The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-10-14
From the Now. York Mirror.
A SEA SCENE.
ny WILLIAM LEosETT, ESQ.


"Stand still! How fearful
And dizzy It's to cast ones eyes so low!"
On the top Of the boom cover r,
and in the full glaro Of tho level sun, lay
black Jake the jig maker Of the ship, and
striking specimen Of African poculiar
tics, in whose single person they were all
strongly developed. Ills fiat nose was d
lated to unusual width. aud his ebony
cheels fairly glistened with delight, rs he
looked up at the gambols Of large mon.
key, which, clinging to the mainstay, JUS,
above Jakes woolly head, was chattering
and grinning back at tho negro, as if there
existed some means Of mutual intelligence
between them. II was my watch OH deck &,
and had been standing several minutes
leaning on the main fife rail, amusing my
self by observing tho anticks ofthe black.
and his cengenial playmate, but at length.
firing Of the rude mir,h, Ind turned tow.
ards the tatfrol, to gazo Oh the more agree.
able features Of that scene, which | had
fcebly attempted to describe. Jnst at that
moment shout and a merry laugh burst
upon my ear and looking quickly round, to
ascertain tho cause Of the unusual sound
on a trigate's deck, saw little Bob Stay
(as we called our commodore's SOM stand
Ing half way up the main. hatch ladder
clapping his hands and looking aloft at
some object that seemed to inspire him
with deal OF glee. A single glance nt
the mainyard explained the occasion of
his merriment. lie had been coming up
from the gun deck, when Jacko percciv.
ing him on the ladder, dropped suddenly
down from the msin stay, and running a
vAV eh..h ~ IL
shoulder, seized his cap from his head, and
Immediately dartcd up the main topsail
sheet, and thence to the bunt Of tho main
yard, where he now sat, picking threads
from the tasseIs Of his prize, md occasion
ally scratching his side and chattcring, M
If with exultation for the success of his
mischief. Blu, Bob was sprightly active
little fellow, and though he could not climb
quite as nmbly as monkey, yet he had
no mind TO lose his cap without on effort to
regain it. Perhaps he was the more
strongly melted to make chase after Jacko,
from noticing mo to smile at his plight, or
by the loud laugh Of Jake, who seemed in
expressibly delighted at tho occurrence,
and endeavored TO e'incc, by tumb!ing a.
bout the boom cloth. shaking his huge
misshapcn head, and suadry other gro.
tesase actions, the pleasure for which he
had no words.
ala, you d--n rascal, Jacko. hab You
no more respec' for dc young officer, den
TO steal his cab? We bring you to dc gang
way, you black nigger, and glib you a doz.
On on de bare back for tief"
The monkey lookcddow from his perch
as If he understood the threat Of the negro.
and cha.tered sort Of defiance in answer.
AHA, ha! Massa Stay, he say you mus
keteh him fore you fog him; and it's no so
easy for midshipman in boots to catch a
monkey barefoot"
A rad spot mounted on the check of lit
tie Bob, as he cast one glance Of offended
pride at Jake, and then sprang across the
deck to tho Jacobs ladder In an instant
no was half way up the rigging, running
over the ratlincs as lightly as if they were
m easy flight Of stairs, while the shrouds
scarcely quiversd beneath his elastic mo-
tions. Int second more his hand was on
the frtocks.
"Massa Stay!" cried Jake, who some.
times from being svorite, ventured "a
take liberties with tho younger officers
"Massa Stay, you bost crawl through de
lubber's hole-it take a sailor TO climb the
tuttOCN u sHIouu
But he had scarcely time 10 utter hi,
pretended caution, before Dob was in the
top. The monkey in tho moan while ha,
awaited his approach until he had got near
ly up the rigging, when it Suddenly pm
the cap on its own head, and running a
long the yard to tho opposite side Of tb,
top, sprsng upa rope, and thence to III,
topmast backstay, up which il ran to III,
topmast cross trees, where il again Quietl,
seated itself and resumed its work Of pic K
ing the tassels to pieces. For scvern
minutes Z stood watching my little mess
mate tollow Jacko from one piece Of rig
ging to smother, the monkey all The while
seeming to exert only so much agility a
wss necessary 10 elude the parsuer, an
psusing whenever the latter appeared 4
be growing weary Of the chase. A. las
by this kind ofmsnnuvering the mischiey
Gus animal succeeded in en,icing Bob a
high as the royal mast head, when spring
ing suddenly on the royal stay il rs
nimety down to the forcio' gallant ma.
head, thence down the rigging to the fore
TOP, when lespiug on the foreyard, IL ra
cut to the yard-arm, and hung the cap o
NS end sfths stu&ding ssi boom, wheI