The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-01-05

THE WRECKER'o BEACON.
CHAPTER /.
BEFORE THE GALE.


The good ship PArHFIsDER. of New York,
and bound to Copenhagen. had entered the
North Sea, having left the Straits OF Dover
two days behind.
The commander of the ship was a young
man, not over eight -andtwenty, and his
name was MAURICE LESTER. He stood by
the tafrail. gazing of upon the horizon to
the eastward, ever and anon raising his hand
above his 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
his mate approached and said
..What dye think of this, Capt'n?"
81 think we're In for storm. sir" the
master replied "And l tell you what it is,
Griffin" he aided after sweeping the hori
zon with his eve. when il comes it will be
an earnest one. None of your broad Ocean
puffs, with nothing but water to hatch wind
from; bit we'll have il right fresh from some
of those places where they know how to
make things blow"
"rhen You think we'll have a hard one??"
said Griffin.
AYE" answered the captain, with almost
a shudder, II feel it in my bones"
In The meantime, Captain Lester had been
watching the sea and sky before. and he
fancied that the signs OF the storm were
growing more and more palpable every mo-
ment. The sun going down in thick
bank giving 10 the whole western horlZ IN
dull, purpllsh-re bloody hue, with here and
there spots Of a darker tinge, like openings.
through the fiery cloud, looking fearful
blackness behind
I do you see how strangely it looks off
,here?" said the captain, raising his finger to,
wards the point where the sun was setting.
aye returs ed Griffin, Il have been
watching those dark Places
/ And others noticed the same thing. and
spoke of it. too.
4 Seven o'clock came and went Eight
O'Clock came, and the first watch was set.
I Don't go below" said the captain, as the
men Of the last dog watch left their stations.
"Ths calm can't last great while. You
4 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 coming; So
they went at work and secured tie matches
with thick tsrpaulins; aud when this was
done those who had particular station col
! lected about the wheel Another hour passed
away--and another. Ten o'clock came, and
and still not breath. The ship lay upon
the water Ike dead thing, with the ropes,
and blocks. and sails. rattling and tapping
as she was swaye! to and fro by the lazy
swells OF the sea.
] NV hat does it mean?' cried Griffin, as the
boy struck FIVE bells.
! clark" said the captain. almost instantly.
II guess you'll soon see. Did you feel that!
Ha,-aad that?'
1t was puff of wind, and light flying
Il -
At all events. the puff was Felt; and the
drops Of water fell on other cheeks than
Maurice Lester's; and other ears than his
heard the dull moaning which came over
The dark waters. So other ears heard the
roar which followed, and other bodies quiv
cred 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 angry heaving
! OF the sea. 1t came with darkness ike
Erebus, and with the voice Of thunder. The
gale continued to increase in fury as the long
night passed away. When the morning
| came the scene was one of awful grandeur
| The wind was howling with terrific fury; and
| the broad sea was lashed into huge noun
! tains, that foamed, aud tumbled, and leaped
along over the bosom of the deep, seeming
every moment ready to wheim and engulf
| the trail bark that struggled within the de-
mon 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, min
| Cling with the lashing sea. Al noon it was
still worse
| At length night shut in again; and not a
sign vet of the passing away of the storm.
| The frighttu howhng of the tempest seemed
rather to have increased thaI ahated. The
men gathered upon the quarter deck, cling
ing for support 10 the racks and rails--for
the iite-lInes swayed much that they were
afraid of them-gathered as near TO the
light of the binnaele lamp as they could, as
though even from such feeble beams thew
might find some comfort But not all were
there. No-not all, Four stout, true heart
ed men had been swept away by the storm.
Near score were left: but how many shall
see the light OF another day?
At nine O'Clock Captain Lester went be
low. He took down chart of the North
sea. and having spread it upon the table.
he sat down 70 examine il. He was thus
engaged when Mr.. Griffin came down; bu,
he did not look up until he had finished the
calculation.
..How is is9' the mate asked. as he saw
his commander lay down the dividers.
q have been making a reckoning, and
find that we have but little more sea-room
left. The course we have made since we
wore, has been, as near as | can calculate
north -west-bv west. 50 that we must have
been driving towards the coast of Northum.
berland. | think We have plenty Of room
TO stand on until midnight; but we cauno'
stand on much longer. II the gale does not
abate by that time known not what We shall
do
The captain started mp from his chair. and
would probably have walked across the cab
in, but q. that moment n heavy sea caugh,
the ship, and gave her pitch forward, which
caused him to catch his seat as quickly a