The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-04-07
From the New York Dutchman.
THE EATH LIGHT.
A Legend of Long Island Coast,
BY EDWARD ]. HANDIBOE.

The sun went down in beauty, but the skies
Were wildly changed. 1t was dreadful night
No moon was seen in all the heavens, to aid
Or cheer the lone and sea-beat wanderer.-MSS.
In a small howell on the craggy shore of
a deep and dangerous bay on the coast of
Long Island, dwelt an old and hardened
desperate, who united in himself the fish
erman, the smuggler, and the wrecker; but
the last was his favorite occupation, and
such was the confidence Of his companions
in his skill and experience in this capaci-
ty, that he was usually appointed their
leader, and rarely failed in this office. His
wife, too, encouraged him, and not unfre-
quently aided him in his iniquitous ex-
ploits. Disguised with the wickedness of
his parents, their only son left them in
early life, and sought to obtain an honora-
BILE subsistence as the mate of Liverpool
trader.
1t was period when long and profit
less summer and autumn had passed away,
that Rosen" all, like the vulture, ever watch
full for his prey, was more than usually OBJ
servant of the signs of the heavens. Nor
was any one more capable than himself of
discovering the most distant indications of
a tempest. Nature had for several months
worn placid and most encouraging as
pect The soft and azure sky seemed to
rest upon the transparent sea, and the
slowly expanding waves swept with low
murmurings along the shining sands of the
deep bay with wild and HOMOGENEOUS
splashing, that seemed to strike like the
voice of prophecy upon the ear.
Not more hateful were the glorious beams
of the orb of day to the fallen Lucifer, as
described by the great poet, than was the
quiescent state of nature to the dark mind
of Rosenthal. In his impatience he cursed
the protracted season of tranquility, and
hailed the approaching season of storms as
more congenial to his temper and interests
AT length he saw, with a savage smile of
satisfaction, the sun sink in angry red be-
meath the dim and cloudy Newfoundland
with secret exultation the hollow murmur-
ing of the winds, and bebeld the blacken-
ing waves rising into fury and lashing the
lofty rocks with their ascending spray.
As the night advanced in chaotic dark
ness, the horrors of the tempest increased,
and the long and loud blast of contending
elements sung out upon the ear like the
death knell of departing soul.
SHOWS the time y exclaimed the old
bag, his wife; ego thy ways out up the
cliff-there's death in the wind p
Rosenthall speedily equipped himself,
and assembled the steep promontory at the
entrance of the bay. The usual expedi-
ent, the "dead light" was resorted to, and
he soon observed light at sea, as if in
answer to his signal. His prey seemed al
ready in his grasp.
The light evidently approached nearer,
and before an hour had elapsed the white
close-reefed sails of the vessel could be
dimly discovered in the darkness, and the
appalling cry of the seamen at the discove-
ry of their danger distinctly heard.
Signal guns of distress were immedi-
ately fred, and the loud cry of "All hands
on deck !" and "'Bout shipp Moderated
in wild despair.
Every exertion was made to wear the
vessel from the shore; but the redeeming
moment was passed-the ship was COM
pletely embayed, and neither strength nor