The Arkansas advocate., 1834-01-17

ae windward. There was no person to. h, seen nn board. but the roii of the drum still sounded on her deck, IS she rushed past and disappeared in the mist.
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 It was noon and the tempest was over hut the sea was rolling III immense waves, and the uastless whaler was pitching III the midst of the ocean. The crew were iov- ering their boats, for the ship had sprung leak and was rapidly filling.
 s.So much for that accursed drumo sad :; sss ile descended .ste Of the boats. ssE know'd as much when first hecrd It. say, Ephrain, what do you tiink oi the Flyin' Dutehnlan nows'
 :.Giear away tl,eTein shouted the Cap tain, ..and push off. Would yon keep us here till the ship goes down, with your d--d ilonsense9-and if you mention the drum or the Dutchfnan again, d--n me! II l don't have you tossed overheard "
 There was no reply, and the boats rapid- ly left the ship. ;. 
 Ten long days had passed-the hot sun was blazing upon the ssea-and the boats were iying iistiessiy upon tiie water. yation was there, and the men had become loo weak to row. The crew sat with parch- ed throats and wan countenances, looking into the distance with the constant, eager look of men who knew that on the passing of some vessel depended their only chance sosr. :o. life, life. Ephrasm bent over to drink of the brine, but lie was withheld by Jack, who we'll knew the fatal consequences of such I step.
 ..Maup said he, in hollow voice, Fl you drink, you die. Refrain while. I've must see sail soon--and any sail would be welcome to US, though the nlfrrilai ddIiifi- nief was on. board. y
 .sCurses upon your villains soul" shout ed the Captain; s.haye l not warned you never to speak of that again2 Osetboafd with him, and let him feed the sharks - No one stirred at his communicate bursting into greater fur, he seized the staff ofa harpoon and rushed upon Jack. The weapon was wrenched from his hands and : he was thrown violently down. Jack pro eeeaed to tie him, and then addressed hila 2 in a low, husky voice;
 sSo you would kill me, would youl Ha ha! I am not to die by your hand-but am now convinced of the truth of what was told long ago. You have been a pt- fate--you have murdered men and women in cold blood-and there you lie in the bot tom of the, boat, til we make theland--are taken up--or die away one by one, and are tossed into the ocean,"
 Just then came faintly, in a long roll, the tones of the dreadful drum, aud away II the east was dark speci, like movlne cloud, upon the waters. 0n, on # came with no sail set, and with nothing to urge thro' the water. On, on-hke a thing c Sine .,:aiilt close tto tic tic hss hsssss, and tse! she whirfed round and was ssatloHary. No as before was she ul1infahifed. She wa peopled with DEATH. Death--death II twenty forms. Some were lashed to tht rigging--black, wasted corses. Some Ia, in their gore. Some hung from the yards and swung slowly over the vessel--and ono lovely girl lay with an infant pllowed or her breast--and by the naainmast stood the drummer, with the sticks tied to the stunps of his wrists, for his hands were gone-ana far and loud soundeds the wild roll. Ther there came g loud cry, as of thousand spirits--a universal shuddering of the air. and the boats rocked to and ire--and the live lightning leaped over them. The bonds that held the Captain snapped like threads and he plunged into the deep ocean--ane there was louder roll of the drunn--the thunder burst over the vessel, and she rear ed and plunged ike war horse into the bosom of the sea, and the water eddied and loaned as sine went down.
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 More days rolled silently by. There $. was the deep stiffness of despair ill the boats--and then arose the horrid murmul of ssife to support hfe.'' The lots were cast--the eyes of Ephraim were bandaged and the knife was harpened--Great God what a sound it was to the victim --and ther rose sudden sudden saasf ssliriels. here was mote on the western horizon. Nearer nearer--nearer yct--it was sail. and life was not taken.
 Such IS Jacks story--but the incredu- lous say it was only dream of the insani- ty of hunger. Let the reader judge.
 
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