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


ready the ninety-four was in dreadful prox-
unity. The schooner was becoming <. ter.
ribly cut in her hull, and ii seemed a mir.
acle that her spars had hitherto escaped
If we should be crippled. and we knew
not but the next shot might do it, how
could we expect any mercy from our foe /!
Rebels already in the eyes OF our pursuers
we had nothing to hope for if captured.
Every one ielt this. No one therefore
dreamed of surrender. As the wound.
ed men were carried below, their depart.
ing looks were directed frowningly on the
enemy,-and the last words OF the dying
were TO conjare their messmates never to
give up.
"Never finch, my hearties," calculated
the gunnet, as one Of his crew was struck
by splinter; and had to be carried below
f.'Give it to 'em, for villains and tyrants
as they are. Hah have her IN a line
there. Stand by all now" and giving a
last squint along his piece. he applied the
match. and gazing afterahe shot as it went
whistling away, exclaimed, .'hit him on
the quarter. | wonder who's hurt" he
added, as sudden commo,ion was seen
on the enemy's deck !; somebody of more
note than mere topman, guess, or they
wouldn't be in such furry about it,
"And that's the answer" said West
brook, as ball struck US forward, scat
tering tho bufwark. above the deck, and
killing a man outright at the gunner's
side.
"Swab her out there" said the imper.
turbabls old sea-dog, without hinching in
the least, land III revenge poor Harry
Ra,line. By the Lord above, Ill make
them pay for this, Work faster, you lub-
berly scoundrel," he continued, cutting
the powder-boy. "Thers, that will do.
And now let's see what damage you'll do,
old red-mouth ~ and pating his piece
familiarly, he applied the match. and
STOPPING on his knees after the recoil.
glanced along the gun to mark the path
of his ball. 1t struck the ninety -four just
by the fore-chains, entering the first port
aft. 1t needed nothing to tell the deadly
revenge Of the shot. Even amid tho roar
of the contest we could almost fancy We
heard the shrieks OF the wounded and dy-
ing from that tatal discharge.
So intensely occupied had been every
thought, during these last few minutes,
that had not noticed the gradual subsi-
dence in the wind; but my attention was
at this moment aroused to il by an ex-
clamation of O>Shaughnessy at my side,
and turning my gaze to leeward, | saw
at once the cause of his wonder.
How long had elapsed since we had
noticed the speck on the horizon to which
the old quarter-master had called our at
tention, | have no means Of determining;
but, owing perhaps to the rapidity with
which all the subsequent events had trans.
pred, it seemed to be scarcely five min
utes. In that interval radical change
had come over the heavens. The whole
Of the larboard horizon was covered with
a dense black cloud, extending to the
] very zenith, and spreading with incredi-
bic velocity around the sea-board and
over the vault OF heaven. Even as
gazed, the rising clouds began to en-
croach on the western firmament, until
only narrow speck of sky, through which
the declining sun shone out with ghast-
! ly lustre was seen in that quarter OF the
horizon. In a moment more the massy
curtain was seen above or around Us
but the wild and ominous darkness, which
reflected from the unruffled surface oil
the deep. and struggling with the few
faint CLEANS of light that yet remained
wrapt everything in its own sepulchral
gloom. Never shall forget the express
sion of my companions faces in that
death-like obscurity. ~
! The wind, meanwhile, had for the TWEEN
tieth time within the last hour died away
and we now lay moving unquie,ly on the
troubled surface Of the deep. The man
of-war was to be seen in his position
and as he rose and fell sluggishly in the
distant gloom, his white canvas gleamin z
out with sepulcher effect through the dark
ness. one might almost fancy that the
shadowy Toe was some gigantic spirit ship
hanging like an evil genius upon our quar-
ter. As if awed by the sudden change
which had come over the armament, both
vessels had simultaneously ceased firing
The pause on the part OF the English ship
however, was only momentary. The out
lines OF her shadowy form were soon illu
minated by the red glare Of his guns
bringing her tall masts out in bold relie
against the gloomy background, and shed
ding sulphurous hue on everything a
round. The sullen booming OF the guns
the CHASTITY light flung over, the deep; the
low unquiet murmurs Of the sea; and the
darkness gathering more and more ter
rifle over the armament and reflected bacl
from the sea until it seemed as colorles:
ink, made up scene whose sublimity ant
horror no pen can describe. The mer
looked like ghosts. as they fitted to ant
fro across the decks; and on every coun
tenance was impressed tho feelings Of the
awe.struck owner.
s..Cannot yonder fellow see the doom
that awaits him, unless he gives over firing
J and prepares for the squalll" said the ole
J quarter-master.
1 Even as he spoke low hollow murmu
, was heard as if coming cut Of the deep
!, which struck nameless terror into ou
hearts. 1t was the sure pressage of III,
coming hurricane. The men were alrea
: dy aloft getting in the sails, but as tha
!, murmured sound struck on the skipper
: ear, he shouted,
/ "Loose and let run--in with every
thing-lose not seoond--cut with an,