Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-02
oRAHAM's nAeAzixs.
HARRY CAvENDIsH.
IRecfer of'76," etc.]
DOOM OF THE DART.
CONCLUDED.
THE OPEN BOAT.

| " ~ VIZ VI "'o wave wt'lte Sne lay O1reCtI
under us, we passed the moments in sue
cession of hopes and fears which no hurna
pen can adequately describe. As the nipt
advance our sullerings increased. The mer
worn out with fatigue, were kept at thei
oars only by the consciousness that even
moments respite might be our destruction
With difficulty We maintained even the slight
est communication with our fellow sufferer
in the other boat, and as the hours wore ava
communication became almos. impossible
1t was only at intervals that we caught sigh
OF our companions through the gloom, o.
heard their loud huzzas in answer TO GU
shouts. And no one, except he who has beef
in like situation, can tell how our sense o
Loneliness was relieved when we saw thes,
gIimpses OF our consort, or caught the vel
come sound of other voices than our owl
across that fathomless ABYSS.
AT length gigantic wave rolled up be.
tween us and the launch, and, when we rose
from the trough Of the sea, fancied [ I,earc
beneath us wild, prolonged cry of human
agony. AT the sound, my blood curdled IN
my veins, and strove to pierce the obscur.
ity ahead, hoping almost against hope tina,
our companions yet survived, and that
might catch glimpse at the launch bu. my
strained eyes scanned the prospect in vain,
for the thick darkness shut out every thing
from my vision, except when the ghastly
foam whiiened along the waves beside me-
For an instant ttisd 10 believe that what
| heard had sprung komsa, dlsordered fancy,
but the eager, yet horrS Struck faces of nv
shpmates beside me soon convinced me that
was not the only one who had heard that
cry. We looked at each other for moment,
as men may be supposed TO look who have
seen visitant from the tomb, and then, with
one common impulse, we joined in halloo
that rose wildly to windward, swept down
on us, rose again, and finally died away to
leeward in melancholy notes. No answer
ing cry met our ears. Again and again we
united in a sllout-again and again the roar
OF the wind and wash of the waves was our
only reply. Suddenly flash of lightning
blazed around US, and taking advantage Of
the momentary light thus shed on the pros
pect, l gazed once more across the waste of
waters. We hung, at the moment, on the
topmast height of a mountain wave, while
beneath yawncd black abyss, along whose
side the foam was rolling in volumes, while
the ghastly crests of each mimic blow and
The pitchy darkness Of the depths below
we're lit up with the awful glare of the light
hing, presenting to the Imagination a scene
hat reminded me ofthc lake of fire into which
Millions apostate spirits fell. Just at the
owest point of the vortex boat was seen,
bottom upwards, while, in close proximity to
It, one or two human forms were struggling
IN the sea but all in vain for at every des-
pairing stroke they were born further from
The few frail planks which now were to them
heir world. Oh! never can that sigh, fade from
my memory. A cry Of horror broke stimuli
aneously from all who beheld the scene, and
ong after it had vanished from our eyes we
'eard the first despairing shrek of our drown
ng messmates, we saw the last look of agony
ere they sank forever. To save them was
beyond our power. As we were whirled
1own into the abyss we leaned over the gun.
vale 10 catch, possible, sign of the vi
Unity OF any of the sufferers, but our efforts
we're in vain, and, after watching and listen
ng for more than an hour, we desisted in des-
'air. As the storm gradually passed away,
md the stars broke out on high, difusing
'hadowy light around us, we gazed again
across the waste for some token OF our lost
messmates, hut our scrutiny was in vain.-
The tale Of their death, save as it is rehear.
'ed in these hurried pages, will never be told
until the judgment day.
Morning at length dawned. Insensibly
he first cold streaks of day crept along the
Eastern horizon, gradually dfusing a gray
wilight over the vast solitude Of waters
around !: and filling the mind with sensation
If utter Loneliness, which had experienced
I partially before, never affected me with
such indescribable power as now. As far as
he eye could stretch there was nothing 10
break the vast monotony of the horizon.-
The first glance across the deep destroyed
he hope which so many had secretly enter
aimed, that morning would discover some
'all in sight, and, though no unmanly lamen-
atoms were uttered, the detected look with
which each shipmate turned 10 his fellow was
more eloquent than words. All knew that
We were out of the usual routes of ships eros
ing the atlantic, and that our chances of
escue were consequently lessened.-We
we're, moreover, nearly a thousand miles
rom land, with but scanty provisions and
hese damaged. Our boat was frail, and
me far stronger had already been submerged
What, then, would probably, nay must be
,ur fate Z 1t was easy to see that these
thoughts were passing through the minds of
III, and that a feeling akin 10 despair was
gathering around every heart.
"Cheer up my hearlies !" at length said
Bill Seaton, a favorite topman, looking
ound on his companions, "i,'s always dark
'st just before day. and if we don't meet
all now and then, we must look all the sharp
n tor one Tomorrow. Never say die while
'ou hear the wind over head, or see the
waves frolicking around you. Twenty
years have sailed, in one craft or another,
md often been in as bad scrapes as this-so
is hard 10 make me think we're going to
Davy Jones' locker this time. Cheer uD.
cheer up, braves, and Ill give you Bold
Hawthorne and with the words he broke
'ut into song, whose words acted like in.
'p'ra'lon on the crew, and in moment the
air ruDg with the ballad. chorussed firth nv