The Arkansas banner., 1843-11-18

blow the whole island over to Africa for , aught care l have neither kith nor kin here, and am as pennyless as a Spanish beg gar" Something out of the common order of events appeared to animate the group; some were collected together in earnest conversa- tion; others were mounting horses and scam pering off to the Casilda, whilst party upon the house-top were gazing through spy glass es at the sea. The youth, before described, inquired of an individual who had just come down, and who closed his glass with snap that shattered the instrument, exclaiming at the same time, "Caraho, she's gone."
 "What IS the matter, Senor2 there seems to be screw out of place somewhere, what is 1t ?''
 'Why, Senor Americana, mic. There Is a barque outside there, in which we are all interested-a good half million of freight, that IS likely to be swamped by this internal hurricane, or nabbed by John Bull, that's all?o
 The youth spoken to, mounted the steps and was quickly upon the parapet. Almost all the houses of Trinidad are constructed with flat roofs, with parapet about three feet high, for the purpose of catching rain water during the wet season.
 Upon reaching the parapet, he was aston lshed at the sudden change from breathIess calm to a ferocious gale, with every pre- monition of one of those terrible hurricanes that sometimes, in single hour, lay waste whole districts The inhabitants were hur- lying to shelter in the greatest trepidation, closing theirs shops and barricading their doors and windows-the streets were already strewed with fragments of roofs and broken tiles torn from their fastenings by the first fury of the blast. The vultures, those li- censed scavengers of every West Indian town, at all hours of the day skimming over the tops of houses, or soaring to great height III gigantic circles, were now crouching be- heath the parapets, and the atmosphere was filled with flocks of screaming sea gulls, driven from their habitation upon the coasts and numerous islands, by the irresistible fury of the wind
 | A drift-like smoke rolled over the ocean and spread across the land to the mountains base. At intervals, the surface of the sea, to the utmost limits of the wide extended hori- zon, was distinctly visible, lashed into a foam, and whirled aloft in wreaths of spray from the tops fthe curling waves.
 Two vessels were distinctly seen scudding before the wind under close reefed topsail Onward they both came with the speed of race horses, the one further seaward, from the cut of her canvass and squareness of yards, evidently man-of-war, in full chase; as she rose upon swell, her long dark hull and line of ports were visible; from the bow at the same moment issued a volume of smoke, which as suddenly was swept away by the wind, and mingled with the floating spray and haze, and ere the sound of the cannon had reached the shores, Gin low, sup pressed murmurs,) the Spanish barque had rounded Pedro Blanche, dropt her anchors, and swung round to the wind The man-of- war came flashing in after under bare poles, her close reefed foresail but few moments before having been blown clean out of the bolt ropes; and whirled off to leeward, twist ing and twirling about until 1t was lost in the haze that now covered every thing with an impenetrable veil; but ere the two vessels were closed from view, it was evident that the man-of-war had passed close under the stern of the shaver, and was riding upon the swell with four anchors ahead
 The gale now had increased to almost a hurricane; it was with difficulty she youth could maintain his position upon the para pet; he therefore descended to the store be- low, and mingled with the anxious group collected there.
 It was conceded by all, that the Esperanza, for such was the name of the slayer, was a gone case. If she rode out the gale which was very improbable, the Stag, well known British cruiser, would certainly capture her, and if the hurricane increased, as there was every likelihood, both vessels must be wreck ed, with the chance of all hands perishing.
 One said he would sell his interest for fifty ounces, another for five hundred, and all ap- peared to think the chances so perfectly des- perate, as scarcely worth an hours purchase. The hero of our story listened to every thing with the deepest interest; at last he stept boldly up to one of the gentlemen and said,
 ssCome, sir, what did you say you would take for your interest in that ship?"
 'sIll take five hundred ounces, and that's selling what, if all had gone right, would fetch at the barracoon this day, fifty thousand dollars"
 ssY es," replied the stranger, s.but she will never come ashore except in pieces. Look at that-there goes the roof of of Don Vim cents house, as clean as a whistle The hur- ricane is up-it will tear that ship to pieces in less than an hour. Pll give you one hun dred ounces for your share; and take my chance.o
 .Paga it's bargain p cried the Spaniard; sJohn Bull has got her, l believe, already La Esperanza must have drifted down upon her ere this"
 Seven or eight shares were purchased up- on the spot, and bargain made with the others, who appeared to view our friend in no other light than a madman, thatif he saved the ship and cargo, he was to receive twenty five per cent upon the gross amount
 No sooner was the negotiation concluded, and the writings, which were hastily drawn, safely deposited in his pocket, than he bound ed forth into the storm, with a cry of ''a dios senores," and was lost in the gloom which shrouded every thing without.