Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-01-13
WOIFGANG,
THE WRECKER'S BEACON.
CHAPTER |.
BEFORE THE GALE.

OTh, anu UUUuu W copenhagen, nat
entered the North Sea, leaving tht
Straits of Dover two days behind.
The commander of the ship was &
young man, not over eight-and-twenty
and his name was MAURICE LESTER
He stood by the taffrail, gazing of
upon the horizon to the eastward, ever
and anon raising his hand above hi:
head to feel if there was any wind
stirring, and as often casting his eye
aloft to see how the canvas hung. As
he stood thus, the mate approached
and spoke to him
What dye think Of this, Cap'n ?"
II think we're in for a storm, SIR
the master replied, "and l tell We what
it is, Griffin" he added. after sweeping
the horizon again with his eye, when
it comes it will be an earnest one
none of your broad Ocean puffs, with
nothing but water to hatch wind from,
but we'll have it right fresh from some
of those places where they know how
TO make things blow"
Then you think we'll have a hard
one ?" said Griffin.
aye" answered the captain, with
aim ost a shudder, II feel it in my
bones"
In the meantime, Captain Lester had
been watching the sea and sky as
before, and he fancied that the signs
of the storm were growing more and
more palpable every moment. The
sun was going down in thick bank,
giving the whole western horizon a
dull, purplsh-red, bloody hue, with
here and there spots of a darker tinge,
like openings, through the fiery cloud,
looking upon a fearful blackness be-
hind.
"Do you see how strangely it looks
off there?" said the captain, raising
his finger towards the point where
the sun was setting.
AYE" returned Griffin, Il have
been watching those dark places"
And others noticed the same thing,
and spoke of it, too.
Seven o'clock came and went.
Eight o'clock came and the first watch
was set.
Don't 60 below" said the captain,
as the men of the last dog-watch LETT
their stations, This calm can't last
great while. You had better batten
down the hatches now, while there is
nothing else to do for l am sure
there will be need of having them
close before the coming of another
day."
The men had no thoughts of going
below, for they could see and feel /;
and they were not wholly ignorant Of
what was coming +; so they went at /
work and secured the matches with
thick tarpaulins and when this was
done those who had no particular sta
tion collected about the wheel. An
other hour passed away-and anoth-
or. Ten o'clock came, and still not
breath. The ship lay upon the water
like dead thing with the ropes, and
blocks, and sails, rattling and Tapping
as she was swayed to and fro 10y the
lazy swells of The sea.
What does it mean p cried Griffin,
as the boy struck five bells.
"Hark" said the captain, almost
instantly. Il guess you'll soon see.
Did you feel that? Ha!-and that ?'
1t was a puff Of wind, and light
flying Of spray; or perhaps it was a
spit of rain. At all events, the puff
was felt (; and the drops of water fell
upon other cheeks than Maurice Les
ter's and other ears than his heard
the dull moaning which came over the
dull waters. So other ears heard the
roar which followed, and other bodies
Quivercd beneath the shock of the
storm-giant when he came in his
might.
Aye-the storm had come. 1t came
with wind and rain, and with an an.
CRY heaving of the sea. 1t came with
q darkness like Erebus, and with the
voice of thunder. The gale confined
to increase in fury as the long night
passed away. When the morning
came the scene was one of awful
grandeur. The wind was bowling
with terrific fury: and the broad sea
vas lashed into huge mountains, that
foamed, and tumbled, and leaped
along over the bosom of the deep,
seeming every moment ready to whelm
and engulf the frail bark that strug-
gled within the demon grasp.
When Captain Lester had observed
the signs Of the morning, he feared
that the storm would continue through
the day, and so he told his men. The
sky wore a hue of horror, and rain
was now driving down, mingling with
the lashing sea. At noon it was still
worse.
At length night shut in again, and
not sign yet Of the passing away Of
the storm! the frightful bowling of
the tempest seemed rather to have in |
creased than abated. The men gath
cred upon the quarterback, clinging
for support 10 the racks and rails
for the life-lines swayed so much that |
they were afraid of them-gathered
as near to the light of the binnacle-
lamp ne they conld os fhopob orop