Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-01-06

THE WRECKER'S BEACON.
CHArTER l.

The good ship PArHrtNDER, of New-Iork,
and bound TO Copenhagen, bad 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 his name
was MAURICE LESTER. He stood by the
taffrail, gazing off upon the horizon to the
eastward ever and anon raising his hand above
his head to feel if there was any wind stir
ing, and as often casting his eye aloft to see
how the canvas hung. As he stood thus his
mate approached, and spoke to him:
"What dye think of this Captni"
81 think we're in for storm, sir" the mas
ter replied. "And l tell you what it is,
Griffin" he added, after sweeping the horizon
again with his eye. "when it comes 1t will be
an earnest one. None Of your broad Ocean
puffs, with nothing but water to hatch wind
from but we'll have il right fresh from some
of those places where they know how to make
things blow"
"Then you think wen have a hard one :"
said Griffin.
aye" answered the captain, with almost
shudder, 81 feel in my bones"
In the meantime, Captain Lester had been
watching the sea aud sky as before, and he
fancied that the signs of the storm were grow
ing more and more palpable every moment
The sun was going down in thick bank, Civ
ing to the whole western horizon dull, pur-
plish-red, bloody hue with here ard there
spots Of a darker tinge, like openings, through
the fiery cloud, looking upon a fearful black
ness behind.
"Do you see how strangely it looks off
there :: said the captain. raising his finger
towards the point where the sun was setting,
A. 80 d. ~ L
ing 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 go below" said the captain, as the
men Of the last dog-watch left their stations.
This calm cant last great while. You had
better batter down the matches now. while
there is nothing else to dos for 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 tarpaulius and when this was
done those who had no particular station coll
lected about the wheel. Another hour pass
ed away--and another. Ten o'clock came,
and still not breath. The shin Law p,on tho
water like a dead thing win tbo ronos and
bIooks and s.ils r.t,l;n,. al a.....i..tt. ~ -
was swaved Ia and no nv the Ialy svoiIs 81
the sea.
"What does it mean :" cried Griffin. as the
boy struck five bells.
Ozark - said the captain. almost instantly
81 guess youll soon see. Did Won feel tbati
Hai-and thati"
1t was puff of wind. and light flyine of
spray; or. perhaps il was a spit of rain. AT
all events. the huff was felt and the drons of
water fell upon other checks than Maurice
Testers and other ears than his heard the
dull moaning which came over tho do,k wa
tiers. So other ears heard the roar which
followed. and other bodies ouiverod beneath
the shock of the storm giant when he came in
his might.
Aye--the storm has come. II came with
wind and rain. and with an anprv beaving of
the sea. 1t came with darkness like Erebus,
and with the voice of thunder The Gale con.
timed to Increase in G,ry as tho long n;aht
PASSED away When the ,norning cano 9he
scene was one of awful grandcnr Tho Wind
was bowling with terrific furrv and tho
broad sea was lashed into bnos ,nountoirs
that fonmed and tumblod and leaned oIon,
over the bosom of the deem soc,n;pg ovo,S
moment ready ia ybeIm and encuIf tbo raii
bark that struggled within the demon prasn.
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 hue Of horror.
and rain was now driving down, mingline
with the lashine sea. At noon it was stili
worse.
At length night shut in again. and not a
sign vet Of the passing away of the storm -
The frightful bowling of the TEMPEST seemed
rather to have increased than abated. The
men gathered upon the ouarter-deok. elipoing
for support to tho racks and rails--for the life,
lines swayod so much that thew were afraid of
them--gethered as near to the lipbt of the
binnacle- lamp as they could. M t6ougb even
from such feeble beams thew miobt 6nd some
comfort. But mot all we're there No--not
ALL -Four stout. true-hearted men bnd bcen
swept away by the storm. Near Il soore were
left but how many shall see the liqbt of A.
mother 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
to examine it. He was thus engaged when
Mr.. Griffin came down; but he did not look
up until he had finished the calculation.
"How is it ?" the mate asked, as he saw his
commander Law down the diyiders.