Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1839-03-30

Maint0p there! came the nan again;
80 you see him to leeward?"
No sir!" was the chill rely.
The ship now remained stationary, with
her lights aloft, but could perceive moth
ing more for some minutes; they had given
me up for lost9
That could see The ship, those on
board well knew provided ] had gained the
buoy: but their object was TO discover me,
and now several blue lights we're burnt at
once on various parts ofthe rigging. How
plainly could l see her rolling ia the swell!
at one moment engulphed, and ~ the
next rising clear above the wave, her bright
mast and white sails glancing, the mirror
Of hope, in this fearful illumination; while
l, covered with the breaking surge, was
tossed wildly about, now on the crest,
now in the trough Of the sea.
"There he is, sir! right beamw shout
ed twenty voices, as rose upon the wave.
"Man the braces!" was the quick, clear,
and Joyous reply of the trumpet: while, to
cheer the forlorn heart Of the drowning sea-
men the martial tones Of the bugle rung out,
Boarders acaym and the chill call Of
the boatswain piped, "haul taut and Delay"
and the noble ship, blazing with light, fell
off before the wind.
A new danger now awaited me; FOR the
immense hull Of the sloop Of war came
plunging around, bearing directly down
upon me; while her increased proximity
enabled me TO discern all the minutie OF
the ship, and even 10 recognize the face
Of the first lieutenant, as trumpet in hand,
he stood on the forcastle.
Nearer yet she came, while l could
move only as the wave tossed me; and now
the end Of her flying jib-boom is almost
over my head!
"Hard a port" hailed the trumpet at this
critical moment: ''round III weather main
braces right the helm!'
The spray from the bows Of the ship, as
she came up, dashed over me, and the in.
creased swell buried me for an instant UNI
der a mountain wave; emerging from which
there lay my ship, hove TO, not her length
to windward!
"Garnet," hailed the lieutenant from the
lee-gangway, "are you there my lad?
say, ay, sir" shouted in reply; tho
| doubted whether, in the storm, the re-
spouse could reach him: but the thunder
toned cheering which dlspite the discipline
of a man of war, now rung from the decks
and rigging put that fear to rest, and my
heart bounded with rapture, in joyous hope
Of speedy rescue.
"AIl ready?" hailed the lieutenant
again; "heave!" and four ropes, with
small floats attached, were thrown from
the ship and fell around me. None, how
ever, actually touched me; and for this
reason the experiment failed; for l could
not move my unwieldy grating, and dared
not leave it; for by SO doing, might in
that fearful swell miss the rope, and be
unable TO regain my present position, and
drown between the two chances of escape.
l was SO near 10 the ship, that l could
recognize the faces Of the crew on her
illuminated deck, and hear the officers as
they told me where the ropes lay; but the
fearful alternative l have mentioned,
caused me to hesitate, until ], being much
lighter than the vessel, found myself fast
drifting to leeward. l then resolved to
make the attempt, my resolution again
faltered, and the precious and final oppor-
tunity was lost! Now, too the storm,
which, as if in compassion, had Temporal
rily lulled, roared again ia full fury; aud
the safety Of the ship required that she
should be put upon her course. y y y y
Knickerbocker.