excessively \ in. every limb, andm deadly <chill crept to her heart as; if, ; -under! the benumbing •=• mR : fluence of the cold, that ) organ would cease to beat.

, .But there was r a latent- hrayehess! in' Olive's nature,, a power of firm, patient endurance, which had been j unknown even to herself and it came out now much to her own wonder, and far. more to the wonder of Jack, who, was amazed at the firmness and self-possession which she manifested.

," Wall v if ever I seed such beautiful composure as that," he said to himself. " Not one in ten thousand ; girls who had gone through what she had done but would have been fainting and-scream-ing and crying right ou. , And there she sits as quiet as a very angel. Lord love her, ain't she a, brave 'un."

„ And with . a perfect thrill of mental admiration Jack resumed his keen outlook over the shrouded seav

" What are you looking for, Jack ?" at length asked Olive, after silently watching him for some time. ' ' For a ship, miss, if one should be cruising thereabouts, or for the Cynthia's boats, if any on them may sight us." " Oh, dear, I hope they may," cried Olive. *'My poor cousin Julia — pray God she has been saved"

"I think as how she has, miss. I saw her in the boat when it shoved off."

" Ah, did you ? lam so glad to know that, Jack. If we could only meet with the boats. Suppose we cried, might they not hear us and come this way T " Not a bad idea, miss. If . we are to windward of. 'em the sound o' my voice may be carried their way." Saying which, Jack rose to his feet, and putting both hands to his mouth in tbe form of a tub« he shouted forth with tremendous power —

" Boat ahoy."

Had any object been near to interrupt the sound, its volume must have seemed something astounding, for Jack's lungs were hale and strong, and he threw every atom of energy into the shout But in the open, - limitless sea the effect was in a great measure lost Olive was listening with all her might, but no response reached their anxious ears; and after waiting a few moments Jack shouted as vigorously as before.

This went on for several minutes, and for at least a dozen times the words " Boat ahoy !" or. " Ship ahoy !"' were directed to every point of the compass, but with the same fruitless result. Though listening with breathless eagerness no answer reached their strained ears, and the conviction was forced upon them that they were solitary and alone on the bosom of the wide, wide sea.

" How dreary, yet how solemn, was such a thought, and how fitted to produce an overwhelming sense of desolation. Yet Olive, as she sat and gazed up to the shining stars that beamed so peacefully upon them, felt a calm joy enter her soul, and with it a realisation of Divine nearness and protection which gave her rest and peace. Jack had sat down and sank into a silence, which to herseemed disconsolate, and she, desirous, to impart to his soul a share of the comfort which animated her own, crept close beside bim, and laying her small delicate hand on his as it lay upon his knee, she said — "Don't despond^. Jack. Though we are alone we are yet not alone, for the Father is with us."

Jack started under the rush of emotion which the unexpected utterance produced. " God bless ye, miss, for them beautiful words," he returned, in a husky voice.

And he took the small, white hand between his rough, bard, tar-stained palms, and tenderly patted and caressed it, while the tears coursed down his weather-beaten cheeks.

" You know who spoke them, Jack ?" she went on. " It was He who experienced more of sorrow and suffering and desertion than ever we can know ; and now He remembers it in the glory to which He has gone, and he gives us His own wards to eomfortus " " Ah, miss," sighed jack, " we sailors don't think enough of them good things ; and we ought to do it, I am sure. Could you mind upon any more of the Bible, miss — anything it says about the sea and its dangers, and — and — deliverance from them—something, you know, miss, as is meant for such a case as we are in, now. It does say something cheering about that — dosen't it, miss ?"

"It does indeed, Jack," answered Olive. " There is something just suited to our situation."

(To be continued.)