The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-08-30
The Mariners Lamp.


Greek islands, lay, during breathless calm,
graceful and elegant schooner. This vessel,
the character usually used in the trade of tn
Archipelago, was sufficiently superior in her al
pointments to induce notice. Her long 10
hull, of an uniform black, rose not more tha
three feet from the waters edge, including tn
diminutive bulwarks, while her raking, taperin
masts were edisproportionately high Her hug
main boom showed what vast amount of car
vas was packed on her, while square sal
flying topsais, foresails, and jib, proved he
fully appointed for fair and foul weather. He
rigging was taut and neat, while the ends of he
flying gear lay coiled on the deck, with an at
tentlon to order which spoke volumes for tn
discipline on board. Her jb alone, of all he
sails, was loose, and that hung lazily over th
long protruding boom. shaken only by the mo
ton OF the vessel as it rose and fell on the never
resting pillows. The anchor chain had beel
hauled in, SO as to be right up and down, pro
claiming that wind alone was wanted to sene
the schooner to sea.
Before a cottage door, few hundred yard
from the beach, and in position to commanc
tull view OF the entrance of the blight, was {
young man, who, from his costume, might have
been readily supposed one of her crew. 1t wa:
in reality her commander. Zeulonghi owned
the schooner that foated upon the water like {
duck, and fixed his eye in all that admirne
gaze which the sailor ever bestows upon the
vessel that he rules. Zetzos was calling the at
tentlon of young girl, the owner of the cot
tage, to the striking beauty of the Clio,-sc
he called his schooner after the maiden who
stood by his side.
Clio was an orphan and an heiress. That is
to say, she owned the cottage she lived in
enough land to yield her an income, and to ena
bic her to support an aged female domestic. Il
may be naturally supposed, therefore, that Clio
had numberess suitors, and the suppostion was
but part of the truth for they came in shoals,
which very often is the case when girl is
pretty, rich, and amiable. Zetzos was Of the
number, and there was somthing in the frank
manly, though somewhat wild character Of the
sailor, which won upon her heart, despite her
dislike to his calling, which was that, to speak
IN soft language, of an unlawful trader 1t is
wonderful how the many sympathize with the
bold smuggler. This is mistaken sympathy.
The laws which they evade may or may not
want relaxing; but life of constant violation
Of the law is dne which is sure to engender more
of evil than Of good. So thought Clio, and
Clio had vowed to wed Zetzos only when he
ceased his violation of the laws, and added to
his store as legal merchantmen. Moved by
this determination, the Clio was now to sail for
the last time with rich cargo and in future to
be schooner trading between island and is
land, with the consent and appreciation of all
authorities.
is she not lovely, like her mistress, said the
enthusiastic sailor, gazing affectionately on his
vessel. and mayno a man be proud Of owning
two such neat creatures|
You talk boldly of both, Zetzos,' replied
Clio sadly, were you as fond of one Clio as the
other you would not make this voyage
'The last, the very last, said the young man
gally, and then my Clio will give me a right
to say that both are mine
L have so promised, and my word was ever
true continued the beautiful Greek girl, more
sadly still, but have my fears Zetzos, l
would wed you in hour added she impetu-
ousiy, to spare this voyage | speak as |
thought | never could have spoken, but l see
death in this enterprise
The young mans brow was overcast for
iloi'Nilo, dliu tuSH IiS CIlSu, 4lS HdIu 10 udlIt
with such an offer, but see, the wind gently
'tirs, | feel it tanning my cheek warmly from
he hills. Adieu, my Clio, for a few days, and
hen farewell my trade, and all for thee
The sailor embraced his weeping mistress,
md then fastened down to the beach, leaped
nto light skih, and shortly stood upon his
1eck, where he waved his cap in another adieu
o his promised bride Then the merry sound
II the sailors song was heard, the anchor was
ripped, the main and foresail were hoisted up,
md bellied to the wind, when the light schoon-
r, under her captains steerage, headed for the
'pen sea- and gently gded out of the harbour.
Clio was charmed spectator of all this
Every maneuvre was watched with an anxious
ye, and one, too, that understood the handling
II every sail, and the oh lect of every rope, for
letzos had with seamen's delight and pride
aught his mistress all that gave him so much
pleasure. At length the schooner rounded
'ont, and was lost to view, just as evening be-
ian to fall upon the scene. The day had been
creme and lovely, the sky was blue and cloud
ess. with all the mellow sweetness common to
he Mediterranean, but the night promised other
wise. The sun set in an angry bank of vapour
II eHN "Soo, viz HllIu SCdltCiCu uld1tS tdllS III
rofusion over the heavens, and in about an
our after sundown began to howl titfully round
he lonely cottage. Clos sensitive heart took
larm, she stood at the threshold land watched |
With intense anxiety the progress of the storm.
t increased, the dark columns of vapour which
t first rose on y in the east, spread with awful
apidity over the whole face of the heavens,
nd canopied them in black, rumbling sound
thunder was heard in the distance, while the
sint glimmer of lightning came fitfully upon
ne startled senses. A far off upon the water,
distance vast and immeasureable, gentle
ghtning up of some dark fringes of cloud hang
g on the skirts of the horizon, showed that the
ectrlc fluid was at work upon the bosom of
,e deep. Clio shuddered She was too we'll
ersed in the signs of warning which nature
ives of her convulsons not to know that fear
Il tempest was brewing, and would sweep
rln11y DER that night. So sudden is the ad
ent OF gale in the Mediterranean, that ere
he thought it, it were upon her, and Clio re-
red trembling to her cottage.
Her first thought was that Zetzos would again
y to enter the bay he had left and, with this
ncy in her head, she sprang to shelf, and :
king therefrom two antique and valuable
mps, placed them at the window, and light