Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-03-26
THE SIGNAL FLAG.
A SEA SKETCH.
BY c. P. Buckley.

stitious awe-a kind of dread of some
thing invisible attending the crossing Of
the Imaginary line, drawn around the
earth, Knots Of hardy sons of Neptune
were gathered upon the forecastle, eager
ly, yet cautiously eonyersing npon the top
les, which if one might judge, by the nu
merous expressive glances cast about them
were of no trihing import. Generally
they were congregated about the oldest
and most experienced of their number
Whose hair was frosted by long service
and hardship-who, with knowing looks
related their life-experiences. mixing with
the real and truthful, sufficient quantity
of the visionary and superstitious, to awe
interest, and delight their eager listeners
Many wild and thrilling adventure
was brought forth from memory's treasu
ry, and imbued again with the spirit oil
life-while to make the tale more enchant
ing, the incidents related were made so te
resemble our present situation. that the
actors in the drama were really before us
No wonder then, that the cry that greet.
ed our ears as before related, should star
| tie us. one and all.
"Sail ho!" echoed Captain Tracie, who
at the time was pacing the quarterback
conversing with the lieutenant. "Where
away, Lincon?" he demanded of the look
out.
1.-TWO points on the weather bow, SIR
shouted the man at the masthead.
What do you make her Quit" returned
the captain.
al can scarcely say sir" replied Lin,
con; :" she appears to be of very light ton
mage, full rigged--but it would seem
poorly managed, by the manner in which
she lurches into the water. She carries
a flag at her peak. but it is so hazy that ]
cannot see the emblm. There she goes
now see her colors very distinct. BY
heavens, It's a signal"
-" A signal! signal!' was ECHOED from
lip to lip, and thousand conjectures were
made as to the situation of the signal yes
sci.
!" Silence!" Numbered the captain, turn.
ing to the superstitious crew; bring my
glass Instantly"
When he received it, he leaped into the
rigging, and slowly scanned the horiozon
in the direction indicated by the lookout.
A single moment brought to his practiced
eye all that was desired.
" 1t is as Lincon said" remarked the
captain, to Lieut.. Weston. who had Ia
ken the glass to view the schooner; she
is fast nearing us-in quarter of an
hour the matter will be settled"
So it was. In little less than that
space, the vessel was in speaking distance.
" Schooner ahoy!" Numbered the cap
tain through his trumpet.
" But to the surprise of all, no answer
was returned. The demand was repeat
ed, but with the same silence as before.
By St. Marco! this is mystery" ..exclaim-
ed Captain Tracie. We must sift this
to the bottom. Lieut.. Weston take you
a boat and an armed crew, and board
that internal craft. Perhaps the inmates
may have persisted for want of assistance.
In twinkling the boat was in the wa.
ter, and Lieut.. Weston with a crew of
seven hardy fellows, including myself
armed cap q pie, leaped into, and rowed
swiftly toward the mysterious schooner.
Strange were the thoughts that crowd
ed upon my mind as we approached the
object that had so excited our curiosity.
1t seemed as if was about to become the
spectator of scene that would chill the
blood in my veins. | had never as yet
known such a thing as fear, yet the
thoughts that sped with the rapidly oil
lightning through my brain, made ME feel
uncomfortable and restless NV conlpan.
ions seemed little more at ease than nv
self, yet they endeavored to conceal their
emotions. Even could observe nerv.
Gus twitching about the face of Lieut.
Weston, man who had faced death a
thousand times without finching, which
showed that he too was similarly moved
While thus engaged, we neared the sides
of the schooner, which rocked silently up
on the bosom of the ocean like swan
We could now observe her more at ease
She was light built craft, of scarcely
sixty tons burden, her low sides painted
with a glossy blaekness, that reflected the
rays OF the sun with uncommon brilliancv
Her light taper masts, bright with varnish
contrasted exceedingly we'll with the trim
of her well-tarred ropes, while the long
red flag that foated proudly upon the
passing breeze, gave her quite piratical
aspect; and had she been of greater di.
mansions, we might shrewdly have sus
pected !" ruse' to take US by surprise
But there was something about her an
pearance that was more calculated to in.
spire feelings of awe, then fear: and !
need scarcely say, that upon mounting the
deck, cutlasses in hand, it was the expec.
tation of encountering a legion of demons
from Pandemonium.
Judge then our surprise, when we found
it deserted! Not living thing appeared
save gang of voracious rats, that scam
pered across the deck, from where thew
had been eating the body Of some dead an.
imal. One thing that Immediately struck
us as something singular, was the perfect
order In which everything appeared
Where one would have naturally presum,
ed that confusion and disorder would have
been observableWas trim and neatness
that the true sailor ever likes to behold.
These things combined with the novelty
of the situation, served to return. in part
the spirits Of the tars, and many exclama.
| tons, such as, "a smart craft, y neat as
a lady" ETC., burst lIa their lips.
Stay a moment, sud Lieut.. Weston,
at that instant, and I VIII aescend in to
the cabin and see If fhn "a nta IN 10 o,cr ,a