The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-09-17
CHAPTER III.


CHAPTER III.
Far DER the watery waste beacon-light
Beams its bright welcome to the seaman's sight;
ENuant now he makes the whirng foam,
Nor needs the growing storm the light guides to his
'shc was form ofCc and light
That, seen, becomes part OF sight,
"A blessing on that grlr said the old skipper
MS he stood ut the helm of his little craft, directing
her through the wallowng sen; blessing on thai
grln he repeated more Frequently, as his eye caugh,
the first glare of the distant fire that served as
guide to his course.
What light is 'hat'' asked young man in a
feeble voice. The speaker was wrapped closely
in shaggy overcoat, lent him by the captain, and
stood by the side, he rather reclined on the CON-
panon-way near the pinnacle.
THAT light ia kinded on the Gul's Head at the
starboard entrance Of the cove, answered the old
man. and by as fair lass, young sir, as FER gra-
ced prince haII--a blessing on her say T.
'Your daughter, presume' said his young COM
panion.
She calls me father, ay--' replied the old man,
with little hesitalon--' and never had parent
more reason to pride himself on
Are you sure the light is kinded on the Gulls
IIead'' said one of the crew, nterruplins the en-
comiums of the old man.
'If it is on the Hawks Nest We shall heartily
weather Dead Mans ledge if you steer your pres
ent course
'Suren said the aged helmsman, 'ay, my life
on Nell's iorehought, She has too much good sense
to kndle fire to leeward on such night us this,
knowing where-away we are, But keep a sharp
lookout r'ard, ho continued, as he bent a scar
ching gaze on the distant beacon. "A bad ledge,
sir, bad ledge, is that with, q bad name. 1t
stretches here-away, about half league from the
Hawks Nest--lhe name given to broad shelf
that laps out from the larboard cfas we enter the
cove
The young man with whom this conversation was
held, was not, the reader will infer, one Of the
crew. The wreckers had been on cruise, du-
ring which they hid proyidentially fallen in with
stranded ship, some Leagues down the coast, from
which, with much difficulty and risk, this young
man was rescued. lie was a passenger, and the
only saved; all the rest, passengers and crew. hav-
ing been swept oil ere the wreck was discovered.
The survivor was not rescued moment too soon
for he was nearly insensibo and entirely hopeless
when fallen in with and had it not been for the old
man, he would probably have been left to his fate
At the imminent risk of his life, he boarded the
wreck and took the sufferer oil. Owing to the
heavy sea that was running and the threatening APP
sci without attempting to save anything from her.
Whence did the ledge you mentioned derive its
name:' enqulred the young man after brief pause.
1t has always BONE that name since my lnowl-,
edge, replied the old man. 'Thcre is II tradition
among the few jewellers on the coast, that in the
olden time, gallant ship, driven by stress of
weather. struck on this reef in tina night ana was
shattered, so that when morning came not a speck
was 10 be seen of her. One man alone, of all her
crew, was found when the tide receded, cold
and still, cllngiug with death-grasp to the kelp
and Sea-weed growing on the ledge, and swinging
about with the wash of the sea. Ever since, it is
said, when the tempest is abroad through the live
long night, his lone wall can be heard mlngng with
the tumult of the gale. We are nearing the spot
now, young man. added the old man in low
tone of voice. Look yonder-you can see it break
under our lee-bow. Listen there should be wall
ings from Dead Mans ledge tonight, il ever-I
have often heard them in the pauses of the gale
The old man bent his head, while his compan-
ion gave an involuntary shudder as he cast glance
on the LONG line Of foam short distance at the lee.
ward, along the very edge of which the little craft
was dashing with the speed of the wind-but it was
not from dread Of hearing supernatural cries.
He shuddcred when he thought of the dangers he
had passed through, and of the certain fate which
fearful storm now gathering. lie thought, too, of
the companions of his voyage, now dashed about
by the turbulent sea, or thrown manglcd corses,
on the rork-bound shore. Fortunately among them
he had TO mourn no kindred lost-no friendly tic
broken. As they approached nearer the shore, and
The breakers sounded more loudly in his ears, still
moro vivedIy was he impressed with the horrors of
the scenes through which he had passed, and a
prayer fgra,itnde went up TO Him who had vouch-
safed his dellysrancc. lie was aroused from this
silent communion by shout from the old man,
and on ooting up he found the vessel was in the
close neighborhood of the cliff, on the summit of
which bazed the bright beacon.
Thanks, my brave girl! thanks for your ghtn
shouted the old man, gazing as he spoke, towards
the burning pile.
The young man turned his eyes in the same d.
rectlon. At first the glare of the flames dazzled
them so he could not discern any other object; but
in a moment he discovered the person addressed.
Standing, as it appeared to him, on tho very edge
OF the cliff, which sunk sheer TO the sea hundred
feet or more, he detected the graceful outlines of
female figure. In her hand she held blaznu
brand which she waved two or three times in the
air, while welcome bacb!' came down from the
DIZZY height IN sweelIy musical tones. Once more
swinging her torch in the air she turned and dart
70" '"h w" sPot, uch''nS VIII HeI tue Naming
brand. Tho young man followed with his ewes
the light as it flashed along the maiden's path. One
moment it seemed to run along the very brink of
the tall clills-the next it would curve inward from
the cOye--How the light would pass quickly down
some sharp descent-now seem to rise with less
iapidty--One moment approaching, the next rece-
ding, until it at last faded and nlckered to dim
twinkle, and then suddenly disappeared Mean
while, the sad having been lowered and furled. the
schooner rounded the point we have described
where she was protected from the rough weather,
and was shortly moored in safety.
We will not stop TO portray the emotions Of the
young man as he once more placed his foot on the
land. Chasiened joy mingled with sadness were
his first feelings, soon, however, succeeded by
deep, all Pervading ofhankfulness and praise.
As he stood apart leaning against a huge rocky
fragment that had once formed portion Of the tall
cliff that frowned threateningly above him, scan.
ming with bewidered gaze the blackened sky
and the stern scene family revealed around him,
while the crew arranged the boat for the night. the
rlro.' Io,o L.. l.