Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-07-11

PtOoOuh az InO IouCIal VI iuS CuI0k tDht0,
and my heart beat high with grief as
uncovered my head and stopped on the
quarter1deck.
Il was nearly dead calm; we had
passed the trades, and were fast approach.
ing the line; the sun had begun to decline,
but still burnt with fervent heat; the
sails hung listlessly against the masts, land
the mainsail was braiIed up, in order to
allow the breeze, should any rise, to 90
forward. had observed all the morning
still more sure indication of QUE approach
so the toFrid zone. Through the clear
blue water / had remarked couple Of
sharks following the vessel, accompanied
by their usual comprehensive pilot.fsh.
This the sailors had expected as matter
Of course, as they suPerstitiously believe
that these monsters of the deep always
attach themselves to a ship in which
dead body lies, anxiously anticipating their
dreadful meal. 10 their appearance, how
ever, | only saw the usual announcement
of our vicinity to the line.
In such weather, placed in ship, which
seems to represent the whole world
shut out from all save the little band that
enciFcles US, with the wide and fatbomless
element around us-the ethereal throne
from which God seems to look down upon
US; at one moment our voices rising in
solemn prayer for one we have loved, and
the next, the plash of the divided waters,
as they receive in their bosom the crea.
ture He has made-all these, at such a
moment. make the heart thrill with a
deeper awe, closer fellowship with its
Creator than any resident on shore can
know-s consciousness the grandeur of
God and the feebleness of man, which
those alone can feel who ego down in
ships, and see the wonders of the Deep"
took my place with the other passen-
gers. Not word was spoken, for we
all believed we were about to witness the
last rites performed over our late friend,
and consequently stood in anxious silence;
when suddenly steady tramp was heard,
and the larboard watch, with drawn cut
lasses, slowly marched down the waist,
escorting the murderer, whom they con-
Quoted to the side of the corpse then
withdrew few PAGES, and formed a line,
which completed the hollow square.
We now began to exchange chances.
Surely the assassin had not been brought
here to witness the burial of his victim
and yet what else could il be for? Had
it been for trial, Gas we had heard that the
Danes often proceeded to instant investi-
CATION and summary punishment,) we
should probably have seen the tackle pre-.
pared for hanging the culprit at the yard
ann. This, however, was not the case
and we all, therefore, felt puzzled as to
the meaning of the scene. ID s. 81.
We were not long kept in doubt. The
second mate read from paper which be
held in his hand, the full powers delegat.
ed TO the captain to hold courts martial,
and carry their sentences into effect, the
law in similar cases, &C., 60; and called
on the prisoner to know whether he would
consent TO be tried in the Danish language.
To this he willingly sssented, and the
court was declared open. 1.'a2 a.iF'
The flag was suddenly withdrawn from
the. face of the corpse ), and even the mon.
ster who bad struck, the blow, shuddered
as he beheld the calm, almost seraphic,
look of him whom he had stricken. ''1
The trial now proceeded in the most
solemn manner. Evidence of the crime
was adduced, and the deed clearly brought
home to the accused. confess that my
blood turned cold when saw the knife
produced which had been used as the in
strument Of the murder, and the demon.
like smile Of the prisoner as he beheld it,
stained as il was with the blood of one
who had been forced by his duty to pun
ish him. =. ....... .......
After strict investigation, the captain
appealed TO all present, when the prisoner
was unanimously declared guilty.
The officers put on their hats, and the
captain proceeded to pass sentence
Great was my surprise (nos understanding
one word which the commander sadly to
see the culpFit throw himself upon his
knees, and begin to sue for mercy. After
the unfeeling and obdurate mannes in
which he had conducted HIMSELF such an
appeal was unsccountable; for it was
quite evident he did not fear death, or re.
oent the deed he had committed What
threatened torture could thus bend his
hardened spirit was at loss TO eonjec.
ture. t.--. .,.......-. ....s-. 80.
Four men now approached and lifted
Up the corpse. A similar number seized
she prisoner, while ten oritWelve others
approached with strong cords. In mo.
ment understood the whole, and could
not wonder at the struggles of the muir.
derer, as saw him dashed back to back,
firmly, tightly, without The power TO move.
to the dead body ofhis victim: Hiscries
were stopped by a SOFT of gag, and, with.
ing as he was, with the body, was laid on
the grating, and carTiedsto gangway.
The crew mounted upon the netsings and