Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-09-26
VOL. v.

show signs of uneasiness. He would look
first at the sails and then at the chase, and then
up at our idle canvass again, and once more at
the stranger. At last he addressed me.
The night will soon be here he said, 'and
under cover of it this fellow may escape
Since your suggestion that he may be pirate,
feel doubly anxious to capture him. What
do you think of carrying him with the boatsp
mused moment before replied.
1t would be be perlous attempt an
swered at last, but think it might be made
TO succeed. II you are willing to risk the
lives of your men, shall be willing to lead
the attack; only if the attempt is to be made,
the sooner it is done the better.
Then my mind is made up And elevat-
ing his voice, he cried, 'Boatswain, pipe away
the boats crews; we will cut out the chase
The long inaction TO which the men had been
subjected made them specially eager for
prize and thus, notwithstanding the depress-
ing influence of the atmosphere, they wei
coined the enterprise with joy. In compara-
lively short time we were speeding across the
waters, the launch, with myself, IN command,
Leading. -
How shall describe that long pull across
the hot and glittering deep, The men nring
their brawny arms, ben, steadily to theIf hrs,
vet reserving their strength at first wi(3sthe
caution long experience had taught them
And well was it that they acted thus, Soon
drops of perspiration gathered on their brows.
and rolled down their swarthy chests, and be-
fore long it became evident that, with all their
care, the task before them would prove almost
beyond their strength. Indeed, in all my ex-
perience, had never known day 50 debl-
iiating. As we proceeded, too, the atmosphere
appeared to become more and more suifocating.
until several Of the men, in different boats, ac-
tually gave ont declaring that they could not
breathe and work both. The respiration on
nv part assured me that there was no pretence
in this.
Meantime the schooner. like ship painted
on canvas, Law motionleSs on the deep. her
whole figure reflected in the water, from the
trucks down. Occasionally light ripple
would ruffle this shadow for second, bctray-
ing its real character, but AT other times it re-
quired but little fancy to imagine the reflection
an inverted ship. and no mere imagination-
The men on board the chase were not, however
idle, but busily engaged in tricing up the ham
mock netilngs; and when we had approached
nearer a carronadc was run back TO her stern
aimed at us and fired
Better luc next time ironically said an
old sea-dog, who pulled the strokc-oar of my
boat. as the ball plunged into the water Just
ahead of US The man that trained tha, gun,
don't understand his business, shipmatcs-
Well be on board directly. if we pull sharp
Yes. my lad | cried. its no time TO trifle
now. The next ball may be trucr sent. Be
sides, | added. glancing over my shoulder at
black cloud rising rapidly in the sky ; this close
atmosphere has not been without Its meaning :;
wonder is thunder-squall coming up, and if
we don't carry the schooner before it overtakes
us. there may be the devil 10 pay
| The men gave a cheer TO show that they
were ready to do their best. and bent with re-
newed yCor TO their oars. Under this mo-
mentary excitement the boats surged along at
a vastly accelerated rate. and the schooner rap
/ idlv drew within musket shot. At this point,
another Jet of fire was seen to flash from the
cannonade astern cloud of white smoke
putting out, broke away over the quarter, and
then, with dull report across the murky air.
ball came skipping towards US, striking the
bow oar just as it rose from the water. and
breaking the ashen blade, while it Knocked the
seamen over on his seat.
Pull, with a will, cried, excited by the
peril dash in on them
'Hurrahr answered my men, and we shot
| like an arrow along
Intent as was on reaching the schooner be-
I fore the cannonade could be loaded again,
scarcely had noticed the rapid changes of the
! sky / only knew that the air was growing
thicker than ever, and that the clouds had COM
pletely shut in the sun. But now when saw
the men at the cannonade abandon it, and all
hands address themselves to taking in sail, |
knew that the danger from the squall was close
and eminent; and | looked hastily up and
around.
When had called the attention of my men,
scarcely less than ten minutes before, to the
approaching tempest, there had been only a
small cloud perceptible far down on the sea-
board. But now, from pole to pole, and all
around the horizon, vast, black curtain shut
out the light of day yet not entirely shut out,
for here and there lurid fame, like that seen
through the chinks Of furnace, penetrated the
thick vapors. Over and over in vast whjrling
masses, tossed and tumbled the inky Clouds
The ghastly radiance that broke, as havesai
through the gaps Of the ominous curtain,
threw spectral CLEAN across the seas that
conjured up visions of dread and disaster. Oh,
never can forget that spectacle. The sultry
closeness of the air; the sudden and sepulchral
stiffness; the awful gloom, and the lurid glare
like that from the bottomless pit, all seemed to
say that sea and sky were in their last grasp,
and that the great day of Judgment had arrived
Inc men had made the same observations,
ana apparently came to similar conclusions, for
they ceased rowing, as if under spell. while
a look OF blank horror occup;ed ,be;r taces