Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-01-04
n1isfellaucons.
W0LFGANG;
OR,
TIE ER-S BEACON.
CHAPTER |
BEFORE THE GALE.

apd bound to Copcohagen, had entered the
North Sea, having left the Straits of Dover
two DAYS behind.
The commander of the ship was young
man. NOT over eight and-twenty. and bis name
was MAURICE LESTER He stood by the taft
rail. gazing off upon the horizon to the east.
ward. ever and anon raising his hand above
mis- head TO feel if there was any wind stir
ring, and as often casting his eve aloft to sec
how the canvass huug. As he stood thus bis
mate approached ani spoke TO bin.
What dye thiuk of this. Cap,'n?'
Il tbiuk we're in for storm, sir the
master replied ''And | tell you whst it is.
Griffin" he added, after sweeping the hori-
zon again with his eye. when it comes it
viii be an earnest one. None of your broad
Ocean pufs, with nothing bat water to hatch
wind from; but we'll have it right fresh from
so",e IF these places where they know how to
make things blIw >
Then yoa think we'll have a hard oac?'
said Griffin
Aye" answered the captain, with almost
shui,ier, Il feel 1t iii my BONES
la the meantime Captain lester had been
Watching the sea aud sky US before, and be
fancied that the signs of the Storm were grow
I', more ard more pa pIbe every moment.
The sun going down in thick bank =
giving 10 the wh.!c western hnriz1u a dull
plrpii>h-red bloody hu., with here aud there
>;''sS IF Il GarkertI.. &c. like openings through
the fry clnul, 10 Jk.ny uppa :. fearful black
ness b-i.ind
''Dn you how strangely IL looks off
ti'ere! said the captain raising his fiuger to-
wards the paint where the was setting.
Aye" returned Griffin. L have bseu
watching those dark places
-.
spike If it tcG'
Sven O'Clock tme and went Eight o'clock
came, and tlc drst watch WIS set
ID In't g1 bciow," sail the captain, as the
men ri the last Gog-wz,ch left their stations
This calm csu't last great while You
had better hatIcn down the ,ssfc1es now, while
there Is nothing else 80 de-; for auu sure there
Will be nee.i "a hav!n. them close before the
coming 0f sunIiier day =
The men had no thoughts If going below
taT they caui,: and irel; aud idey were not
who'll: gnoru,rt ot what vas coming; so they
w,'it a; 'vor:; and secured the h.tches with
tarpgu:i,'S; aus: w;lra this was do;ie those who
hl'! nn particular station collected about the
wheel. Another hour passed away-a,il an
u'hsr Ten oclnck cauie, aui still bot a
breath The ship lay up"u the water like a
'te'si thing with the ropes. aud blocks. and
,ait$. ra''iins aud tiapping she swayei
10 and fro hY she lazy sweilS of the sea.
w nat CtDfs mean cried Gri:fil as the
by s.'uck five; bells
'-ii.rk,' sa.sl an. captt;u. almost instantly
II guess you't eoou See DID you feel that?
Ha. thar"
Il Was Isu:F "f wind aud iigli, flying of
~pray; or. perhaps it a spit "f rain A,
ali events, the puf va, fcit; an toe .iro2> IT
water fill upon other cheek. than Maurice
lester :; anu other ears th an his heard tn,
Iud moaning which ever the dark wa
rs So other ears heard the roar which f,l
lowed. and other bodies qaivered beneath the
shock oi the s'orn giant when he came in his
might
Aye--the storm had come Ii came with
wind a;ict rain. aid with an angry leavi,is ,,f
the sra- IL came with u uarkuess like Ere
buS. and with the voice "f thuuder The
gale cuntu uei to Ccrease IA fury as The long
night passed. away. When thu morning came
the scene was one OF awful grandeur The
witd was bowling with terrific fury; and til,
broad !ashs,i into huge, mountains.
that fis:ned aui tun.bled aud leapei along
over the bosom uf the deep. seeming every
moment ready tu wheln aud en.ulf the frail
bark thu; struggled within. the ,iemon grasp.
When Captain Lester had observed the
signs of the morning, be feared that the storm
Would continue through the day. aud So he
told his men. The sky wore hue of horror
aud .aiu driving down, ninsl,ng
with the lashing sea. At noon it was still
worse.
at length night shut in again, and not
sign .'et of the passing away of the STORM
The frighful howiing of the tempest seemed
rather to have increased than abated The
mca gathered upon the quarterback, clinging
for support 10 the racks aud rails-for the life
lines swayed so much that they were afraid of
tbem-aihered as near to the light of the bin
uacle-lamp as they could. as though even
from such feeble beams they might fud some
comfort But not ali were there No-not
ALL Four stout. true hearted men had been
swept away by The storm. Near q score were
left; but how many shall see the light of an
other day?
At nine o'clock Captain Lester went below
He took down chart of the North Sea. and
having spread it upon the table. he sat down
tn examine it He was thus engaged when
Mr. Griffin came down; but be did 10. look |
up until he had fGished tho calcu alton.
How is ir?'' the mate asked. as he saw MS !
commander lay down the dividers.
II have been making reckoning; and /
find that we have little more sea-room left !
The course We have made since We wore. has |
been. near as [ can calculate. north west
by-west, go that We must have been driving
towards the coast of Northumb berland. think |
We have plenty OF roou 70 stsud oo Until ;pid