Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-01-11
lhe place formerly known as " McMillan's A
'cs.'' on the Branch of tho 7. q w. Plank

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II the place formerly known as " MeMillan's A
Dos,' on tho Branch of tho r. q w. Plank
A sail at sea after few days from port
is quite an event, and in a short time the
entire crew and the few passengers came
on deck aroused from their morning nap.
eager to see the stranger. The Captain
turned his long glass towards her and made
her out merchantmen bound for some Port
on the American coast. He fired gun in
salute, which was almost Immediately an
swered by the merchant-man, and the stars
and stripes run up. The two vessels roun-
ded to with the American colors flying from
their mast heads and the Sea Gull spoke
her. She was the Pilgrim from Havana
bound for R-x. Captain Jerrold desired
him to report the Sea Gull, twelve days
from R-x, with passengers and crew
well. With this they separated
They were now in the tropics the warm
and odorous breezes, the deep blue element
on which they rode, the salubrious air, the
clear sky, the feet gulls and a thousand
other water fowl skimming over the waves,
began to add varied excitement to the
voyage out, and Agnes, now well of her
sea sickness, confessed herself pleased with
her trip
The mate on the Sea Gull was an old tar,
whose SCARED brow, and whitened locks
told that he had been on the waters for
many long voyage. He was much older
than Capt. Jerrold, and, in Difference to
his age and nautical experience, he was
frequently applied to by the Captain for his
views upon the weather and an hundred lit
10 i.
ment connected with sea life In fact old
Mr.. LINDSAY, the chief mate, was as much
the commander of the Sea Gull as Captain
Jerrold.
One fine afternoon the Captain called the
mate to his side, after they had walked the
deck to and fro for some time, and said
We have fine breeze, Mr. LINDSAY,
and if it will hold on at its present knot we
will touch Havana day or two before our
expected time
winds in the tropics are fckle, Captain,
and if am any judge of weather in this lat
itude, we areto have nasty blow before we
see HAVANA
why SO, Mr.. Lyndsay; the sky looks
serene
True, true, Sir; but there is an ugly,
sullen look away to the southeast you will
observe; and / well remember at the great
storm twenty years ago this summer, was
sailor before the mast in this very latitude,
and the sky presented that very appearance
for thirty-six hours before the gale com
menced. 1t may not commence in day or
two yet, but mark, Captain, we are going
to have some ugly weather. Let us pile on
every thing in the shape of canvass and get
farther from the coast
Alloy shouted the Captain. Loosen
the royals, shove out the studding-saiI booms
and brace the yards.
The orders were promptly executed and
the briggs course was altered few points,
and she ploughed through the water as If
warned herself, of coming danger.
That night there was pretty sharp gale
upon the brig but she weathered it without
injury to sail or spar. All night long to
the landward there was an ominous look Of
danger lowering over the sea near the coast
clouds, black as Erebus, seemed to be piled
upon the surface of the water, and almost
every moment broad sheets of lightning
would roll out from the black mass andset
the gloomy sky in blazing food of light.
About midnight Mr.. LINDSAY thought he