The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-02
BY EDWARD SPENCER.
Ho,o Jasper Killed the .Sdoage.

H0U Jasper huted The SdOGge.
toaAPrxR FIFTH coscLuDxp]
AT noon, tho weather continuing fair, the
Captain took an observation, which was evident
ly surprising to him in its results, since he
immediately had the ships course changed to
south Of west, had the lead "hoye," stationed
q couple of careful lookouts and went below to
consult his charts. On his return to the deck, he
had all the reefs loosed out of the top-sals, top
gallant-sails set, and every inch of available
canvas spread. Jasper overheard him say to
the mate, that they were within twenty five
miles of the coast, and that the in-shore current
in which the ship then was, set stronger here
than anywhere else
"We're going right now, are we not ? "
asked he of Brawny Back, who with Jasper
was again at the wheel, though out of his
watch. He had asked leave to steer, and il
was readily granted him, since he knew more
of those waters than any one else aboard
Yes, sir we'll come out right, if this breeze
holds couple of hours, but it haint a-gong to
do ii, Capn, and you'd better not have on
moro sail than you can bring down with run,
for the Sou'wester comes up like ghost up a
hatchway."
All right, B. B.; we'll bring her through, I
think, ifyou'll keep at the wheel, you and Jas
per-"
Were ready for long spell, sir, at your
sarvice, but yonder comes the Sou'wester, as l
said, sir" FL
And he pointed over the larboard bow at a
black spot, low down in the horizon.
Fl ar enough off yet, B. B.. wen keep on sail
as long as we can, for every inch of offing is a
help to US now"
Brawny Back said nothing, only still pointed
his finger at the black spot, then, glancing at
Jasper, in q sad way, retook his hold upon the
wheel. In minute, it seemed a great change
took place in the appearance of things The
wind ceased, the slack sails tapped idly in their
places, and tho ship pitched uneasily on the
long swell. The black cloud-which had not
the sharp outline nor apparent consistency of a
but seemed most like tho smoke
from the stacks ola Steamboat and spread
shadow cloud fq sa the hs sauhsE
chased by the sunshine. The Captain seemed
suddenly aware of his danger. With trumpet
in hand, he sprang into the mizzen rigging,
shouting for all hands to take in sail.
Amid the confusion of creaking blocks, the
tapping of sails, the shouts and cries of the
rushing seamen, the shrill tone of orders, and
the general din of alarm, the storm burst upon
them, like the blast of an explosion upon an
unsuspecting traveller. AS one would brush
over and hold down the tall shoots of some
tender plant 80 did the ship whirling half round,
lay PROSTATE before the first fury of the tenn
pest; and for a minute, what with the darkness,
the mad howl of the wind, the roar of the exas-
perate waves, and the binding spray and
boating rain, Jasper knew not whether they
were foundered or not. Then, as he and B. b.
struggled with the rebellious Wheel he saw the
brave mate, axe in hand, storm at the roots d
the foremost, while another sailor chopped away
at the rigging. The mast crashed, swept
around with a rearing of its heel, and the ship
groaningly righted herself, once more obeying
the wheel, and tearing through the water up the
gale, but going at the same time terribly Ia
leeward. Every sail unfurled was rent into
ribbons, the main topgallant-mast had gone
with the wrecked foremost, all the bulwarks to
windward were crushed in, and everything swept
from the main deck. But, worst OF all, far astern
with wild shrieks and bubbling cries of drowning
agony, desperately swan four oftheir messmates
swept overheard, and beyond chance of rescue
Even while Jasper turned to look at them, they
were out of sight, and their fearful shrieks were
heard no longer. AS Jasper turned away, with
a sickenng look upon his face, Brawny Bach
said to him, quietly
I" 1t can't be helped This is nothing, if we
can save the rest of them, and the ship"
For two hours, the ship drove on in the wild
storm. Then the rain and hail ceased, and j
grew lighter though the wind, if anything
increased. T.
Gland no was suddenly shouted from thu
forecastle.
"Where away W" shrieked the Captain, Will,
every sailors face blanched at the ominou
words. u
"All to starboard, long and low"
The Captain sprang into tho rigging, keenl.
scrutinized, and them as he came down ant
ordered new mainsail bent on Immediately
said to the steersman-- !.
You must keep her point nearer, Bravn,
Back" m
"She won't bear it, Cap'n." N
She must bear it, B. b., or we'll be o.
| yonder shore.r Nh
| We're bound there anyhow, .Capn, and I
| like to go on with a clear conscience, knowing
"Try her half point, anyhow II
But the ship could not, as Brawny Bac
had said, be made to sail any closer to the wins
than he and Jasper kept her and every on
saw that, what with the current, the storm, thel
crippled state, DC, their present leeway wout
take them on the breakers in very short time
| The Captain was i'll despair. The storm ha
| come upon them so terribly sudden, and wit
such fearful violence, that it left them no chanc
| of thought. A huge, roaring, spreading blac
cloud, it had hurled itself upon them as if
| were mountain bowled by some Titan hand
| And such strange moaning sounds and wailing
ofdistress seemed to people its midst such huge
Jagged precipices, and awful cavernous abysse'
that they could not conceive to exist in this
coally smokyvapor, had been rendered palpabl
and iridescent by the random, 6tful hashs
that intruded upon its blackness, that the thin
became invested with supernatural terrors
alt And when it came, when it split its fur
4 upon them, took them back apace with its har
| front, which clashed against the ship like th
/ blow of steel mass-a blow it was, and frol
the dreaded Champions mace - raising y
waves but shaving off their crests, as a MOVE
cuts off the heads of clover, and sweeping the'
before it in spray clouds, when finally, out I
/ all this, the ship rose at last, shattered On
4 crushed, and robbed of all her symmetry an
i beauty. only to encounter the mDre-dreade
j horrors of a lee shore-what wonder If the "a
tain. so wrenched at heart, and blighted in b
homes. should feel despair? There was Il
shore, not ten miles of, and they were drivir
upon it certainly, with scarce a chance
rescue.
- But why prolong our recital of the struggle