The Arkansas advocate., 1836-06-03

eiat sattaiiis obseEVeu i@ODles s3nQ don't see why the preference should be g ven 10 human individual. though the dog is the shippers dog-tiow then. what dye say, my lads2"
 Yum tum. tutn tum. tumty tun,iy tum, replied the fiddle.
 "Lefs hang him at onee."
 ".No," replied Short.
 Jansen.took out his snickcrrec; looked al Short, and made motion with the knife as Eff passing ii across ihe dog's throat.
 .No," replied Short.
 '.Let's launch him overboard at nighf,'' said one of he men.
 'But how Is one to get the brute out Of the cabin2" said Coble, tiff its done at all it must be done by day"
 Short nodded his head.
 ssi wll give him launch the first oppor- tnnily," observed Jenny Ducks, "ofilg,n continued he in measured and lowered tone, "I should like to know whether he really IS dog or not"
 "A tog is a tog,n observed Jansen.
 "Yes,' replied one of Inc forecastle men, Eve all know dog is q dog, but the Gues- ton is-is Htis dog dogls
 Here there was a pause. which Jemmy Ducks filled I'D -hy again tonrhing the strings of his fiddle.
 The fact was, that, althoiigh every ot,e of the sailors wished that the dog was over board, there was not one who wished to commit the deed, not on account of the fear of its being discovered who was the party by MT. Yansltperken, but becaiise there was a great deal of superstition among them. IL was considered unluclly to throw any dog or animal overboard, but the strange stories told about the way In which Snafleyyow first made his appearance in the vessel, added to the peculiar dlaboical temper of the animal, had often been the theme of midnight conversation, and many of them were convinced that it was an imp of Satan lent to Yanslyperken, and that to iniure or attempt 10 destroy il would infallibly be fol- lowed up with terrible consequences to the party, fl not 10 the vessel and all the crew. Even Short, Coble, and Jansen. who were the boldest ard leading men. althoueh when their syupathies were reused by the suffer- ings of poor Smallbones they were anxious 10 revenge him. had their own misgivings, and on consideration did not like 10 have any thing 10 do with the business. But each of them kept their reflections 10 them selves, for, if they could not combat, they were too proud to acknowledge them.
 The reader will perceive that all their plans were immediately put an end to until this important question, and not little diff ficu't one, was ,lecided-1Tas the dog a dog7
 Now, although the story had often been told, yet as the crew of the cutter had been paid off since the animal had been brought on board, there was no man in the ship who could positively detail, from his own know ledge, the facts connected with his first ap- pearance-there was only tradition, and, to solve fhis quesGon, 10 rraditioh they wore obliged to repairs
 "Now, Bill Spurey," said CobIe, ssyou know more about this matter than any one, so just spin us the yarn, and then we shall be able 10 talk the matter over soberly."
 "WelL" replied Bill Spurey, you shall have it just as I got ii word for word, as near as can recollect You know I wasn't in the craft when the thing came on board, but Joe Geary was, and it was one night when we were boozing over a stiff glass at the new shop there, the Orange Bowen, as they call if, at the Pint at Ports mouth-and so you see, falling in vii. him, l wished to learn something about my new skipper, and what sort of chap l should have to deal with. When learnt all about him, I'd half a dozen minds to shove off again but then l was adriff, and so l thought better of IL. It won't do 10 Do nice in peace times you know, my lads, when all the big ships arc rotting in Southampton and Cinqiie Port muds. We'll, then, what he told me recolect Hel--ay, every word of it--as if he had whispered it into my ear but this minute. It was Clustering night, with dirty southwestern, and the chafng of the harbor waves was thrown up +: foams, which the winds swept np tic street, they chasing one another as ifibey were boys at play. It was about two hells in the middle watch, and after our fifth glass, that Joe Geary said as ihis:
 s'It was one dark winters night when we were off the Texsl, blowing terribly, with the coast under our lee, clawing off under storm canvass. and fighting with tho eIe- ments for every inch of ground, hand in the chains; for We had nothing bu; the lead to trust 10, and tho vessel so flogged by the waves that he was lashed to the rigging that he might not be washed away; all Of sud- den tho wind came with blast loud enough for the last trump, and inc waves foared til they were hoarser than ever; away went the vessels mast; although there vas no more canvass on 1t than lib pocket handkerchief, 1!