Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1886 — A ROMANCE OF THE SEA. [ARTICLE]

A ROMANCE OF THE SEA.

During a visit to some friends in Charleston, while on a leave of absence from H.»M. S. Diana, Lieulenant Howard Granville fell in love with a dark-eyed girl of eighteen named Helena Biol. She was an orphan, living at the house of her uncle, Alfonso Biol, who was an American by birth and a Spaniard by descent. For some years he had been a sailingmaster aboard an armed United States schooner, where, he informed Granville, he had often been promised promotion, but was still neglected, which ho ascribed to his descent. He instanced several persons, who had not been so long in the navy as he, and yet had obtained places above him. “If I were like some men I would be revenged,” he added, bitterly. “A man should always do his duty, whether promoted or not,” said the British officer. A fortnight later the schooner sailed on a surveying expedition off the African coast. Helena Biol accompanied her uncle. Although she and Granville were lovers, there was a singular coldness in her manner when they parted. The lieutenant often thought of it afterward, and imagined that the sailing-master had prejudiced her against him. A month later Granville’s ship was ordered to cruise for a slaver, which, it was reported, had lately been noticed off the coast of Africa. In due time, passing the Cape Verdes, the English frigate stood on her way toward the Gold Coast, in the vicinity of which the outlaw craft had last been seen. On the starboard side of the upper deck the captain was one day walking to and fro, and on the larboard side stood Lieutenant Granville, now and then glancing aloft. Suddenly, from the young lookouts at the masthead came the cry of “Sail O!” “Where away?” shouted Granville. “Bight ahead, sir! About five miles off!” The Captain seized his glass, and sprang upon the horse-block. “She looks suspicious, sir,” he said to the lieutenant, as he passed the glass to him.

Granville had an eye like a hawk’s; ho could see further than most men on the water. “Ay, ay, sir, a suspicious craft, ” he remarked, after a brief inspection. “It seems to me she has a familiar look, although I cannot recall where I have seen her before. ” “She is not very low in the water, sir,” said the captain; “but I do not like her looks for all that.” Granville said he thought she had something the appearance of an armed craft. “These, sir, are not the days of pirates,” rejoined the captain, smiling. “Why do you think she is armed?” “I may have been mistaken, sir, at so great a distance,” answered the lieutenant, “but, when I looked through the glass, I fancied I saw a port closed.” “Try her with the colors, quartermaster.” “Ay, ay, sir.” And up went the union jack even as the old tar spoke. The other vessel hoisted the same colors. “Now, signals, piiartermaster.” The signals were hoisted and responded to, until the one questioning the stranger’s name- shot up aloft. Then there seemed to be some hesitation aboard the schooner—a long delay, that caused the quartermaster to move the signal flag up and down peremptorily. All at once a white flag, with the letters “ii-o-s-T” distinctly revealed upon it, with the aid of a glass, appeared at her gaif. “Ah! by Georger cried the frigate’s Captain. “Caught now, my fine fellow! And yet,” he added, thoughtfully, “she may really have lost the signal.” Meanwhile the schooner, which now was not more than half a mile off, held on her way; but, instead of adding to her canvas, •he began to take some of it in. Nimble forms, in dark blue shirts and trousers, swarmed all over her graceful masts and yards, and sail after sail was rolled up until she showed nothing but a

close-reefed main-topsail and a topmast staysail. “One would think she expected a storm,” said the captain of the frigate. He glanced up at tlm sky, but he could see no indication of a tempest. True, the wind had fallen away a little, and there was a thin, hazy strip of cloud on the otherwise clear surface of the heavens; but in these, in his opinion, were no signs of a gale. He at once ordered a carronade forward to be fired as a signal for the schooner to heave to. The quarter-gunners sprang to their places; there was a flash, and the gun roared, sending a shot whirring past the stranger’s bow. She promptly hove to; but when he was within a quarter of a mile of her the captain noticed that the wind had died away with suspicious suddenness. The shrill piping of the boatswain’s call soon was heard. “Stand by to take in sail! D’ye hear, there? Stand by!” was the hoarse cry which followed. A moment later the man-of-war’s men covered yards and booms as they took in sail. The huge folds of canvas were rolled up with the regularity of clock-work, and in five minutes the stately vessel was redueed to her close-reefed main-topsail, foresail, and fore-topmast staysail. The captain then ordered Granville to board the Bchooner with a cutter’s crew and look into her character. Just as he got alongside of her, and a rope was caught and made fast to her bow, there was a roar and a shriek as of a thousand demons, and the schooner, for an instant thrown almost on her .beam-ends, was hurled through the now whirling waters before the full fury of a white squall. Granville sprang aboard. As he reached the deck, a tall fellow darted past him, and jerked from the pin, either purposely or accidentally, the rope that held the boat, thus leaving the latter, with all its occupants adrift. The lieutenant laid a hand upon his sword-hilt. “Rascal!” he cried. “Who ” , “My orders,” interrupted a deep voice. And, turning, the lieutenant beheld Alfonso Riol. At the same moment, beneath him, he heard yells and the clanking of chains. “This, then, is a slaver,” cried Granville, as soon as he had recovered from his surprise at seeing Riol, “and you are her captain?” “Ay, Granville. The story is told in a few words, if you have not already guessed it. I headed the crew of the naval schooner in mutiny. I killed the captain and his officers. I made alterations in the craft, changed her name, and then went into the slave trade with her. At last I have won my promotion with my own hand, for I now command this vessel. Better than all, I have had my revenge on the captain, who was a tyrant. Will you shake hands with me?” “No. Your hand is stained with a crime which a British officer can not overlook.” “And, were it in your power, you would make a prisoner of the uncle of Helena .Riol?” “I would.” “And marry his niece afterward?” “Was Helena with you when you mutined? Surely she is not aboard?” “No; for she would not have approved of the mutiny. She wanted me to take my revenge by simply obtaining my discharge from the navy. I did not even hint to her of my design, but, long before its execution, I left her at Monrovia. ” Drawing the young officer further aft, beyond hearing of the sailors, he continued, “Promise me that you will not betray the character of this vessel to your captain?” “I will give no such promise.” “Then you and I shall both go down in the same coffin.” “What do you mean?” “I can soon explain. My craft is not a swift sailor, and she could not get away from your frigate. When I sighted the ship I knew I could not escape in that manner. But I hoped that (he naval appearance of my schooner, and the exchange of one or two signals, would allay your captain’s suspicions, and that he would then keep away from me- When my vessel’s name was questioned, I feared that all hope was gone. I hoisted my signal of ’Lost,' which I had ready for such an occasion, still thinking that that might possibly satisfy your commander. When I perceived that it did not, I resolved to scuttle my craft and go down with all on board—slaves and all—sooner than fall into the hands of your naval people. I saw you coming, however, I recognized you, and I resolved that you alone should get aboard here, for I wanted to make my proposition to you. Now, all I have to say to you is this: There, by the after sail, is a good life preserver, and I still give you a chance to save yourself by changing your mind, and also to make my niece your wife. Promise me that if I do not scuttle this craft, you will, when you return to yours, inform your captain that you found my vessel and papers perfectly right and lawful. Promise that, and I will send you aboard when this brief squall passes in one of my boats. - You can then wed with my niece ancl welcome, as soon as you have the opportunity, for I know you both love each other; although I will own that I did not at one time like the thought of wedding her to a Britisher, and endeavored to prejudice her against you.” “I refuse to make the promise you ask, even for the sake of winning your niece, who is dearer to me than life! I am an Englishman, and as such I still repeat that I would do my duty by reporting the character of your craft and her captain.” “That is your determination?” “It is. My duty before all other considerations.”

The 6laver ordered Granville to be locked up in a room in the cabin. A few minutes later he heard the roaring, rushing sound of the water as it poured into the hold, and he knew that Riol had scuttled the schooner. The yells and shrieks of the poor chained slaves, dreadful to hear, were soon succeeded by their gurgling cries, as the water rolled over their heads. In that storm the vessel sank fast, Granville could hear the men on deck making vain efforts to lower a boat in time to save themselves. The prisoner was fortunate enough to find an ax. He beat down the door of his room as the schooner was making her last plunge, and flung himself toward the open companion-way. He clutched a spare spar, which, with other things, was being swept past him, and to this he clung. The squall had nearly gone to leeward; the violence of the gale had abated; and, after tossing .abfcut ror some time in the heaving seas, the young’officer, with about

half a dozen of the schooner’s men vj};.o had also clung to floating objects, was picked up by the drffting cutter, which, with difficulty, had been kept from swamping during the squall. On arriving aboard the frigate, Granville, gave a true account of what had happened. Some time afterward he had the painful task of telling the story to Helena Riol. Sad news it was to the beautiful girl; but. even while almost distracted by her uncle’s crime and fate, she owned that she esteemed her lover for having so firmly adhered to his duty. The twain were married a few months later.