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

0DlecI 10 Dreak tne uHnoTIl UTlSHp ieVe'.
The cutter and jolly boat were lower
ed and manned. but where to bid them
pull was a question. Just at that mo-
ment we heard a loud cry, similar in
every respectto thatwe heard tonight,
away on our lee quarter. y
".There is his voice. cried the cap
tain, sright on the lee quarter--right in
the moons wake; that's why, you can't
see him.--give way men, for Gods sake;
stretch your limbs ;''tis for iife;' and a.
way shot both boats, each with the Off
Ger standing up in the bows looking
anxiously out. But when they had
pulled about hundred yards from the
ship without seeing any object, the
mournful cry came again upon our ears,
but from the weather quarter.
'ssGracious Heaven, Mr.. Grev,' said
the captain, shave we been mistaken,
and sent the boats in the wrong direc-
tionr 4 r
4 "sNo, SIR said the first lieutenant,
'the sound most assured.y came from
the lee quarter. heard it most dis
tinctly,' and turning to the surgeon and
master, who were hard by, they both
corroberated hisassertion from the most
decided evidence of their senses.
"sBut for all that said the captain,
it would appear there has been mis-
take. Recall the boats
'sHere again the wild wailing cry
came from tie same direction as it had
done the second time, and though when
the first lieutenant hailed the tops and
asked If they could see anything, they
answered they could not; yet the boats
were recalled, and, as they passed un-
der the stern, were sent in the other
direction.
"'Did you see anything Of himr ask
ed Mr.. Grey. Both the midshipmen in
the boats replied they had not.
But when they had gone about as
far to windward as they had vionsly
done 10 eeward, the cry broke upon
our ears once more, but faint and far a.
way astern while the iife-buoy itself
had hardly had time TO drift more than
a hundred yards from the ship.
's1he captain appeared much struck.
He looked at the other officers, then,
without word, went and walked by
himself, while the others, with faces pa
Ter than they would like to hear me
say. gathered in whispering groups.
1Shortly the boats returned. They
had pulled about for some time, but
could see nothing. The jolly-boat was
sent to pick upthe life-buoy. All this
while every ui Of the men had been
a$silent lis a mouse, and you could hear
the flap of the sails the cheeping Of the
tiilerropes, and the ripple Of the current
against the ships bows, unnaturally
loud and distinct.
"As soon as the life-buoy and boats
We're secured. srill and stand on, Mr..
irey,' said the captain, and, without
another word, he moved towards the
companion to 60 down to his cabin.
Just, however, as he was about to de-
scend,, bis ewes. were attracted to "a
bright, pale fame tha, kept futtering
aud fickering about the weather fore
toplnast studding sail boom end, and
gradually Withdrawing but seeming to
hold ON by the spar BY long, slender.
bright limb, as if loath to leave the ship,
finally let go. rose into the air, and was
lost. flashing and wavering high up in
the heavens. When it disappeared he
turned round to look at the officers,
who were all with palIid faces and silent
lips gazing aloft into the sky. Then,
without addressing any of them, he
babe the messenger boy call his stew
ard from the deck and went into the
cabin. ~ z,
SIN minute all was hustle again as
the ship was brought to her course.
Now what do you think of that, Mr..
DIP rat gs ,e}
s,. -