The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-05-22


dreaded the end of my voyage as rnuc,,
as l had at first desired Il, AMI almost
wished that we could sail forever over
those still, blue seas. Alas it was not
long ere would have given all I held in
life that Margaret and l had never met
on those waves-ere ! would have sacri-
feed all our late sweet intercourse, to
have known that she was safe in her
narrow house ofturf by the lowly church
Of A., aud her soul in shelter from
the horrors it was doomad to suffer.
One night. after we had been standing
for some time, contemplating the
unrivalled blue Of a southern SUNNI Or
sky, thought, as I bade tho Countess
a good night, that l perceived light
breeze arising. This / rsmarke d to her.
and she received the observation with a
pleasure which found no correspondent,
emotion in my own bosom. AS I de-
scended to my berth, fancied I des-
cried among the sailors one Girod
Jequeminot, whose face had not before
remarked. He was q Frenchman, to
whom had during my residence a
broad, rendered some signal services,
and who, though but wild fellow had
sworn to me eternal gratitude. He
skulked, however, behind his fellows,
and did not now, il appeared. choose to
recognize his bsnefactor.
l believe I slept profoundly tina, uight.
WheDI awoke there was sound of
dashng waves against the vessel, and a
busle Of sailors voices, and clustering
noise Of wind among the calls and rig
glng, and ! soon perceived that our ship
vas scudding before stiff, nay, almost
formy gale. Ipeepsd through the sea-
ward opening Of my little cabin. The
scene was strangely changed. 1t was
scarcely dawn. Dim and grey clouds
obscured The heaven had 20 recently
gazed on. looked for the white sails
of our accompanying vessels, and our
convoy. All had disappeared. We
seemed alone on these lesdsn-c -colored
billows. At this moment heard voice
in broken English say. " Confound--
while reef tose TANNED topsails my
pipe 60 out."--"Light it again then At
the pinnacle, Monsesr;" said q sailor
eyes. and ! e hanged to do yard-arm by
our cooi captain for firing dc sheep
Sacre-blue !! / cannot even
tink vidout my pipe. De fought Mon
sieur in de leetls coop dere have always
do lamp patent burning from heese lec-
ture. He sleeps now. 60 enter gent
ly-'ight my pipe" He crept into my
cabin as he spoke. Allows this, my
friend ?" said l, speaking in French;
does not your captain know that we arc
out Of sight of convoy ?" Glrod an
swsred in his native language,-"Oh
that ! had seen you sooner. You think
perhaps, have forgotten all I owe you.
No-no-but 'tis too late now !" The
mans face showed 20 much horror and
anguish, that l was startled. He point
cd at the horizon. On its very verge
ono sail was yet visible. A faint rolling
noise came over the water. alt is the
British frigate," said Girod, "6ring for
US to pat our ship about. and keep under
convoy. But our captain has no inten-
ton Of obeying the signal, and if you
get out of sight ofthat one distant sail.
you are lost."-Think yon then, that the
Demon Ship is in these seas said anx-
iously. Girod came to close to me-
With a countenance Of remorse and
despair which can never forget, he
grasped my arm, and held it towards
heaven. "Look up to God !" he whis.
pered "you are on board the Demon
Ship !"
A step was heard near the cabin and
Girod was darting from it; but ! held
him by the sleeve. "For Heavens sake
for Heavens sake, )" he whispered, "let
not look, word, show that you are
acquainted with this secret. If our Cap
tain knew I had betrayed il, we should
at this moment be rolling fathom deep
over one other in the ocean. All / can
do is to try and gain time for you. But
be prudent, or you arc lost 7" He
precipitately quilted the cabin as he
spoke. leaving me in doubt whether l
were awake or dreaming. When /
thought how long and how fearlessly the
"Elizabeth" had laid amid the trading
vessels at Valetta, and how she had
sailed from that port under powerful
convoy, l was almost tempted to believe
that Girod had been practising joke
on me. As, however, / heard voices
near l determined to lie still, and gath
er what information ! could, "What
have you been doing there said voice
l had never heard before,, and whose
ruffianly tones could hardly be subdued
by this effort at whisper. my pipe
go out" answered Girod Jaqusminot,
sand not IN imprudent to light at
dc beenecle. So l 60 jnst hold it over