Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-01-25
Original Storp
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
J ACQU ES ST. CLAIR /:
A TALE OF LAND AND SEA.
ICOpY-RIGHT SFCrRFn.l
BY WILL: WILLoWILL.
CHAPTER XII.
[coPY-RIGHT SECURED ]

CHAPTER XII.
| Afoat on the sea-trials- -premeditated mur-
der-the influence Of Agnes-the Pirates
dream Ra-bumilny-Star0dtio IN UieD-the |
breakers-pe,iI-l land-ashOre
An half hours moody silence reigned in
the open boat after the wreck went down
with Nicholas rufian crew. Nicholas sat
at the helm and his two companions sat with
oars in hand leisurely beating the waves
apparently careless whether they moved in
given direction or drifted with the wind.
Nicholas went about fixing light mast to
the boat and his companions aided him
while Agnes held the helm In less than
an hour mast was erected and spirit-sail
attached to it which served an admirable
purpose; for the light jolly boat tnow noun
ted the waves like swan and the four rode
above watery grave thankful for preser-
vation.
An examination into the contents of the
boat showed the crew that they were in
possession of a few old clothes, consisting
of cloaks and blankets, compass, cable
lines, oars, a weapon for each, light mast,
sails, water and provisions sufficient for two
days supply. Nicholas became communi-
cative towards Capt Jerrold; he saw the
dangers with which they were surrounded
and he saw the necessity of enlisting the
Captains aid in managing the boat. They
held consultation, took the bearings of
the compass and, judging from the obser-
yations taken during the previous day and
fore part of the night, they concluded that
they were some two hundred and fifty miles
from the coast.
The night was not unpleasant; a clear
sky with its silvery moon and myriad stars
were above them a sea smooth and docile
beneath fair breeze bamly and tropical
in its nature famed them and filled theil
little sail, bearing them smoothly and with
a gentle swaying motion across the Deep
Little was said during the night; Agnes
lay in the boat With clio k thrown over
her, trying to sleep, but her rest was moi
sweet-her mind was alive to the horrors
around her and the probable doom that a
waited her Jacques had said nothing since
entering the boat except few words o
whispered comfort to Agnes Nicholas anC
the captain sat near together OCCASIONAL,
speaking of the proper management of thu
boat.
Morning came and the sun arose red ant
fiery, with hot and angry disc. A heart,
meal was partaken by the shipwrecked ma
riners, and they felt revived and inspired
with new hope The sea was calm and gen
tie breezes waited them on towards tn
coast As far as the eye could reach, blu
expanse of water presented itself, rising an,
falling like the gentle undulations of tn
plant verdure on boundless prairie, Will
the snowy patches of foam leaping up an
rejecting a thousand tints in the sun wer
not unlike the flowers Of richest hue deck
ing the same. An ocean view in the troI
les with all It's magnificent sublimity an
grandeur was spread before them, yet not
sail could be seen-no sign Of life across a
the watery waste except the swarms of sc
E birds rising from their briny element
shaking the spray from their glossy pl1
mage-darting like an arrow just above II
. surface of the deep, occasionally dipping tt
: tip of their wing in the bosom of wav
and then rising in sweeping circles up t
+, wards the sun, higher and higher, unit
! they looked like floating specks and mot
in the clear blue on high.
Towards noon the sun began to pour h
rays down upon them with tropical vigor-
= the air grew arid and oppressive-intoler
BILE thirst seized them and they drank tt
). water in the boat without restraint, carele
y of their meagre supply. An old sail W
stretched over them to protect them fro
= the scorching rays of the sun, and Tho
. SKINNED across the water for the coast.
Towards night Nicholas became overpo
y - erod with the heat and fatigue and he Ia
: down in the boat and went to sleep. j
- y ques bent his eyes upon him-a rememb
ance of the past came rushing upon him
g the Alchymist-the drugged pillow-t
- internal machine The fires of preme
tated revenge seemed to be sparkling in
eyes-he stood over his long lost, pir;
a brother and thought of the wrongs he b
- committed against him-he looked into
70 swarthy face and thought of his fathe
~ Will and of Martha death. bed-of the
and its fearful motto--of Agnes and
fate worse than Death, if his brother liv,
70 and he raised heavy cutlass to strike
- blow that would send the guilty spirit
his brother into Eternity A moment m
", and the fatal blow would have been stru
et but Agnes watching her lover caught
no arm and restrained him. Hold,
ques, hold, said she in an earnest whisI
Ier let US trust in the wisdom of Proyiden
% His power is above us ALL Better fol-
he to suffer all the miseries of life burth
nv ed with sorrow, and even death the n
eet horrible, than to stain our hands in brC
er's blood He that careth for the s.
'ur rows will do all things well and deliver
from the falcons talons Remember Ii
Martha at home, Jacques, and me
ish daughter-the wife of a murderer f
al ricide !
sci His arm fell powerless at his side
,ed he walked away from the sleeper and
,ea ,eu down with Agnes near him covering his
IL with his hands.
ar. When Nicholas awoke it was ne
Ugh night He sprang up as if in frigf
rubbed his eyes and looked around on
sea. He saw the captain at the helm
an post he had taken after the pirate had
len asleep. Turning to him he said :