The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-08-28
The Portuguese, or Danish Justice,

The war had broken out between England and
France Bonaparte had broken the treaty OF
Amiens; all was CONSERVATION amongst our coun-
trymen in India, particularly those who had valua-
bic cargoes at sea, and those who were about to re-
turn to their native land. was one of the latter
class so | ioyfully accepted passage home ON
hoard Dane-Denmark, as yet remaining neuter
in our quarrel.
So far as luxury went, certainly found her very
inferior to our regular lndiamen; but as a saller
she was far superior, and in point OF discipline, her
crew was as we'll regulated and as strictly com
manded as the crew of a British man-ot-War. In
fact such ORDER regularity and implicit obedience,
could never have believed to exist on board
merchantmen.
The chief mate was one of the finest young men
ever saw. He had just been promoted to his
present post-nOt from the mere fact OF his being
the owners son. but really from sterling merit. lie
was beloved by the crew, amongst whom he had
served as is usual in the Danish service, five years,
and was equally.popular with his brother officers
and the passengers returning to Europe
The only bad character we had on board was
the cook, a swarthy, Unlocking Portuguese, who
managed somehow or other daily to cause some DIS
turbance amongst the seamen. For this he had
often been reprimanded and the evening when
this sketch opens, he had Just been released from
IRONS into which he had been ordered for tour-and-
twenty hours by the chief mate, for having attempt
ed to poison a sailor who had offended him. In re-
turn for having punished him thus severely, the lrrl-
tated Portuguese swore to revenge himself on the
first officer.
The mate, who was called Charles, was walking
in the waist with q beautiful young English girl,
to whom he was engaged to be married, stopping
occasionally to admire the flying-fish, as they
skinned over the surface of the water, pursued by
their cruel destroyer, talking over the anticipated
bliss their union would confer-their hopes, and
fears, the approval of their parents, their bright
prospects, ndulgng in future scenes OF life as steady
as the trade-wind before which they were quietly
| running-when suddenly ere a soul could inter-
pose, or even suspect his design, the cook rushed
forward and buried his knife with one plunge INTO
the heart Of the unfortunate young man, who Tell
without a cry as the exuting Portuguese burst
| forth into demoncal laugh oftriumph.
Unconscious of the full extent of her bereaVe-
ment the poor girl hung over him; and as friend,
| who had rushed forward to support him, drew the
knife from his bosom, her dress, which was white,
was stained with blood. With an effort, Charles
turned towards her, gave her last look OF fer
| vent affection, and as the blade left the wound,
| fell a corpse in the arms of him who held him.
By this time the Captain had come on deck. lie
shed tears like child for he'loVed poor Charles as
1 his own SON. The exasperated crew would instantly
| have fallen on the assassin and taken summary
vengeance. so truly attached had they been to the
| chief mate, and were only kept within bounds by
| their commanders presence. The cook, who APP
! peared to glory in his deed, was instantly seized
the wretched betrothed was carried in state OF
! insensibility to her cabin.
Eight bells had struck the following evening,
| when received a summons to attend on deck. l.
therefore, instantly assembled, and found the whole
| of the crew. dressed in their Sunday clothes, to-
gether with all the officers of the ship, and the male
| passengers, assembled. The men off duty were
lining either side of the deck; the Captain, sur
rounded by all his officers, was standing lmmedl-
ately in front of the poop and the body OF the UNI
fortunate victim was stretched on grating, oVel
| which the national flag of Denmark had been
THROWN Immediately in the centre. In an instant
saw that had been summoned to be present al
the funeral of the chief mate, and my heart beai
high with grief as uncovered my head and stepped
| on the quarterback.
Ii was nearly a dead calm: we had passed the
| Trades and were fast approaching the Line. The
sun had begun TO decline, but stlil burnt with Ter
| vent heat; the sails hung listlessly against the
masts and the mansail was brailed up, in order e
allow the breeze should any rise, to go forward
| had observed all the morning more sure indica-
ton of our approach to the Torrid Zone. Through
! the clear blue water, had remarked couple OF
sharks following the vessel, accompanied Dy t1eh
usual companions, the pilot fish. This the sailors
had expected as matter of course as they super
stitously believe that the monsters OF the ueeP al
WAYS attach themselves to a ship In Whlch d usd1
body lies, anxiously anticipating theF uIeaulul
meal. In their appearance, however, l oiy saw
the usual announcementof our Fi..iiiss ~ i
In such weather placed in ship, Which seems
To renresent tbe yorid-shut out from all save the
little band that encircles us, with the wide and
fatbomIess element around us-the ethereal throne
from which God seems to look down upon us !; al
one moment our voice rising IN solemn prayer i iol
one we have loved, ana tAe next, tne plsli u tue
d;v5ad waters as they receive in their bosom the
creature He has made-all these, at such moment
made he heart thrill with deeper awe, closer
faJIo,yshp with its Creator than any resident OF
shore can know-a consciousness OF the grandeur
Of God and the feebleness OF man, which those
alone can feel who go down in ships, and see the
wonders of the deep"
/ took my place with the other passengers. No
word was spoken, for we all believed we wer'
about to witness the last rites performed over GU
late friend, and consequently, stood in anxious 81
Iarhard watch, with drawn cutlasses, slOwl!
marched down the waist, escorting the murderer
whom they conducted to the side Of the corpse