Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-12-08
From Graham's Magazine.
THE UNION-JACK.
BY HARRY DANFoRTH, AUTHOR OF "cRUIs-
ING IN THE LAST WAR;"

1t was calm and moonless night; but
the stars we're out on high, shining with a
brilliancy only seen in the tropics. The
brig lay almost motonless, her sails hanging
loosely from the yards, and her bow slowly
lifting with the almost impcrccpi,ble heave
of the long, regular swell. There was
not Sound to disturb the silence, except
the wash of an occasional ripple against
her side, or the impatient whistle Of sea-
man. On every side the ocean stretched
away until lost in the dim obscuri,y OF the
horizon; and the blue concave was unbro-
ken by clouds, except toward the west,
like thin veil of gauze; but spicy odor
impregnating the air told the practiced sea-
man that what seemed only a cloud was in
reality land. The beauty and stiffness Of the
scene were beyond description, and even the
rudest of the crew, as they leaned idly over
the briggs side. seemed to feel the dreamy
influence of the hour.
There we're but three passengers beside
myself, father and his daughters, two of
the most beautiful girls l ever saw. One
had dark eyes and hair, with most queenly
presence. She was the elder sister; but
the other was my favorite. Rarely does ma
turc gift human being with such transcend
ant lovelness as that enjoyed by Ellen Ben
son. Her eyes were of a deep blue, hu-
mid, melting and heavenly. Her hair was
of that rare golden color of which the poets
speak, and each wavy tress glistened with
every motion in the sun. Her voice was
like running water, clear, silvery and liquid,
or like flute at night heard across quiet
lake. Her form was so light and aerial that
it seemed to float along, as II itwere that Of
a goddess, and the movements Of her limbs
kept time like sisters dancing. Though
had known her scarcely week, she had al
ready twined herself around my heart, for
there was an artless frankness and reliance
about her Which might have won on one far
less imaginative and susceptible than my
self.
The day had been excessively sultry, so
that when night came on and the air grew
cooler, we gathered on the quarterback
with reviving spirits, and spent gay and
happy evening. Long will those few hours
remain stamped on my memory, for, in the
course of an even.ful life, have spent few
so pleasantly. Ellen had been singing to
Us, and the soft notes of her voice yet lin
gered in our thoughts, producing that holy ST.
lence which always follows plaIntive song
we'll sung, when suddenly cry broke from,
the lips Of the performer. 1t was a cry of
alarm, so startling and wild that turned has
tily toward her. Her face was paler than
that of death-her lips were parted in ter
ror-her eyes stared fearfully at some object
g. ~ ,oA ko. -:
ted in the direction of her look. quivered
like an aspen. lnstinctively followed her
eye. The cause of her agitation was appa-
rent. Far up to winward, and scarcely dis
cernible amid the thin haze which hung in
that direction. appeared long heavy cared
boat; and, though the distance and the fog
bank rendered it nearly undistinguishable,
enough could be seen to make as certain
that It was crowded with men and pulling d.
rectly for US. The size Of the boat, its
dense crew, and the reputation of the seas
we were in, left no doubt as to its character.
II was apirate.
In an instant the alarm became general.
A dozen eyes, at the same moment, discern
ed the outlaws. The sisters had heard so
much of pirates that they knew Immediately
the character Of the boat The elder utter
ed faint shrek and chung closer to her faith
er's arm; while Ellen, after gazing in hor-
ror moment longer on the barge, turned
shudderingly away and buried her face in
her parents bosom. Never shall forget
tho look Of agony that shot over the sire's
countenance. A dark frown gathered on
the shippers face, but TO this speedily sue
ceeded an expression Of deep anxiety. He
looked eagerly around the horizon, then up
to the sails, then around the horizon again,
and called for lighted candle. By this
time every eye was fixed on him. The
crew gathered within a short distance of the
quarterback, anxiously awaiting his orders |;
while the father and his daughters stood form
ing group by themselves, the parent with
one arm wound around either child, each of
whom convulsively chung to him, while all