Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-08
THE HEADSMAN.
CHAPTER VII.
IL ,,, thu nlee


Its necessary to recapitulate little. in order
10 copnect events. The signs OF the hour nad
b co gradually but progressively increas'ns'-
While the lake was unrufEled, stiffness S" pro.
fpund prevailed. that sounds from Inc distant
mart such as the heavy fall OF an oar. or iauSh
from the waterman, had reached the ears Oh tnose
in the Winkplred, bringing with them the 'ee''
inc Of security. and the strong charm OF calm
a, even. To these succeeded the gathering in
the heavens, and the roaring OF the winds, as
thew came rushing down the sides OF the Alps,
I'M their first descent Into the basin ut the Lee
man. As the sight grew useless, except as II
might study the dark Omens OF the Impending
vault, the sense Of hearing became doubly acute,
and II had been powerful agent IN helehtening
the vague bat acute apprehensons OF the travel
hers The rushes Of the wind, which at hrst
were broken, at intervals resembling the roar OF
a chimney top IN gale, had son reacNeu inc
fearful grandeur Of those 1rlal wheelngs OF
suuadrons, to which we have more than once al
luded, passing off in dread mutterineS, that, IN
the deep quiet of all other things, bore close
affinity to the ruubling OF a surf upon the sea-
shore The surface of the lake was hrst bro
ken after one of these symptoms, and it was this
ipfaIlible sign Of gale which had assured MasO
there was 20 time TO lose. Tins movement OF
the element in calm is a common phenomenon
on waters that are much en,ironed with ele-
waited aud irregular head lands, aud I, is Ger
tain pruuf that wind is On some distant portion
of the sheet. Ii occurs frequently on the ocean,
too where the mariner Is accustomed tn nnd
heavy sea setting in one direction, the effects OF
some distant storm. while the breeze around him
is blowing iu its opposite. IL bad been succeed
ed nv the single rolling swell, like the outer cir
Gle Of waves produced by dropping stone into
IN. water, and the regular and increasing aslta
tion of the lake, until the element broke as IN a
tempest and that seemingly OF its own volition,
since not breath Of air was stirring. ms last
am! formidable symptom OF the force oil the co
mIns gust, however, had now become so unequi
vocal, that, at the moment when the th'ee ira
yelers and the patron fell from her sansway, the
Winkelrled. 20 Use a ssarnan's PHrase, was NE
rally wslnuing IN the troughs ~ me seas
A dull unnatural light preceded the winds,
and notwithstanding the previous darkness. the
nature of the accident VAS fully apparent IL all
Even thu uuta,ned spirits thai bad just been beat
ppun ,n fierce a sacrifice To their ,uperstitIou'
dread uttered cries ut horror. while the ptrc
mo SHREK of Adelheii sounded, in that Tear
fal moment. "a If beings Of sup'r'human attn
butte, we're riding in gale. HE name al ~
ci>mund was heard, too. IN one oi thnSe wiz APP
meas that the frantic suffer 10 escape them, IN
ih,;r tIp.n,ir Bat the interval betu cen the
plunr- into the water aGd the swoop Of the ten
pest was so short, that, to the senses NJ the ira
yeliers, the whole seemed the occurrence oi the
same tremng moment.
Ma,o had completed his work on the forecas
tie, had seen that other provisions which he had
ordered were duly made, aud bad reached the
t,!ler Just in tine tn witncss and 10 understand
all that occurred. Adeheid and her female at.
l,Shah IN he nrInclnal
masts, and ropes were given To the others around
her, as Indispensable precautions; for the deck
of the buk. now cleared of every particle OF ITS
Freight, was as exposed aud as deienCelcs' against
the poyer of the wind, as naked heath. Such
WAS the situation of the Winkelcied, when the
omens of the night changed to their dread and
reality.
Instinct, in cases Of sudden and unusual dan.
ger. mus, do the Office of reason. There was no
necessity to warn the unthnking but panic-struck
crowd l., pro,ide for their own safety, tor every
man in the centre OF the barge threw his body
Hat on the deck, aud grasPed the cords that Ma.
so had taken care to provide tor that purpose,
with the teuaci,y with which all who possess lite
cling to the means 0i existence. lhe dogs gave
beautiful proofs of the secret and wonderful
means nature imparts. TO answer the ends of their
cr.o,iou. Old Uberto crouched, covering, and
q
.'Js of his master, while the Newfoundland fol
lower Of the mariner, went Ieaping from gang.
way to gansway. shutting the heated air, and
barking wildly, as it he would challenge the eie'
ments TO close foe the strife.
A vast body of warm air had passed uuheeded
athwart the bark, during the minute that proceed
ed the intended sacrifice Of BalthaZar. Ii was
the forerunner of the hurricane, which had chas'
ed il frnm the bed where ii had been sleeping
since the warm aud happy noon tide. Ten thous-
and chariots at their speed could not have equal
led the rumbling that succeeded. when the winds
came boumlng over the lake As u too eager 10
permit any thing within their fanss to escape
cry brought with them Wild dull light. which
mn shile It clouded the atmosphere, and which,
r;sd ,aw,,rely faneifu to imagine, had been hur-
r!eo 'o"u, their vortex, from those chill gla
their forces for the Pr on, descent. The uavas
Were Of ~" mi. a,m"spI.pie BY the press.
up hogsheads Of water. from the cre,ts, scat.
,eripg IL in fine penetrating spray. hs the entire