The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-04-25

Of" Light o = was heard from he fore.
lopsail yard.
Where away !" asked The officer Of
the deck.
"Three points 10 The lee bow. !" repli.
ed The lOok-outmsn; which The unpro-
lessionsl reader will readily understand
10 mean very nearly straight ahead. Al
This moment the Captain appeared and
took The trumpet.
"csll al hands," was his inmediate
order.
"All hands," whisiIed the Loaiswain.
with The long shnll summons. familiar
90 the ears Of al Who have ever been on
board Of \ msn-Of-Har.
"All hands, /" screamed the bosisyain's
mate. and ere the last eehO.died away al
but sick were upon deck.
The ship was staggering through a
heavy swell from the Bay Of Biseay the
gale which had been blowing severn!
days, had increased 10 severity that was
not 10 be made light Of. The breakers,
where Sir Clnudesley Shovel and hi.
fleet were destroyed. in the days oil
Queen Ann. sang their song Of death be-
fore. and the Dead Mans Ledge replied
in hcarser notes behind us. To 90 ahead
seemed 10 be death, and 10 aiIemp. To 60
sbaut was sure destruction.
The iirst Thing that caught the eye oi
tie Captain was the fuTled maiusail.
which he had ordered 10 be carried
throughout the eSening-ihe hauling dp
of which. contrary 10 llie last order that
he had given on leaving the deck. had
caused the ship TO fall of 10 Ieewari two
points. and had thus led her into a posi-
lion on (" Ice shore" upan which q
strong gale was blowing her. in which
the chance Of safety appeaIed 10 the stout
es! nerves aimosi hopeless. That sole
chance consisted in standing on, to carry
Us through the breakers Of Scilly or by
close Craze along their outer ledge.
Was this destiny 10 be tho end of the
gallant old ship, consecrated by so many
PRAYER and blessing from the heart Of a
naiiani
why is the mainsail up. when | or.
dered il set!" cried the captain in a ire.
mendous voice.
Finding ll,al she pitched her bows
under, took il in. under your general
order, sir, that the officer of The deck
should carry sail according To his discre.
ton" replied The Lieutenant in COM
msni.
"Heave the lag," was thp prompt
command. TO The masters mate. The
log was thrown.
"ilow fast does she 90 7"
Five knots aud half. sir"
/" Board the main tack"
"She will not bear il, sir" said the
officer of the deck. -.
Board the main tack, :" Numbered The
Captain. i" Keep her full and bye. Quar-.
terInasier."
AYE. aye, sir" The tack was
boarded.
"Haul aft the main sheet. shouted
the captain, and aft il went like the
spreading Of a sea birds wing, giving
the huge sail TO the gale.
"GIye her the lee helm when she
goes into the sea-" cried The captain.
AYE! aye sir she has IT," growl-
ed out the old ses-dog at the pinnacle.
Right your helm keep her full and
bye"
"Aye! aye! sir! full and bye she
is" was the prompt answer from the
helm.
How fast does she go 7"
Nine knots and half. sir"
How bears the light Z"
"Nearly a beam, sir"
Keep her away half point"
How fast does she go!"
mime knots. SIR"
q" Steady sou returned the captain.
" Sieady." answered the helmsman,
and oil was the silence Of the grave upon
tia, crowded deck, except the bowling Of
the s,orm--lpr space oi time that SEEM
cd To my imagination almos. an age.
II was trying hour with us--unless
We could carry sail so as ~ 90 at the
rate Of nine knots an hour. we must Of
necessity dash apon Scilly, aud who
ever touched these rocks aud lived du. |
ring storin The sea ran very high. |
The rain fell in sheets, the sky was one |
black curtain. illuminated only by the
'aint light which was 10 mark our deliv-
,rence. or stand a monument Of our de-
'truclion. The wind had got above
il came in pufIs that aattened
hs waves, and made our old frigate sell
lie to her bearings, while every thing on
BOARD seemed 10 be cracking into pieces.
IL this mament the carpenter reported
hat the left boil Of the weather iore-
shropd had dawn.
"Get on the lufTs. and set them on all
he weather shrouds. Keep her at small
lelm, Quartermaster, aud ease her in The
ca" were the orders Of the captain. Il