The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-10-01
VOL. III. NO. "A.


. posed, the tide beng in its young flood. Owing
to some remark thIown out by Antonio, apparent
y in caress manner, respecting certain species
OF cookie to be found upon it, Irving proposed Ian
ding. Antonio spoke of the lateness of the hour
and the distance from the cove, as if hestating.-
There will be time enough, however, said he,
for we have the wind, VIVA, there is of it, undthe
tide in our lavor'-and he ran the boat along side
the rock savage CLEAN Of satisfaction lit up the
eyes of the young Spaniard as he sprang upon it
followed by his companion
For some time they remained gathering the
cock els, from some OF which rich dye, similar to
carminc, may be obained-a specie, very common
on our coast While Irving was thus busl!y en-
pIoycd, the Young Spanard coverty stepped into
the boat, gave her hasty shove off, and was quite
n distance from the rock ere Irving noticed his alb
sence. Persuming, OF course, that it was done in
joke, he made some slight remark and continued
gathering the cookies. Having obtained sutli-
cent quantity, he hailed Antonio who was at some
distance. to take him on. A scornMI laugh was
the response. Still free from suspicion, and finding
the space on which he stood was rapidly encroach-
ed upon by the tide, he again hailed his conpan-
ion, requesting him to return. This time no reply
was made, but Irving noticed the sail oflhc boat
was trimmed that she might head to the westward.
For the frs, time, suspicion now flashed upon
his mind Ellen had told him Of AntOniO's offer
and her rejection Of his suit and of the exaspera-
ted feeling he manifested on the occason-and
this was the horrid revenge he he'd determined up
on-leaving him on that lone rock TO perish by n
slow and miserable death-iIoping, that after all,
his fears might be groundless-though he now
wildly recalled the unfayorable impressions he
cherished on first meeting Antonio after his return,
which served 10 increase his apprehenslon-ior a
third time he hailed him, in voice as unconcerned
| b.r ,rJ, Oh ~ all , nT
Come Antonio, he said, it will be late before
we get home The tide, too, is coming in fast and
will soon overflow the rock
This time an answer came back and lrvinGs
blood recedcd coldy to his heart it fell upon his
ears, for he knew that he was doomed man: that
the Spunmrd had decoyed him on to the rock for
the very purpose of leaving him there to his fate!
lla! hat he shouted. as he sat down in the
stern Of The boat. A pleasant night may you have
of it, my young huck' he continued in hooking
tone as the boat slowly recedcd from The rock-'lhe
priest You have hidden to youl bridal may be wan
ted for less joyful occasion, if the sea should
throw your blonted carcass on shore! gave tho
maiden fair warning vet have trapped YOU at last
Kneel to your God, for in an hours tine it will be
all over with your And another savage laugh
Aoaed over the calm waters.
| In nm agony of mind which for the moment be-
minded every faculty, the Young man stood us if
carved out Of the solid rock ,Inotonles, almost pulse
les.--his cheeks banched as death-every muscle
strained to its utmost tension, with his CLASSY eyes
fixed in despair gaze upon the distant boat, now
fast disappearing in the gloom OF the fading twi-
light. Her course lay TO the eastward, probably
tending toward some by-port-lhere being num-
her of fishing stations scattered at intervals along
the coast whence the young Spaniard would
doubtless make his escape.
The last ininr glimpse Of the reccding sail had
Uttered like II vague shadow on the Young mans
sight ere he was aroused from his death-iike stu
por. when the full sense Of his fearful and hopeless
doom hurst upon him. From the iar-of horizon,
into whose misty obscurlty the boat had vanished,
the gaze Of the unhappy victim of reachery was
directed with shudder to the water at his feet
Inch by inch the tide was gaining on his narrow
ioothoId-every moment creeping nearer and nearer
to the slight elevation to which he had relrealtd.--
In a momentary feeling Of despair he threw him
self upon the rock, giving himself up to the fate
which appeared Notwithstanding for the rising
tide to wash him OF to his watery grave.
In that hopeless moment, what thoughts tumul-
tuousy crowded his brain! His home-hs moth
or and si.ter-dearer than a,. hls aImost-bride---
the endrarins associations that clustered around
each and all Of those objects Of love--he glowing
hopes he had chershed-the long Lifetime of hap
pn.ss he had ancipaipd-muS he resign them all!
At the very moment when all he coveted in life was
u., within his gra,p-in the freshness and yi-or of
youth-must he be taken away! Must he die,--
lie sprnng 10 hls feet the bitter thought shot like
pang through his heart
God Of mercy, spare mel he cried with n
chooked u,teance lifting his arms on high. as he
felt the swelling water FLASHING around his feet as
it broke with gentle motion over the lock
Spare me. Heavenly Father he repeated But
,c hn Inv ,~,Il that I nar;-h l.,
ferings be short.
The moon had now arisen, and a long line Of
trembling light shot acro.. the oceans suffice, APP
parsn,ly terminating at the spot where the young
man stood. Its gentle beams, resting so like
smile IN the face sfthe deep, seemed to his lren-
zed feelings a. sent in mocksry to his sUtlerings;
and ~ they broke IN htfal flashes among the rip
pies ?layed abost the inundated rock, they en-
abIed the wretched young man TO observe the tide,
as it rose gradually-sach little wavelet washing
in succession up-up-hgher and higher sending
a elnmmy, death-liks chlIlinss. through The frame.
Slowly as the waters rese-sow reaching the in
step--hsw the sncls-pew erssping--creepng
steaihily Up tks p,b, its cold embrace feeling like
the clasp of dsaS--is the very calmness of dcs-
peratio", the young man entered into a calculation
as 10 the length Of time ii would taks before the
tide would he bTeast-his h-belore it would reach
the lip-before il would prevent the last bubbiins
breath! struggling sensation, as thus in imagina-
on he followed the rising waters aroused him from
The revsy. and giving coRVUlsive grasp, with a
sickness Of heart not TO be described he was about
tuIun. toward the Gr-disiant shore--barsly dis
ccrnibe in the thick haze which had settled down
upon lit may be With faint hope Of observing
some sisn frslief, though in what shape it would
come hs had not even a vague idea-he was in tho
nc, Of turning, We say, when his eve detected
slight ripple in the water some distance seawaId
and presently he discovered black object slowly
crossing the narrow line flight. He started and
bent his gaze eagerly in the direction, while hi,
heart tbrobbed with tumultuous violence. AT
first hs thought 1t was same nhabtani Of the deem
"A shark, perhaps attracted the spot by the scent
Of hnnsn prey-and a thrill oicrror shot through
his frame at the idea OF falling into the power ofthe
voracious msnsier. Although but short time be-
fore, he had prayed 10 be relieved from the tor
meats Of a lingering death, vet he irsmbed as tho
idea occurred, that, perhaps the object before him