in which the fate of franconia is seen

the reader may remember that in a former chapter we left annette and franconia, in company of the stranger, on board the steamer for wilmington, swiftly gliding on her course. four bells struck as the surging craft cleared the headlands and shaped her course. the slender invalid, so neat of figure, and whose dress exhibited so much good taste, has been suddenly transformed into a delicate girl of some seventeen summers. as night spreads its shadows over the briny scene, and the steaming craft surges onward over rolling swells, this delicate girl may be seen emerging from her cabin confines, leaning on franconia's arm as she approaches the promenade deck. her fawn-coloured dress, setting as neatly as it is chastefully cut, displays a rounded form nicely compact; and, together with a drawn bonnet of green silk, simply arranged, and adding to her fair oval face an air of peculiar delicacy, present her with personal attractions of no ordinary character. and then her soft blue eyes, and her almost golden hair, hanging in thick wavy folds over her carnatic cheeks, add to the symmetry of her features that sweetness which makes modesty more fascinating. and though she has been but a slave, there is a glow of gentleness pervading her countenance, over which a playful smile now sheds a glow of vivacity, as if awakening within her bosom new hopes of the future.

the suddenness with which they embarked served to confuse and dispel all traces of recognition; and even the stranger, as they advanced toward him, hesitated ere he greeted annette and extended his hand. but they soon joined in conversation, promenaded and mingled with the passengers. cautious not to enter the main cabin, they remained, supperless, on the upper deck, until near midnight. that social prejudice which acts like a crushing weight upon the slave's mind was no longer to deaden her faculties; no, she seemed like a new being, as, with childish simplicity, her soul bounded forth in rhapsody of praise and thankfulness. holding franconia by the hand, she would kiss her, fondle her head on her bosom, and continue to recount the pleasure she anticipated when meeting her long-lost mother. "they'll sell me no more, franconia, will they?" she would exclaim, looking enquiringly in her face.

"no, my poor child; you won't be worth selling in a land of freedom!" franconia would answer, jocosely. after charging maxwell to be a father and a brother to the fugitive girl,--to remember that a double duty was to be performed in his guardianship over the being who had just escaped from slavery, they retired below, and on the following morning found themselves safely landed at wilmington, where, after remaining about six hours, franconia bid annette and maxwell adieu! saw them on their way to new york, and returned to charleston by the same steamer.

on reaching her home, she was overjoyed at finding a letter from her parents, who, as set forth, had many years resided on the west coast of mexico, and had amassed a considerable fortune through a connection with some mining operations. lorenzo, on the first discovery of gold in california, having joined a marauding party who were traversing that country, was amongst the earliest who enriched themselves from its bountiful yield. they gave up their wild pursuits, and with energy and prudence stored-up their diggings, and resolved to lead a new life. with the result of one year's digging, lorenzo repaired to san francisco, entered upon a lucrative business, increased his fortune, and soon became a leading man of the place. the hope that at some day he would have means wherewith to return home, wipe away the stain which blotted his character, and relieve his parents from the troubles into which his follies had brought them, seemed like a guiding star ever before him. and then there was his generous-hearted uncle in the hands of graspum,--that man who never lost an opportunity of enriching himself while distressing others. and now, by one of those singularities of fortune which give persons long separated a key to each other's wayfaring, lorenzo had found out the residence of his parents on the west coast of mexico. yes; he was with them, enjoying the comforts of their domicile, at the date of their letter. how happy they would be to see their franconia, to have her with them, and once more enjoy their social re-unions so pleasantly given on brother marston's plantation! numberless were the letters they had written her, but not an answer to one had been received. this had been to them a source of great misgiving; and as a last resource they had sent this letter enclosed to a friend, through whose kindness it reached her.

the happy intelligence brought by this letter so overjoyed franconia that she could with difficulty restrain her feelings. tears of gladness coursed down her cheeks, as she rested her head on mrs. rosebrook's bosom, saying, "oh, how happy i am! sweet is the forgiveness which awaits us,--strong is the hope that through darkness carries us into brighter prospects of the future." her parents were yet alive-happy and prosperous; her brother, again an honourable man, and regretting that error which cost him many a tear, was with them. how inscrutable was the will of an all-wise providence: but how just! to be ever sanguine, and hope for the best, is a passion none should be ashamed of, she thought. thus elated in spirits she could not resist the temptation of seeking them out, and enjoying the comforts of their parental roof.

but we must here inform the reader that m'carstrow no longer acted the part of a husband towards franconia. his conduct as a debauchee had driven her to seek shelter under the roof of rosebrook's cottage, while he, a degraded libertine, having wasted his living among cast-out gamblers, mingled only with their despicable society. stripped of all arts and disguises, and presented in its best form, the result of franconia's marriage with colonel m'carstrow was but one of those very many unhappy connections so characteristic of southern life.

provided with funds which the generous rosebrooks kindly furnished her, a fortnight after the receipt of her father's letter found her embarked on board a steamer bound for the isthmus, from whence she would seek her parents overland. with earnest resolution she had taken a fond leave of the rosebrooks, and bid adieu to that home and its associations so dear to her childhood; and with god and happy associations her guide and her protector, was bounding over the sea. for three days the gallant ship sped swiftly onward, and the passengers, among whom she made many friends, seemed to enjoy themselves with one accord, mingling together for various amusements, spreading their social influence for the good of all, and, with elated spirits at the bright prospect, anticipating a speedy voyage. all was bright, calm, and cheering-the monster machines working smoothly, pressing the leviathan forward with curling brine at her bows, until the afternoon of the fourth day, when the wind in sharp gusts from the south-west, and the sudden falling of the barometer, admonished the mariner of the approaching heavy weather. at sunset a heavy bank in the west hung its foreboding festoons along the horizon, while light, fleecy clouds gathered over the heavens, and scudded swiftly into the east. steadily the wind increased, the sea became restless, and the sharp chops thundering at the weather bow, veering the ship from her course, rendering it necessary to keep her head a point nearer the westward, betokened a gale. to leeward were the bahamas, their dangerous banks spreading awe among the passengers, and exciting the fears of the more timid. on the starboard bow was key west, with its threatening and deceptive reefs, but far enough ahead to be out of danger. at midnight, the wind, which had increased to a gale, howled in threatening fierceness. overhead, the leaden clouds hung low their massive folds, and thick spray buried the decks and rigging; beneath, the angry ocean spread out in resistless waves of phosphorous light, and the gallant craft surged to and fro like a thing of life on a plain of rolling fire. now she yields to the monster wave threatening her bow, over another she rides proudly, and to a third her engines slowly rumble round, as with half-buried deck she careens to its force. the man at the wheel, whose head we see near a glimmering light at the stern, watches anxiously for the word of command, and when received, executes it with quickness. an intruding sea has driven the look-out from the knight-heads to a post at the funnel, where, near the foremast, he clings with tenacious grip. near him is the first officer, a veteran seaman, who has seen some twenty years' service, receiving orders from the captain, who stands at the weather quarter. noiselessly the men proceed to execute their duties. there is not that bustle nor display of seamanship, in preparing a steamer for encountering a gale, so necessary in a sailing-ship; and all, save the angry elements, move cautiously on. the engineer, in obedience to the captain's orders, has slowed his engines. the ship can make but little headway against the fierce sea; but still, obedient to her command, it is thought better to maintain power just sufficient to keep her head to the sea. the captain says it is necessary, as well to ease her working as not to strain her machinery. he is supposed the better judge, and to his counsel all give ear. now and then a more resolute passenger shoots from no one knows where, holds struggling by the jerking shroud, and, wrapt in his storm cloak, his amazed eyes, watching the scudding elements overhead, peer out upon the raging sea: then he mutters, "what an awful sight! how madly grand with briny light!" how sublimely terrific are the elements here combined to wage war against the craft he thought safe from their thunders! she is but a pigmy in their devouring sweep, a feeble prey at their mercy. the starboard wheel rumbles as it turns far out of water; the larboard is buried in a deep sea the ship careens into. through the fierce drear he sees the black funnel vomiting its fiery vapour high aloft; he hears the chain braces strain and creak in its support; he is jerked from his grasp, becomes alarmed for his safety, and suddenly disappears. in the cabin he tells his fellow voyagers how the storm rages fearfully: but it needed not his word to confirm the fact: the sudden lurching, creaking of panel-work, swinging to and fro of lamps, sliding from larboard to starboard of furniture, the thumping of the sea against the ship's sides, prostrate passengers made helpless by sea sickness, uncouched and distributed about the floor, moaning females, making those not ill sick with their wailings, timid passengers in piteous accents making their lamentations in state rooms, the half frightened waiter struggling timidly along, and the wind's mournful music as it plays through the shrouds, tell the tale but too forcibly. hope, fear, and prayer, mingle in curious discord on board this seemingly forlorn ship on an angry sea. franconia lies prostrate in her narrow berth, now bracing against the panels, then startled by an angry sea striking at her pillow, like death with his warning mallet announcing, "but sixteen inches separate us!"

daylight dawns forth, much to the relief of mariners and passengers; but neither the wind nor the sea have lessened their fierceness. slowly and steadily the engines work on; the good ship looks defiantly at each threatening sea, as it sweeps along irresistibly; the yards have been sent down, the topmasts are struck and housed; everything that can render her easy in a sea has been stowed to the snuggest compass; but the broad ocean is spread out a sheet of raging foam. the drenched captain, his whiskers matted with saline, and his face glowing and flushed (he has stood the deck all night), may be seen in the main cabin, cheering and dispelling the fears of his passengers. the storm cannot last-the wind will soon lull-the sea at meridian will be as calm as any mill-pond-he has seen a thousand worse gales; so says the mariner, who will pledge his prophecy on his twenty years' experience. but in this one instance his prophecy failed, for at noon the gale had increased to a hurricane, the ship laboured fearfully, the engines strained and worked unsteadily, while the sea at intervals made a breach of the deck. at two o'clock a more gloomy spectacle presented itself; and despondency seemed to have seized all on board, as a sharp, cone-like sea boarded the ship abaft, carried away the quarter-boats from the starboard davys, and started several stancheons. scarcely was the work of destruction complete, when the condenser of the larboard engine gave out, rendering the machine useless, and spreading dismay among the passengers. thus, dragging the wheel in so fearful a sea strained the ship more and more, and rendered her almost unmanageable. again a heavy, clanking noise was heard, the steam rumbled from the funnel, thick vapour escaped from the hatchways, the starboard engine stopped, and consternation reigned triumphant, as a man in oily fustian approached the captain and announced both engines disabled. the unmanageable monster now rolled and surged at the sweep of each succeeding sea, which threatened to engulph her in its sway. a piece of canvas is set in the main rigging, and her helm put hard down, in the hope of keeping her head to the wind. but she obeys not its direction. suddenly she yaws off into the trough of the sea, lurches broad on, and ere she regains her way, a fierce sea sweeps the house from the decks, carrying those within it into a watery grave. shrieks and moans, for a moment, mingle their painful discord with the murmuring wind, and all is buried in the roar of the elements. by bracing the fore-yard hard-a-starboard the unwieldy wreck is got before the wind; but the smoke-funnel has followed the house, and so complete is the work of demolition that it is with difficulty she can be kept afloat. those who were in the main, or lower cabin, startled at the sudden crash which had removed the house above, and leaving the passages open, exposing them to the rushing water that invaded their state-rooms, seek the deck, where a more dismal sight is presented in the fragments of wreck spread from knight-head to taffrail. the anxious captain, having descended from the upper deck a few minutes before the dire calamity, is saved to his passengers, with whom and his men he labours to make safe what remains of his noble ship. now more at ease in the sea, with canvas brought from the store-rooms, are the hatches and companions battened down, the splintered stancheons cleared away, and extra pumps prepared for clearing the water fast gaining in the lower hold. lumbering moves the heavy mass over the mounting surge; but a serious leak having sprung in the bow, consternation and alarm seem on the point of adding to the sources of danger. "coolness is our safeguard," says the captain. indeed, the exercise of that all-important virtue when destruction threatens would have saved thousands from watery graves.

his admonition was heeded,--all worked cheerfully, and for some time the water was kept within bounds of subjection. as night approached the sea became calmer, a bright streak gleamed along the western horizon; hearts that had sorrowed gladdened with joy, as the murky clouds overhead chased quickly into the east and dissolved, and the blue arch of heaven-hung with pearly stars of hope-shed its peaceful glows over the murmuring sea.

again the night was passed in incessant labour of pumping and clearing up the dismantled hull; but when daylight appeared, the wind having veered and increased, the sea ran in short swells, rocking the unwieldly hull, and fearfully straining every timber in its frame. the leak now increased rapidly, as also did the water in the hold, now beyond their exertions to clear. at ten o'clock all hopes of keeping the wreck afloat had disappeared; and the last alternative of a watery grave, or launching upon the broad ocean, presented its stern terms for their acceptance. a council decided to adopt the latter, when, as the hulk began to settle in the sea, and with no little danger of swamping, boats were launched, supplied with such stores as were at hand, the passengers and crew embarked, and the frail barks sent away with their hapless freight to seek a haven of safety. the leviathan hulk soon disappeared from sight. franconia, with twenty-five fellow unfortunates, five of whom were females, had embarked in the mate's boat, which now shaped her course for nassau, the wind having veered into the north-west, and that seeming the nearest and most available point. the clothing they stood in was all they saved; but with that readiness to protect the female, so characteristic and noble of the sailor, the mate and his men lightened the sufferings of the women by giving them a portion of their own: incasing them with their jackets and fearnoughts, they would shield them from the night chill. for five days were sufferings endured without a murmur that can only be appreciated by those who have passed through shipwreck, or, tossed upon the ocean in an open boat, been left to stare in the face grim hunger and death. at noonday they sighted land ahead; and as each eager eye strained for the welcome sight, it seemed rising from the ocean in a dim line of haze. slowly, as they neared, did it come bolder and bolder to view, until it shone out a long belt of white panoramic banks. low, and to the unpractised eye deceptive of distance, the mate pronounced it not many miles off, and, the wind freshening fair, kept the little bark steadily on her course, hoping thereby to gain it before night came on: but the sun sank in a heavy cloud when yet some four miles intervened. distinctly they saw a cluster of houses on a projecting point nearly ahead; but not a sail was off shore, to which the increasing wind was driving them with great violence.

and now that object which had been sighted with so much welcome in the morning-that had cheered many a drooping heart, and seemed a haven of safety, threatened their destruction. the water shoaled; the sea broke and surged in sharp cones; the little craft tippled and yawed confusedly; the counter eddies twirled and whirled in foaming concaves; and leaden clouds again hung their threatening festoons over the awful sea. to lay her head to the sea was impracticable-an attempt to "lay-to" under the little sail would be madness; onward she rode, hurrying to an inevitable fate. away she swept through the white crests, as the wind murmured and the sea roared, and the anxious countenance of the mate, still guiding the craft with a steady hand, seemed masked in watchfulness. his hand remained firm to the helm, his eyes peered into the black prospect ahead: but not a word did he utter.

it was near ten o'clock, when a noise as of thunder rolling in the distance, and re-echoing in booming accents, broke fearfully upon their ears. the sea, every moment threatening to engulph the little craft, to sweep its freight of human beings into eternity, and to seal for ever all traces of their fate, was now the lesser enemy. not a word had escaped the lips of a being on board for several minutes; all seemed resigned to whatever fate providence awarded.

"the beach roars, mr. slade-"

the mate interrupted before the seaman in the sheets had time to finish his sentence: "i have not been deaf to the breakers; but there is no hope for us but upon the beach; and may heaven save us there! passengers, be calm! let me enjoin you to remain firm to your places, and, if it be god's will that we strike, the curling surf may be our deliverer. if it carry you to the sand in its sweep, press quickly and resolutely forward, lest it drag you back in its grasp, and bury you beneath its angry surge. be firm, and hope for the best!" he said, with great firmness. the man who first spoke sat near franconia, and during the five days they had been in the boat exhibited great sympathy and kindness of heart. he had served her with food, and, though a common sailor, displayed those traits of tenderness for the suffering which it were well if those in higher spheres of life did but imitate. as the mate ceased speaking, the man took his pilot coat from his shoulder and placed it about franconia's, saying, "i will save this lady, or die with her in the very same sea."

"that's well done, mr. higgins!" (for such was the man's name). "let the hardiest not forget the females who have shown so much fortitude under trying circumstances; let the strong not forget the weak, but all save who can," returned the mate, as he scanned through the stormy elements ahead, in the hope of catching a glimpse of the point.

drenched with the briny spray that swept over the little bark, never did woman exhibit fortitude more resolute. franconia thanked the man for his solicitude, laid her hand nervously upon his arm, and, through the dark, watched his countenance as if her fate was in its changes.

the din and murmur of the surf now rose high above the wail of the sea. fearful and gloomy, a fretted shore stood out before them, extending from a bold jut on the starboard hand away into the darkness on the left. beneath it the angry surf beat and lashed against the beach in a sheet of white foam, roaring in dismal cadences.

"hadn't you better put her broad on, mr. slade?" enquired the young seaman, peering along the line of surf that bordered the shore with its deluging bank.

"ask no questions!" returned the mate, in a firm voice: "act to the moment, when she strikes-i will act until then." at the moment a terrific rumbling broke forth; the din of elements seemed in battle conflict; the little bark, as if by some unforeseen force, swept through the lashing surge, over a high curling wave, and with a fearful crash lay buried in the boiling sand. agonising shrieks sounded amid the rage of elements; and then fainter and fainter they died away on the wind's murmurs. another moment, and the young sailor might have been seen, franconia's slender form in his arms, struggling against the devouring surf; but how vain against the fierce monster were his noble efforts! the receding surge swept them far from the shore, and buried them in its folds,--a watery grave received the fair form of one whose life of love had been spotless, just, and holy. the white wave was her winding-sheet,--the wind sang a requiem over her watery grave,--and a just god received her spirit, and enthroned it high among the angels.

of the twenty-seven who embarked in the little craft, but two gained the beach, where they stood drenched and forlorn, as if contemplating the raging surf that had but a minute before swallowed up their fellow voyagers. the boat had driven on a flat sandy beach some two miles from the point on which stood the cluster of dwellings before described; and from which two bright lights glimmered, like beacons to guide the forlorn mariner. for them, the escaped men-one a passenger, the other a seaman-shaped their course, wet, and sad at heart.