The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-11-18

al hymn; while the Yankee, who happened
to be in tacturn mood, keeping his watch
full eyes fixed upon the sails, with an occa-
sional glance to windward, soaced himself
in silence with quid of tobacco.
The day was now far spent, and this
had been, apparently, an unsuccessful trip
for our boats crew; they had been out
some leagues to sea, without the appear
ance of any vessel likely to require their as
sistance. At length, tired of the pursuit,
they stood in for the harbor: the hazy eve
ming was near its close, as they slowly
worked their way against an ebb tide.
"Well that's as queer go as ever |
seed," exclaimed Jack Thompson, sudden
ly starting up.
"Der Teufel!'' calculated Hans Gutter
blutt, 'Der Teufel!' growled Rudolph
Lintz; and "Der Teufel!" re-echoed the
sagacious Molk Vanderspiegel.
And the astonishment of the boatmen was
well founded. Rapidly doubling the rocky
point which shelters the small haven from
the westerly gales, large square-rigged
vessel hove in sight, with all her canvass
spread, and every spar landing.
"What is she--where did she come
from?" was the exclamation of the viva
cious mate.
"Its no odds where she comes FROM"
said the owner; "she's stranger, or she'd
never poke her bowsprit among them rocks:
howsomever, good pilot might bring her
safe off yet"
"Oh, Meester Van Thompson" inter-
rupted the mate, 81 am frighuul she is not
a Christian craft. See what breeze of
wind she have got, and we have not got
Won BREATH"
"That is because we are becalmed here
under the land. She's jolly three-master,
and Dutchman by her build; so out with
the oars, my hearties, and we'll just run
alongside and hail her."
"Oh, Meester Van Thompson" shouted
Hans, ''do not be such rash man-she is
der Teufel, or we would have seen him
before-she is de 'vlying Dutchman,' and
de phantom ship remember fifteen
year at Sluys-"
"Belay your jawing tackle, you Jarman
lubber; we hav'nt as much brains as would
bait mackerel-hook. If so be as y're
afeard, I'll put ye ashore on the rock, and
board the barque myself"
Accordingly he ran the boat into little
creek or gully between the rocks, and the
next moment he found himself deserted by
a crew, who, in the hour of real danger,
would never have quilted his side, but who
wanted sufficient moral courage to encoun-
with him an unknown or supernatural ene-
my.
By the time that Hans and his compan-
ions had gained the summit of the cliff, the
night had become dark and foggy. They
looked anxiously towards the point where
the strange vessel had appeared, but their
most intense scrutiny could not discover
any trace of her-not spot was apparent
upon the waste of waters, nor even one
glmmering light to indicate the presence OF
a solitary boat upon the fishing station:
masses of vapor rolled slowly IN from sea-
ward, and a heavy ground-swell had be-
gun to break upon the rocks beneath; the
clouds drifted furiously athwart the murky
sea, and all things seemed to prognosticatt
dreadful stormy night.
"Oh, he is gone, and der Teufel has go
him!" said Hans Gutterblutt, as, will
heavy heart, hejoned his two comrades OF
their march homeward. "Oh, he was sucl
nice man, and did singl Oh, shall neve
hear him sing Jolly Dick de Lamplichte
MORE"
The night, as was expected, had becom
4 Wild and tempestuous; but towards mornin
the gale lulled, and the sun rose vivid,
upon the ocean: the waves, though tn
= storm had passed away, still chaied an
D broke into sheets of white foam against tn
r l. -sz.zs