Lost And Saved ; Or, Nellie Powers, The Missionary's Daughter.

At this juncture , ancl Avhen the fire Avas every moment leaping higher ancl higher , ancl coming nearer ancl nearer to the men , until it seemed as though they were breathing fire , smoke , and cinders , an accident happened which not only placed the lives of the men in greater peril , but deprived them of their greatest chance of escape . Tom , who Avas lowering a cask of AA'ater into the boat , in his haste alloAved it to strike against the side of the vessel , when one of the chime hooks became-unfastened , and the cask dropped with considerable force into the boat . Water immediately began to gather in

the stern , and in a few seconds the boat sank out of sight . The raft was UOAV the only refuge , and the men Avho had contemplated going in the boat now hastened forward towards the raft , Avhich they found all ready and preparing to leaA'e the vessel . Aboard the raft AA'ere four or five of the crew , besides Crony , Nellie , and the third mate . When the raft Avas all ready to leave the vessel , Crony had run aft into the cabin , and , seizing the half-unconscious form of Nellie Powers , had returned Avith her aboard tlie raft .

" Hold on there ! what are j r ou doing ? shouted the captain , as he perceived that , although the third officer AA'as aAvare of the sinking of the boat , he was going off , leaving those thus left helpless to perish . " Hold on there , and take . these men aboard . " EadshaAV paid no attention to this order from the captain , It was now evident that he designed to leave the balance of the crew to their fate , for he shouted to Crony to " cast off . " He had already cast off three of the four finesand was about to cast

, off the last , Avhen the captain , realizing the baseness of the third mate ' s intention , pulled his revolver from his pocket and cried , — " The first man who touches that rope dies . " Tom sprang to the rope , ancl Avith Jacko ( AVIIO had begun to think that matters Avere getting slightly AA'arm ) on his shoulder , slid CIOAVU , followed one by one by the balance of the crew upon the raft .

The fire AA'as UOAV creeping doAvn the rigging near where the raft Avas made secure , and Peter Avas about to cast off , Avhen Tom , who at that moment observed the captain coming from the cabin towards them with his hands full of valuable papers , a compass , barometer , ancl the parrot ( Avhich had noticed everybody leaving and thought it was its turn ) perched on his head , shouted to him to hold on , Tlie heat AA'as now intense , and as soon as the captain reached the raft it Avas cast off , and by great exertion was propelled out of the range of the sparks or failing timbers ancl the heat of the fire .

Soon after the raft had been trusted to the tender mercies of the sea , the Avind began to moderate ; ancl the moon , Avhich had before been shining brightly , went behind a mass of clouds , Avhich made the light from the burning vessel more brilliantly illuminate the weird surroundings . The men , wearied by the efforts they had made to get free from the vessel , now laid on their oars and watched the burning of their hopes . The " Sparklin g Sea " was clothed in flames . The fire Avas creeping up the shrouds and along the stays like so many little fire demonswhichas they grew largerin their

, , , maniacal revels leaped from mast to mast , and after lapping the sails and ropes with their fiery tongues , devoured them . Little streams of fire bursting out through the decks and the sides of the A'essel , the hissing of the burning timbers as they fell into the water , the sky streaked with red , AA'hich reflected on the water and made it appear like a sea of blood , all formed a scene sublime ancl aAvful . When the little company of souls , all alone on the face of the broad Pacific , on a small frad structure , AA'ith only

provisions enough to last for a feAV clays at the most , and no protection from the inclemency of the AA'eather , beheld the " Sparkling Sea " in her dying throes , the sparks from their late home flying heavenward , their hearts Avere wrung Avith anguish . " Good-bye to you , my oihl friend , " said Tom . " If s many a good turn you haA'e done me , and me heart is sore UOAV that I can do you none . 0 the many jokes we haA'e cracked aboard of you ancl the yarns we have spim ! Yes , ' Sparkler , ' if thim yarns were strung out they'd reach more than twice the distance you iver sailed . Ancl the