Eastern times., 1853-04-07


skipper, the words struggling very family
against the wind. The ship was rapidly drift
ing downward to leeward, and knew that il
not soon discovered was lost, 50 shouted
again, t
'Ahoy !-A-hoy !-A-hoy .-A-hoy-o!'
The last word was -franticalIy prolonged,
and watched its effect for full minute with
intense anxiety. 1t was evident from The man
ner in which my comrades on board glanced
anew around the horizon, as also from the
shouts which they uttered in reply, that my cry
had reached them. I-could not indeed hear
their hail, but saw their hands 10 their mouths
as when persons shout loudly. Alas the
same fatal error of still looking in the wronc
direction prevailed among them, not an eye
was turned 10 windward. My heart died with.
in me-
20 Godn | cried, they do not hear me
and | am lost. My mother-my poor, poor
mother.
| forgot 10 mention that on my falling over
board, the cook, who mad been cleaning kniye.
IN the galley, had mechanically flung the board
ne was using into the sea. Luckily it fioated
near me, and catching it, placed it end up
under my chin, and TINS supported my head
above the water without difficulty. But for
this, perhaps, should have been wearied ou,
already BY the surges which would have broke
over me continually, but which now general.
ly rode. also had on my oiskin cap and
coat; an equally fortunate circumstance.
After giving way, therefore, for few min
utes TO dependency, as saw the ship drifting
off, rallied myself, and, rejecting that hope
never dies while there is life, began 10 consde,
nv situation more calmly. The comparative
buoyancy of my dress, added to the board lac
so fortunately obtained, would enable me /,
keep afioat for an hour, or perhaps for even
longer period, and in that time what chance
might not turn up! l knew the Gulf wa
crowded with vessels. / had observed FrencI
frlgate, lying-to, TO windward, just before / fel
overheard
The direction in which was drifting woulc
carry me near her, when might be more for
tunate in attracting attention. | cEeered m,
heart with this reflection, and began to look ou
for the man-of-war.
My first object in this frame of mind wa.
to get rid of my boots, which were by thi:
time full Of water, and began sensiby to drag
me down. With great difficulty succeeded
in pulling them off; for had to retain hold o
The board wilhone hand while worked at tht
boot with the other. AT last was rid of those
dangerous encumbrances, and floating more
lightly, had a better opportunity To look around
OF course my vision Of distant objects was Gu
OF every moment by my being carried dow
into the trough Of the sea. No one, who ha
not been IN similar situation, can appreciat
the awfulness with which gazed on the dark
gllstening sides of the immense billows, as
saw myself sinking away from them, as if +
the very bottom Of the ocean. With what hor
rid mockery the CLASSY waters seemed TO ris
mountain high all around me. Suddenly
when | was at the lowest, | would begin to as
cend, as fby magic, from that gloomy gulf
my velocity increasing every instant, until
last | wonld shoot upward above the crest
the wave, like an arrow propelled from the
abyss. A toss Of the head to shake off the wa
ter, long drawn breath, TO recover myself, ;
hasty glance aroand, and was was whirlet
downward again, half smothered in the wild
abyss.
had been overheard half an hour before
caught sight of the French frigate When a
last | beheld her, could scarcely restrain CT,
Of JOY. She was drifting rapidly towards me
and would pass within hail. How beautiful
she looked Her symmetrical hull, that float
ed buoyantly as some wild fowl; her tall spar,
unreleved by single bit Of canvas, except tht
close-reefed main-topsail under which she wa.
lyiDg-to; these, penciled against the horizon
formed together picture of grace and beauty
unsurpassed. Now she would pitch head-fore
most into the sea; now slowly rise dripping
from the deluge. Here and there Iook-ou
was visible dotting her rigging. AZ sh'
swung, pendulum-like, and the wild whirinl
clouds that rapidly trayersed the distant SKY
seemed one moment to stand still, and then t.
speed past her with accelerated velocity. Il
the midst of peril as | was still felt the charm
Of this picture.
Suddenly | refec,ed-what if should mis-.
the frigate! There were other vessels in sight
but none in my track, for by this time coulc
calculate, with some approach 10 accuracy, The
direction of my drift Again the thought o.
my mother came up TO me. was her only
sOn-her almost sole hope the comfort anc
darling of her old age. Perhaps even now she
was thinking of me.
seemed TO see her silver hair, and hear hel
mild voice once more. Then the vision of thai
gray head bowed in grief arose. beheld bel
in the weeds Of deep mourning, bent in bod,
and prostrated in mind. They had told hel
that her child had been lost overheard month:
ago, and was now thousand fathoms in the
sea. groaned audibly. God knows even il
that awful hour, it was less Of myself than 0
my mother / thought
l was now very rapidly approaching tht
frigate.
Hillo !-hil-lo = l cried, waving my arm
above my head, as rose on the crest of I
wave.
! had but an instant toswatch the effect of m,