The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1853-08-04


DuhINa the summer and autumn ofthe
year 1872, Twas in the West Indies, on
board Of one Of our national vesselsofwar.
After leaving Havana, we had cruised for
some time in the neighborhood ofthe Grand
Bahama Banks, from Key Westtothe Cay
cos. fsAk sis@ Augi.9 o
One splendid afternoon, the bright and
glorious sun was sinking behind the west
eIn wave, tinging the curing and ifoam-
crested pillows with purple and golden
light, ana dying the spray that rose and
flew before the wind, with prismatic hues.
While leaning upon the quarter rail, was
musing on home and distant friends, the
deep, hoarsc voice of the captain of the
forecastle came upon my ear, calling,
sail in sightl''ts d!ss 7 ag
Where away? was the response ofthe
lieutenant Of the watch. tae &iAik &
Three points on the lee-bow, SIR
In amoment all the glasses in the ship
were put in requisition, and every one wGs
examining with crital eye, the strange
craft, that lay about four milesto leeward,
with al her spars, and the cob-web tracery
: of her rigging, distinct and clear in the
r bright'light which enveloped her.
After q steady gaze of some moments,
the lieutenant dropped his glass, and sign
ing to one Of the reefers, bade him report
to the captain. afl ea
Ina few moments he,skipper appeared
took squint tliroughhis 1ongcarronad
as themids called telescope, and retir
ed, with thefirst lieutenant,. ito the.sanctun
of the binnacle, where they stood in Gloss
consultation: 80 ~ r ls1a g.8 a4J
Among therest, / productivity canvass
covered star-gazer, and was. endeayoring
with inexperienced hand, to fix my oeyt
upon the object Of attention. - 7iiei-
Group after group formed along .th
decks, each around some oracle ofthefore
castle, and specializing sagely upon th
probably character of the stranger zis
Many shrewd guesses were formed, an
those respectable characters, the oldes
sailors, were delivered of many awiseshak
of the head, and muttered words of wis
dom. Old Bill Thompson, the quarter
GUNNER, who was standingnear the main
chains, rolling his quid from one cheek t
the other, tipped his norwester, andstri1
ing to look gracious, with aphiz Raarye
lousy resembling a gnarlcd and split oa
stump, brought out in gruff tones, May
hap, Mr. Garnet, you'd lend me that el
peeper, for why; I've been on salt wate
longer nor you, though there's. not be
ter sailor aboard Of your inches, 49,
Delighted with this fattering encomiur
upon my seamanship, gave him my TEX
scope, and after pulling up his trouser
and drawing ,Iis mahogany fist across i
eyes, he took long, last, lingering gaz
at the fairy craft. He slowly took doS
the glass from his eye, turned round, han
ed il to me, looked exceedingly KNOWN
and proyokingly inclined 70 conceal b
knowledge, took fresh quid from b
'baccy box and with grin Of infni
meaning, said--nothiag at all. -
sWeh, old Bill said +, what is she? {
you know her?speak, man. pa 81
sDo I?' said he, with asepulchral tor
and a look that would have immortaliz,
him as the ghost in Hamlet-'DoI?'5
Now this was all we could worm.outt
theold lignumvitse block, but the crew
round knew. that two words from 3
Thompson were worth sermon from a
one else, and all watched the moVemel
sfthe stranger with even greater inteT
ness Of. observation.
While wondering, in my own mind, WI
the deuce Bill could mean, heard the
der, Pass the word9fpr the master
way sprang, down the ladder, into
gun-room, where | found Bunting, 81