Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-01-18
srit of tB 9ge, 8aleigB, YortB

ness. Nought was heard, save the tumult
Of Nature, the shouting Of Nicholas and the
dull and monotonous thumps Of the working
pumps, that told in each wheeling stroke how
useless, how futile was effort!
For two long hours the men labored at the
pumps, sweating at every pore and painting
for breath.
Nicholas and the steward distributed bread,
meat and spirits among the workers and. en-
couraged them. Two men stood ut the wheel
vainly striving to steady the plunging of the
brig as she became more and more unman-
agable from the increase in her weight and
the force Of wind and wave.
" Try the well again." whispered Nicholas
to the carpenter.
-Four feet water, Sir" said the man in a
low, choking tone.
lie said it low, but a man at the pump
heard it, and it ran like q fash from breast
to breast.
Faster and faster grew the strokes of the
pumps under the hands of men frenzied with
fear when they saw Death standing so near
them. A perpetual thump told how intent
the men were in the last mortal struggle for
life.
Hurrah my brave lads = shouted Mich
olas. And they became fired with q deter
mination, it seemed, todrain every drop from
her in q short time. Thump! Thump Ia
perpetual chorus, and the storm grew fercer
and Knocked their labors.
Overheard with the cargo Z" shouted
Nicholas after trying the well himself.
Barrel after barrel, hogsheGd after hogs
head of Mr.. Somerville's high priced liquors
were drawn up, the heads stove in and their
contents mingled with the Oceans countless
drops. The Gull seemed to be partially re-
lieved after this she rolled less heavily and
seemed less like parting amid ships.
"Hurrah my brave lads, she's lightensd
now" shouted Nicholas.
Inspired with new hope the men bent to
their task and labored increasingly until near
ten o'clock at night. Almost every barrel Of
the cargo was swimming in the Ocean now
and the men worked to keep the water from
overpowering them.
The storm increased in fury billow after
billow, like cliff capped mountains, rolled fu-
riously on, chasing the brig, now scudding
regardless of her helm before the blast, and
at every bound across the boiling chasms
threatening to burst over her stern and en-
gulph her as q tiney morscl in the bowels
Of the deep. The Gull ereakedh oarsely when
in the followed trough Jug Out IN cho SEQ,
and in mounting the black crest of the noun
tain pillows seemed to lutter and struggle
like a drowning sea bird, as she was whirled
like a top upon its angry toss, then at her
plunge so deep in the waters again, each har-
dy mortal held his breath in agonizing sus
pense, expecting to rise no more. No word
word was spoken, but still the stifed wheel
ings of the pumps growing slower and slow
or was heard. Catararts of foam, white a.
Arctic SHOWS, were revealed on every hanC
when the bright and binding glare of thu
sheet-lightning wrapped el0uds and Ocean il
its lurid blaze, and the faces Of the men grew
dark with dying hope in their hosoms.
One, two, three Of the men sunk upon tn
deck fainting with labor and fear.
Five feet water, Sir shouted the Carper
ter frantic with the terror of the fact.
The m 4 dishearted stand back and refns
to wo.1.. 'Y0ur-men went work, Sir erie
Capt. J rrJld.
IIurl the first coward overheard ths
shinks from the pump shouted Nicholas.
A dozen fellows spring to the pumps agai
md vainly strive to move them again.
) few gurgling sounds issue from the valve
telling them thathopc is over.
I The valves are choked and the pumI
won't work, Sir said the Carpenter in a
5 inquiring tone.
'Don't tell me of that blackguard-fool.
! liar-driveller = Shouted the excited Mic
olas, How can l help itP
> No more help was to be hoped for from t
: pumps. The masts and rigging were cut
t way and half an hour afterwards, the stor
s somewhat abating, it was found she had Fl
ed less rapidly than before-there being o
! ly two inches more water than at the la
:, trial.
J Agnesl All! she prayed that she was
D home with her mother but, alas +! she W
q captive and that by a Pirate-a brother
her afianced, against whom he had sworn
d yenge and all in afated ship soon to go do1
with them and rest in its mysterious depth
a AS soon as the men forsook the pumps j;
ques flew to the side of Agnes, and strived
comfort her with words he told her desti
IL that it was his belief that such fate y
their's-that they should give all up and hl
ID to meet again after the cold gate of de;
n had been passed. Nicholas saw his brot
at the side of Agnes and he sprang to /
and snatched him away from her, hurlingf
- to one side of the vessel, in the dark, andne
I" ly pitching him overheard. Nicholas t
Agnes to hope for the best-that he wo
Is be a husband and protector to her, an,
ed possible save her from a watery grave.
CD The storm began to abate, the stars pee
,ir out, the clouds flew like sailing crafts aer
an the sky, the moon shone out from q cl
sky and her beams danced upen the wa
The we'll was tried and showed that the /
aS of the Gull was still filing.
Nicholas saw that the brig must go dc
1t within an hour and he began to make
ed parations for saving himself. lie orde
vi. his bearded crew to launch tue only boat
,rt longing to the brig. This was done. lie tn
l. some provision into it-a few old clothes
" bag of specie-a new sail-oars and 81
on cable line. He had everything ready
Its addressed the trembling crew
IN In this | shall risk the chance oflife Y
he myself and my sweet Agnes l have ]
all wished to see you my brother-we have
and now we part forever! If blest with
u l shall take my fair captive bird to my h
'uo If doomed to deal W. we die in each 9th
TO arms! Listen wei to me now, my b
YER when l go into theboat and wave my fae
me her loose. And whose among ye' who
the to ship with me, death is his portion! =
vas snatched Agnes in his arms from the DO
oo of Jacques and sprang into the boat wa
his flag. The next moment Capt JeT
!" and Jacques were by his side with dr.
'ar- c~utlasses in their hands The Pirates
ust stood aghast on the deck Of the Gull Gag
Try spring to the little boat and risk their
all with it, frail as it was, but their master
ino spoken and his orders were oracles.
ow The eyes of Nicholas cleaned with
rage when he saw his brother and the
'l"s tain of the Gull standing at his side in
= boat, and his hand sought the butt Of the
kea toll in his belt, but his hand dropped a:
,rn, two raised their bright blade and brand
and them in the air. He stood in moody sill
ron for a few moments, and then waved has