Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-11-01

Night had just drawn her ebon curtain
around the sea-girt isles OF the chc.
and the patterng rain fell fact upon The thatch'
ed roof Of the Sandwich Islander, while rising
gale put the ships in conimotion, which lay in
tho harbour Of woahoo. Every vessel seemed
likely to do well, excepting an old weather
beaten, dark-looking whale-ship. She began
10 drift little, and her crew were apparently
unable to take the necessary measures to Sc
cure her from running upon the great shoaI,
which lay but a cables length astern Of her.
She was called the M, Of -, in
Wales. She had lain but a short time in har-
Dor, and tho uncommon reserve ofthe Captain
and Officers. who never joined in the conyivial
assemblies Of tho place, rendered her an OBJ
ject Of some little interest. From her crow, il
was gathered that the Captain was a man of
melancholy habit: cruel and tyrannical to his
men, and subject to sudden gales Of passion
which rendered him not only dsagreeable to
thom, but also an object Of terror to his Off
GERS.
The mate was man Of grcat physical po W.
ers, but extremely ignorant, SO that he became
in the Captains hands tool of dsspotism,
and had early acquired the hatred and con-
tempt Of all on board.
Tho second and third mates. although not
naturally malicious. too easily yielded up their
independence. and joined their betiors in tyran-
nizing over the hands.
The consequence was, that at tho time men,
toned. hor crow had become so diminished in
numbers. by desortion, that she had not sur
ficiency Of seanen on board 10 preserve her
from the threatening catastrophe. In spite of
the dogged resolution Of tho Captain, he was
now forced TO ask tho assistance Of his neigh.
bors; and no sooner had tho signal oe distress
been given, than thirty whale boats skinned
over tho foaming waves, and rushed to the do i.
liverance Of the Englishmon.
Perhaps curiosity was not the most incon-
siderable motive, which impe'led them 10
this act of duty.
Few had ever asccnded the deck Of the
strange vessel; and those fow had brought
back TO their wondering friends such accounts
Of tho appearance Of things on board as had
filled oil minds with a nameless dread, and
longing curiosity. But the principal subject
Of remark. was a young boat-stecrcr by the
name ofRandall. He was an eccentric genius
a native Of Bristol, in England. whero he had
left parents Of the first respectability to mingle
with the rough sons Of Neptune. Hs had an
uncommon mind adapted to every situation in
which he might be placed. Education had
done much for him, but Nature more; and while
the hardihood Of his franc was proverbial, his
heart was alive to every tender emotion. lie
was rather below the middle sizo, but strong
and active--his countenance was stamped with
manly beauty and his address was noble and
insnnating; but the most dstinguishablo trait
in his character was his dauntloss ntrspidity.
He, alone. remained untamed and uninfluen ccd
by the savage Captain. Hc, alone, could
check tho torrent of his rage and hold him in
awe. IL was common saying amongst tho
crew, "The Captain is afraid Of Randall"
As the various crews scrambled up tho side
Of the mysterious ship, their eyes searched in
every direction for the heroic youth; but they
wero destined TO be disappointed. There was
no one answering his description on board
The red jacket, the green tarpaulin. were no.
where TO bo seen; and after stumbling over
hand cuffs, cat-o 'nne-tails, aud broken cut.
las,cs, (droll appurtonances for whalcman,) }
they succeeded in clearing the cablo.tier aud
letting 60 another anchor.
As soon as the ship had become safely Sc.
cured, tho square bottle, alias black Betty was
carried below, and the American tars invited
to descend between the decks and regalo them
selves with q bumptr after their fatiguing ex-
ertions.
"We have no food to offer you." said the
cook, "for our allowance is so very small that
wc dcvour il like wolves, when We can get il, -
and TO prove what he said by occular demon
stration, no threw Out tho kidd upon tho deck
which contained q largo beel-bone. polished
like q mirror! ...
"Why does your Captain upe you thus"
was tho inquiry; "hc can certainly procure
sufficient for you to eat, if he is so disposed"
'' But be is not SO disposed" answered a
pale boy, whose sunken checks and lack .lus.
trc eyes, would not have disgrac ced tho genius
Of Famine herself; "hs starves us out Of re-
vongs. We grumblcd once or twice about our