Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-04
PROVIDENCE.
NORTH WEST IzAwN All,
A TALE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.


to forget that praise worthy action Of Julian's
" the striking the whale only-any one can
strike IA whale-I meant your whole conduct
all the way through"
"Ah" said Julian" then you watched me
| all the time"
who was sensible Of his having neglected his
i own business to overlook the youth, and en-
de avour to find some fault in his conduct, whica
being told with every aggravation to the Cap
tain, would prejudice him against his fayorite
for Julian was the Captains favorite.
Julian now essayed again to 60 below; but
just as he was going under the hatch, he i'm
agned he saw faint light at great Distance
He watched some time for its re-appearance,
but in vain-it presented itself no morc-and
he supposed j: to be the ripple of a whale, or,
a mere optical deception. The eyes Of Julian
were soon sealed in slumber, which he stood
in need Of A singular dream now presented
itself He thought he stood on rock, divided
by 4 narrow firth from the main land. He
looked about in every direction, to see if no
relief offered itself His father suddenly pre-
| sented himself, bound in his death-clothes;
who, standing on the beach, reached him his
arm, which he seized, and was safely lodged,
when, to his surprise and joy, Mary Allen re-
ceved him with open arms, pressed him TO her
bosom, and imprinted kiss upon his burning
lips. Tho whole scene bore the stamp of re-
ality-a tumuIt Of joy fired his brain-he
awoke. But all was still around him, save the
occasional dash Of the waves against tho ship,
which sound seemed on the increase: At
length he heard voices above his head, on the
forecastle. 1t was the second mate and Cap
| tain 10 close conversation.
81 don't know said the latter, 4" but We
shall be forced to cut them away-really, it
looks very black to windward, and ! do not
know how near we are to Fanning's Island!'
| 81 guess said the mate, sits hardly worth
while 10 try any more. This hcad-matter is
quses stuff when it gets wet, and it sprinklos
| already"
"Put out the fire." said the Captain. "t
looks ticklish yonder.'
| Now the recollection Of the light which he
saw, rose to the view of Julian's mind-that,
united to the Captains hint Of Fannlng's Is
land, induced him to go up and inform him Of
his last nights discovery.
"In what direction did you fancy you saw
the light" said the Captain.
| "To lceward," said Julian.
| "I believe it, I believe it, said the Cap
tain.-' Call all hands! bear a-hand about il;
and cut away these whales from alongsIde!'
The crew had hardly gained the deck, when
| a heavy swell struck the ship, and she tossed
and rolled so violently that .he Huke-rope part
ed, and away went both whales, without the
|! aid Of the cooks axe. A sudden flaw struck
the ship at the same instant, and away went
the fore and mizen top-galant-n,asts.
Just then Julian observed the mate beckon-
| ing tho Captain to the ships side. No sooner
! had the latter looked IN the direction pointed
out by the former, than he sprang forward and
cried out in tone Of mingled grief and des-
pair =" Run up quickly and loose the topsails
bear a-hand men, for Gods sake be quick"
But now the tempest in all its fury burst
out upon them. The rair pourod-thc light
ming hashed-the thunder rolled. Julian was
on the forc-topsail-yard-av vivid aash of light
nng exposed the breakers TO his view washing
sharp and rugged rocks, not mile to leeward.
| He gave the aarm--" Breakers! - 81 know
it," cried the Captain Bear a-hand, or
we're all lost!'
In this hustle the ship was driving hcadlong
towards the rocks. The looscncd sails were
blown straight out, and all the strength Of the
ships company could not haul down one sheet.
The ropes were all filed with oil and slime
the decks covered with blubber, and every
disadvantage presented itself to the fatigrod
sailors
But even nova huge breaker bears the i'll
kated ship on its foaming top-one moment
and she rides in majesty sublime, like con-
demned martyr, who goes proudly TO tho stake
| the next, and she IS dashed against a pro-
| jecting rock and nought IS seen Of her hut the
rude fragments tossing among the rampant
surges. The loud yell of despair rose up from
the smoking ruins -'and all was silent!
But whore is Julian! lie had been ordered
in the rigging to cut away the mainmast-
When he saw oil was lost he still remained in
his situation, and when on the last breaker
tho ship plunged headlone to destruction, she
drove past a rock which overlooked the sea,
but which contained on its side small shelf
Quick as thought, he sprung from the rigging.
and safely lodged thereon the mex, moment
ho heard the dying cry Of his sbipma'cs. His