Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-28


ing friends, the stranger was lost sight OF. Se-
veral of the passengers had secretly determined.
to keep an eye upon him; an idea having got
abroad that he was member OF parliament, or
some said the Duke of SAKE Weimar which the
engineer averred with an oath to DE the case,
adding that it was deviish hard if could not
tell Frenchman.' 1t so happened, however,
that every man on board had an object OF great
er interest 10 lopk after in the crowd, VIZ: NM
self,--and which course the stranger took on
landing, no one could say.
Itwas not long before the captain discovered
that the stranger had not gone on shore, Tor he
perceived him occupying retired seaton the
transom aft in the cabin; observed that his
cloak bag was reinstated in his birth; and that
he appeared to intend returning TO New York
the next trip His countenance had recovered
T its prevailing expression, and just opened his
Inns 10 say he believed he should take the boat
back Various speculations, no doubt, were
made by the captain, the steward, the engineer,
and the fireman, on circumstance, upon the
whole, so singular: but recolecung his clouded
aspect, as he approached Albany, they came to
the conclusion, that he had forgotten something
ton Of it did return to him, till near the arrival
consequence, to so down the river again. You
see that gentleman, again, says the engineer to
the fireman. l do replied Mr.. Manyscald
suppose he has forgotten something in New
York., pursued the engineer; and thus closed a
dialogue, which the ingenious author The Spy
and the Pilot, would have spun out into three
pages.
The strangers demeanor, on the return was
81 r. hat xUtI rh no hoI
worn on the ascent; calm, satisfied, retired; per-
fectly at ease; mind and senses, formed to en-
Joy, reposing in the full possession of their OBJ
jects. To describe his manner more minutely,
would be merely to repeat what we have alrea-
dy said, in the former part of this account
But the hypothesis, by which the engineer and
the fireman had accounted for his return, and
for his melancholy looks, at Albany, was over
thrown, by the extraordinary fact, that as they
drew near to Newly ork, his countenance was
overshadowed by the same clouds, which had
before darkened it. He was even more perplex-
ed in spirit, than he had before seemed; and he
ordered the servant to look TO the baggage,
with pettishness, that contrasted strangely
with his calm department. The engineer, who
had noticed this, was determined to watch him
closey and the fireman swore he would follow
him up 10 the head of Courtland- street But
Just as the steamboat was rounding into the
slip, sloop was descending the river, with
wind and tide; some danger Of collision arose;
it was necessary that the engineer should throw
his wheels back, with all possible expedition.
This event threw the fire-room into little con-.
fusion, succeeded by some remarks of admira-
ton, at the precision with which the engine
worked, and the boast Of the fireman, 'How
sweetly she went over her centres This bus
tie below was followed by that of arriving; the
usual throng of friends, porters, passengers,
draymen, hackmen, and barrowmen, breasting
each other on the deck, on the plank which led
from the boat on the slip, and in the street,
completed the momentary confusion; and when
the engineer and fireman had readiusted their
apartment, they burst out at once on each other,
with the question and reply "Did you see which
way fhat gentleman went? D it, no. -
The captain and the steward were in much the
same predicament. 4 meant to have an eye
after that gentleman, said the captain, 'but he
has given me the Slip
1t was accordingly with good deal Of sur
prise, that, on descending the cabin, he again
saw the stranger, in his old place; again pre-
pared to all appearance to go back to Albany,
and again heard from him the short remark, q
believe, | shall take the boat back But the
captain was wel-bred, and the stranger was
good customer so that DO look escaped the
former expressive of the sentiments, which this
singular conduct excited in him. The same
decorum, however, did not restrain the engi-
neer and fireman. AS soon as they perceived
the, stranger, on his accustomed travels up and
down the deck, the engineer cried out, with
preliminary obtestation, which we do not care
to repeat, MIR. Manyscad, do you see that gen.
tleman'? aye, aye, was the answer, who can he
be-? 'Tell that, if you can, rejoined the engi
neer; 1t 'ant every man that's willing to be
known, for my own part, believe it's Bolivar
come to tap the dam over the Mohawk, and let
the Kanol waste OUT The fireman modestly
enquired his reason for thinking it was Bolivar,
but the engineer, little piqued at having his
Judgment questioned, merely muttered, that 'it
was hard, if he could not tell Frenchman'
During the passage, nothing escaped the
stranger, that betrayed his history or errand;
nor vet was there any afectation of mystery or
conceament. A close observer would have IN
ferred Gas is said to be the case with Free Ma
sorry) that no secret escaped him, because there
was none to escape; that his conduct, though
not to be accounted for by those unacquainted
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