The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-10-14
The Mysterious Bell.
IA TALE or THE SEA-.

l -
bright and beautiful upon the ocean, in
setting glory, and all life animation had
giving place 10 that overpowering list.
lesspess, which none can form any con.
ception Of; but they who have experien.
ced d long continued calm at sea.
Twas leaning against tine tatf'rail, ga
zing upon the dark walers below, in
that slate Of apathy, in which thought
itself becomes almost 10 great an exer-
ton, when suddenly gentle breath Of
wind, that swept along so tightly as to
cause no ripple upon a,hesglassy surface
OF the waveless deep, waited to my a,
wakening sense a>iinkling sound, like
the ringing ofa small bell at an immense
distance. The unusual circumstance
aroused my dormant faculties, and lis
tened with breathless attention; but the
flaw had passed and all was again silent
and deaihIike. - '' = S6'
remained upon the same spot near
ly an hour, but il came not again, and
at length overcome with drowsiness, /
retired tony birth. The next, morn.
ing, when | came up, on deck, l found
that the calm still continued and the
captain was Of opinion that il would
last some days. | mentioned to him
1.-THE incident that had attracted my at
tention, but he laughed and said ! had
been dreaming. He knew we were to o
far from land for any sound 10 reach us,
land no vessel he said, could have been
near enough for me tohear the ringing
of a bell, without also being in sight,
The mate agreed with him, but lobserv.
ed one weather, beaten tar, who was
standing near, 10 shake his head doubt
fully, and his rugged countenance be-
trayed grea! onxiety-bnt he said moth.
ling. The morning passed away, and
still the sea was unruffled by a breeze.
After dinner, to while away the tedious
hours, the captain and sat do wn upon
the quarter deck to cards. We had
scarcely commenced PLAYING, when the
same bell-like tones, so faint and far,
that "notliing lived twix't them and ST.
ence." ! called to the captain to lis.
ten; he sat, a moment without speaking,
and then startled up, excIaiming ''l hear
III too" The sailors seemed to have
noticed Il also, for they were hushed
and listening. The captain went aIolt
with his glass, and looked in every d.
rection. ""p near it," said he, ''Iislinct-
| ly, but can see nothing. II cannot be
from shore, for we are more than fifty
leagues from any land" The attention
Of all on board was now fully awake.
The sailors stood upon the fore castle
in anxious groups, all but the old man,
the singular expression of whose fea.
lures | had remarked in the morning.
He sat alone upon the windIass, with
his hands folded, and his eyes intently
fixed upon the dcck--but still he spoke
not Various conjeciures were hazard
ed among US, but none that satisactori.
Iy accounted Tor the sound. u41
The afternoon passed. and the sun
again set, while the ,inkling sound still
came floating over the waves. 1t was
late before sleep closed my eyes tha,
night.ie G to aa!o,l aae sl5a81 .asi) Il
When theimorning OF the next day
.dawned, the,captain wen, again to the
masthead wilhhis gIass--but no sail ap.
penred upon the horizon--yet still the
ceaseless bell was plainly to be heard.
while notaa breath of wind was to be
felt. Neon came and still the calm con-
tinueds and the sound approached near
er and d1nearef, when on sudden the
captain cried out from the top, 81 see i.
now, but what it is, heaven only knows
-itdoes not look like any craft that ev-
er the hand of man fashioned" When
llrnshed to the sforecastle, and In ST.
lence awaited the approach Of the
strange navigator Ga'ayY u6l4
It.icame careering over the water
with rapid melton, and as il DIRE W
near, exhibited to our wondering gaze
a single black mast. rising from the Gen.
ire Of what seemed square and solid
block ofwood, but without yard or sail
--nor did anyrliving creature appear
upon ii. 4 proposed to take the boat
and boardit, but the sailors shock their
heads and the captain was silent.i De-
termined to discover the meaning cofl |
this phenomenon, jumped into the |
boat, intending torskull towards il, when |
The old sailor, seeing my resolution, de-
clared hes would go with me, and the |
captain, after a moments hesitation, al
so joined u.s.. We rowed swiftly on
wards 10 meet the object Of our curios,
ity, which was now within .hnlf q mile
cf the ship, and ini a few, minutes were
sufficiently near TO perceive the bell,
the ringing Of which had announced its
A. r Al. 2