Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-02

s..
t. ro,pd 70 the indicated position, contributed
70 The imposing character OF the moment, ana
tsouudcd. in the ears Of all the instructed listen
er.. like notes of fearful PREPARATION.
sHaul I'D the courses" resumed Wilder, al
ter thoughtful, brief interval, with the same
eloquent calmness Of manner. Then, taxing
another glance al the threatening horizon, he
added. with emphasis, 'FurI them-furl them
both: Away alofi, and hand your courses, he
continued in shout; roll them up, cheerlly; IN
with them, boys, cheerily: IN!
The conscious seamen took their impulses
from the tones of their commander. In mo-
ment. twenty dark forms were sern leapng up
The rigging, with the alacrity Of so many quad.
rupeds: and, in another minute, The vast ana
powerful sheets ofcanvass were efectuaiiy rem
dered harmless, by securing them In tight rolls
TO their respt ctive spars. The men descended
as swiftly as they had mounted TO the yards;
and then succeeded another short and breathing
pause. At this moment, candle would nave
sent its fame perpendiculTly towards the
heavens The ship, missing the s'eadyIng pow
pr of the wind. rolled heavily in the. troughs q,
the seas, which, however, began to be more d.
minutjye al each instant; as though the startled
element was recalling, into the security OF us
own vast Bosom. that portion OF It's parlehs
which had, Just before, been permitted 10 gam
Dol so madly over its surface. The water wash
ed sullenly along the side Of the ship, or, as
she laboring rose from one Other frequent la'is
into the hollows Of the waves, it sho, back INTO
the ocean from her decks, in numoFrlfss iillle
gliuciing cascadrs.-E,ery hue Of the heavens,
every sound Of he elements, and each dusky
and anxious oountnnance that was visible
helped to proclaim The intense interest OF the
moment /, was in This brief interval oil ex-
pecta,ion and inaC tivily, that the mates agar"
approached their commander.
1t is an awful night, Captain Wilder! SAID
Earring, prcsumiDg on his rank TO De the hrs1
of the two 10 speak
Il have known far less notice given oil shit
Of wind, was the steady answer.
eve have bad time to gather in our kites,
it's true sir; but there are signs and warnings
that come with this change, at which the oide 81
sean an has reason 10 take heed!
Yes continued Nighthrad in a voice that
sounded hoarse and powerful, even amid the
E. arful accessories OF that scene; yes, IL Is no
,rif1ing commission that can call people, that
shall no, name, out upon the water in such a
night as This. 1t was in Just such weather that
| saw the Vesuvius" kstch go to place so
deep, tha, her own mortar would not have been
able TO have sent bomb into the open aiT, had
bands and fire heen there fit TO lie, it OFF,!
'Av. and il was in such time that the Green
landman was cast upon the Orkneys, ID as fiat
. calm as ever lay on the sea-
Gentlemen said Wilder, with a peculiar,
and perhaps AN ir"nlcal emphasis on tho word,
what is il YOU would have? I here is not d
breath Of air stirring, and the ship is naked tn
her topsails"
II MSsa eaxs befs diff vi for shss q es
tory answer TO this QUESTION. Both we're Sc
cre,ly gosded by mysterious and suDers,itious
appre tensions, tina, were powerfully aided oy
the more real and intelligible aspect OF he
night; bu, Deither had SO Ear forgotten his man.
hood, and his pro'e ,sional pride. TO lay bare
the full extent of his own weaknt SIS, al u mo
men, when he was lia5!r to be called upon for
the exhibition Of qualities Of a far wore posi-
i've and determined character. Sill, the feel.
ing tha' was uppermos,, betrayed i's"lf IN the
reply of Earring, though in an indirect and Co.
vert manner
'Yes the vessel is snug enough now ne said,
though eye-sighi has shown us AL II is no ca "
matter 10 drive freighVed ship through the
water as fas, as one Of your flying craft gu,
aboard ofwh,ch no man can saw, who stands a,
the helm, by what compa she steers, or what
is her ,iraugn'!
'Ay, resumed Nighihead, Il call the "Caro-
line" fast for an hon 81 trader, and few square
rugged boats are there, who do not wear the pen
nants OF the King, that can eat her out Of the
wind, or bring her into their wake, with stud
dirg sails abroad. But this is time and an
hour, to make seaman think, Look al Won
hazv light. here, in with the land, tina, is co,.-
ing SO fast down upon us, and then tel! me wne
tier i, comes from the coas, Of Am. -ca, or whr-
Their il comes from out Of the stranger who has
been so long running under our lee, but who
has got. or is fast getting the wind OF us last,
and vet none here ran say how, or why Ihave
Just his much, and no more 10 say: Give me
Tor consor,, craft whose Captain ! know, or
give m, nohs!
'Su. is your taste, Mr. Nighthrad,' said Viii
der, c"ldIy; mine may, by some accident, be
very different
YES. YES observed the more cautious and
pr"denl Earring in time Of war, ard with let,
'ers Of maique aboard, man may honestly
ope the sail ne sees should have d stranger
for her master, or otherwise he would ne, err fall
in with e;.emy. But. though an English