The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-06-15
VOL. IX.-NO. 46.


can hands wear ship" ,hunaered the
| deck trumpet.
"Put your helm up~ said the commo-
dore.
''Ay, ny, sirp' answered the old Gunner
at the wheel.
"Shiyer the after yard,l"
brace the mend yards square!"
"Pu'! CHEEKY, you libbers--belay p
were Inc orders given in quick succession
ny the commodore.
"She come up to the wind, SIR, said tbe
cnnner, touching the tip of his tarpau,in.
while be held it on head with hi, Other
hand.
brace the after yards, and haul every.
thing aft !" roared the commodore. MS tbe
ineate hung fpr a moment between two
inlsAty waves and then plunged up the
black side Of the hill Of waters.
Asshe wore round, she passed within a
short distant ofthe rocks, sover which tho
/ heavy pillows dashed in sheets ofonivcrinc
ioam, "lhle thunder, hoafser than that Of
me hShinIng-rent heavens. answ ard in, aw.
Hlui mnmurs from the rookycnvcs and min
Sieh with the shfiller notes Of the increasing
gale. 't'
ne shore was hid in the dark wings Of
the STERN aud naught was seen but the
ofea"ini breakers, whose spray fell like a
shower 81 winter rain upon the trembling
"e'R 81 me gallant ship. II was o fearful
moment la'hom near in; and the shrieks
on hVe hundred browning victims would
nave gone mp amid the roar Of the gale TO
Inc Good OF nature while ten thousand
fragments Of the reck would have strewn
that benght ed bloody coast,
lr'n As ioock stood the gallant Preble
ana h's nobe crew, and as the frica'e rode
ny on the top ct the crested wave, he waw
She headed of from the shore.
"ohe has cleared tgem p said he, in n
thrilling voice. "PePt down, sir % and
Immediately left the deck.
'omnodofcs must never show their feel
'hGs before their crews; they must be firm
auld inc dangers oIthe contending elements
aS wen rs amid the iron rain Of battle; but
when they have reached their cabins, they
may return thanks TO the God of battles and
'he Ming oil storms, without interfering with
me rules and regulations Of the sea service.
commodore Preble was one Of the bravest
ahu, nj the same time, sfrictest officers in
'oe service, ard hi. character is now held
up as a medel to the aSpirant for naval rlo.
ry.
light bellS' cried The orderly Stationed
al the cabin door, as he popped his head o.
yer We railing ol the companion way
light beIlsn echoed the quarter master
At the pinnacle, and eight bells were struck
by the messenger boy at the galley. The
master looked at the first 1t. with a grin Of
satisfaction, and soon the two took pull Of
hall and.hall in honor of the skin of their
commander.
u say, jock, amt yUn dry p said Jolly
tar 10 his mesSma'e, as he rolled uuid OF
Old NipchceSc poison, Of the size of Young
tree toad, from the laiboard 10 the s,aIboard
side O! his face.
MY eyes, ore!' said the party addressed;
j feel as though I had swallowed the COOK.
galley. Goals, aud am
'Splce the main brace. sirp said the COM
modore TO the lieutenant of watch, as he
mounted the horse block, end gave last
looC toward The breakers, whose diving
thunder and awful kissing fell upon his ear.
Inc fuille oi drum was now heard amid
the bowling of the gale, and soon busy feet
were seen moving towards the red bull,
near the Scut;ie butt. Tin pots Of old ia
maiea were now turned bottom side M, and
Jack was ready 10 take another craze by
the o!akeis; though asone of them said.
whlIe he h!tchcd nr his lee wasibaud, sif
he could have his own way he would prefer
couple of talhomS more Of sea room, and
not quite 80 much wind
The storm now began to ahatr. light
stripe extended along the eastern horrizoc,
and when the day dswned, the blooming
shores Of Sicily were seen about ten miles
OF, bathod in the purple ,ints of an eastern
morning.
The commodore. finding the shin had
stretched her rigging 10y her heavy pinnees,
and that several sphrs had been sprung By
the force 81 the gale, ru; his helm up, and
run for Syracuse. Anime o'clock, he rnme
to an anchor beneath the snow. clad summit
OF Etna, and Salu'ed the Napolilan flag with
twemty.one guns. The Lcvantcr was now
at an end; countless merchantmen came
upon the breath Of the hamy west wind,
and stretched along the Italian coast, whiIo
the hags Of every nation waved in the
breeze, and cliliercd in the sun. beam.