The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-03-07
vo0L8II.

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ihershrouds, was peering anxiously out
to mindwarda 3 ~ ,f7sdfaH
ss)o you heafthat--did youhear any
thing said he suddenly turning to me.
.No thing,' said |, shut the mourning
Of the windi the rigging, and the. pile
driving thumps Of her bows
"Ah!-hush--not word2listen--
there it is again."
aWhere?" said !. "
"Right out in the direction of my
hand there--don't YOU hear thatg'
y@By heavens, hear voice! there
again. ..,.., # ,st.t,e i,r1,
Here there was iull, and we dis
|stinctly heard II. 1t was a long. mourn
ful cry, and had in its sound something
inexprcssibly narrowing. II seemed
the voice Of a strong man, exhausted in
mind nd,bedy, weakened to a woman
ish state Of feeling by hunger, exposure.
misery and despair; calling fur help
witheut hope to find it. Itwas actual
|iy musical, and had in its prolonged
melancholy cadence. something so a.
cutely touching, as TO make me expe-
rience feeling precisely similar to that
II used ohave in my childhood, just
when at the point offaling away into
AIT Of crying. We all stood entranc-
ed and motionless, listening ill its dying
fall was lost in the rush of the wind and
dash Of the wave. r.
lathe Ford l,ok to- that poor soul.
any how!r said hoarse voice behind
me, but in tone of much feeling.
turned, and saw it was one OF the crew,
who were clustered, some forward at
the heel Of the bowsprit, and the others
farther aft round the head Of the long
boat; every body was on deck, and alt
heard the cry, and were making whis-
,ering remarks, which, being to the
wiidward, ! could not distinctly hear.
Again the wind lulled, and again the
long mournful ssiillo-o--" sWelled and
sunk upon our ears. '".a'.a th
ut is broad abeam of us no W, sir, p
said the mate.
EYES," said the master, sit must be
drifting down with the current. Can
any Of you see any tbing!'' But no
one answered. ssHcre. you Tom Brad
ley, jumpaft in the gapgway, and an
swer their hail, whoever they are"
The young man, who had remarka-
| bIy loud and clear voice, went aft,
mounted in the weathermain rigging,
and immediately trumpet4ike 'hillc-
hoy" rang over the water. A minute,
and it was answered. by the same mourn
lu call; but this time | could ear it
was a.liculate--there were distinct
words, though J could not make them
out--moreover the voice seemed more
distant, and was we'll upon the quarter.
The master and the mate were of the
same opinion. A.ia8i s,,i a.. s6
"Come on board, Bradley" said the
former. "Put her about, Mr.. -; to
the mate,) we are sure to fetch the pre-
else spot next tack" ]" and immediately
with the USUAL noise and hustle, but with
more than the usual smarthess, ronnd
went the brig, and away upon the lar
board tack.
"Put a lookout at each cathead, and
one at each gangway, Mr.. A."
Say, ay, SIR"
For afew minutes we went on in 81
lence. ap ,- isc5a
II think we should be near the spot
now, slr" said the mate. "Shall ! hail
them9'
aYes,'' said 'the master; and the mate
going 10 leeward, .hallowed al the top
ofhis voice. There was no answer.
By thlstime the moon become apparent
struggling through the fleeciness, be-
tween two of the great cloud masses.
You could not see her exact disc, bit
the brightness between the clouds and
the light shed upon the surface of the
sea, little asi was, gave Indication Of
her intention shortly TO unveil herself.
TX ecpa bright look out for'ard there,
sung out the master.
@Ay,ay, sir" answered the man, not
in the usual drawing way, but quickly
and sharply, as if anxiously on the a.
lert. M :., ...,. u (.
"Gangways" Another similar ,re-
ply. .sHai again, Mr.A---'
The mate followed again. There
was no sound in answer. Atthat mo-
Iment the moon shone out bright and
clear. The edges iofs,rhe vast rolling
clouds became, asst were silverized, and
"a broad flow oflight fell upon the sea
around Us, rendering every thing with
in the eyes range clear and distinct.
.s'Do you see any thing, men--anyi
boat or craft, or any thing in the wa
ter?'' III 4, , vi
But the light was 50 bright and sud
den, that It was nearly a minute, during
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