The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-04-04


before encountered rushing down upon U.s.
The Captain also saw il, aud was terribly eX-
cited. He afterwards told me that in all his
scn-life hencver was more so. He called for
q flag; and spriigng into the shrouds, waved
It for their return. The gullautiellows obey
ed the signal and pulled for the ship But il
was slow work, for the head ofthe boat had
to he laid upon almost every wave. IL was
now growing dark, aud ii the squat should
strike the boat before it reached the vessel
there was no hope for il. II would either
go down at once, or drift away into the sur
rounding darkness, to struggle out the night
as it could. / shall never forget that scene.
All along the southern horizon between the
black water aud the blacker heavens was II
white streak Of tossing tonm. Nearer and
clearer every monlentit boiled and roared
on its track. Between il aud us appeared al
intervals that little boat like black speck on
the crest Oltle pillows and thGn sank away
apparently cngulphcd forever. One moment
the squat would seem 10 gain upon il beyond
the power ofescape, and then delay its pro-
gress. As stood and watched them both,
and yet could nottcll which would reach ms
first, the excitement amounted TO perfect ag-
Ony. Seconds seemed heightened into hours.
| could not look steadily on that gallant little
crew now settling the question oflte& death
TO themselves and perhaps 10 us, who would
be left almost unnamed in the middle oithe
Atlantic, aud encompnssed by Il storm. The
sea was making tRst and Yet that irail thing
rode it like duck. Every time she sank u
way she carried my heart down with her,and
when she remained longer time than usual,
| would think that il was all over, and cover
my eyes in horTor-the next moment she
would appear between us and the lack roll
ing cloud, literally covered with foam and
spray. The Captain knew MS he said after.
wards, that few minutes more would decide
tie fate of his officers and crew. lie called
for his trumpet,and springing up the ratings
shouted out over the roar of the blast and
waves, Pull d,CGy nly brGre bliiies, The squat
rs coming-gjre ,Cdy, ma heartiesn aud the
bold fellows did, giUe tpd} with will.
could see their ashen oars culver as they rose
from the water, while the liie-lke boat sprung
TO their strokes down the pillows, like pam
Their on the leap. On she came,and on came
the blast. II was the widest struggle | ever
gazed on, but the gallant little boat conquer
ed. Oh, how my heart leuped when ste al
| length shot round the stern, and rising on u
wave far above our lee quarters shook the wa
tiers from her drenched head as if in delight
| TO find her shelter again. The chains We're
| fastened, and never pulled with such right
good will OH rope as on the one that brought
that boat up the vessels side. As the heads
ofthe crew appeared over the bulwarks,
could hive Rugged the brave fellows in trans
port. As they stepped OH deck not a qlies-
ton was nsked--no report given--hut For
CuTd, menu broke from the Captains lips
The vessel was trimmed to meet the blast
and we were agnin bounding on our way. Ii
that squat had pursued the course of all the
former ones, we must have lost our crew; hu
when nearest the boat (andi il seemed to me
| the foam was breaking not hundred rods
Off thc wind suddenly vcercd, aud held the
cloud in check, so itswuug round close to
our bows. The poor sailor was gone; he came
not back again. il was his birth day the was
- years old,)nnd alas, il was his denth-day
We saw him no more--aud n gloom
fell on the whole ship. There were but a
| few ofus in all, and we felt his loss. twas u
wild and dark night; death had been among
us, and bud left us with sad and serious
hearts"