The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-06-14

the skipper, the words struggling family
against the wind.
4 The ship was rapidly drifting down to
lceward, and knew that il no, soon dis.
covered was lost, SO shouted again.
\ "Ahoy !-A-hoy !-A-hoy !--Aho-o-oyr'
i The last word was franticalIy prolonged,
and watched iss effect for full minute
with intense anxiety. Il was evident from
the manner in which my comrades on board
glanced anew around the horizon, ~ also
from the shouts which they uttered in re.
ply, that nv cry had reached them.
could not indeed hear their hail, but saw
their hands to their mouths as when per.
sons shout loudly. Alas! the same fetal
error Of still looking in tho wrong direction
prevailed among them; not an eye was
turned 10 windward. My heart died with
in me.
"Oh. God." cried, "they do no, hear
me, and am lost. NV mo,hcr-my poor,
poor mother"
] forgot TO mention that, on my falling
overheard, the cook, who had been clean
ing knives in the galley, hsc mechanically
flung the board he was using into the sea.
Luckily il floatcd near me. aud catching il,
placed il, end up, under my chin, and
thus supported my head nbove the water
without difficulty. But Tor this, perhsps,
should have been wearied ont already by
tho surres which would have broke over
mc continually. but which now generally
rode. ! also had on my oilskin cap and
cont; an equally fortunate circumstance.
After giving way, therefore, for n few
minutes to dependency, rs saw the ship
drifting oil, rallied myself, aud, rejecting
that hope never dies while there is life, be-
gan In consider nv situation more calmly.
The comparative bnoyancv Of my dress,
added To the board had so fortunately OBJ
tained, would enable me to keep ai!oat for
an hour, or perhaps for even a longer pc
riod, and in that time ~ha; chances nigh,
not turn up! knew the Gulf was crowd
ell with vessels. had observed French
friga,c, lying-to 10 wind~ard, just before |
fell overheard. The direction in which
was drifting would carry me near her,
when might be more Fortunate in attract
ing attention. ] cheered my heart with
this reflection, and began TO look out for the
Ilan-oi-war.
Mv first object, in this new fromc oil
mind, was 10 ret rid Of my boots. which
were by this time full Of water, and began
sensibly to drag mo down. With great die
iicu'iy succeeded in pulling them of; for
had To retain hold of nv board with one
hand while worked at the boot with the
other. At las, WINS rid Of those danger
Gus encumbrances, and, floating more light
iv. had u better opportunity 10 look around
OF course my vision Of distant objects was
cut oil every moment by my being carried
down into the trough Of the sea. No oce.
who has not been in a similar situation. can
appreciate the awfulncss with which
gazcd on the dark, gIisicning sides Of the
immense pillows, as saw myself sinking
away from them. IS il TO the very bottom Of
the ocean. With what horrid mockcry the
CLASSY waters seemed to rise mountain
high al around mo. Suddenly, when
was at the lowest, world begin 10 ascend,
rs il by magic, from that gloomy gulf. my
velocity increasing every instant. until Al
last would shoot upword above the crest
Of the wave, like nm arrow propelled from
the abyss. A toss Of the head, TO shake
OFT tho water, a long drawn breath. to re-
cover myself, hasty glance around, and
then | was whirled downward again, half
smo,hered in wild abyss.
had been overheard half an hour before
caught sight Of the French frigate. When
at last | beheId her. could scarcely re-
strain cry Of joy. She vas drifting rap
idly toward 'ne, and would pass within hail.
How beautiful she looked! Her symmes.
rical hull, that noaied buoynntly as some
wild fowl; her tall spars, unrelieved BY a
single bit Of canvass, except the closc-recf.
ed main,op-sail under which she was lying
10: these, penciIed against the horizon,
formed together . picture Of grace and
beauty unsurpassed. Now she would pitch
head foremost into the sen; now slowly rise
dripping from the delugc. Here and there
a lookout was visible dotting her rigging.
As she swung. pendulum-like, the wild and
whirling clouds TINT rapidly traversed the
distant sky seemed one moment TO stand
s,ill. and then to speed pas. her with acceI-
Grated velocity. In the midst Of peril ~
was still felt oil the charm Of this picture.
Suddenly refected-what il should
miss the frigste! There were other ves-
sells in sight, but mono in my track. for by
this time could calculate, with some up.
proach 10 accuracy. the direction Of my
drift. Again the thought Of my mother
came up to me. vas her only son-her
almost sole hope-the comfort aud darling
Of her old age. Perhaps even now she was
thinking Of me. seemed to see her sill
YER hair, and hear her mild voice once more.
Then the vision Of that gray head bowed