Family column.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1835, 26 February 1863, Page 4

Family column.

THE FORREST-RACE HOMAGE. [fbom blackwood's magazine] I looked at the ship— the fore-hatchway had torn up with a tremendous burst, and the massy planks and bars of wrought iron were scattered on either side ; but the black tarpaulin rose like a canopy over the body of flame that followed, and was dissipated intosmoke and ashes without ever coming down. And now the breeze tossing that blaze about through the rigging in rolling and heavy volume, like a great tongue, it roared at every wallowing flap, and licked up square-sails, stay-sails, and studding-sails, as though they bad been so much tinder, while the port-chatnbers successively exploding, thundered and flashed dowo either broadside, then vomited out their voluminous, flaring streamers of fire, that curled and climbed up into the conflagration till consumed amid the general flame. All the water out of the ship's shadow blazed to the blazing pile ;but wherever her hull momentarily intercepted its light, the sea seemed to heave more heavily, and with a lurid glow like blood. The boat's ciew had now pushed off from (be quarter; I saw all on board save the two miserable beings I had left in the flames of the cabin : but the men bad scarce pulled the boat's length from the vessel's side, •when a figure leaped up on the quarter roil from deck — he'looked as if he had risen out of hell; for his head was singed bald, and his fact; and bands were all livid, swollen, and Moody, from the scorching. It was the elder Forrest. He was tossing his arms and howling. The men pulled back, the boat shot into the shadow of the ship, and in the sudden diflerenceof light I lost them for an instant ; but the gteat flame of the forecastle took a sweep to windward, and showed them again, close under the quarter All their faces glowed like copper, as they turned them up to the crimsoned figure wavering above, for Forrest had now seized a rope, that dangled still unconsumed from the mizen-yard arm, and was swinging to and fro, aslhescorcbing flame behind him swayed for ward or collapsed ; but their faces fell, and a cry of horror burst from them all as it gave way, and the wretch after balancing a moment on his narrow footing, fell back intotheflre; — there was a pnffof smoke and ashes, a long heaving roll of the flume, a shriek that rung shrilly over everything, and the seamen, silent and horrified, pushed off again and made for the shore. And now the whole rigging was in a light flame, and the dance of sparks to leeward, where it eddied round the chimneys and gables ef the old bouse, looked like a great spangled mantle shaken out to the sky. Beneath, smoke was curling: in white eddies from every door nnd window, and: the fate of the doomed dwelling seemed fixed, to bum first, while anything remained in it that would burn, and i.en to be swept from its foundations by the tinal explosion, out of reach, of which I had all this time been painfully making my way, sometimes clambering over the rocks high and dry, and sometimes swimming-. I gained the dry land at last, about three bundled yards astern of the vessel, and rounding the shoulder tf a hill, lay down among the grass in the sudden pitchy darkness behind it, till my eyes had recovered from the eflects of the excessive light, an<s I was able to see my way into the country. I was between two steep bills ; that behind me was lurid in the dim reflection of the sky, but a ruddier haze than ever the sunset had thrown over it,' glowed across the track of sir above, and bore a crown of fire to the top of the higher hill opposite, on which every stock and stone showed like iron at a forging _hfla.t: Thtojupfh this red region I had to pass to reach the inland. Pursuing a horse track that led over it, I gained the limits of darkness again, without once turning to look at the scene behind— l had beheld enough. Suddenly I beard the sound of hoofs in tbe^valley beyond, and turning, beheld a riderless horse tos3 up his mane like a fiery crest over theillmninated mountain, then plunge into the darkness between. I laid hold ol the reins as he rushed past me, deteimined to use the opportunity of escape; and having checked him with some difficulty, threw, myself into the saddle and gave him head. Be bore me dowo the open hill like the wind; but when I got among the precipices below, through which the road was innicately cairied, I was reluctantly obliged to draw up a little for fear of accidents. 1 was unwilling to do this, as well from the desire of making my escape to as great a distance as possible from the explosion as from the conviction, growing every moment stronger, that I heard some one on horseback in pursuit. Now, I had no doubt that the animal I rode bad thrown another lider immediately before being caught by ire; and 1 thought it most probable, tlmt whoever was now pursuing, had been in company with him when his horse bad first run off. Be that as it might, I bad bad enough of Furrest-Bace and its in habitants, to make me determined, if I must be overtaken, to conceal myself by the road*side, and let my pursuer look after the runaway at his leisure. However, I tried to make the most of my chances in the mean time, and pushed on as rapidly as prudence would allow; but in tenmiuutes more, I found I had no pros- ! pect of escape; I heard the clatter ot the horse, j and .once or twice ibe cries of the rider behind, and was just prepating to dismount, and looking ! back to try what I could see, when there shot up a column of Are, a hundred feet and more over the top of thp highest mountain, arid hill and valley, road, rock, and river leaped out into astonishing splendour before me Every object, for three or four seconds, was apparent .in steady and intense light I saw the perilous road down which I had come, and wondered how my: bOTße^lroriHfcpt-hta-ft»ot«fr-eiH-- ) but_my wonder wai considerably greater when, about half a furlong behind, I saw my pursuer, as plainly as ever I saw my mother, to be a woman— dressed, at least in a female habit, and light as Diapa, while, she sat her rearing and plunging hunter through the wild tumult of his terror, j But, before I could take a second look down, stooped the night in ten-fold power of darkness, while there burst through the shaken sky such a concussion, as with its tremendous and stunning violence beat the poor animal I bestrode, and myself along with him, flat down upon the ground, among the rebounding echoes and black darkness. I es> caped from the tall unhurt, and the horse stood stili and trembling, till I remounted, for I now was no longer desirous' of escaping 1 my .pursuer. I was hardly in the saddle again, when I heard a sweet voice at tny side — " Now heaven have mercy on us,— this is a fearful night I—How1 — How could you leave me in this way, George p — Ah ! you could not help it, poor fellow-- but I did not see you thrown after the grey ran off?- Why do you not answer, George—are you hurl? " ".In the name of God, Ellen F-ine, what do you do here P" I exclaimed in a voice thvl 1 could hardly tbink my own. She screamed aloud, for it was indeed she, and checked her horse till be almost went on his haunches; 1 seized him by the bridle to keep him from backing over the precipice. " Keep off— keep ofl," she cried. "Oh, have mercy on me if you are a man or a Christian for I am a helpless girlj and in danger of ray life! -Oh, only help me to get to Truro, arid' I will pray for you— indeed I will as lougas this miserable existence lasts!"

I was agitated by contending emotions—innumerable—indescribable; but I made a strug?^^c#P««?.Wß^ftndiinplpied.Jier not 10

Ibe alarmed. •' And, oh 4 EHenyEllen 1" I cried, !" do "you not yet kiiow me ? " "Henry! — Mr Jervas !" she exclaimed, and would have fallen to toe ground bad I not drawn our horses together, and supported her sinking frame upon my breast. There was not a sound in thy air, that had so lately beeu tofu with drradful noises, except the low sobs of my, companion, whose tears were flowing unrestrained upon my bosom, and the dreamy plashing of the river beside us, as it hastened to drown its murmurs in the moan of the sea, that came heavily at intervals on the wind like a lamentation. The wiod that was now abroad was barely strong enough to lift a curl or two of the long and lovely tresses that lay clustering on my bteast. All the light in the sky was insufficient to show more than the dim outline of the hills rising black around us against the paler gloom of the heavens. Everything was steeped in profound tranquility, but up the uproar that this quiet had succeeded was less confounding a thousand times, than the tumultuous feelings which agitated my heart in the midst of that solemn and oppressive calm.

" Tell me, Ellen, is it possible that you can have been under the sane roof with this villaiu Forrest?"

" Alas, poor wretch I" she exclaimed, "be was burned to death—be and his cousin Hiram."

"Murderous ruffiun»!- rotfbers, dogs, and pirates 1 what better fate did they merit? I exclaimed, forgetting that she. was ignorant of their piracy. ."';' " Nay, indeed, Mr Jervas, they were only doing tbeir duty. You know that they would have been obliged to fight with the crew, had not the ship been deserted. Oh, although Mr Forrest was a harsh and selfish man, and although I came here so much against my own wishes yet, believe me, you wrong him with those horrid names ; but tell m«, I beseech you, how did you, come heie ? Surely you cannot bare come all the way from Bromley Hall ? — Pray tell me*"

"Could I show you my dripping clothes, my bleeding hands, my scorched and smarting face," cried 1, "you might then guess where I come from — from the midst of breakersand fire, out of the bands of pirates and assassins, who would fain bave stained with my blood that fatal ship that they once before polluted with the massacre of her crew, but which God in his justice has guided over the seas to be a destruction for them and theirs. I came in the French fire-ship 1"

THs was indignantly, bitterly, and thoughtlessly spoken ; and I was well rebuked by her placid reply. " Let us pray to be protected in our distress, for, alas ! I fear you are distracted, and I scarcely know, myself, whether I am awake or not."

" I would give all I value in the world, except your good wishes, Ellen, that this were a dream ; but it is too true — listen now (and I solemnly assure you there is no deception in what I say), and I will tell y«m all;" and so 1 related to her everything that had occurred from the time of our dancing the last rigadoon together in Bromley Hall up to our present meeting among the Forrest- Race Hills. " And wow, Ellen, that these wretches themselves have been tossed out like burned cinders from the fire, and that tbeir house had been blown stone to stone to the foundation, can you doubt that the hand of Providence has been put forth in tbeir punishment, as plainly as in our reunion after so sudden a separation, and one which threatened to la&t for years, if not for life ? and can you for a moment doubt that I have been brought thus fearfully and strangely to be a protector to you now, and a cherisber and protector to you till death part us?"

" Oh, do not talk of happiness to me ; I feel that I am doomed to be miserable and the cause of misery ; the avenging hand lies heavy on us all. But let us hasten to Tiuro, and hurty up to Bromley, ami get my dear guardian's advice, before—— " she burtt into renewed tears, and then exclaimed, "Alas, alas, ill-fated Mary Forrest J you had little thought, when you went to sleep to-night, that yon should be awakened by the light of your husband's death-fire!" 41 The miserable woman J" I cried, " what has become of her?"

" She will soon be with her brothers, I trust in safety ; they took her and her baby in the boat to Falmoutb, but I was sent off with George the gardener, on horseback, as you see, for Truro. Poor George has suffered with the rest; his horse was frightened by the fire nrftl threw him on the hill ; let us go back and see if be is hurt."

I wjth difficulty dissuaded her from delaying us by such a fruitless search, and represented my <mn miserable condition. "Oh that the sky would clear," she cried, ' and show us how to go I there is a cottage somewhere near ns where you can get dried. You will perish if you remain in wet clothes any longer— but can it be that you are all this time riding bare-headed f" and she drew up her horse, and pulling a handkerchief from her neck, tied it, yet warm from her bosom, round my cold temples and dank hair. Every touch of her fingers streHmed a flood of warmth to my heart; my very brain derived ri«w vigour from the comfortable cincture ; and having kissed her gentle hands again and again, I recommenced to explore the road with indefatigable perseverence. At length, after a tedious ride over a bleak* and almost impracticable track, we saw the low roof of.lhe cottage rise between us and the sky. A feeble light sttuggled for a moment over the com m>n as we approached, and then disappeared. Having with some searching found a stake to which to tie the horses, we advanced to the door; it opened, and we entered the cabin's only apartment. In one corner, on a low truckle, lay an old man bedridden and doting. In the middle of the floor, a child of about eight years was lighting a candle at the emhers of a wood fire; she screamed as we stood before' her, and flew to the bedsivle of the cripple, who mumbled and moaned at the disturbance, but did not seem to comprehend its cause, The little girl's large dark eyes bespoke terror and amazement till my companion addressed her, •• My pretty Sally, do you not remember the lady who gave the gown to your mother, and the money ?" The little thing then let go its hold of the old man's quilt, and shading the candle from the open window, dropped«a timid curtsy and said, "They are ail gone down to see the burning at the Race, and they told me to keep the caudle -in the window till they would come back j but the draught blows it out, madam."

" Levd me the candle, my dear, and we will kindle a nice fire which the di aught will only make burn the brighter, and that will ilo far better," said my companion, and began — beau* tiful being 1— to pile up tbe wood and clean the hearthstone, with as prompt and house wife-like an alertness as though she had herself been & daughter of tbe carefullest cottager. The blaze soon crackled np through tbe grey smoke, and while I stretched myself along the earthen floor, and basked in the pleasant glow, she busied herself in the corner with the little girl— how, I could uot imagine, till I had heard a rustling of straw and the Meat of a goat. I looked round and beheld her kneeling on the ground, and milking the poor ragged animal, with hands that took from their pious aud charitable employment a loveliness far purer than ever, the floweis of the green lane »t Biwiniey b«d shed, over them. Sbe boietbe milk warm ia a wooden btiwl to my lips as 1 lay; and (he clild. brought me bread. late and drank, and blessed them, and tears gushed from my eyes. . • ■.'■''• ! ' (To le continued.)