"So, you would like to hear how I, a poor sailor, chanced to marry a pretty wife, possessed of thousands, and, without exception, mistress of the finest estate in Santos?

      "Well, come out on the piazza. We have a fine view of the bay there, and I love to listen to the roar of the surf. It reminds me of old times, you know. Light a fresh cigar. You have nothing like them in the States, I can assure you of that; and now for my yarn.

      "Twenty years ago, I was chief mate on board of a Down East brig engaged in the South American trade. The captain was good enough at heart, but he did love a gold dollar so much, that the passion of avarice at times warped the better and prevailing instincts of his heart.

      "I was young, careless and free, without a soul living I could claim as kin, and as happy in my lone state as you can well imagine. I had but little responsibility on my shoulders, the skipper taking entire control, even to details.

      We were to the southward of the line, outward bound, and upon the eventful night in question, which was truly an era in my life, I had the first watch. The wind was light, and the ocean as calm as though asleep.

      "We had all our light kites set to woo the gentle breeze, running through the water not over three knots an hour. Absorbed in my own thoughts and reflections, I was leaning idly over the taffrail watching the bubbles and phosphorescent light playing about the restless rudder, when a touch on my arm from the man at the wheel brought me to myself.

"WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT, SIR?" HE INQUIRED.

      "'What do you call that, sir?' he inquired, pointing over the quarter.

      "I gazed in the direction pointed out by the man, and, to my intense surprise, saw a bright light, not unlike a ball of fire, which threw a lurid tremulous light across the dark waters.

      "It can't be the moon, sir?" said the seaman with an inquiring look.

      "'The moon rising in a quarter bearing south-south west? No, that is some craft on fire, as sure as my name is John Watkins, and I'll rouse out the captain at once.'

      "In another instant I was rapping in no gentle manner at the Skipper's stateroom, who turned out in a hurry.

      "'What — what is the matter?" he stammered, rubbing his eyes — "is there a squall coming?'

      "'No, sir; it's as pretty a night as I ever saw. But, Captain Thompson, there is a vessel on fire to leeward of us, and I will, if you say so, run down to her assistance.'

      "'I'll be on deck in a moment. Don't be in a hurry — don't like to run the vessel off her course — prolongs her voyage,' and leaving the sleepy skipper grumbling to himself, I regained the deck.

      "In a few moments the old fellow was by my side.

      "'It will cost money to take all hands off yon craft and feed them till we make a port.'

      "'True, sir; but is human life to be reckoned or valued by money? In all probability there are poor fellows there in danger of their lives, who, if we leave them to their fate, would place us on a footing with pirates,' and turning abruptly, I walked aft, having expressed my indignation in a voice tremulous with anger.

      "'Bless my soul, Mr. Watkins, I would not leave any one to perish. I was only calculating the chances in a commercial point of view. You can hoist the long boat out if you like, and take four of the boys for a crew to pull you to her. She will burn down to the water's edge if you wait for us to get there. It is growing calm all the time, and to tell the truth, Mr. Watkins, I would advise you to bear a hand and get back as soon as possible, for I don't like the looks of the weather. The air is hot and oppressive like.'

      "In ten minutes I had the long boat over the side, and a stout, weatherly craft she was, too. A bag of biscuits, with a beaker of water, was stowed away in the stern sheets, and bidding the lads to give way with a will, we shoved off from the sides of the old brig. I saw the tall, bent form of Captain Thompson peering down upon me for a moment, but the next instant the boat rose on the bottom of a swell, and that was the last I ever saw of my old skipper.

      "The brig quickly faded from sight, hid by a thin mist, of haze, which had suddenly arisen, and, in fact, I was conscious of a strange change in the appearance of the weather. The stars had entirely disappeared from the firmament, hid behind the gauzy veil which had so mysteriously arisen, and low down on the horizon I noted a dark bank of clouds. The heat was intense, the stout seamen wiping the perspiration from the streaming brows as they toiled at the oars. Not a breath of air disturbed the glassy waters. All nature appeared to be hushed into a terrible calm.

      "I must confess I felt rather apprehensive as I glanced about the horizon and looked back in the direction where I knew the old brig must be, rolling and pitching idly on the long swell, which every moment was increasing. But my fears and apprehensions were soon chased from my head by matters of more exciting interest.

      "As we neared the burning craft I read the name La Hembrilla, in letters of gold on the huge stern. The light cast by the burning spars and rigging aloft afforded ample power for me to form my conclusions.

      The ship was a Spaniard; the empty davits and dangling falls told their own story plain enough to a seaman's eye.

      "The burning wreck had been deserted.

      "Shooting under the broad, heavy counter, we caught at the iron works of the mizzen channels, and directing two men to remain in the boat, I clambered on deck, followed by the other two seamen.

      The ship had evidently been on fire some time, the flames having full control of the forward portion of the ship. The foremast had gone by the board, the top-gallant forecastle was a sea of fire; the mainmast was already tottering, and I knew there was no time to lose. The smoke was dense and stifling, but as yet did not effect the extreme after portion of the vessel. The decks were strewn with remnants of provisions, half-open cases, and articles of clothing, but no trace of a human being could be seen.

      "Diving down into the main cabin, which was half filled with black, twisting smoke, I took a hasty glance about. The rich hangings, appointments, and ornamentation surprised me, showing that the unfortunate ship had been designed to carry passengers. The sharp, shooting gleams of writhing flames from aloft penetrated through the broad skylight, tinging every object with a ruddy glare.

      From state-room to state-room I hurried, but found them all empty until I came to the after one. There I experienced some difficulty in opening the door, the smoke every moment becoming more tense and respiration more difficult. Exerting my strength, the woodwork gave way, revealing a confused mass of white drapery lying on the state-room floor. The very sight made my heart beat quick with apprehension, and stooping, I soon ascertained that it was a woman.

THROUGH THE COMPANIONWAY I STAGGERED.

      "Placing my hand over her heart, I felt it throb, and without further delay I rushed on deck with her in my arms. Through the companion-way I staggered, with a strange dizziness in my head, gasping for breath, but still retaining my grasp on her I had saved. The fresh air revived me: the pain left my head, so that I was enabled to pay proper attention to the woman who lay helpless in my arms.

      "Then, for the first time, I looked at the face of my burden, and by the bright light of the wreck I discovered she was both young and handsome. At that moment the mainmast went crashing over the side, sinking with a hiss in the black water. A shower of cinders and sparks, a column of roaring flames shot on high, followed by the excited shouts of the men, who had leaped, panic-stricken, into the boat urging me to follow.

      "Clasping the lady with my left arm, I used my right in gliding down the ship's side. The men's oars were poised. I gave the word, and the next instant we were clear of the vessel, which was now wrapped in flames from stem to stern.

      "Dashing some water into the lady's face, I began to chafe her hands. The treatment though rough had the desired effect. She opened her eyes, closed them again as if the awakening was painful, but in a few moments was fully herself. In a few words I told her how she had been saved, and assured her that in a short time she would be in safety on board the brig.

      "In return she told me that her father was the Senor Jose Gonzales, of Santos, the wealthiest planter in the country. She had been on a visit to Spain, where her father had large numbers of relations, and had taken passage for home in the Spanish ship.

      "The ill-fated vessel, by some means to her unknown, had caught fire during the night. A panic ensued, and, overcome by terror, she fainted away. Probably in the excitement and alarm which followed, her absence was over-looked, and when the boats shoved off from the ship, the Senorita Marie Gonzales was left unconscious in her state-room to perish.

      "Glancing around the horizon, I could see no sign of the brig. Not the flash of a light betrayed the position of the vessel. But I had a compass with me, and noted the course I had steered while pulling for the burning wreck. It was not the fact of the brig being invisible that caused me uneasiness, but the startling knowledge that a great convulsion of the elements was about to burst upon us.

      "The dark bank I had at first noticed low down on the horizon had risen rapidly until the entire heavens were obscured, the atmosphere had grown dense, and the darkness was simply intense, relieved only by the now dismantled hulk which occasionally threw out a gleam of light.

      "A strange, indefinable rushing sound pervaded the air, a slight ripple ruffled the stagnant waters, a cold breath of air fanned my cheek, while under the black, frowning clouds I saw a white line rapidly rushing upon us.

THE HURRICANE BURST UPON US IN ALL ITS FURY.

      Louder and louder grew the sounds; the men gazed at one another aghast. With a wave of my hand I motioned the seamen to pull the boat round so as to bear before it, and the next instant the hurricane burst upon us in all its fury.

      "The shriek of the tempest drowned my voice. The oars were dashed from the sailors' hands, while they in terror threw themselves down in the bottom of the boat.

      "In an agony of terror Maria clung to me, while I, with all my strength and skill, managed to keep the boat dead before the gale.

      "On rushed the frail structure through the murky darkness, enveloped in a whirl of foam, which half blinded me as the salt spray filled my eyes. The water was torn up by barrels full, and hurled with cutting force and violence through the air.

      "Drenched to the skin, with the delicate girl crouching by my side, wrapped up in all the spare coats I could muster, I kept watch during the long hours of that eventful night.

      "How we ever escaped destruction a merciful Providence alone can tell, but with daylight the fierce gale showed signs of abating, and by noon we were sailing upon a Summer sea. A rough, temporary sail had been rigged and the boat's head directed toward the land; for, of course, we had given up all hope of seeing the brig, for awhile at least. If we would be saved we had got to rely upon our own resources. Carefully I dealt out a slim allowance of bread and water from the scanty supplies which were in the stern sheets, cautioning the men to make the precious fluid go as far as possible.

      "I could enlarge upon the sufferings we endured, tell you about the calm days which succeeded, how the scorching rays of the sun beat down upon our heads and how the men with noble generosity surrendered their few drops of water to the pale, suffering woman, who never murmured once, though her brain was all but on fire, and her tongue parched and swollen in her mouth.

      "You can imagine my feelings when the last crumb of bread was exhausted, and the beaker had been drained dry. Death in its most terrible form, with the attending horrors of hunger and thirst, stared us in the face, and I groaned in anguish as I gazed upon the now inanimate form of the poor girl. She was dying — perhaps dead already — and I stretched myself by her side to meet the fate I was powerless to avert.

      "Well, we were picked up shortly after by a Brazilian fishing-boat, placed aboard a man-of-war cruising on the coast, and the surgeon soon had us under his care. Strange to say none of us succumbed to the privations we had undergone, but recovered to congratulate one another upon our escape. The Senor Jose Gonzales fairly hugged me in his delight at the escape of his daughter, and insisted upon my making his residence my home. The men were rewarded by him beyond their most sanguine hopes, and I — well, I rewarded myself by marrying the fair heiress, and when her father died a few years ago I assumed full control of the estates. As for the old brig, and Captain Thompson, she was never seen or heard from after the terrible storm which swept the coast of South America, strewing its shores with the wreck of many a noble craft."