Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-06-02

! the busy hum of the morning watch.
mingllng with the welcome sound of "eight
bells,' and the merry whistle of the boat
swain piping to breakfast. The motion of the
rolling vessel the freshness of the delicious
south east trade - the thoughts of home -
the dancing waters and the sparkling sun
shine, each of these, in their turn, would for
moment slightly arrest the attention, but
vigilance is a cardinal virtue in old Neptune's
domain. and busting times were close at hand.
A ship in the middle of the Atlantic, with a
rafting south easter whistng through tine
rigging, is not the bed where day dreaming
can be INDUCED with impunity, and so it soon
appeared, for hoarse voice from the main
p-mast cross-lrees, as if by magic, dispelled
the illusion, and brought my senses to their
duty.
Sail, no :"
." Where away !" was the prompt demand.
Right ahead returned the seaman. Il
make her out full rigged ship lying to-"
The officer of the watch had barely time to
apply his < Dolond,' in the direction ndica-
ted, when the man aloft was again heard cry
ing,
Land on the larbOard bow"
AS the Free Trader had been traversing
the ocean for weeks, with nothing to relieve
the eye, but - The blue above, and the blue
below the excitement which was caused by
the discovery of the stranger, coupled with
the sudden cry of Land" is not surprising.
For it is in the deep solitudes of the ocean,
that man most keenly feels how dependent he
is upon ms kind for happiness. In such sit
nations the most trifing incident arrests his
attention "a floating SPAR, or even an old
tar barrel, become objects of speculative curl
osity.
Accordingly, as we neared the strange YES
her hull, were critically examined by the
more experienced seamen, who can generally
guess from the appearance they present, not
only the nation to which a ship belongs, but
her occupation also. But, on the present oc-
casion, they were puzzled to give reason
why large vessel like the stranger, should
be lying TO, just where she was (that seemed
the mystery, and apparently waiting our APP
Proach.
This quiet bearing lasted until the Free
Trader was in the act OF passing the strange
vessel, and then, as if suddenly reused from
her lethargy n thin volume of white smoke
was seen curling out of one of her forward
ports. The explosion was followed by the
appearance of flag which after fluttering for
an instant, blew steadily out, and much to our
satisfaction displayed the blue field and red
cross of the English ensign.
"What ships that :" beloved a loud
voice from our formidable looking neighbor,
who had ranged alongside the Indiaman close
enough to be within haiIing distance.
The Free Trader"
Where from - was demanded.
Calcutta, and bound to London" replied
our captain.
DO you intend calling at the island ?"
Yes ~
Then send a boat on board his majesty's
frigate the Blossom, for Instructions" was
demanded in tones that left no doubt what
would be the result of non compliance.
An interchange of visits speedily followed
between the trigatc and the Indiaman, and
soon after they were sailing side by side in
the direction OF the land, keeping company
until the Free Trader had received such sail
ing directions as enabled her to stand in for
the island alone The frigate then took up
her cruising ground as before.
1t would require but slight stretch of the
Imagination, to convert the perpendicular cliffs
of St. Helena into the enormous walls OF a
sea-girt castle. There IS an air Of stern and
solemn gloom, stamped by nature upon each
rocky lineament, that reminds one Of the char
acteristics of stronghold. Not a sign OF veg
citation is Outwardly visible. Headland after
headland appears, each IN It's turn looking
more repulsive than those left behind. The
ea-brds, as they utter their dlscordant
screams, seem afraid to allght, but wheel a
bout the lofty SUBMITS Of the bald rocks in
labyrinth OF gyratiOns; while an everlasting
surf. as it advances in incessant charges at
their base, rumbles upon the ear IN a hollow
ceaseless roar
1t was during the operations Of working
the Free Trader round one of the points OF
the island, that the heavy booming sound OF
a large gun was heard, slowly borne up a.
gainst the wind over the surface OF the sea-
As the sun was just then dipping in the bo-
som OF the Atlantic, 1t was generally thought
on board to be the evening gun. But again
the same solemn, heavy sound floated by on
the wind. Again and again it came in meas
Io-~.I ,x. Il. II -,