The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-12-27

ed to before, issued from the lurid sea-
board; then an ominous pause Of q mo-
ment, and only moment, succeed; and, !,
while we gazed in mute wonder at each
other at these extraordinary phenomena,
a deep, smothered rumbling sound was
heard, growing rapidly higher and higher,
and increasing in loudness as it approach
ed; the sea on the starboard horizon be-
came mass OF foam; and, with rush.
ing noise, the tempest swept down upon
US. kissing roaring, and screaming through
our rigging, as if thousand unsar,hly
beings were riding by upon the blast
The men had scarcely time to see the
approaching danger, and hear the cap
tain 3 cry,
Down for your lives, down-cut all,
and slide by the backstays," before we
were lying almost on our beam ends, while
the sea flew over us in dense shower Of
spray, almost binding our sight.
Hard up!" thundered the skipper.
"Ah, ay, sir"
1t was period Of fearful peril. For
several moments, during the frs, force Of
the squall. we knew not whether our little
craft would right again. The mingled
roar of the wind and water meanwhile
was terrific, and sufficient of themselves
to paralyze the stoutest heart. AS far as
the eye could see, on every hand, the sea
was as fiat as a table. and covered with
foam. The pressure Of the hurricane
even on our bars poles was tremendous
Every one was forced to grasp rope. 10
keep himself from being blown bodily
overheard. At length, however. with
painful effort, our gallant craft slowly
righted, staggered moment uncertainty
beneath the squail, and then catching the
hurricane we'll aft, went off like thun-
derbolt before the gale.
THANK God!' calculated the skipper,
drawing long breath.
"AmenH' was my silent response.
During these few last moments OF thrill
ing suspense, had forgotten the English
ship altogether, but she now reourred TO
my thoughts, and looked eagerly ahead
for her. The driving spray, however, shut
out everything. except in our immediate
vicinity, from our sight. At length, how.
ever, my attention was arrested by seeing
a tall spar rising over the mist on our lee
bow, and, rushing on to it with inconceiv
able velocity, we we're soon on the wealth
er quarter of the foe. Never shall | for.
get that sight. The huge ship was lying
on his beam. ends, and his mizen-mast had
already been cut away in an unsuccess-
full attempt to right him. The sea rolled
over her, as We approached, in ca,aracts.
For an instant we gave ourselves up for
lost, as we were driving right on to the
unhappy stranger. THAT moment, how
ever,. we saw her maiumast go over her
side. She righ,ed slowly. We were so
near that could have pitched biscuit on
board.
Hard up ha-a-rd!" Numbered the
Englishman.
'Luff--luffn' roared the skipper. as we
drove on TO the quarter Of the foe.
II was thrilling moment. For the
space of second we seemed dashipg
right into the foe, and stifled shrek burs,
from every lip; bot just as we gave up all
for lost. the two vessels shot apart, grazec
each other in passing, and then rushed
like maddened coursers each on his own
course. In less than quarter Of an
hour, the foe had vanished in the mists
upon our larboard quarter