Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-08-26
From Biack,roods Magazine for july.
DAVY JONES AND THE YANKEE
PHIVATEER.


PRIVATEER
We had refitted, and been feur days at
sea, on our voyage to Jamaica, when the
gun-room officers gave our mess blowout
The Increased motion and rushing of the
vessel through the water, the grea.,ing OF the
masts, the bowling of the rising gale, and
the frequent tramphng OF the watch on deck,
were prophetic of vet jackets to some of Us;
till. midshipmanlille, we were as happy as Il
good dinner and some wine could make us,
uatil the old gunner showed his weather-bea-
ten phiz and bald pate in at the door. Be
ing pardon, Mr.. Splinter, ba. if you will
spare Mr. Cringle on the iorecastle foI an
hour uati the moon rises, SD Spare"
quoatha, sis his majesty's officer a joint
stool?" )--Nhy, Mr.. Kennedy, whyp here,
man, take glass of grog F" 81 thank you SIR
Ii is coming on rougsh night, sir, the run
ming ships should be crossing Us hereabouts;
indeed, more than once | thought there was
strange sail close aboard of US, the scud is
aging so low. and ia such white flakes; and
none of MS have en- eye like Mr.. Cringle, I'M
less it be John Grow, and he is all but froz-
en-" 'Weil, Tom, suppose you ,ciU co.
Angltce, from first lieutenant to a mid
"Brush instanter."
Having changed my uniform, for shay
trowscIs, pea-iacket, and south west cap, |
went forward, and took my station. ia no
pleasant hunour, on the slowed b. with my
arm round the stay. had been half an hour
there, the weather was getting worse, tho
ram was beating in my face, and the spray
from stern was flashing over me, az i. roared
through the waste of sparkling and Kissing
waters. turned my back to the weather
for moment. to press my hand on my strain
ca eyes. When ! opened them, j saw the
gunner's gaunt high featured visage thrust
anxioasly forward; his profile looked as ii
rubbed over with phosphorus, and bis whole
person as II he had been playing at snap dra
gon. "What has come over you, Mr.. Ken
nedy?-who is burning the blue light now?"
"a wiser maH than am must tell you that;
look forward, Mr.. Cringle-look thel c; what
do your books say to that"
looked forth, and saw, at the xtIeme end
ofthe jill boom, what had read OF, certainly,
bnt sever expected to see, pale, grcenish.
glowworm coloured flame, of the size and
shape of the frosted glass shade over the
swinging lamp IN the gun room. Ii drew out
and Aattened as the vessel pitched and rose
again, and as she sheered about, it wavered
around the point that seemed TO attract it,
Ike sea9scd bubble blown from tobacco
pipe, before it is shaken into the air; at the
core it was comparatively bright, bat faded
into halo. 1t shed IA balefa and omin Gus
light on the surrounding objects: the group
OF sailors OIL the iorecastle looked like spec
tres, and they shrunk together, and whisper
cd when It began TO roll slowly along the spar
where the boatssain was sitting at my feet.
At this instant something slid down the stay,
and cold clammy hand passed round my
neck. was within an ace of loosing my hold
and tumblag overheard. "Heaven have
mercy on me, what's that?"-''It's that ky
larking son of gun, Jem Sperkle's monkey,
SIR. You, Jem, you'll never rest IA that
brute is made shark bait Of" But Jackoo
vanished u the stay again, chucking and
snnniag in the shostly radiance, as if he had
been thu Spirit Of the Lamp"
The light was still there, but cloud OF
mist like u bust ofvapo1r from steam boi
Ter, came down upon the gale, and few past,
when it disappeared followed the white
mass as il sailed down the wind; it did not
as itappearcd to me to vanish in darkness.
hut seemed to remain in sight TO leeward, as
II checked by a sudden flaw; yet none oil cur
saslS were taken aback. A thought flashed
ca me | peersd still more intensely into the
night was now certain "A sail, broad
on the leebow.n The ship was in a buzz in a
moment The captain answered from the
quarter deck-"Ihank you MIR. Cringle.-
iiow shall we sieer?n-"keep her away O
eozple OF points, sir, steady. "----"Steady,
sung the man at the helm; and slosT me
lancholy cadence, although familiar soanc
TO me. Row moaned thi oegb the rushing o
she wind, and sniote upon my heart as II q
s.sd been the wailing Of spiTit. iar1ed e
The boatswain. who Was now standing bessd'
me us this you or Dairy teerlng, Mr. Mp
per? If you had not been there bodily at M
elbow; | could have swoER that was you
sslce." Mhen the gamer made the sam'
remark II startled The poor fellow, he tried Il
kake II as a joke. bat could not. "Fher
may be laced hammock with shot ia ii
a.r some of US ere morning"