The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-04-05


have something else to roll. 'Tis COM
ing Black Norris, It's coming! A huge
black hull--one mast standing out Of
three; cannons and stores overboard;
rising and sinking; rocking and reeling
driving full bump upon the reef where
the William and Mary was wrecked;
the very reef on which you stand black
Norris; ay and the very spot!'
"Slence jader exclaimed the wreck
er, looking from beneath his hand,
which, with the rapidity of lightning
was raised to his brow and placed there
horizontally, and leaning eagerly for
ward.
"ln the south!"
"Yes."
"Just clear Of the pointr'
eyes; the looming of smolthing!'tis
sloop! see but one mast"
"Tis ship! Black Norris. The
other two have been cut away"
"Peace jade, what know'st thou Of
the matter?"
"Tis ship," she continued. 81 told
you so! There is the huge black hull.'
3'ris there, indeed" exclaimed the
wrecker. "Art thou a witch, as well
as crazed. 'Tis there indeed she is dri
wing right into the bay coming broad.
side on"
A huge black hull it was, high out o
the water, as if every article Of freight
that could be spared had been thrown
overheard. Keeling and pitching she
came on. staggering every now and
then at the stroke Of some wave that
broke over her.. Fast was she nearing
the shore.
SNOW, now, now," ever and anon
exclaimed the wreckers; but she was
floating still, so much had those on
board lightened her. At length she
was fairly among the breakers. She
touched, and touched; yet went on
at last she struck, and long continu,
ed crash came undulating upon the ears
of the lookers-on, accompanied with
haloos and shrieks. The shore was
now all astir. '-'
"That does for her," exclaimed sew.
eral voices all at once, as an enormous
wave towering, asif charged with hel
doom. came foaming toward her. In
another minute it broke upon her with
fury that sent the spray to the clouds
and totally hid her from the Shore
When she became visible again, the
whole of her larboard broadside was
stove in. In moment, men. women
and children, were up t, their middle
in the surf. Another billow--she was
gone. Planks, pullies, spars, and cor
dage, now came floating ID, and every
one went to work-every one but
Black Norris.
He kept his station upon the reef
post which common consent seemed
to have yielded W to him. No one
ventured TO dispute his right to it. In
advance Of him stood the maniac, con.
stantly looking in one direction, kind
of cove produced by . forking in the
reef Thence she never took her eye,
except to throw glance at Black Nor
ris whenever he made a movement, as
ifabout to quit the stand which she had
chosen.
"Twill be here," she kept repeating:
twill be here, that which will be worth
the hull to the, were it high and dry.
and all thine own! wait for it, tits sent
to thee, twill be here. DID | not tell
you of the huge black hull, and came il
not? AS surely that will come, which
in that hull was sent to thee. Be ready
with thy boat hook. The minutes are
counted. The wave that is to bring il
is rolling in. There it is. | know it.
Here, take my place and be ready.
Here it ls----a body---hook it by the
clothes; keep il clear of the rocks.
Round---round---round here into this
nook. Look lift does not lie there as
ifi. were made for it. What think you
now, Black Norris? What think you
Of crazy Kate' Softly; soflIy," she
continued, as the wrecker, substituting
mis- hands for the instrument, began to
draw the body up tothe beach. Softly;
the pockets are full. Softly, lest any
thing should drop from them. That
will do; that will do" H
Scarcely was TIE body clear Of the
surf wien the wrecker began to rifle it.
The pockets were full; one Of them
was speedily emptied, when laugh
from the maniac, who, squatting, sat
gibbering at the head, arrested Black
Norris in the act Of examining the con-
tents. 5g .i 49as
"What laugh'st tbon at, jadeGn he in
quired. M
"Go on," she replied, "tis a fair, love-
r.. J,,, N. all ,kzo. =. Dr. A.