Eastern times., 1855-11-08


setis Bay with fresh breeze, and fresh
breeze urged us onward upon our course, day
after day, until one morning, just as the sun
was thrusiing It's red and smiling face forth
from lis ocean bed, we made one of the finest
landfalls upon record. As the morning mist
cleared away, the low shore of Abaco discov-
cred itself two or three miles off our starboard
bow, the lighthouse at the Hole-in-the-Wa all
standing proudly conscious that it had per-
formed many good deed in its day and gen.
GRAFTON, in giving timely warning to the lone
iy wanderers upon the ocean. Before we
made the Bahamas, our vessel had been speed
ing SO gallantly upon our way that those dis
posed to be sea sick, grati6ed themselves to
their hearts content. OF the few passengers
on board, was the only one that had not Civ
en- way to that most disagreeable complaint
the others had scarcely exhibited their faces
at any point south of Cape Cod. The captain
and myself had occupied the dinner table soi-
tary and alone. Divers and sundry groans,
not usmixed with imprecations of character
by no means gentle, saluted MS from each side
of the narrow cabin. At last, as we passed
Abaco- Island. the wind gradually died away
TO gentle breeze, and in the course of the
day my fellow-passengers crawled from their
berths, looking, in fashionable parlor-phrase,
fas though they had been drawn through knot
hoies.' There was one of them who attracted
my attention the day of our departure from
Long Wharf. He was a small man, some
forty years old, dark in complexion, with
pair of little eyes, black and sparkling, but
extremely restless. His hair was what gave
oddity to his appearance, for it was perfectly
white. He was indeed the queerest looking
mortal ever set eyes on. If there was moth
ing unearthly in his appearance, when he
came forth after eight or ten days sickness,
looking as thin as shad, cadaverous and
ghostly, there was at least little about him
that reminded one of ordinary mortals. The
very sailors acted towards him as though they
believed him 10 be a junior Jonah. | saw
them engaged in various discussions in the re-
gion of the fore-castle, ofteutimes casting sus-
picious giances towards him, for day or two
after he came on deck, and | verify believe
that if storm had arisen, they would have
cast him into the sea- food for whales, as they
did prototypes of olden time. Light and pleas
ant winds, however, accompanied us across
the banks, as we bore up to the Keys, which
skirt the coast of Florida, and, finally leaving
the Tortugases, launched out into the broad
Mexican Gulf.
1t was bright and beautiful day when we
passed Key West Several schooners were
dashing about in the offing, and the fatal reefs,
the scene of so many terrible disaster, seem
ed as harmless and innocent as pebbles upon
the sandy beach, and the waves threw them
selves smilingly against them, as waves that
never dreamed of harm, while the murmur
they gave forth as they broke upon the rocks,
in their wantonness, might properly be con-
sidered the requiem of the dead they had cast
there in their hours of savageness and fury
The white-headed passenger and myself were
stretched upon an old sail on deck watching
the fen thousand specimens of the nautilus
tribe, as they gaily sported around US, their
transparent sails 10 catch the breeze, living
satires, in their exquisite perfection, upon the
bungling nautical machinery of man. All
about us, too, the waters were alive with the
unwieldy, yet wild porpolses, frisking and
gamobling as though just released from an
hours reckless play in the free element. For
half mile one of these monsters had been
frolicking about the bows of our vessel, now
disappearing beneath the wave, anon throwing
his huge frame oct of the water, and jumping
ahead, as though endeavoring to entice our
bark into trial of speed.
81 should like to take ride on the back of
that fellow said |, to my white-headed COM
panion
So shouldn't l, replied he ; Il had ride
once that satisfied me for lifetime.
Perhaps that was what made your head
white,' observed l. carelessly.
Exactly, stranger you guessed right the
first time.'
The deuce did Twas altogether ac-
cidental. don't see, though, how ride
could whiten your head.'
Perhaps nct,' said he. tWas you ever in
Vermont
Once only but | remained there some
twenty years.
Maybe you know the old road between
Windsor and Woodstock z
Very well.''
You remember the long two-mile hill, just
before you reach the ''Greent'''
eyes
Then I'll tell you how it happened. 1t
was many years ago, my friend was then a
boy of fifteen. In company with my father, /
had been to Windsor. Our horse was four
year old, just broke, rather skittsh, and as
quick in his motions, as any horse that ever
travelled. We rode in an old-fashioned coun-
try wagon. 1t was on our return. Night
came upon us before we reached the top of the
hill. twas cloudy; not a star was to be
seen, and the darkness was SO palpable, il
seemed as though we could feel it. We were
about half way down the hill, my father driv.
ing with great caution, when we heard some
vehicle coming up Peering through the thick