The native American., 1838-07-14

and laid him sprawling. Anxious to get him on
board, some Of the watch jumped into the chain
wales, others into the bowsprit slrouds and bob.
stays In few minutes the smgnlarly looking
animal was under our bows, hands were eagerly
stretched forth to grasp him, when, apparently
with convulsive effort, he recovered his natural
position in the water, stretched out his wings, and
to the unspeakabIe stonishment Of the crew, deli
berately flew away!
| Thompson saw this strange scene from the
quarter deck, and exclaimed, Captain Melville,
il is Of no use to fire at that brd-you only waste
your powder and shot--you can never hit it,
"I'Il try once more at all evenls," replied the
Icaptain.
His fowng piece was again loaded Mean
while the strange animal had flown a few hundred
yards ahead, and again settled down quietly on
the water AS the ship drew near, the captain
again fired. But the bird rose from the water
evidently uninjured, and after soaring maiesticay
over the quarter deck, flew away to windward
until out Of sight II
II understand il ALL, said Thompson, in tremu-
lous voice, while the sweat of agony stood in
large drops on his forehead. Captain Melville,
YOU might fire at that bird till doomsday, and
you would not hurt feather of its wing. Ihat
bird Is n1y fathers spirit, and know why he
these words, his eyes seemed to be lighted up
with an unearthly fire.
"What do you mean, Thompson said the
|astonished captain i'll soothing tone. ''Your
fathers spirit! What nonsense is this? Come,
let's have no more Of such foolish talk
''Call it not foolish, Captain Melville. It is
truth what say. That bird which you shot at
twice, and which flew away uninjured, is my
poor murdered fathers spirit. Yes the old man
has come for me at last; and it will not be long
before Join him.
''Why, this is worse than folly, Thompson
it is madness. What do you mean? What can
understand BY such incoherent langnage!''
s.Captain Melville, know | am not always
in my right mind. My brain is scared to the
|centre-butI am not mad noU. / have some
thing which lies heavy at my heart, and which
4 should like to get clear of. | wish to make my
sins known to the world-and | ask it as favor,
that you will let all hands be called. | have a
dismal tale to tell and should like to have my
shipmates hear it. 1t may do them some good;
at any rate il can do nobody harm"
There was no need of calling all hands--for
we were all then standing in the waist, trying to
catch the strange discourse which was passing
between Thompson and the captain-and quickly
obeyed the mates signal, and gathered round
Thompson on the quarter deck, who thus com
menced his tale:-
sMy father was respectable farmer in New
! Hampshire, and was his only son. But was
from my youth possessed of fierce, ungovernable
temper, and when about fifteen years Of age, my
father having laid the oxgoad over my shoulders
for some trifing fault, took solemn and wicked
oath would never work on his farm again, and
that at some future day would be revenged; and
fcarlessly have kept my oath. | ran away and
went to sea. For eight years was absent from
home, during which had visited all parts of the
globe. By this time my rcvengeful feelings became
soflened down, and wished once more to behold
my parents, particularly my mother, who was
always kind andindulgent. Iaccordingly returned
to my native village. | saw my parents-so
Iiourned with them for several weeks, and nothing
occurred to damp the pleasure Of my visit, unit
one fatal evening, accompanied my father to
husking frolic in the ncighborhood. The flow
| ing bowl (accursed be its perncious contents
passed briskly around, and by the time our work
was completed, about midnight, we all became
somewhat the more merry. Indeed, my fathe
had so far partaken Of the intoxicating draught
that he could hardly walk-and was obliged t.
support him on his way home, although my
brain whirled round, and could hardly wall
steadily myself.
When we had got about half way home, we
came to a cross road, which my father insisted
was the right path; and no argument on my par
could convince him that he was wrong. Witt
all the pertnacity Of drunken man, he insisted
on pursuing that route, and when attempted tc
prevent him, he struck me uiolent blow on th,
face. This reused the demon within me. "Han
said /, ssold man, blow! You will find to your
sorrow that | am ma,a now, and no longer to
be abused by you as was when boy" Upor
which | struck my poor inebratcd father to the
earth with blow of my tist-and then the re-
collection of former injuries unavenged rushing
in my mind, seized a stake from the fence ant
struck him several times over the head, as he lay
on the ground.
i But the fatal crime was hardly committed, err
| bitterly repented what l had done. called hin
lhy name; he returned no answer. | hung owe
his body, and saw, by the light Of the moon, th'
blood streaming from his disfgured visage.
would then have given worlds to have recalled
him to life, for an awful voice seemed to whispe
in my ear, s'He IS your father.' felt of hi
head,-but alas! found that his skull was crush
ed, and the grating of his bones sounded harshl,
on my car | then knew that he was dead, AM
! had received his death blow from the hand Of hi