The native American., 1838-07-14

lhdCtuIeu. lNO suspicious TcSttu vi IHc, anu III
old man was laid in the grave. Since that tim
/ have never known comfort--a worm has beel
gnawing at my heart. see my father in M
dreams, and sometimes when am awake HI
stands before me. thought if could quit thu
scene my guilt the image of my murdered pa
rent would no longer haunt me. But no--ht
is constantly with me. Last night while ] sal
upon the windlass, | fell into browse, and saw
T, him in the shape of the bird, that fitted around
us to-day-and he whispered in my ears, 'your
time has come'''
| Such was the tale Of blood told by the wretched
Thompson, and although we all felt detestation
at the unnatural crime OF which he had been
guilty, we could not help plying the miserable
wretch.
While we were listening to the paricide's con-
lcssion, dark, .double-headed clouds rose above
the horizon-and the appearance of the heavens
betokencd the approach of heavy squall. Pre-
paraiions were made accordingly. The royals and
top-gallant-sails were urled, the courses hauled
up, the top-sails Glued down upon the caps, and
the reeftacklcs hauled out Ere these prcca,,-
tionary measures were fully executed, the dark
cloud hath reached the zenlh-the flashes ofl light
ming were frequent and vivid, and the deep-toned
thunder muttered fearfully in the distance. Soon
a ripple was seen on the water, followed by a
ridge Of miniature waves, which breaking as soon
as formed, presented the appearance of moving
sheet Of foam.
s.Now mind your helm, my lad, said the cap
tain in clear and distinct tone, to the helmsman
who had relieved Thomps mpson-'.keep her right be-
fore it,
The squall struck the brig on her starboard
quarter. ''Starboard your helln--hard a star.
board" shouted Captain Melville.
"Hard starboard, SIR responded the man al
the helm-and in few minutes the brig was
booming along before the wind, (Which blew with
the violence of a hurricane, at the rate of nine
knots. The rain fell in torrens-and what with
the roaring of the waves-the bowling and whis-
|tling Of the tempest-the dazzling brilliancy Of
the chain lightning which seemed to play around
the masts, and the echoing peas of thunder, the
scene was absolutely terrific. The thrilling tale
told by the selfaccused paricide was for a while
forgotten. But suddenly a strange and awful
voice was heard, which sounded louder than the
conflict of the elements, if uttered by the Spirit
Of the Storm-'.My father calls me, my poor,
dear, murdered (aher-I come, come Then
with wild and prolonged shrek Of agony, which
even now rings in my ears. the maniac Thomp.
son sprang on the quarter-rail, and ere any one
could prevent the fearful act, he threw himsefin
to the foaming ocean. No human efforts conlt
save him. lie rose IN the eddying wake, anc
with his body half ont of water, with agony Of the
most intense description depicted Oh his ghastly
features, he gave another shrill and dying scream
then sunk to rise no more.
i In half an hour after this event the clouds hrok
away-lhe hurricane was hushed-thc sun shon
forth in all its wonted splendor-the brig wa
|plonghing her way towards her destined port, i'm
PEELED by genial breeze-when, fabulous as
may appear, t,Oo birds, similar to the one that wa
! flying around us previous to the storm, made
their appearance. They alighted for few mo
ments on the main in-top-gallant yard, and perhaps
it is unnecessary to state that they were not a
this time moIested by the captain. They hovere,
a while over the quarter deck-took a few cir
cles around the ship-then flew away to tn
! windward-and we never saw them more.